HOLTBY EXTENDS POINT STREAK AS CAPITALS OUTLAST SENATORS
Braden Holtby made 26 saves to backstop the Capitals to their third consecutive victory and a 10-1-1 record in their past 12 contests.
* At 22-6-2 (46 points), the Capitals continued their best start to a season – in terms of wins and points – in the franchise’s 41-year history. They also moved within two points of the idle Stars (23-6-2, 48 points) for first place in the NHL standings.
* The Capitals picked up their sixth consecutive win at home to improve to 12-3-1 (25 points) this season at Verizon Center. Their 12 home victories and 25 home points are tied for second in the NHL, behind only the Rangers (13-4-1, 27 points).
* Holtby, who leads all goaltenders with 20 wins and a 1.83 goals-against average this season (25 GP), extended his career-high point streak to 13 games (12-0-1, 1.67 GAA, .945 SV%, 1 SO), including four straight victories. He has allowed two or fewer goals in 11 of those 13 contests.
* Holtby also extended his winning streak at Verizon Center to nine games, boosting his home record to 12-2-0 in 14 appearances this season (1.78 GAA, .934 SV%, 1 SO). Elias says that he became the third goaltender in Capitals history to win nine or more consecutive home decisions within one season. The others: Olie Kolzig (10 in 1999-00) and Jose Theodore (9 in 2009-10).
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NHL Short Notes
RASK, BRUINS STAY HOT WITH SHUTOUT OF PENGUINS
Tuukka Rask stopped all 34 shots he faced, including 18 in the second period, to earn his 30th career shutout (all w/ BOS) and help the Bruins pick up points for the 12th time in their last 13 outings (9-1-3).
* At 17-19-4 (38 points), the Bruins moved within five points of the idle Canadiens (20-9-3, 43 points) – their opponent in the 2016 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic – for first place in the Atlantic Division. Boston holds two games in hand.
* Rask moved into a share of the League lead with his fourth shutout of the season (22 GP), joining Jake Allen (STL), Corey Crawford (CHI) and Devan Dubnyk (MIN).
* Rask also extended his point streak to nine games, compiling a 7-0-2 record with a 1.36 goals-against average, .955 save percentage and three shutouts in that span. That comes on the heels of a 5-7-1 start to the season (3.18 GAA, .890 SV%, 1 SO).
* Rask’s 30 shutouts rank fourth in Bruins history, one behind former teammate Tim Thomas:
Most Shutouts, Bruins History
1. Tiny Thompson: 74
2. Frank Brimsek: 35
3. Tim Thomas: 31
4. Tuukka Rask: 30
5. Eddie Johnston: 27
MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS
* Penguins forward Conor Sheary, a native of Winchester, Mass., made his NHL debut at TD Garden in Boston (16:41 TOI).
* Forward Max Talbot, who scored the Stanley Cup-clinching goal with the Penguins in 2008-09, registered his first goal with the Bruins (29 GP) while facing his former team.
LOOSE PUCKS
Senators captain Erik Karlsson collected his League-leading 28th assist of the season (32 GP). He paces defensemen and shares fourth among all skaters with 7-28—35 overall . . . Capitals forward Michael Latta (1-1—2) registered his second career multi-point performance (89 GP). The other: Dec. 18, 2014 at CBJ (0-2—2) . . . Bruins forwardJimmy Hayes (1-1—2) snapped a 15-game drought with his first goal since Nov. 5 at WSH . . . Senators goaltender Andrew Hammond (23 SV) made his first start since Nov. 12, but suffered his second career regulation loss in the regular season (22-2-4, 1.85 GAA, .939 SV%, 3 SO) . . . Capitals defenseman John Carlson scored the game-winning goal to extend his point streak to four contests (2-3—5). He has 2-9—11 in his past 10 outings . . . Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron (0-1—1) extended his point streak to six games (1-6—7) . . . ICYMI: Click here for a recap of the premiere of Road to the NHL Winter Classic, the four-part series chronicling the Bruins and Canadiens as they prepare for the 2016 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on New Year’s Day.
SNEAK PEEK AT THURSDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Anaheim @ Buffalo, 7:00 p.m., PRIME, FS-SD, MSG-B, BELL TV
Florida @ New Jersey, 7:00 p.m., FS-F, MSG+
Vancouver @ Philadelphia, 7:00 p.m., SN360, CSN-PH
San Jose @ Toronto, 7:30 p.m., CSN-CA, TSN4
Los Angeles @ Montreal, 7:30 p.m., FS-W, CITYM, RDS
Nashville @ St. Louis, 8:00 p.m., FS-TN, FS-MW
NY Rangers @ Minnesota, 8:00 p.m., MSG, FS-N, FS-WI
Edmonton @ Chicago, 8:30 p.m., SNOL, CSN-CH
Calgary @ Dallas, 8:30 p.m., SNF, FS-SW+
NY Islanders @ Colorado, 9:00 p.m., MSG+ 2, ALT
Columbus @ Arizona, 9:00 p.m., FS-O, FS-A
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the above information was provided by the NHL PR department
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