OVECHKIN, RICHARDS HELP CAPITALS CONTINUE RECORD-SETTING SEASON
Alex Ovechkin (1-1—2) and Mike Richards scored 26 seconds apart to snap a 1-1 tie in the third period and lift the Capitals to their fourth consecutive victory.

* The League-leading Capitals (44-10-4, 92 points) became the first team in NHL history to win 44 of their first 58 games of one season. They also became the first club to earn 92 or more points through their opening 58 games since the 1979-80 Flyers (93).

* The Capitals improved to 17-1-1 in their last 19 games at Verizon Center dating to Nov. 21. Their 23 home wins and 48 home points both pace the NHL (23-4-2, 48 points).

* Ovechkin notched his third consecutive multi-point game (4-2—6), his first such streak since March 29 – April 2, 2015 (5-1—6). He has scored 18 times in his past 18 outings (18-3—21) to take a four-goal lead in the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy race (39).

* Richards registered his first goal in a Capitals uniform (15 GP) – his 30th career game-winning tally and first since Nov. 26, 2014 at MIN (w/ LAK).

PREDATORS EDGE CANADIENS, EXTEND PAIR OF POINT STREAKS
Pekka Rinne made 28 saves and denied all three attempts he faced in the shootout to help the Predators extend their overall point streak to six games (3-0-3) and road point streak to a franchise-record eight contests (6-0-2).

* At 28-21-11 (67 points), the Predators leapfrogged the idle Avalanche (31-27-4, 66 points) for the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.

* Rinne extended his road point streak to six games dating to Jan. 14 (4-0-2). All four of those victories have come in Canada: also Jan. 21 at WPG (26 SV), Jan. 23 at EDM (23 SV) and Jan. 26 at VAN (28 SV).

* The Predators improved to 6-0-3 in their last nine games against the Canadiens dating to Nov. 14, 2009 (MTL: 3-4-2), including a 3-0-1 record at Bell Centre.

JENNER POWERS BLUE JACKETS TO THIRD STRAIGHT ROAD WIN
Boone Jenner scored two goals to help the Blue Jackets pick up points for the seventh time in their past eight games (5-1-2), including three straight road victories.

* Jenner reached the 20-goal milestone for the first time in his three NHL seasons (21-13—34). He also recorded his third multi-goal game of 2015-16. The others: Oct. 24 at COL and Feb. 13 vs. OTT, both 2-0—2.

* Brandon Saad posted what stood as the game-winning goal. His six such tallies this season (59 GP) equal a career high established in 2014-15 (82 GP w/ CHI).

MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS
* Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (1-1—2) notched his 514th career goal to move pastJeremy Roenick (513) and into sole possession of 37th place in NHL history. He also climbed within one goal of tying Pierre Turgeon (515) for 36th all-time.

* Captain David Backes (1-0—1), who has spent his entire career with the Blues, became the seventh player in franchise history to score 200 goals. The others: Brett Hull(527), Bernie Federko (352), Brian Sutter (303), Garry Unger (292), Keith Tkachuk(208) and Pavol Demitra (204).

LOOSE PUCKS
The Blues saw their point streak end at seven games (6-0-1) . . . Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov (1-1—2) extended his point streak to a career-high five games (3-5—8). He ranks fifth in the NHL with 18-44—62 this season, including 5-20—25 in his past 17 outings . . . Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko registered 1-2—3, including his 29th goal of the season – sixth in the NHL . . . Bruins teammates Matt Beleskey and Loui Erikssoneach scored two goals. Eriksson has eight goals in his last nine outings (8-1—9) following a nine-game drought . . . Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby (25 SV) earned his League-leading 38th win of the season, six more than the next-closest player (Corey Crawford: 32) . . . Sharks goaltender Martin Jones (25 SV) posted his League-leading 19th road win of the season . . . The Flames acquired forward Hunter Shinkaruk from the Canucks in exchange for forward Markus Granlund . . . The Predators signed forward Colton Sissons to a three-year contract extension . . . ICYMI: Panthers forward Jaromir Jagr, Wild forward Erik Haula and Senators goaltender Craig Anderson were named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Feb. 21 . . . The NHL announced the details of the 2016 NHL Stadium Series Spectator Plaza in Colorado . . . Sgt. Richard Donohue dropped the ceremonial opening puck at TD Garden as part of the Bruins’ First Responder Night.

SNEAK PEEK AT TUESDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
NY Rangers @ New Jersey, 7:00 p.m., TVAS, MSG, MSG+
Philadelphia @ Carolina, 7:00 p.m., TCN-PH, FS-SE
Nashville @ Toronto, 7:30 p.m., FS-TN, TSN4
Columbus @ Detroit, 7:30 p.m., NBCSN, FS-D
Arizona @ Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m., FS-A, SUN
NY Islanders @ Minnesota, 8:00 p.m., SNE, SNO, SNP, MSG+ 2, FS-N, FS-WI
Dallas @ Winnipeg, 8:00 p.m., FS-SW, TSN3
Ottawa @ Edmonton, 9:00 p.m., TSN5, RDS, SNW
Calgary @ Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m., SNF, FS-W
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WILD TRY TO KEEP MOMENTUM FOLLOWING STADIUM SERIES
The Wild (27-22-10, 64 points) – who have won four straight, including a 6-1 victory in Sunday’s 2016 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series at TCF Bank Stadium – try to keep the momentum when they return to Xcel Energy Center to face the Islanders (31-19-7, 69 points). Minnesota currently sits two points behind Colorado (31-27-4, 66 points) – who will participate in the 2016 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series this Saturday at Coors Field – for the final playoff berth in the Western Conference. The Wild’s four-game winning streak is their longest since March 21-28, 2015, when they won five straight. The team has scored five or more goals – all in regulation – in each contest under the direction of interim head coach John Torchetti (4-0-0), the first such run in franchise history.

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.