TEAMS CONTINUE PUSH FOR THE PLAYOFFS
Several teams picked up victories to improve their playoff positioning:

* Jonas Gustavsson made a career-high 42 saves and Brad Marchand scored the lone goal just 10 seconds into overtime to lift the Bruins (38-23-7, 83 points) over the Lightning (39-23-5, 83 points) and into a tie – in terms of points – atop the Atlantic Division. Gustavsson earned his seventh career shutout (and first w/ BOS). Marchand collected his 34th goal of the season, third in the NHL, and second in overtime (also Feb. 6 vs. BUF).

* James Reimer stopped all 31 shots he faced to propel the Sharks (37-23-6, 80 points) within three points of the Pacific Division-leading Ducks (37-19-9, 83 points). Reimer, who was acquired prior to the 2016 NHL Trade Deadline, earned his 12th career shutout and first since Oct. 29, 2013, also at EDM (43 SV w/ TOR). At 25-9-3 (53 points), the Sharks continue to pace the NHL in road wins and road points this season.

* Anders Lee scored the tiebreaking goal midway through the third period to give the Islanders (37-20-7, 81 points) a five-point edge over the Penguins (34-24-8, 76 points) for third place in the Metropolitan Division. New York improved to 7-1-0 in its last eight games overall, including four straight wins. The club also extended its home point streak to six contests dating to Feb. 2 (5-0-1).

PREDATORS EXTEND PAIR OF RECORD STREAKS
Craig Smith (2-0—2) notched his 10th career multi-goal performance – and first since Feb. 17, 2015 vs. SJS (2-0—2) – to help the Predators extend their overall point streak to 13 games (9-0-4) and road point streak to 12 contests (10-0-2), both franchise records.

* The Predators also picked up their sixth consecutive road victory, one shy of the club record set Oct. 16 – Nov. 4, 2006 (7-0-0).

* Smith extended his point streak to five games (5-5—10), matching a career high established Jan. 21 – Feb. 2, 2012 (2-3—5).

* Pekka Rinne (21 SV) improved to 7-0-2 in his last nine road outings (1.99 GAA, .931 SV%).

SKINNER’S LATE HEROICS (AGAIN) PROPEL HURRICANES . . .
Jeff Skinner scored twice, including the tying goal with 0.2 seconds remaining in regulation, and Jaccob Slavin provided the decisive tally in the shootout to help the Hurricanes improve to 2-0-1 in their past three contests.

* Via Elias, Skinner became the second player in Hurricanes/Whalers history to register a tying goal in the final second of regulation. The other: Dave Keon, who did so on Oct. 19, 1980 vs. NYI (3-3 T).

* Skinner posted his second tying goal in the final seconds of regulation this season; he first achieved that feat with 3.3 seconds left on the clock on Nov. 7, also vs. OTT (3-2 OT W).

. . . DID YOU KNOW?
There have been seven tying goals scored in the final 10 seconds of regulation this season, including three with one second left on the clock:

Tying Goals in Final 10 Seconds of Regulation, 2015-16 Season
19:59 – Jeff Skinner (CAR) on March 8 vs. OTT (4-3 SO W)
19:59 – Jean-Gabriel Pageau (OTT) on March 1 vs. STL (4-3 SO L)
19:59 – Nicklas Backstrom (WSH) on Nov. 7 vs. TOR (3-2 SO W)
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)

MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS
* Islanders goaltender Jaroslav Halak (31 SV) recorded his 200th NHL win.

* Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy (0-2—2) played in his 400th NHL game.

* Jets forward Scott Kosmachuk, a third-round selection (70th overall) in the 2012 NHL Draft, made his League debut.

HOT HANDS
* Sharks forward Joe Thornton posted one helper to extend his assist/point streak to six games (1-7—8). He leads the NHL with 11-37—48 dating to Dec. 15, including at least one point in 33 of 37 contests.

* Penguins captain Sidney Crosby also collected one assist to extend his point streak to six games (3-7—10). He ranks second in the NHL with 22-25—47 in 36 outings dating to Dec. 15.

* Senators forward Zack Smith scored to extend his point streak to a career-high six games (4-2—6).

* Sharks defenseman Brent Burns (4-5—9), Jets forward Mark Scheifele (6-2—8), Predators forward Mike Ribeiro (1-7—8), Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron (5-2—7) and Red Wings forward Gustav Nyquist (2-3—5) all extended their point streaks to five games.

* Stars forward Jason Spezza scored for the fourth consecutive game (4-0—4).

LOOSE PUCKS
Red Wings defenseman Mike Green equaled a career high with three assists, his first such performance since March 2, 2014 vs. PHI (w/ WSH) . . . Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop (32 SV) saw his personal winning streak snapped at six games, tied for a career high (also Nov. 1-14, 2013) . . . Sharks forward Logan Couture (2-0—2) registered his second multi-goal game of the season (also Feb. 22 at STL: 2-1—3) . . . Penguins defenseman Kris Letang established a career high with his 12th goal of the season . . . Forward Phillip Danault scored his first goal with the Canadiens (6 GP) . . . ICYMI: The Blackhawks signed forward Marcus Kruger to a three-year contract extension.

SNEAK PEEK AT WEDNESDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
NY Islanders @ Toronto, 7:00 p.m., SN, MSG+
Chicago @ St. Louis, 8:00 p.m., NBCSN, TVAS
Nashville @ Calgary, 9:30 p.m., SN1, FS-TN
Arizona @ Vancouver, 10:00 p.m., FS-A+, SNP
Anaheim @ Colorado, 10:00 p.m., KCOP-13, ALT
Washington @ Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m., SNE, SNO, CSN-DC, FS-W
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CENTRAL DIVISION CONTENDERS MEET ON RIVALRY NIGHT
The Blackhawks (41-21-5, 87 points) and Blues (38-20-9, 85 points) – the No. 2 and 3 teams in the Central Division and Western Conference, respectively – face off at Scottrade Center on NBCSN’s Wednesday Night Rivalry. This marks the fourth of five meetings in 2015-16 between these clubs, who are separated by just two points. Chicago is 2-0-1 in the opening three head-to-head contests, while St. Louis is 1-2-0; the teams will close their season series on April 7 at United Center. The Blackhawks have won three of their last four outings overall, while the Blues are riding a three-game winning streak.

WILLIAMS, RICHARDS RETURN TO LOS ANGELES WITH CAPITALS
Justin Williams and Mike Richards return to Los Angeles for the first time when the League-leading Capitals (49-13-4, 102 points) visit the Kings (39-22-4, 82 points) at STAPLES Center. The duo won two Stanley Cups in Southern California (2011-12 and 2013-14), with Williams earning the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2013-14.

“It’ll probably be emotional for me, weird, and all those things,” Williams told the Los Angeles Daily News. “I’m happy I got one out of the way in Washington. But going back to that arena and those great memories, the greatest memories of my career were there. It’s a special place. It always will be.”

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the above information.