CROSBY NETS THREE ASSISTS TO REACH MILESTONE IN PENGUINS WIN
Captain Sidney Crosby tallied 0-3—3 to reach the 1,100-point milestone (404-696—1,100) and lead Pittsburgh past Philadelphia and into first place in the Metropolitan Division. The Penguins (39-25-4, 82 points), Capitals (37-22-7, 81 points) and Flyers (34-22-11, 79 points) are separated by just three points as jockeying continues for the top three spots in the division.

* Crosby became the 62nd player in NHL history to record 1,100 career points and the second to achieve the feat within the past three weeks – Washington’s Alex Ovechkin (598-509—1,107) hit the mark on Feb. 15, in his 978th career game.

* Only 12 players in NHL history have accumulated 1,100 points in fewer contests than Crosby, who hit the mark in his 850th career game. Jaromir Jagr (825 GP on Nov. 30, 2001) was the last to do so faster, while Wayne Gretzky (464 GP on March 17, 1985) and Mario Lemieux (550 GP on Dec. 17, 1992) are the only players to reach the milestone in fewer than 700 games.

* The 30-year-old forward has compiled 37-54—91 in 62 career games against the Flyers – his third-best points per game average against any opponent (1.47), behind the Islanders (1.77; 34-74—108 in 61 GP) and Sabres (1.54; 19-38—57 in 37 GP).

* Crosby posted the 326th multi-point game of his career, including his 50th performance with at least three assists. Since entering the League in 2005-06, the two-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner leads all players with 96 three-point performances – 21 more than the next-closest skater (Ovechkin: 75).

FIVE-GOAL OUTBURST GUIDES FLAMES CLOSER TO PLAYOFF SPOT
Five different players scored – including Sean Monahan’s 30th goal of the season – to help the Flames (33-25-10, 76 points) snap a four-game slide (0-3-1) and move within one point of the idle Kings (36-25-5, 77 points) for the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.

* Johnny Gaudreau collected 0-2—2 to boost his season totals to 20-56—76 in 68 GP and move within one assist of tying League leaders Jakub Voracek (57) and Blake Wheeler (57). Only one Flames player has recorded more assists in a season since 1993-94: Alex Tanguay had 59 in 2006-07 (81 GP)

* Gaudreau, who has led the Flames in scoring in each of the past two seasons, sits two points shy of matching his career high set in 2015-16 (30-48—78 in 79 GP).

STEPAN LIFTS COYOTES WITH LATE GOAL
Derek Stepan (1-1—2) scored the go-ahead goal with 58 seconds remaining in regulation to help the Coyotes extend their point streak to four contests (3-0-1) and improve to 9-2-2 in their last 13 contests.

* Stepan’s tally was the 66th instance this season where a team has scored a goal-ahead goal in the final five minutes of regulation, including the 12th such marker in the final minute.

DID YOU KNOW?
Jussi Jokinen scored his first goal in a Canucks uniform (2 GP). Jokinen, who was acquired at the Trade Deadline, has also spent time with the Kings, Oilers and Blue Jackets this season. He is just the fourth skater in NHL history to suit up for four different teams in a single season, joining Mark Arcobello (PIT, NSH, EDM, ARI in 2014-15), Dave McLlwain (NYI, BUF, TOR, WIN in 1991-92) and Dennis O'Brien (BOS, MNS, CLR, CLE in 1977-78).

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SNEAK PEEK AT THURSDAY’S ACTION

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ONE MONTH FROM THE END OF THE REGULAR SEASON

The final month of the 2017-18 season will feature 241 games to decide the winner of the Presidents’ Trophy and all 16 berths in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The campaign concludes Sunday, April 8, when the Bruins and Panthers play a rescheduled game in Boston to follow up a 15-game Saturday that includes every team except the Penguins.

* The League-leading Lightning (46-17-4, 96 points) hold a six-point edge against the Bruins (41-15-8, 90 points) for first place in the Atlantic Division, but Boston holds three games in hand. The two clubs meet three more times this season: March 17, March 29 and April 3.

* The two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins (39-25-4, 82 points) sit atop the Metropolitan Division, with the Capitals (37-22-7, 81 points) and Flyers (34-22-11, 79 points) within striking distance. Each of the three teams has one head-to-head matchup remaining against the other two clubs.

* The Western Conference-leading Predators (43-14-9, 95 points) own a six-point lead over the Jets (40-17-9, 89 points) for first place in the Central Division. Nashville has never finished higher than second in its division or third in its conference.

* The expansion Golden Knights (42-19-5, 89 points) own a nine-point advantage over the Ducks (34-21-12, 80 points) atop the Pacific Division standings as they aim to conclude their record-setting season with a division title.

PREDATORS LOOK FOR 10TH STRAIGHT WIN

The Western Conference-leading Predators (43-14-9, 95 points) – who sit one point shy of the Lightning (46-17-4, 96 points) for the top spot in the overall NHL standings – aim to win 10 consecutive games for the first time in franchise history. The Avalanche (10-0-0 from Dec. 29 – Jan. 22) are the only team this season to put together a 10-game winning streak.

TWO OF NHL’S HOTTEST PLAYERS FACE OFF IN NEW JERSEY

Devils forward Taylor Hall and Jets forward Patrik Laine, who own the longest two active point streaks in the NHL, go head to head when the Jets (40-17-9, 89 points) visit the Devils (34-25-8, 76 points) at Prudential Center.

* Hall has led the charge offensively for the Devils – who own the Eastern Conference’s first Wild Card position in a bid to make the postseason for the first time since 2011-12 – racking up a season-leading 19-game point streak (13-13—26) and points in 26 consecutive appearances dating to Jan. 2.

* Laine is coming off his fourth career hat trick on Tuesday (3-0—3 at NYR), which extended his point streak to nine games (13-6—19). This marks just the 10th time since 1996-97 that a player has scored 13 goals in a nine-game span and the first since Anaheim’s Corey Perry in 2010-11.

Thanks to te PR department of the NHL for the information above.