NEAL’S CAREER NIGHT POWERS PENGUINS
James Neal (3-2—5) recorded his fourth career hat trick and first five-point game to lead the Penguins to their 14th victory in their past 16 contests and ninth in their last 10.

* Neal is the second player this season to register at least five points in a game in which he factored on all of his team’s goals. The other was by Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom (1-4—5) in a 6-5 shootout victory over the Lightning on Dec. 10.

* According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Neal is the first Penguin to accomplish that feat since Jan. 19, 2010, when Sidney Crosby posted 2-4—6 in a 6-4 win over the Islanders.

* Neal has 4-4—8 in his last two games and 13-14—27 in past 15 outings dating to Nov. 20.

* Crosby and Chris Kunitz each added 1-2—3. Crosby leads the NHL this season with 22-36—58 in 41 games, while Kunitz is tied for sixth with 21-21—42 in 41 outings.

BLUES STAY HOT ON THE ROAD
Kevin Shattenkirk scored the deciding goal for the second consecutive day when he found the back of the net with 10.4 seconds remaining in overtime, helping the Blues improve to 4-0-2 in their last six road games, their longest road point streak since Nov. 19-Dec. 17, 2011 (3-0-3).

* The Blues earned their third consecutive victory over the Stars and seventh in their last eight meetings.

* The Blues also improved to 12-0-1 this season versus the Central Division, the best intra-division record in the NHL.

* Shattenkirk also scored the deciding goal in a 6-5 shootout victory over the Blackhawks on Saturday. He has three game-winning goals this season, tied for the most among NHL defensemen, and 3-3—6 during a six-game point streak.

* Jaden Schwartz opened the scoring to extend his goal/point streak to a career-long five games (5-1—6). He has registered at least one point in 14 of his last 17 games, totaling 10-8—18 in that span.

* Brian Elliott made 28 saves to improve to 9-1-2 with a 2.04 goals-against average, .919 save percentage and two shutouts in 15 appearances this season.

WITH A SECOND TO SPARE
Blake Wheeler scored with 1.7 seconds left in overtime to propel the Jets to consecutive wins for the first time since Nov. 25-27.

* According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the goal marked the latest overtime winner in Jets/Thrashers history. Marc Savard held the previous record, scoring with five seconds left in the extra frame in a 3-2 victory over the Devils on Dec. 15, 2005.

* Al Montoya tied a season-high with 33 saves. He is 7-2-1, including five consecutive victories, with a 2.02 goals-against average, .929 save percentage and one shutout in 12 appearances this season.

LACK STOPS THEM ALL
Canucks goaltender Eddie Lack made 18 saves to record his second shutout of the season and fifth consecutive victory. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he is the third rookie goaltender in Vancouver history to post two or more shutouts in one season, joining Glen Hanlon (3 in 1978-79) and Ken Lockett (2 in 1974-75).

Lack has allowed two or fewer goals in each of his 11 appearances since making his NHL debut on Oct. 6. He is 7-2-0 with a 1.74 goals-against average and .933 save percentage this season.

MAPLE LEAFS ROLL INTO WINTER CLASSIC
Phil Kessel scored twice and Tyler Bozak collected three assists to power the Maple Leafs to a victory in their final game before the 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic. Toronto has recorded at least one point in five consecutive games (3-0-2), its longest point streak since April 6-15 (4-0-1).

LOOSE PUCKS
Ryan Miller made a career-high 49 saves and stopped all six shootout attempts to lead the Sabres to their fourth consecutive victory at First Niagara Center and fifth win in their past six home games (5-0-1) . . . Benoit Pouliot scored the game-winning goal to extend his career-long point streak to seven games (4-3—7) and help the Rangers improve to 13-4-4 in their last 21 contests versus the Lightning . . . Kyle Okposo posted 2-1—3, including the game-winning goal, to stretch his point streak to six games (4-4—8) and lead the Islanders back from an early three-goal deficit. Thomas Vanek added two assists to extend his point streak to five games (3-4—7) . . . Panthers goaltender Scott Clemmensen made 21 saves to improve to 8-1-0 in 10 career games versus the Canadiens . . . Wild captain Mikko Koivu posted his 300th career assist . . . Maple Leafs defenseman Paul Ranger (1-0—1) recorded his 100th NHL point . . . Panthers forward Tomas Kopecky played in his 500th career game . . . Blue Jackets forward Blake Comeau skated in his 400th NHL game . . . Rangers defenseman Conor Allen made his NHL debut.

SNEAK PEEK AT MONDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Washington @ Ottawa, 7:30 p.m., RDS, CSN-DC+, SNET-E
Los Angeles @ Chicago, 8:00 p.m., NBCSN, TSN2, CSN-CH
Detroit @ Nashville, 8:00 p.m., FS-D, FS-TN
Philadelphia @ Vancouver, 10:00 p.m., CSN-PH, SNET-P