BENN, KLINGBERG PROPEL STARS BACK INTO FIRST PLACE . . .
Jamie Benn scored twice and John Klingberg dished out three assists to help the Stars snap a three-game skid overall (0-2-1) and improve to 6-1-1 in their past eight road outings.

* At 38-17-6 (82 points), the Stars leapfrogged the idle Blackhawks (38-19-5, 81 points) for first place in the Central Division and Western Conference.

* Benn, who registered his sixth multi-goal game of the season, ranks second in the NHL with 32-37—69 overall (61 GP). His 32 goals are three shy of his career high established in 2014-15 (82 GP).

* Klingberg equaled a career high for assists in one game (also Dec. 8 vs. CAR: 0-3—3). He places second among defensemen with 10-41—51 this season.

. . . QUICK, KINGS PAD DIVISION LEAD
Jonathan Quick turned aside 22 of 23 shots to lead the Kings to their second consecutive victory on the heels of a three-game skid (0-2-1).

* At 35-20-4 (74 points), the Kings moved four points ahead of the idle Ducks (31-19-8, 70 points) for first place in the Pacific Division.

* Quick reached the 30-win milestone for the fifth time in his career and second straight season (30-15-3). His 30 victories rank third in the NHL, behind Washington’s Braden Holtby (38) and Chicago’s Corey Crawford (32).

* Anze Kopitar provided the winning goal in his return from a one-game absence. He has scored five times in his past five outings (5-0—5).

ISLANDERS SNAP WILD’S PERFECT START UNDER TORCHETTI
Frans Nielsen scored twice and John Tavares added 1-1—2 to lift the Islanders to a 6-1-1 record in their last eight contests and snap the Wild’s perfect start under interim head coach John Torchetti (4-1-0).

* At 32-19-7 (71 points), the Islanders moved within three points of the Rangers (34-20-6, 74 points) – who lost in regulation – for second place in the Metropolitan Division.

* Nielsen registered his fourth multi-goal game of the season (58 GP). He had seven such performances in his entire career prior to 2015-16 (525 GP).

* Tavares collected at least one point for the eighth time in his past nine games (6-7—13). He paces the Islanders in goals (23) and points (49) this season.

LIGHTNING, RED WINGS MOVE AHEAD IN ATLANTIC . . .
Both the Lightning and Red Wings earned wins to move ahead in the Atlantic Division, where the top four teams are separated by just five points:

* Cedric Paquette converted a penalty shot (while shorthanded) late in the second periodto power the Lightning to their fourth consecutive victory, their second such streak of the season (also Jan. 8-21: 7-0-0). Andrei Vasilevskiy denied 29 of 30 shots to improve to 8-1-0 in his last nine starts and 10-5-0 overall in 2015-16 (2.75 GAA, .910 SV%, 1 SO).

* Riley Sheahan scored in regulation and the shootout to help the Red Wings snap a four-game skid overall (0-2-2) and extend their home point streak to six contests (5-0-1) in their final outing before Saturday’s 2016 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series. Petr Mrazek made 28 saves and stopped both attempts he faced in the tiebreaker.

. . . OTHERS INCH CLOSER TO WILD CARD SPOTS
Three other teams – the Devils, Hurricanes and Senators – posted victories to inch closer to Wild Card spots in the Eastern Conference:

* The Devils scored four unanswered goals – including the tiebreaker by former RangerLee Stempniak – to snap a three-game skid overall (0-3-0) and improve to 6-2-1 in their past nine outings at Prudential Center. Stempniak picked up his third game-winning goal of the season, two of which have come against the Rangers (also Oct. 18 at NYR).

* Cam Ward turned aside 36 of 37 shots and the Hurricanes scored three unanswered goals to pick up points for the seventh time in their last nine games (5-2-2). Ward improved to 7-1-4 in his past 12 outings. Joakim Nordstrom found the back of the net for the third time in as many contests (3-0—3), his second such streak of the season (also Jan. 22-26: 3-0—3 in 3 GP).

* Craig Anderson made 31 saves to backstop the Senators to their fourth consecutive victory, their second such run of the campaign (also Nov. 19-25: 4-0-0). Anderson has started all four games during the current streak, allowing two or fewer goals in each contest. Zack Smith and Mark Stone both contributed 1-1—2.

MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS
* Senators forward Nick Paul, a fourth-round selection (101st overall) by the Stars in the 2013 NHL Draft, scored his first career goal (4 GP).

* Jets forward Drew Stafford (0-1—1) collected his 200th NHL assist.

* Lightning forward Valtteri Filppula (700) and Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (400) both played in milestone games.

LOOSE PUCKS
Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere saw his point streak end at 15 games (5-13—18), the longest in NHL history by a rookie defenseman as well as the longest in franchise history by any rookie . . . Hurricanes forward Jordan Staal (4-4—8) and Flames forwardJohnny Gaudreau (1-6—7) extended their point streaks to six and five games, respectively . . . Lightning captain Steven Stamkos scored for the fourth consecutive game (4-1—5) . . . Jets captain Andrew Ladd (4-0—4) and Maple Leafs forward Josh Leivo (3-0—3) both scored for the third straight game . . . Oilers forward Connor McDavid collected one assist, giving him 5-11—16 in 11 games since returning from injury . . . The Canadiens signed forward Paul Byron to a three-year extension . . . The Senators signed defenseman Chris Wideman to a two-year extension . . . The Capitals acquired defenseman Mike Weber from the Sabres in exchange for a third-round selection in the 2017 NHL Draft . . . ICYMI: The Department of Player Safety announced that it will have a hearing today with Blues forward Ryan Reaves for boarding Sharks defenseman Matt Tennyson . . . The NHL teased the jerseys that Team Canada, Team Czech Republic and Team Sweden will wear for the World Cup of Hockey 2016 . . . GoPro released the latest video in its NHL After Dark series, featuring Penguins forwardEvgeni Malkin . . . The Red Wings honored recent Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Nicklas Lidstrom during a pregame ceremony at Joe Louis Arena.

the above information was supplied by the NHL PR department