* Via Elias, Paquette became the first player to score a hat trick against the Red Wings since Dec. 18, 1993, when Oleg Petrov did so for the Canadiens in an 8-1 win at MTL.

* Ben Bishop made 27 saves to improve to 6-1-0 with a 1.60 goals-against average, .939 save percentage and one shutout in eight career appearances vs. DET.

* Jonathan Drouin and Alex Killorn both collected two assists. Steven Stamkos added his 27th goal of the season, two shy of the League lead held by Alex Ovechkin.

* The Lightning improved to 11-2-2 versus divisional opponents this season, including a 2-0-0 mark vs. DET. They face the Red Wings two more times in 2014-15: March 20 at TBL and March 28 at DET.

. . . PRICE, RASK HELP CANADIENS, BRUINS KEEP PACE
Goaltenders Carey Price (24 saves) and Tuukka Rask (43 saves) helped the Canadiens and Bruins, respectively, keep pace in the Atlantic Division:

* Price stopped every shot he faced to record his 28th career shutout (third this season) and lead the Canadiens to their fourth consecutive victory. He improved to 10-5-1 with a 1.86 goals-against average, .940 save percentage and six shutouts in 17 career regular-season appearances vs. NYR.

* Per Elias, only one other active goaltender has more than two career shutouts against the Rangers: Pittsburgh’s Marc-Andre Fleury (4). Price is the fifth goaltender in Canadiens history to post at least six shutouts vs. NYR, joining Jacques Plante (9), Bill Durnan (6), George Hainsworth (6) and Charlie Hodge (6).

* Max Pacioretty tallied the lone goal, his 22nd career game-winning marker and fourth of the season. Pacioretty leads the Canadiens and ranks ninth in the NHL with 22 overall goals in 2014-15.

* Rask posted a season-high 43 saves, including a sprawling paddle stop, to lift the Bruins to their seventh win in their last nine outings (7-1-1). He improved to 8-0-0 in his career when making 40 or more saves and 7-3-0 in 11 career appearances vs. NYI (2.47 GAA, .924 SV%).

* Milan Lucic and Reilly Smith both registered 1-2—3. Lucic notched his second three-point performance of the season (also Oct. 21 vs. SJS: 0-3—3), while Smith matched his career high for points in one contest (also Dec. 23, 2013 at NSH: 1-2—3). David Krejci added two helpers

* At 26-16-7 (59 points), the Bruins leapfrogged the Rangers (27-15-4, 58 points) – who lost to the Canadiens – for the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

SHATTENKIRK, BLUES EDGE PREDATORS IN CENTRAL SHOWDOWN
Celebrating his 26th birthday, Kevin Shattenkirk potted the decisive marker in the fourth round of the shootout to help the Blues extend their point streak to a season-best nine games (8-0-1).

* At 30-13-4 (64 points), the Blues moved within four points of the Predators (31-10-6, 68 points) for first place in the Central Division. They completed the season series with a 2-3-0 record (NSH: 3-1-1).

* Shattenkirk improved to 6-for-14 (42.9%) in his shootout career, including five game-deciding tallies. He added his 32nd assist of the season, tops among defensemen and tied for seventh in the NHL.

* David Backes also collected one assist to stretch his career-high point streak to eight games (7-8—15). He had 9-10—19 in 38 outings this season prior to this stretch.

* Eleven total Blues players found the scoresheet, with T.J. Oshie, Steve Ott, Ryan Reaves and Jaden Schwartz supplying the goals.

* Oshie also scored in the shootout. His 54.7% career efficiency in tiebreakers (29-for-53) ranks second among active skaters with a minimum of 30 attempts, behind only Frans Nielsen (37-for-67, 55.2%).

* Brian Elliott made 33 saves – and denied three attempts in the shootout – to improve to 14-5-2 in 23 appearances this season. He leads the NHL with a 1.95 goals-against average and ranks sixth with a .927 save percentage.

* The Blues improved to 7-0-1 in their past eight games at Scottrade Center, matching their longest home point streak of the season (also Nov. 11 – Dec. 16: 7-0-1). They boast a 19-4-2 overall record at home in 2014-15; their 40 home points rank second in the NHL, behind only the Lightning (41).

SHARKS RIDE FIVE-GOAL PERIOD TO DEFEAT DUCKS
Down 1-0 five minutes after the opening face-off, the Sharks scored six consecutive goals – including five in the second period – to complete their season series against the Ducks with a 4-0-1 record (ANA: 1-4-0).

* At 26-17-6 (58 points), the Sharks moved three points ahead of the idle Canucks (26-17-3, 55 points) for second place in the Pacific Division.

* The Sharks notched five goals in one period for the first time since Feb. 27, 2014, when they also found the back of the net five times in the second period of a 7-3 win at PHI. The franchise record for goals in one period is six, last accomplished Jan. 22, 2013, in the first period of a 6-3 victory at EDM.

* Twelve Sharks players found the scoresheet, led by multi-point performances from Barclay Goodrow (1-1—2), Patrick Marleau (1-1—2), James Sheppard (1-1—2), Tomas Hertl (0-2—2) and Joe Thornton (0-2—2).

* Joe Pavelski added his 25th goal of the season to take over sole possession of fifth place in the NHL. He notched six goals in five contests versus the Ducks this season after posting seven markers in his first 45 career games vs. ANA.

* The Sharks extended their home winning streak against the Ducks to seven games dating to Jan. 29, 2013.

STARS WIN IN SPEZZA’S RETURN TO OTTAWA
The Stars yielded an early 3-0 lead, but scored three unanswered goals in the final 9:09 of regulation to pick up their seventh consecutive victory over the Senators dating to March 20, 2010.

* Trevor Daley recorded 1-2—3 to match a career high for points in one contest (also Dec. 31, 2011 vs. BOS: 1-2—3). Daley scored his 12th goal of the season, tied for second among defensemen; it also was his first career shorthanded marker.

* John Klingberg posted 1-1—2, including the tiebreaking goal midway through the third period. He has 7-13—20 in 34 contests since making his NHL debut on Nov. 11. Via Elias, only three other rookie defensemen have registered 20 or more points in Stars/North Stars history: Brad Maxwell (18-29—47 in 1977-78), Shawn Chambers (5-19—24 in 1988-89) and Matt Niskanen (7-19—26 in 2007-08).

* Jamie Benn (2-0—2) and Colton Sceviour (1-1—2) also registered multi-point performances. Benn has 4-4—8 in his past five outings and ranks second the team with 16-28—44 overall (48 GP).

* Kari Lehtonen made 25 saves to reach the 20-win milestone for the sixth time in his NHL career.

* ICYMI: Former Senators captain Jason Spezza won 5-of-10 face-offs (50.0%) and logged 17:38 of ice-time in his return to Ottawa. Fans at Canadian Tire Centre welcomed Spezza with a standing ovation following a video tribute during the first period.

AROUND THE RINKS
Highlights from the rest of Thursday’s action:

* Devan Dubnyk stopped all 30 shots he faced to register his 11th career shutout (third this season) and lead the Wild to their fourth victory in their past six games (4-1-1). Since being acquired by Minnesota on Jan. 14, Dubnyk has posted a 4-1-0 record with a 1.66 goals-against average, .931 save percentage and two shutouts in six appearances. Zach Parise potted the lone marker, reaching the 20-goal milestone for the seventh time in 10 NHL seasons. The Wild improved to 7-2-1 in their last 10 meetings with the Flames dating o March 22, 2012.

* Knotted at 2-2 after two periods, Sean Bergenheim scored the tiebreaking goal with 6:52 remaining in regulation to power the Panthers to their first victory over the Blue Jackets since Nov. 21, 2007 (snapping a 0-7-3 slide). Roberto Luongo made 31 saves to improve to 12-6-6 with a 2.17 goals-against average, .918 save percentage and four shutouts in 24 career appearances vs. CBJ. Overall, the Panthers (21-15-10, 52 points) halted a 0-4-1 slide to move within six points of the Rangers (27-15-4, 58 points) – who lost on Thursday – for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

* Tied at 2-2 after one period, the Flyers scored three unanswered goals to pick up their third consecutive win. Nick Schultz potted the decisive marker, snapping a 125-game goal drought dating to April 8, 2013 at ANA (w/ EDM). He also registered his fourth career game-winning goal and first since Nov. 2, 2006 vs. VAN (w/ MIN). Brayden Schenn and Wayne Simmonds both added 1-1—2 for the Flyers, who have earned points in eight of their past nine meetings with the Jets dating to Jan. 31, 2012 (6-1-2).

* Trailing 1-0 after 40 minutes, the Coyotes posted three unanswered goals in the third period to snap a seven-game skid (0-5-2). Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored his 13th goal of the season, tops among defensemen, and Martin Hanzal notched his third game-winning marker of 2014-15 – his most in one campaign since establishing a career high with five in 2010-11. Mike Smith (Kingston, Ont.) made 24 saves to improve to 5-1-2 with a 2.19 goals-against average and .928 save percentage in eight career appearances vs. TOR.

* Matt Fraser and Anton Lander both established career highs with 1-2—3 to lead the Oilers to their third victory in their past four outings. Fraser notched his second career multi-point performance (also Nov. 1, 2014 vs. OTT: 2-0—2 w/ BOS), while Lander posted his first such contest and snapped a 64-game goal drought dating to Jan. 17, 2012 at CBJ. The Oilers improved to 3-1-0 in their past four meetings with the Sabres dating to Feb. 3, 2014, and also picked up their first head-to-head win at Rexall Place since Oct. 16, 2003 (0-4-0).

DID YOU KNOW?
Facing a 1-0 deficit, Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored (shorthanded) five seconds into the third period.

* Per Elias, it marked the fastest shorthanded goal from the start of one period in NHL history.

* Ekman-Larsson also matched a franchise record for the quickest goal (of any kind) from the start of one period. Doug Smail scored five seconds into the first period of a 5-4 win vs. STL on Dec. 20, 1981.

* The NHL record for the fastest goal from the start of one period is four seconds, achieved three times. The last player to accomplish that feat was Maple Leafs forward James van Riemsdyk, who scored four seconds into the second period of a 4-2 win vs. PHI on March 28, 2014.

LOOSE PUCKS
Despite suffering the shootout loss, the Predators (31-10-6, 68 points) have picked up points in 13 of their past 14 games dating to Dec. 27 (9-1-4). They trail the Ducks (32-11-6, 70 points) by two points for the top spot in the NHL standings, but hold two games in hand and own the ROW tiebreaker (NSH: 27, ANA: 25) . . . Islanders captain John Tavares found the back of the net for the fourth straight game, one shy of his career high set Feb. 7-16, 2013 (7-2—9 in 5 GP). He also extended his point streak to five contests (4-5—9) . . . Ducks forward Patrick Maroon scored to stretch his point streak to five games (4-3—7), matching a career high established March 23-31, 2014 (2-6—8) . . . Flyers forward Jakub Voracek collected one helper to push his assist/point streak to five games (0-6—6). He leads the NHL with 41 assists and 58 points in 50 GP . . . Teammate Michael Del Zotto also notched one assist to extend his point streak to a career-high five contests (2-4—6) . . . Predators forward Mike Fisher registered 2-1—3 to match a career high for points in one game, last achieved April 12, 2014 vs. CHI (0-3—3). He also scored his 15th career shorthanded goal and first since April 7, 2009 vs. BOS (w/ OTT) . . . Jets forward Mathieu Perreault (2-0—2) posted his third multi-goal game of the season . . . Maple Leafs forward Phil Kessel reached the 20-goal milestone for the seventh consecutive season . . . Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk recorded his 100th NHL point. He has a career-high 4-21—25 in 38 GP this season (19-56—75 in 321 GP prior to 2014-15) . . . Flyers forward Petr Straka notched his first NHL assist/point (2 GP) . . . Wild forward Thomas Vanek collected his 300th NHL assist . . . Coyotes forward Antoine Vermette played in his 800th NHL game . . . The Blackhawks acquired defenseman Gustav Forsling from the Canucks in exchange for defenseman Adam Clendening . . . ICYMI: President Barack Obamawill honor the Kings for their 2014 Stanley Cup championship during a trip to the White House on Monday . . . Hockey Hall of Famer Mike Bossy dropped the ceremonial opening puck prior to the BOS-NYI game . . . Master Sgt. Christopher Aaron McKeen surprised his family at the DET-TBL game.

SNEAK PEEK AT FRIDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Pittsburgh @ New Jersey, 7:00 p.m., TVA, ROOT, MSG+
St. Louis @ Carolina, 7:00 p.m., FS-MW, SPSO
Nashville @ Colorado, 9:00 p.m., FS-TN, ALT
Buffalo @ Vancouver, 10:00 p.m., NHLN-US, MSG-B, BELL TV, SNP
Chicago @ Anaheim, 10:00 p.m., SNE, SNO, SNP, WGN, PRIME
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MILLER FACES SABRES FOR FIRST TIME
Longtime Buffalo goaltender Ryan Miller is scheduled to face his former club for the first time when the Canucks play host to the Sabres at Rogers Arena. A fifth-round selection (138th overall) by Buffalo in the 1999 NHL Draft, Miller played the first 11 seasons of his career for the Sabres, setting franchise records for wins (284) and appearances (540) by a goaltender. Overall, he compiled a 284-186-57 mark with the team, including a 2.60 goals-against average, .916 save percentage and 28 shutouts, before being sent to the Blues at the 2014 Trade Deadline.

“It’s going to be a little bit strange,” Miller said in advance of the game. “I will pay special attention not to pass the puck towards the Buffalo symbol.”

the above information was provided by the NHL PR department