OVECHKIN TIES HULL, HELPS CAPITALS SWEEP SEASON SERIES AGAINST DEVILS
Alex Ovechkin (1-2—3) factored on three of the Capitals' five goals to help Washington (25-9-4, 54 points) take sole possession of first place in the MassMutual East Division and sweep its season series against New Jersey (WSH: 8-0-0, NJD: 0-6-2). It marked the first time in franchise history the Capitals have recorded eight wins against one opponent in a single campaign.



* Ovechkin’s 19th goal of 2020-21 was also the 265th power-play tally of his career, tied with Brett Hull for second place on the NHL's all-time list. Six of his 19 goals have come against the Devils this season, his most against any opponent.

* Sunday’s contest also marked the Capitals captain’s 115th career outing with at least three points, the second most among active players behind Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (149).

CHYCHRUN COMPLETES HAT TRICK WITH OT WINNER
Jakob Chychrun (3-0—3) completed his first career hat trick 1:47 into overtime as the Coyotes (18-15-5, 41 points) opened up a three-point cushion on the Blues (16-15-6, 38 points) for fourth place in the Honda West Division. Chychrun became the eighth defenseman in NHL history to complete a hat trick with an overtime goal and the third to do so at Honda Center.



* Chychrun, who joined Vegas’ Dylan Coghlan (3-0—3 on March 10 at MIN) as the NHL‘s second defenseman to score a hat trick in 2020-21, boosted his season totals 12-13—25 and moved into a tie with Edmonton’s Darnell Nurse (12-15—27) for the most goals among all blueliners.

PANTHERS POUNCE INTO FIRST PLACE IN NHL STANDINGS
Aleksander Barkov collected 1-1—2 and Chris Driedger turned aside all 32 shots he faced as the Panthers (26-9-4, 56 points) moved into first place in the NHL standings. Florida extended the League’s longest active win streak to six games, dating to March 27.



MRAZEK RETURNS AND JOINS RARE COMPANY WITH ANOTHER SHUTOUT
Petr Mrazek, who made his first start since Jan. 30, stopped all 28 shots he faced to earn his third shutout and improve to 3-1-0 this season (0.74 GAA, .968 SV%, 3 SO). After he posted three such performances in all of 2019-20, Mrazek became the sixth goaltender in the NHL’s modern era to post a shutout in each of his first three or more wins of a season.



* Only two goaltenders in NHL history extended their streak beyond three wins: Pascal Leclaire (4 w/ CBJ in 2007-08) and Dave Kerr (4 w/ NYR in 1937-38).

EASTER TREATS, COURTESY OF #NHLSTATS

* Auston Matthews (25-19—44 in 35 GP) scored one of four Toronto goals to boost his lead in the NHL’s Maurice “Rocket” Richard race in 2020-21. Only three different Maple Leafs players in the League’s expansion era (since 1967-68) required fewer games than Matthews to score 25 goals in a season.



* Mark Giordano (0-1—1) found the score sheet and collected his 500th career point. The Flames captain (140-360—500), who hails from Toronto, Ont. and also scored his first NHL goal versus his hometown team on Oct. 14, 2006 (2-0—2), became the third defensemen to reach the milestone with the franchise, joining Al MacInnis (822) and Gary Suter (564).



QUICK CLICKS

* Stars coach Rick Bowness leaves game due to COVID-19 protocol
* Red Wings use three-goal second period to defeat Lightning
* New arenas for Kraken, Islanders to embody NHL Green initiative
* Color of Hockey: Lightning anthem singer lending voice to reading project
* Wild assist unveiling Minnesota State High School All-Hockey Hair Team

WILD AIM FOR 12TH STRAIGHT WIN AT XCEL ENERGY CENTER
The Wild (23-11-2, 48 points) return to Xcel Energy Center after going 2-1-1 on their four-game road trip and set their sights on extending their franchise-record home win streak to 12 contests.



* Minnesota, which suffered its last home loss on Jan. 30 against Colorado, have held the opposition to two or fewer goals in each of its last six home contests and has only trailed for 41:23 of 665:17 over their current 11-game stretch.

* The Wild can become the fourth different team in five seasons to register a home win streak of at least 12 games. The Bruins (12 GP in 2018-19), Maple Leafs (13 GP in 2017-18) and Capitals (15 GP in 2016-17 & 12 GP in 2015-16) each did so over that span.

STAAL SET TO SKATE IN FIRST GAME WITH CANADIENS
Eric Staal, who was traded to Montreal by Buffalo on March 26, is set to make his team debut when the Canadiens welcome the Oilers to Bell Centre.

* The Canadiens can become the fifth team in the NHL’s modern era (since 1943-44) to dress at least six Stanley Cup winners after having none during the preceding campaign (excluding expansion franchises in their inaugural season), following the Flyers in 1974-75 (19), Islanders in 1980-81 (22), Flames in 1989-90 (20) and Blues in 1994-95 (7). St. Louis is the only other club to do so after not winning the Cup during the previous year.

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.