NHL Short Notes

TUESDAY’S RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
New Jersey 4, COLUMBUS 1
NY Rangers 4, PITTSBURGH 3
St. Louis 4, MONTREAL 3
DETROIT 5, Winnipeg 1
TAMPA BAY 6, NY Islanders 2
Nashville 5, DALLAS 2
Buffalo 4, COLORADO 2
VANCOUVER 3, Carolina 0
VEGAS 4, Anaheim 3 (SO)
LOS ANGELES 5, Minnesota 2

KUCHEROV, LIGHTNING REACH 40-POINT MARK
Nikita Kucherov collected two assists to become the first player to reach the 40-point mark this season (19-21—40 in 27 GP) and help the Lightning (19-6-2, 40 points) move back into sole possession of first place in the NHL standings. Tampa Bay established a franchise record for fewest games to reach the 40-point mark in a season.

* Kucherov became the third player in franchise history to reach the 40-point mark through the first 27 team games of a season, joining Vincent Lecavalier in 2007-08 (26 GP) and Steven Stamkos in 2010-11 (25 GP).

KINGS, PREDATORS MOVE INTO SHARE OF FIRST IN WESTERN CONFERENCE
The Kings (18-8-3, 39 points) and Predators (18-7-3, 39 points) each secured wins to leapfrog the Jets (17-7-4, 38 points) for the most points in the Western Conference standings, one back of the League-leading Lightning:

* Marian Gaborik scored twice to reach the 400-goal and 800-point milestones (400-400—800) and help Los Angeles earn its sixth straight victory, their longest win streak since Oct. 16-31, 2015 (7-0-0). Anze Kopitar (1-2—3) collected helpers on both goals to reach 500 career NHL assists (270-500—770).

* Juuse Saros made a career-high 43 saves and five different skaters found the back of the net to propel the Predators to their third consecutive win.

SCHENN SCORES THIRD CAREER HAT TRICK
Brayden Schenn snapped a five-game goal drought with the third hat trick of his NHL career to help the Blues(18-8-2, 38 points) keep pace with the Kings and Predators.

* Schenn ranks tied for ninth in the NHL with 13-20—33 this season (28 GP), while his five game-winning goals in 2017-18 trail only Blackhawks forward Brandon Saad (6) for the League lead.

* Did You Know? Schenn netted the 30th hat trick of 2017-18 (425 GP), the most through the first 425 games of a season since 2010-11 (33).

ROOKIE BARZAL ECLIPSES 25-POINT PLATEAU
Islanders forward Mathew Barzal collected 1-1—2 to become the second rookie to reach the 25-point plateau this season (7-19—26 in 27 GP), joining Canucks forward Brock Boeser (13-12—25 in 25 GP). Barzal became the fourth rookie in franchise history to reach the 25-point mark through the first 27 team games of a season.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS RALLY FOR 11TH HOME WIN
Erik Haula (1-2—3) scored the game-tying goal with 4:22 remaining in regulation and Alex Tuch (0-1—1) potted the decisive marker in the shootout to power the Golden Knights to an 11-2-0 record at T-Mobile Arena, tied for the most home wins in the NHL this season.

QUICK CLICKS

· Sharks’ Dillon suspended one game for slashing

· Greatest NHL Uniform: 1978-1985 Vancouver Canucks

· NHL All-Star fan voting continues

· Vote Now: Greatest NHL Uniforms

SNEAK PEEK AT WEDNESDAY’S ACTION