AROUND THE RINKS
* Jaroslav Halak stopped all 27 shots he faced and Casey Cizikas potted the lone goal less than two minutes after the opening face-off to lead the Islanders to a 5-1-1 record in their last seven games. Halak recorded his 39th career shutout and third of the season. He also improved to 9-4-2 in 17 career appearances vs. NJD (1.92 GAA, .931 SV%, 3 SO), including a 6-0-1 record since joining the Islanders (1.11 GAA, .956 SV%, 2 SO). At 31-19-7 (69 points), the Islanders moved within three points of the idle Rangers (33-19-6, 72 points) for second place in the Metropolitan Division.

* Max Pacioretty scored the tying goal midway through the third period and Paul Byronprovided the winning tally in the fifth round of the shootout to help the Canadiens snap a three-game skid overall (0-3-0) and earn their fourth consecutive victory at Bell Centre.P.K. Subban added a pair of assists; he ranks fourth in the NHL with 41 assists this season and fourth among defensemen with 46 points. At 28-27-4 (60 points), the Canadiens moved within six points of the idle Penguins (29-19-8, 66 points) and Lightning (31-22-4, 66 points) for a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

* The Flames scored four unanswered goals to snap a three-game skid overall (0-3-0) and improve to 3-1-0 against the Canucks this season (VAN: 1-2-1). Prior to 2015-16, Calgary had three wins in its last 14 regular-season meetings with Vancouver dating to Jan. 23, 2013 (CGY: 3-7-4, VAN: 11-3-0). Three Flames players registered 1-1—2: Mikael Backlund, Joe Colborne and Michael Frolik.

* Robin Lehner turned aside all 38 shots he faced and Jamie McGinn scored two goals to help the Sabres extend their point streak to four games (3-0-1). Lehner recorded his third career shutout and first with Buffalo (12 GP). McGinn posted his seventh career multi-goal game and first since March 14, 2014 vs. ANA (2-0—2 w/ COL). ICYMI: David Legwand scored a shorthanded goal from his defensive zone.

LOOSE PUCKS
Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (0-1—1) extended his point streak to 14 games (4-13—17), adding to his NHL record for a rookie defenseman as well as his franchise record for any rookie. Elias says that Gostisbehere became the first defenseman to post a 14-game point streak for any team since Brian Leetch logged an equal run with the Rangers from Oct. 30 – Dec. 1, 1996 (6-14—20) . . . Flames defenseman TJ Brodie collected three assists to match a career high established Nov. 2, 2014 at MTL (0-3—3). He has compiled 11 assists in his last eight games . . . Sabres forward Jack Eichel posted two assists, giving him 8-19—27 in his past 27 games . . . Sharks defenseman Brent Burns scored his 19th goal of the season, tops among blueliners . . . Sabres forward Sam Reinhart recorded his 18th goal of the season, third among rookies . . . Flames captain Mark Giordano notched his 14th goal of the season (57 GP) to equal a career high established in 2013-14 (64 GP) . . . Islanders defensemanNick Leddy posted one assist to extend his point streak to five games (1-4—5) . . . ICYMI: The Department of Player Safety suspended Maple Leafs forward Leo Komarovfor three games for elbowing Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh.

SNEAK PEEK AT SATURDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Tampa Bay @ Pittsburgh, 12:30 p.m., SN, TVAS, SUN, ROOT
Philadelphia @ Toronto, 7:00 p.m., CBC, CSN-PH
Detroit @ Ottawa, 7:00 p.m., CITY, TVAS, FS-D
Winnipeg @ Florida, 7:00 p.m., SN, FS-F
New Jersey @ Washington, 7:00 p.m., MSG+, CSN-DC
Los Angeles @ Nashville, 8:00 p.m., FS-W, FS-TN
Boston @ Dallas, 8:00 p.m., NHLN-US, NESN, FS-SW
St. Louis @ Arizona, 9:00 p.m., FS-MW, FS-A
Colorado @ Edmonton, 10:00 p.m., CBC, SN, ALT
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FIVE NATIONAL GAMES DOT CANADA’S BROADCAST SCHEDULE
Five games highlight Saturday’s national broadcast schedule in Canada, including four as part of Hockey Night in Canada: the Penguins (29-19-8, 66 points) and Lightning (31-22-4, 66 points), the two teams that currently occupy Wild Card spots in the Eastern Conference, face off in a matinee at CONSOL Energy Center; rookie defensemanShayne Gostisbehere looks to extend his 14-game point streak (4-13—17) when the Flyers (25-21-11, 61 points) visit the Maple Leafs (20-27-9, 49 points) at Air Canada Centre; the Senators (27-26-6, 60 points) continue their playoff push when they welcome the Red Wings (29-20-9, 67 points) to Canadian Tire Centre; the Jets (25-28-4, 54 points) play the Atlantic Division-leading Panthers (33-18-7, 73 points) at BB&T Center; and the Avalanche (30-26-4, 64 points), who are clinging to the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, visit the Oilers (22-31-6, 50 points) at Rexall Place.

the information above was provided by the NHL PR department