HOLTBY REACHES MILESTONE IN CAPITALS’ COMEBACK WIN
Down 2-0 early in the second period, the Capitals scored three unanswered goals – including the tiebreaker by T.J. Oshie with 6:22 remaining in regulation – to improve to 19-2-1 in their last 22 games at Verizon Center.

* At 46-12-4 (96 points), the League-leading Capitals equaled the most wins through a team’s first 62 games of a season in NHL history (also 1995-96 Red Wings). Their 46 victories are one more than their 82-game total from 2014-15 (45-26-11, 101 points).

* Braden Holtby (28 SV) earned his League-leading 40th win of the season (2.22 GAA, .923 SV%, 2 SO) following a career-high 41 victories in 2014-15 (2.22 GAA, .923 SV%, 9 SO). Per Elias, he became the seventh goaltender in NHL history to record consecutive 40-win campaigns and the first to do so since Evgeni Nabokov posted three straight with the Sharks from 2007-09.

BLUES HOLD OFF SENATORS, CREATE LOGJAM ATOP CENTRAL . . .
The Senators overcame a three-goal deficit, highlighted by the tying marker with 0.1 seconds remaining in regulation, but Patrik Berglund potted the decisive tally in the 11th round of the shootout to lift the Blues to their sixth win in their past seven road games.

* At 37-20-9 (83 points), the Blues moved into a three-way tie – in terms of points – with the Blackhawks (39-20-5, 83 points) and Stars (38-20-7, 83 points) atop the Central Division and Western Conference.

* Jaden Schwartz registered 1-2—3, his seventh career three-point game and first since April 3, 2015 at DAL (3-0—3). He has 5-4—9 in 10 outings since returning from injury.

. . . DID YOU KNOW?
Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored twice in the final 2:41 of regulation, including the tying goal with 0.1 seconds left on the clock, to help the Senators force overtime. Via Elias, Pageau became the second player in franchise history to record a tying goal at 19:59 of the third period. The other: Vinny Prospal, who did so on Jan. 3, 2000 vs. NJD (4-3 OT L).

Pageau also became the second player to score a last-second tying goal for any teamthis season. The other: Washington’s Nicklas Backstrom, who did so on Nov. 7 vs. TOR (3-2 SO W).

Overall, there have been six game-tying goals scored in the final 10 seconds of regulation this season:

Tying Goals in Final 10 Seconds of Regulation, 2015-16 Season
19:59 – Nicklas Backstrom (WSH) on Nov. 7 vs. TOR (3-2 SO W)
19:59 – Jean-Gabriel Pageau (OTT) on March 1 vs. STL (4-3 SO L)
19:58 – Jiri Hudler (CGY) on Dec. 4 vs. BOS (5-4 OT W)
19:56 – Jeff Skinner (CAR) on Nov. 7 vs. OTT (3-2 OT W)
19:54 – Nicklas Backstrom (WSH) on Jan. 9 at NYR (4-3 OT W)
19:54 – Corey Perry (ANA) on Nov. 4 vs. FLA (3-2 SO W)

PREDATORS, WILD PULL AHEAD IN WESTERN CONFERENCE RACE
Both the Predators (32-21-11, 75 points) and Wild (29-25-10, 68 points) posted wins on Tuesday to move ahead in the Western Conference Wild Card race:

* Shea Weber (1-2—3) notched his fourth three-point performance of the season – while making his return from a three-game absence – to power the Predators to their fifth straight win and help the team extend its point streak to 10 contests (7-0-3), equaling a franchise record last achieved Nov. 27 – Dec. 17, 2010 (8-0-2). Elias notes that Weber became the fourth defenseman to collect four three-point games this season. The others: Ottawa’s Erik Karlsson (6), Arizona’s Oliver Ekman-Larsson (5) and Pittsburgh’s Kris Letang (4).

* Nino Niederreiter (2-1—3), Jason Pominville (1-2—3), Charlie Coyle (2-0—2) andZach Parise (0-2—2) all registered multiple points to lift the Wild over the Avalanche and into the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Coyle, who reached the 20-goal milestone for the first time, provided the tiebreaking strike early in the third period after Minnesota surrendered a two-goal lead. The Wild improved to 3-0-1 against the Avalanche this season (COL: 1-3-0); the teams will close their head-to-head series on March 26 at Pepsi Center.

PLAYOFF CHASE TIGHTENS IN EASTERN CONFERENCE
Several clubs in the Eastern Conference also continued their march toward the playoffs on the strength of late goals:

* Jaromir Jagr scored his NHL-record 133rd career game-winning goal – at 3:31 of the third period – and Reilly Smith (2-0—2) added his third multi-goal performance of the season to help the Panthers pick up points for the sixth time in their past seven outings (4-1-2). Jagr (743-1,106—1,849) also moved within one point of tying Gordie Howe (801-1,049—1,850) for third place in NHL history. At 36-19-8 (80 points), the Panthers moved two points ahead of the idle Lightning (37-22-4, 78 points) atop the Atlantic Division.

* Thomas Hickey (1-1—2) notched the tiebreaking goal with 7:05 left in the third period to propel the Islanders to a 4-1-0 record in the opening five contests of their seven-game road trip. Hickey picked up his third career game-winning goal (244 GP) and first since Dec. 2, 2014 vs. OTT (1-1—2). At 34-20-7 (75 points), the Islanders moved within five points of the idle Rangers (37-20-6, 80 points) for second place in the Metropolitan Division; the teams will face off on Sunday at Madison Square Garden.

* Patrice Bergeron potted the tiebreaking goal with 3:24 remaining in regulation to lift the Bruins to their third victory in their last four games and a 9-5-0 record dating to Feb. 4. Bergeron collected his 24th goal of the season (62 GP) to surpass his total of 23 from 2014-15 (81 GP). At 35-23-6 (76 points), the Bruins leapfrogged the idle Red Wings (32-20-11, 75 points) for third place in the Atlantic Division.

* The Hurricanes scored three unanswered goals – including the tiebreaker by Joakim Nordstrom with 1:29 left on the clock – to halt a three-game skid (0-3-0). Nordstrom has 9-12—21 in 54 outings this season, compared to 1-5—6 in his first 54 career appearances. At 29-26-10 (68 points), the Hurricanes climbed within four points of the Penguins (32-22-8, 72 points) – who lost in regulation – for the final playoff spot in the conference.

MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS
* Avalanche forward Jarome Iginla scored his 608th career goal to tie Dino Ciccarelli for 17th place in NHL history. Iginla also played in his 1,457th career game to tie Glen Wesley for 21st place all-time.

* Hurricanes forward Derek Ryan scored while making his NHL debut at age 29. Avalanche defenseman Chris Bigras (21 GP) and Flames defenseman Jakub Nakladal(10 GP) also recorded their first career goals.

* Bruins forward Noel Acciari, who signed with the team as an undrafted free agent, made his NHL debut.

* Barry Trotz (WSH) earned his 648th career win to tie Ron Wilson for ninth place in NHL history among head coaches.

LOOSE PUCKS
Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko reached the 30-goal milestone for the second straight season (also 2014-15: 37). His 30 goals rank sixth in the NHL . . . Capitals forwardEvgeny Kuznetsov reached the 20-goal milestone for the first time. He ranks fifth in the NHL with 20-45—65 overall . . . Devils forward Adam Henrique reached the 20-goal milestone for the second time (also 2013-14: 25) . . . Senators captain Erik Karlssoncollected his League-leading 57th assist of the season, two shy of his career high established in 2011-12 . . . Senators forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau (3-5—8) and Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien (1-5—6) both extended their point streaks to six games . . . Panthers forward Jussi Jokinen (0-6—6) and Islanders forward Casey Cizikas (2-3—5) both extended their point streaks to five games . . . The Predators signed forward Miikka Salomaki to a two-year contract extension . . . ICYMI: The Department of Player Safety suspended Bruins forward Zac Rinaldo for five games for an illegal check to the head of Lightning forward Cedric Paquette . . . Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf, Capitals captainAlex Ovechkin and Predators forward Filip Forsberg were named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the month of February.

SNEAK PEEK AT WEDNESDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Toronto @ Washington, 7:00 p.m., SN, CSN-DC
Chicago @ Detroit, 8:00 p.m., NBCSN, SN1, TVAS
Montreal @ Anaheim, 10:00 p.m., SNE, RDS, FS-W
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BLACKHAWKS VISIT RED WINGS ON RIVALRY NIGHT
Original Six teams drop the puck when the Blackhawks (39-20-5, 83 points) visit the Red Wings (32-20-11, 75 points) at Joe Louis Arena on NBCSN’s Wednesday Night Rivalry. This marks the 730th regular-season meeting between these clubs, who also will face off on Sunday at United Center. Detroit leads the all-time series with 366 wins and 829 points (366-266-97), compared to Chicago’s 279 victories and 653 points (279-355-95). The Blackhawks, however, have picked up at least one point in 17 of their last 19 regular-season matchups dating to Dec. 17, 2010 (CHI: 13-2-4, DET: 6-8-5).

WORLD CUP OF HOCKEY ROSTER ANNOUNCEMENTS BEGIN
Team Finland and Team Russia announced their initial rosters of at least 16 players for the World Cup of Hockey 2016.

The remaining six teams competing in the tournament will announce their rosters today at the following times:

Team Czech Republic – 11:00 a.m. ET
Team Sweden – 1:15 p.m. ET
Team Europe – 4:30 p.m. ET
Team North America – 5:15 p.m. ET
Team Canada – 6:05 p.m. ET
Team USA – 6:45 p.m. ET

the above information was provided by the NHL PR department