GAUDREAU LIFTS FLAMES TO EIGHTH STRAIGHT WIN AT HOME . . .
The Sabres erased 2-0 and 3-2 deficits in the third period, but Johnny Gaudreau (1-1—2) scored the tiebreaking goal with 4:50 remaining in regulation to power the Flames to their eighth consecutive win at Scotiabank Saddledome, their longest such run since Feb. 23 – March 27, 2013 (8-0-0).

* The Flames, who also improved to 4-0-0 on their five-game homestand, moved within two victories of equaling the longest home winning streak in franchise history, established Nov. 7 – Dec. 12, 2006 (10-0-0).

* Gaudreau picked up his fourth game-winning goal of the season (28 GP), matching his total from his rookie campaign last year (80 GP). He paces the Flames and shares 10th in the NHL with 10-18—28 overall.

* Sean Monahan added 2-1—3 for his sixth career multi-goal and second career three-point performances (also March 13 vs. TOR: 2-1—3). Monahan, who has 3-4—7 during a four-game point streak, ranks second on team with 10-12—22 this season.

. . . DESPITE THIRD-PERIOD HAT TRICK FROM RISTOLAINEN
Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (3-0—3) scored all three of the team’s goals – all in the third period – to pick up his first career hat trick (141 GP).

* Via Elias, Ristolainen became the first Sabres defenseman to record a hat trick sincePhil Housley on Jan. 22, 1988 vs. NJD (3-1—4) – as well as the first defenseman in franchise history to collect three goals in one period.

* At 21 years, 44 days, Elias adds that Ristolainen became the youngest defenseman to notch a hat trick for any team since March 19, 1983, when 19-year-old Hannu Virta also did so with the Sabres (at MTL).

* Ristolainen became the second defenseman to register a hat trick in the past week; Predators captain Shea Weber achieved that feat on Saturday at DET. Prior to Weber, no defenseman had posted a hat trick since Jan. 4, 2014 (Ryan Suter, MIN).

HELM PROPELS RED WINGS PAST CANADIENS, UP ATLANTIC STANDINGS
Darren Helm (2-0—2) scored twice, including the tiebreaking goal with 6:01 remaining in regulation, to help the Red Wings extend their point streak to 12 games (8-0-4), their longest such run since March 11 – April 3, 2010 (10-0-2).

* At 16-8-5 (37 points), the Red Wings moved within four points of the Canadiens (19-8-3, 41 points) for first place in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference. These teams, who have split their first two meetings, will face off two more times this season – March 24 at DET and March 29 at MTL.

* The Red Wings also extended their point streak at Joe Louis Arena to nine games (6-0-3), their longest such run since Jan. 22 – March 23, 2014 (8-0-3). At 10-5-3 (23 points), Detroit shares second in the NHL in home points and fourth in home wins this season.

* Helm recorded his seventh career multi-goal game and first since Dec. 31, 2014 vs. NJD (2-0—2).

NEAL, RINNE LEAD PREDATORS TO SPLIT OF HOME-AND-HOME . . .
James Neal posted 2-0—2 and Pekka Rinne turned aside 35 of 36 shots to lead the Predators to a split of their home-and-home series with the Blackhawks.

* Neal registered his third multi-goal game of the season, also Oct. 17 at OTT (2-0—2) and Oct. 20 vs. TBL (2-1—3). He paces the club with 12 goals and ranks second with 20 points this season.

* Rinne snapped a three-game personal skid to improve to 12-7-5 this season (2.40 GAA, .908 SV%, 2 SO). He also moved to 15-12-4 in 32 career regular-season appearancesvs. CHI (2.51 GAA, .919 SV%, 2 SO).

* Roman Josi collected one assist to extend his point streak to a career-high six games (3-5—8). He leads the team with 7-15—22 overall.

. . . AS KANE EXTENDS POINT STREAK TO 24 GAMES
Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane scored the team’s lone goal to extend his point streak to 24 games (15-23—38), adding to his franchise record and the longest point streak by any U.S.-born player in NHL history.

* Kane continues to pace all players with 18-26—44 overall this season – that includes at least one point in 27 of 29 games. His 26 assists share first in the NHL (w/ Erik Karlsson), while his 18 goals rank second (behind Jamie Benn: 19).

AROUND THE RINKS
* Mathieu Perreault (1-3—4), Dustin Byfuglien (1-2—3) and Drew Stafford (1-2—3) combined for 10 points to propel the Jets to their third victory in their past four outings. Perreault matched a career high for points in one game, established Jan. 13 vs. FLA (4-0—4). Connor Hellebuyck made 25 saves to improve to 4-0-0 in first four NHL appearances (1.71 GAA, .939 SV%).

* Claude Giroux collected 1-2—3, including what stood as the game-winning goal, to lift the Flyers to a 5-1-1 record in their past seven contests. Giroux, who now has scored at least one goal against all 29 NHL teams he has faced, has 5-9—14 in his past nine games, compared to 6-7—13 in his first 20 appearances of the season.

* Ben Bishop stopped 30 shots, including all 13 he faced in the second period, to lead the Lightning to their third win in their last four games. Bishop, who went 11-8-2 over parts of two seasons with the Senators (23 GP), improved to 7-0-3 in 11 career appearances against his former club (2.13 GAA, .930 SV%).

MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS
* Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds (0-1—1) recorded his 300th NHL point (146-154—300 in 553 GP).

* Canadiens forward Charles Hudon, a fifth-round selection (122nd overall) in the 2012 NHL Draft, collected one assist in his League debut (8:14 TOI).

* Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen played in his 600th NHL game.

LOOSE PUCKS
The Capitals saw their overall point streak end at eight games (7-0-1). They also saw their head-to-head point streak against the Panthers end at 14 games (12-0-2) . . . Blue Jackets forward Alexander Wennberg (0-3—3) registered career highs for assists and points in one game . . . Teammate Cam Atkinson (2-0—2) posted his ninth career multi-goal game and first since March 27 at CHI (3-0—3) . . . Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov (2-0—2) notched his fifth career multi-goal game and second in the past week (also Dec. 5 at SJS: 2-0—2) . . . Panthers goaltender Al Montoya made 20 saves to improve to 4-1-1 this season (1.91 GAA, .929 SV%) . . . Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom (0-1—1) extended his point streak to seven games (2-6—8) . . . Sabres forward Ryan O’Reilly (0-2—2) extended his point streak to six games (2-6—8) . . . Flames defenseman TJ Brodie (0-1—1) extended his assist/point streak to five games (0-6—6) . . . Predators forward Eric Nystrom scored his fifth career shorthanded goal and first since Feb. 24 vs. COL . . . ICYMI: The NHL announced its list of free fan attractionsfor the 2016 NHL Winter Classic Spectator Plaza at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. . . . The NHL and Predators announced the lineup of performers for the indoor and outdoor concert series as part of the 2016 Honda NHL All-Star festivities in Nashville.

SNEAK PEEK AT FRIDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Detroit @ New Jersey, 7:00 p.m., FS-D, MSG+
Los Angeles @ Pittsburgh, 7:00 p.m., SN1, TVAS2, FS-W, ROOT
Winnipeg @ Chicago, 8:30 p.m., TSN3, CSN-CH
Philadelphia @ Dallas, 8:30 p.m., TCN-PH, FS-SW
Minnesota @ Arizona, 9:00 p.m., FS-N, FS-A+
NY Rangers @ Edmonton, 9:30 p.m., MSG, SNW
Carolina @ Anaheim, 10:00 p.m., FS-CR, PRIME, FS-SD
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OILERS HONOR SATHER WITH BANNER AT REXALL PLACE
The Oilers will honor legendary head coach, general manager and president Glen Satherby raising a banner at Rexall Place prior to their game against the Rangers. Sather, who currently serves as president of the Rangers, won five Stanley Cups with the Oilers, including four as their head coach (1983-84, 1984-85, 1986-87 and 1987-88). He will become the ninth member of the Oilers presented with a banner at Rexall Place; fellow honorees – including Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri, Grant Fuhr, Paul Coffey, Mark Messier and Glenn Anderson – will participate in the ceremony, which culminates a two-day celebration of Sather’s career.

ICYMI: The Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation and Katz family honored Sather on Thursday with a $1-million donation for the creation of a fund to support new programs at the Edmonton Downtown Community Arena.

the above information was provided by the NHL PR department