* At 22 years, 296 days, Elias says Toffoli also became the first Kings player under the age of 23 to notch a hat trick since Oct. 22, 2009, when Anze Kopitar (22 years, 59 days) did so in a 5-4 overtime win vs. DAL.

* Jeff Carter collected three assists, matching a career high achieved two other times this season (also Oct. 26 vs. CBJ and Dec. 18 vs. STL). The Kings improved to 12-0-0 when he records a multi-point game.

* With his performance, Carter eclipsed 500 career points (270-231—501 in 690 GP). He also moved into the team lead in scoring this season (15-26—41 in 54 GP).

* Jonathan Quick made 15 saves to reach the 20-win milestone for the sixth time in his NHL career.

* The Kings improved to 17-6-6 (40 points) at STAPLES Center this season, including points in 11 of their past 13 home contests (6-2-5). Their 40 points through 29 home games are a franchise record, surpassing the previous mark of 39 set in 1974-75 and equaled in 2005-06 and 2010-11.

. . . DUBNYK, WILD ALSO GAIN GROUND IN WEST
Devan Dubnyk made 26 saves, including 11 in the opening period, to help the Wild extend their point streak to nine contests (7-0-2), their longest such run since a franchise-record 10-game point streak March 8-27, 2007 (9-0-1).

* At 27-20-7 (61 points), the Wild moved within two points of the Flames (30-22-3, 63 points) – who lost on Thursday – for the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. Minnesota holds one game in hand, but Calgary owns the ROW tiebreaker (CGY: 27, MIN: 25).

* Dubnyk improved to 9-1-1 with a 1.48 goals-against average, .943 save percentage and four shutouts in 12 starts since joining the Wild on Jan. 14. Overall, he is 18-6-3 this season (31 GP), two wins shy of his career high established in 2011-12 (47 GP w/ EDM).

* Jason Pominville found the back of the net for the third straight game (3-0—3), his longest scoring streak since a four-game stretch Oct. 26 – Nov. 11, 2013 (6-2—8).

* Zach Parise posted his team-leading 22nd goal of the season, which proved to be the game-winner. He also shares the club lead with 41 points (w/ Pominville).

* Mikko Koivu notched a pair of assists to register his 113th career multi-point game, one shy of the franchise record held by Marian Gaborik (114).

* The Wild improved to 12-2-3 all-time against the Panthers, including a 6-0-2 mark at Xcel Energy Center.

METROPOLITAN DIVISION RACE TIGHTENS
The top three teams in the Metropolitan Division – the Islanders (36-18-1, 73 points), Penguins (32-15-8, 72 points) and Rangers (32-16-5, 69 points) – all won on Thursday:

* Anders Lee scored twice, including the tiebreaking goal midway through the second period, to power the Islanders to their third consecutive victory. At 36-18-1, the club tied a franchise record for the most wins through the opening 55 games of one season (1981-82: 36-13-6).

* Lee paces all rookies with six game-winning goals this season. Elias says that is one shy of the franchise record for a rookie, established by David Volek in 1988-89 and equaled by Trent Hunter in 2003-04. Lee’s 18 overall goals share second among rookies, one behind League leader Filip Forsberg.

* Jaroslav Halak made 32 saves to pick up his fourth consecutive victory and reach the 30-win milestone for the first time in his career (41 GP). Per Elias, he became the fastest goaltender in Islanders history to reach the 30-win mark, surpassing the previous record set by Billy Smith in 1981-82 (42 GP).

* The Senators overcame 3-0 and 4-2 deficits, but David Perron scored the lone goal in the shootout to lift the Penguins to their fourth win in their past five outings.

* Sidney Crosby (2-0—2) registered his 61st career multi-goal game, including his second in his past four outings (also Feb. 6 at CGY: 2-1—3). Kris Letang added 1-1—2 to move into a share of the League lead in points among defensemen (10-34—44).

* The Penguins improved to 6-1-1 in their last eight regular-season meetings with the Senators dating to Jan. 27, 2013.

* The Avalanche erased a 3-1 deficit, but the Rangers posted three unanswered goals in the final 7:58 of regulation to pick up their fifth win in their past seven starts (5-1-1). At 32-16-5 (69 points), the Rangers leapfrogged the idle Capitals (29-16-10, 68 points) for third place in the division.

* Kevin Hayes (1-2—3) notched his first career multi-point game and also set a personal best with a +4 rating. He capped his performance with the primary assist on Carl Hagelin’s tiebreaking marker midway through the third period.

* Rick Nash recorded 1-1—2, including his 34th goal of the season to reclaim sole possession of first place in the NHL. Mats Zuccarello also found the back of the net to stretch his point streak to a career-high seven games (4-5—9).

DID YOU KNOW?
The top seven teams in the Eastern Conference are separated by six points:

PREDATORS MAINTAIN CUSHION ATOP NHL . . .
Shea Weber registered 1-2—3 and Filip Forsberg scored the tiebreaking goal early in the second period to lead the Predators to their fourth consecutive victory.

* At 37-12-6 (80 points), the Predators maintained a three-point lead over the Ducks (35-14-7, 77 points) – who also won on Thursday – for the top spot in the NHL standings. Nashville holds one game in hand and also owns the ROW tiebreaker (NSH: 32, ANA: 28).

* Weber posted his 11th career three-point game and second of the season (also Nov. 18 at TOR: 0-3—3). He shares sixth among defensemen with 13-26—39.

* Forsberg notched his 19th goal of the season – and fifth via the power play – to surpass Alexander Radulov’s franchise record for goals by a rookie, established in 2006-07 (18).

* Forsberg also added one assist for his 13th multi-point game of the season. He continues to lead all rookies in goals (19), assists (31), points (50), power-play goals (5), power-play assists (12), power-play points (17), shots on goal (165) and plus/minus (+22).

* Pekka Rinne made 32 saves to earn his League-leading 32nd win of the season, including a 13-1-1 mark in his past 15 appearances. He also paces the NHL with a 1.99 goals-against average, while his .930 save percentage ranks second to Carey Price (.933).

* The Predators improved to 6-1-0 in their past seven home games versus the Jets/Thrashers franchise dating to Jan. 30, 2010.

. . . DUCKS, BLUES KEEP PACE WITH WINS
The Ducks (35-14-7, 77 points) and Blues (36-15-4, 76 points) also won on Thursday to keep pace with the Predators (37-12-6, 80 points) for the top spot in the NHL standings.

* Down 1-0 midway through the second period, Francois Beauchemin and Matt Beleskey scored 2:52 apart to help the Ducks snap a three-game skid (0-2-1). Beleskey paces the NHL with eight game-winning goals this season; seven of his past 10 markers have been decisive tallies.

* Making his first start since Oct. 30, John Gibson recorded 35 saves – including 14 in each of the first two periods – to improve to 6-2-0 in his career (1.99 GAA, .936 SV%, 2 SO).

* The Ducks improved to 7-1-1 in their last nine meetings with the Hurricanes dating to Nov. 30, 2008.

* Alexander Steen (1-2—3), David Backes (1-1—2) and T.J. Oshie (1-1—2) combined for 3-4—7 to power the Blues to their ninth win in their past 11 starts. The trio has combined for 125 points this season, including 69 in the past 18 games; Steen paces the NHL with 11-14—25 in the 2015 calendar year.

* Both Vladimir Tarasenko and Lightning captain Steven Stamkos scored their 29th goals of the season, tied for third in the NHL. Tarasenko leads the Blues and also shares sixth in the League with 54 points.

* The Blues improved to 5-1-0 in their past six meetings with the Lightning dating to Nov. 12, 2011, including two wins in the past 10 days (also Feb. 3 vs. TBL: 2-1 OT W).

OILERS RALLY TO CONTINUE STREAKS IN MONTREAL
Down 3-2 with less than one minute remaining in regulation, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins evened the game with 24.9 seconds left on the clock and Anton Lander potted the decisive marker at 1:47 of overtime to lift the Oilers to their fourth straight win at Bell Centre dating to Dec. 1, 2010. Edmonton also improved to 5-0-3 in its past eight visits to Montreal dating to Nov. 4, 2003.

* Excluding shootouts, Elias says the Oilers rallied for a victory when trailing in the final minute of regulation for the third time in franchise history. The other such instances: April 12, 1999 at SJS (5-4 in OT) and Jan. 24, 2013 vs. LAK (2-1 in OT).

* Nugent-Hopkins (2-0—2) recorded his seventh career multi-goal game and first since April 1, 2014 at SJS (2-1—3). He ranks second on the Oilers in goals (14), assists (20) and points (34) this season.

* Lander posted his first career overtime goal and second career game-winner (also Jan. 29 vs. BUF: 1-2—3). He has 3-3—6 in his past eight outings after totaling 2-10—12 in his first 105 career contests.

* Oscar Klefbom (0-2—2) added his first career multi-point game.

LOOSE PUCKS
Down 4-2 late in the third period, Mark Stone and Kyle Turris scored 13 seconds apart to help the Senators force overtime. Elias says the team earned at least one point when facing a multi-goal deficit in the final five minutes of regulation for the first time since Dec. 4, 2007 at TBL (4-3 SO L) . . . Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov registered one assist to extend his point streak to five games (4-2—6), equaling a career high set earlier this season (Dec. 11-19: 4-3—7 in 5 GP) . . . Panthers forward Nick Bjugstad (Minneapolis, Minn.) scored while playing in his home state. He now has 1-1—2 in two career appearances at Xcel Energy Center . . . Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban collected two assists. He shares eighth among blueliners with 11-27—38 this season . . . Flames forward Mason Raymond (2-0—2) recorded his 12th career multi-goal game and second of the season (also Oct. 9 at EDM: 3-0—3) . . . Maple Leafs forward Richard Panik posted 1-1—2 for his fourth career multi-point game and second of the season (also Nov. 6 at COL: 1-1—2) . . . Avalanche forward Jarome Iginla (1-1—2) notched his 577th career goal to tie Mark Recchi for 19th in NHL history . . . Ducks forward Corey Perry recorded his 300th NHL assist . . . Canadiens forward Christian Thomas scored his first NHL goal/point (15 GP). Teammate Jacob de la Rose earned the primary assist on the play for his first NHL point (5 GP) . . . Wild forward Stephane Veilleux (500), Avalanche forward Ryan O’Reilly (400) and Hurricanes defenseman Brett Bellemore (100) all played in milestone games . . . Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock recorded his 693rd career win to surpass Dick Irvin (692) and move into sole possession of fourth place in NHL history, behind Scotty Bowman (1,244), Al Arbour (782) and Joel Quenneville (739) . . . Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault picked up his 499th career victory to tie Terry Murray for 21st in NHL history . . . The Canucks claimed forward Brandon McMillan off waivers from the Coyotes . . . The Department of Player Safety suspended Stars forward Antoine Roussel for two games for cross-checking Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid . . . ICYMI: The Kings honored former head coach Barry Melrose prior to their game against the Flames.

SNEAK PEEK AT FRIDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Philadelphia @ Columbus, 7:00 p.m., CSN-PH, FS-O
New Jersey @ Chicago, 8:30 p.m., MSG+, CSN-CH
Florida @ Dallas, 8:30 p.m., FS-F, FS-SW
San Jose @ Arizona, 9:00 p.m., CSN-CA, FS-A
Boston @ Vancouver, 10:00 p.m., NESN, SNP

the above information was provided by the NHL PR department