PANTHERS HALT LIGHTNING WIN STREAK, EXTEND ATLANTIC LEAD
The Panthers scored four second-period goals en route to their 5-2 win over the Lightning, snapping their rival’s season-high win streak at seven games and improving to 9-1-0 in their last 10 home games. The Panthers (28-15-5, 61 points) increased their lead over the Lightning and Red Wings to five points for first place in the Atlantic Division.

* Roberto Luongo made 38 saves – including 20 in the third period – to record his 422nd career victory, one shy of Tony Esposito (423) for seventh place all-time.

* The 36-year-old Montreal native is 7-0-0 in his last seven appearances on home ice and improved to 21-13-4 overall (2.11 GAA, .930 SV%, 4 SO). Per Elias, Luongo became the first goaltender in franchise history to win seven consecutive home decisions.

DID YOU KNOW?
With their wins over Chicago Friday and Tampa Bay Saturday, the Panthers became the first team to defeat the previous season’s Stanley Cup finalists on consecutive dayssince the Flames did so in 1990-91 (8-1 W vs. BOS on Oct. 20 and 2-1 W at EDM on Oct. 21). (Elias Sports Bureau)

BRUINS, CANADIENS KEEP PACE IN ATLANTIC
Both the Bruins and Canadiens allowed 2-0 leads to slip away in regulation but rebounded to post shootout victories. The clubs are in the thick of a crowded Atlantic Division, where the five teams ranked 2-6 are separated by just six points.

* Ryan Spooner scored the decisive marker in the shootout to lift the Bruins to their fourth victory in their last five contests. Jonas Gustavsson made 31 saves through 65 minutes and denied both shooters in the shootout to improve to 4-1-0 in his last five outings and 9-3-1 overall (2.29 GAA, .917 SV%). The Bruins hold the first Wild Card position in the Eastern Conference.

* Lars Eller potted the game-deciding goal in the fifth round of the shootout to help the Canadiens snap a five-game winless streak (0-4-1). Mike Condon made 17 saves through 65 minutes and denied four of five attempts in the shootout to halt a personal four-game skid (0-3-1) and improve to 13-12-4 this season (2.39 GAA, .907 SV%).

SHARKS, COYOTES, DUCKS WIN IN CROWDED PACIFIC
The Sharks, Coyotes and Ducks posted wins in the Pacific Division, where the four clubs ranked 2-5 are separated by four points.

* Joe Pavelski scored his League-leading eighth game-winning goal of the season with 1:24 remaining in regulation as San Jose topped Minnesota. The Sharks are 7-0-1 in their last eight games, their longest point streak since posting an equal run from March 2-16, 2014. Pavelski, who added two assists, leads the club in goals (23) and points (47).

* Captain Shane Doan (1-1—2) led the way as the Coyotes ended a four-game winless streak (0-3-1) and improved to 11-2-2 against Pacific Division clubs this season. Doan registered his sixth multi-point game of the season and leads the club with 17 goals.

* Corey Perry and Ryan Kesler each scored twice and John Gibson made 24 saves as the Ducks earned their fourth win in their last five games. Perry picked up his fourth multi-goal game of the season and leads the team in goals (19) and points (31), while Kesler – a native of nearby Livonia, Mich. – registered his second such performance.

AROUND THE RINKS
* Carl Soderberg and Gabriel Landeskog each scored shorthanded goals to help the Avalanche pick up their fourth straight win and improve to 12-3-1 against Central Division rivals this season. Per Elias, the Avalanche scored two shorthanded goals in a game for the first time since Dec. 10, 2010 at ATL (Greg Mauldin and Paul Stastny). Semyon Varlamov made 42 saves to pick up his fourth straight victory and 10th consecutive triumph over the Stars since the start of the 2013-14 season. The win vaulted the Avalanche (26-21-3, 55 points) into the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.

* Lee Stempniak scored twice against his former club and Cory Schneider turned aside 22 of 23 shots as the Devils maintained their hold on the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference with their fourth consecutive victory. Stempniak has scored in three consecutive outings (4-1—5).

* Defenseman Mattias Ekholm registered the first multi-goal game of his NHL career, including the game-winning tally, as the Predators climbed within two points of the second Wild Card position in the Western Conference. Pekka Rinne (23 saves) improved to 14-6-1 in 24 career appearances vs. EDM.

KEON, HORTON AND BRODA HONORED IN TORONTO
Following the recent announcement that Maple Leaf greats Dave Keon, Tim Horton andTurk Broda will be inducted into the team’s Legends Row monument in October, Keon and representatives from the Horton and Broda families were honored in a pre-game ceremony at Air Canada Centre.

MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS
* Sharks forward Joe Thornton (0-2—2) reached 930 career assists, passing Larry Murphy (929) into sole possession of 16th place on the NHL’s all-time list. He also moved within three points of becoming the 33rd player in NHL history to reach the 1,300-point milestone (367-930—1,297 in 1,331 GP). Thornton has posted at least one point in 16 of his past 17 outings (5-17—22), including 2-9—11 in an active eight-game point streak.

* Panthers forward Jaromir Jagr (0-1—1) is two helpers shy of becoming the sixth player in NHL history to reach the 1,100-assist milestone (737-1,098—1,835 in 1,595 GP).

* Coyotes captain Shane Doan skated in his 1,432nd career game, tying Mike Gartnerfor 25th place on the NHL’s all-time list.

* Penguins defenseman Derrick Pouliot (11:58 TOI) made his season debut, his first NHL game since April 7, 2015 at OTT. Forward Ryan Garbutt (8:10 TOI) made his debut with the Ducks.

* Wild forward Jason Pominville skated in the 800th game of his NHL career.

* Linesman Pierre Racicot was honored in a pre-game ceremony at BB&T Center ahead of his 1,500th career game.

CAPITALS DIG OUT FROM HISTORIC STORM
With the Washington, D.C. area blanketed by a historic snowfall, Capitals forwards Alex Ovechkin and Brooks Laichtook to Instagram to show off their handiwork with their snowblowers.

LOOSE PUCKS
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (1-0—1) stretched his point streak to a season-high six games (4-5—9)... Penguins defenseman Kris Letang (0-2—2) leads the club with 26 assists this season (37 GP)... The Sharks improved to 15-2-1 in their last 18 home games vs. MIN dating to Nov. 7, 2006... Bruins forward Brad Marchand (1-0—1) stretched his point streak to five games (4-1—5), which includes goals in his last four. Marchand’s four-game goal streak is his second such run of the season (5-0—5 in 4 GP from Nov. 17-23)... The Bruins improved to 8-2-0 in their last 10 games vs. CBJ dating to March 15, 2011... The Canadiens have won nine straight games vs. TOR dating to March 1, 2014... The Ducks improved to 5-1-0 in their last six games vs. DET since the clubs met in the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs... Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov (0-1—1) pushed his point streak to eight games (6-5—11), his second such run of the season (3-9—12 in 8 GP from Dec. 15, 2015 – Jan. 2, 2016). Kucherov leads the club with 20-21—41 (48 GP)... The Avalanche improved to 11-1-0 in their last 12 games vs. DAL dating to Oct. 15, 2013, including eight consecutive wins... Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (1-0—1) is tied for second among NHL blueliners with 14 goals this season (w/ Justin Faulk)... Oilers forward Taylor Hall (0-1—1) stretched his point streak to five games (2-5—7)… Kings forward Milan Lucic will have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Sunday for an incident with Coyotes defenseman Kevin Connauton during their game Saturday. Lucic was assessed a two-minute minor for roughing and a game misconduct.

SNEAK PEEK AT SUNDAY'S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Pittsburgh @ Washington, postponed
NY Rangers @ Ottawa, 3:00 p.m., MSG, RDS2, TSN5
Calgary @ Carolina, 6:00 p.m., SN, FS-CR
St. Louis @ Chicago, 7:00 p.m., NHLN-US, TVAS, FS-MW, WGN
Los Angeles @ San Jose, 10:00 p.m., SN, FS-W, CSN-CA
NBCSN Channel Finder
Sportsnet Channel Finder
NHLN Channel Finder

ROGERS HOMETOWN HOCKEY HEADS TO YUKON
NHL alumni Geoff Sanderson and Darcy Tucker join host Ron MacLean as Rogers Hometown Hockey stops in Whitehorse, Yukon. Coverage on Sportsnet begins at 5:30 p.m., ET, in advance of the Calgary at Carolina broadcast. Throughout 2015-16, Sunday games will be broadcast from a different community rink in various towns across Canada. Included in each telecast will be local NHL player profiles, grassroots stories and local entertainment features.

* Click here for more details about the festivities in Whitehorse.