RINNE, PREDATORS EDGE SHARKS TO CONTINUE HOT START
Pekka Rinne made 20 saves and Calle Jarnkrok scored the tiebreaking goal with 11:08 remaining in regulation to help the Predators improve to 7-1-1 this season, including a five-game point streak (4-0-1).

* With 15 points, the Predators are off to their second-best start in franchise history. The 2005-06 squad went 8-0-1 (17 points) in its first nine outings, including an eight-game winning streak to open the campaign.

* Rinne has started eight of the club’s first nine contests, posting a 6-1-1 record with a 1.74 goals-against average, .934 save percentage and one shutout. He has allowed two or fewer goals in six of his first eight appearances.

* Jarnkrok, the 51st overall selection (by DET) in the 2010 NHL Draft, registered his second career game-winning goal (also Jan. 10 at MIN).

SENATORS PREVAIL IN SEESAW AFFAIR WITH FLAMES
Kyle Turris (1-1—2) and Mika Zibanejad both scored in the shootout to help the Senators edge the Flames and snap a four-game skid (0-2-2).

* Both the Senators and Flames, who combined for five goals in the third period, held two separate leads during the contest (OTT: 2-1 and 4-3, CGY: 1-0 and 3-2).

* Zibanejad improved to 10-for-21, with four game-deciding goals, in his shootout career. His 47.6% conversion rate ranks 10th in NHL history among skaters with a minimum of 20 attempts.

* Craig Anderson turned aside 34 shots – including a game-saving glove stop in overtime– to improve to 4-2-1 in seven appearances this season (2.78 GAA, .914 SV%).

MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS
* Flames forward Sam Bennett (1-1—2), the fourth overall selection in the 2014 NHL Draft, scored his first regular-season NHL goal (10 GP). He posted 3-1—4 in 11 playoff appearances last season.

* Penguins defenseman Kris Letang played in his 500th NHL game (all w/ PIT). He became the fourth defenseman in franchise history to reach the milestone, joining Brooks Orpik (703 GP), Ron Stackhouse (621 GP) and David Burrows (573 GP).

LOOSE PUCKS
Forward Evgeny Kuznetsov scored the lone goal for the Capitals to extend his point streak to four games (4-6—10) . . . Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau collected his 10th assist of the season, tied for the League lead with Coyotes forward Martin Hanzal . . . ICYMI: The Senators and Capitals hosted special guests as part of their Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Nights . . . Islanders forward Matt Martin presented a $5,000 check to Ronald McDonald House Charities on behalf of Hockey Fights Cancer . . . Actor James Badge Dale announced that he will run in this weekend’s New York City Marathon in support of Hockey Fights Cancer . . . Members of the Bruins – including captain Zdeno Chara, defenseman Torey Krug, goaltender Tuukka Rask, and forwards Jimmy Hayesand David Krejci – made a special Halloween-themed visit to Boston Children’s Hospital.

SNEAK PEEK AT THURSDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Carolina @ NY Islanders, 7:00 p.m., FS-CR, MSG+
New Jersey @ Philadelphia, 7:00 p.m., MSG, CSN-PH
Buffalo @ Pittsburgh, 7:00 p.m., MSG-B, BELL TV, ROOT
Colorado @ Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m., ALT, SUN
Anaheim @ St. Louis, 8:00 p.m., PRIME, FS-SD, FS-MW
Chicago @ Winnipeg, 8:00 p.m., CSN-CH, TSN3
Vancouver @ Dallas, 8:30 p.m., SNV, FS-SW
Montreal @ Edmonton, 9:00 p.m., SN, SN360, RDS
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BYLSMA FACES PENGUINS FOR FIRST TIME
Buffalo head coach Dan Bylsma, who guided the Penguins to the Stanley Cup in 2008-09, returns to Pittsburgh for the first time when he brings the Sabres to CONSOL Energy Center. Bylsma spent six seasons behind the bench of the Penguins (2008-14), where he became the winningest head coach in franchise history (252-117-32). He also reached 250 regular-season victories faster than any head coach in NHL history (396 GC), was voted the winner of the Jack Adams Award in 2010-11 and led the Penguins to a playoff berth in each of his six seasons in Pittsburgh.

“There will be emotions,” Bylsma told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “I don’t know exactly if emotional means I’ll be moved to tears. It’s going to be emotional. Looking at the empty seats. I’m going to know 50 faces in the stands [tonight], where they sit. I know where my family sat when they were here. There’s certainly going to be some emotions.”

the above information was provided by the NHL PR department