PENGUINS EDGE RANGERS, MOVE AHEAD IN WILD CARD RACE
The Rangers erased a trio of one-goal deficits, but Matt Cullen scored the tiebreaker –from behind the net – midway through the third period to power the Penguins to their sixth victory in their past nine games.

* At 36-24-8 (80 points), the Penguins leapfrogged the Red Wings (34-24-11, 79 points) – who lost in regulation – for the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. They also climbed within two points of the idle Islanders (37-21-8, 82 points) for third place in the Metropolitan Division.

* Sidney Crosby posted 1-1—2 to extend his point streak to eight games (4-9—13). He shares fifth place in the NHL with 29-40—69 overall this season (67 GP), including a League-high 23-27—50 dating to Dec. 18 (37 GP).

MAPLE LEAFS BLANK RED WINGS IN CENTENNIAL CLASSIC PREVIEW
Jonathan Bernier denied all 38 shots he faced and Michael Grabner provided the lone goal to lift the Maple Leafs over the Red Wings in a preview of next season’s 2017 NHL Centennial Classic.

* Bernier recorded his 12th career shutout and third of the season. Elias notes that he became the first Maple Leafs goaltender to shut out the Red Wings since Dec. 6, 2000, when Curtis Joseph made 29 saves in a 3-0 win at Joe Louis Arena.

MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS
* Penguins forward Dominik Simon, a fifth-round selection (137th overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft, collected one assist in his League debut.

LOOSE PUCKS
The Rangers suffered consecutive losses of any kind for the first time since Dec. 17-20 (0-3-0) . . . Penguins forward Conor Sheary (2-0—2) registered his first career multi-goal game (30 GP) . . . Rangers forward Derick Brassard scored for the third straight game (3-1—4) . . . Teammates Derek Stepan (2-5—7) and Keith Yandle (1-4—5) both extended their point streaks to five games . . . Via Elias, the Lightning notched multiple shorthanded goals in the same game for the first time since Dec. 27, 2003 vs. BOS . . . REMINDER: The first-ever NHL Green Week, celebrating the League’s commitment to environmental sustainability, runs through Friday.

SNEAK PEEK AT MONDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Florida @ NY Islanders, 7:00 p.m., TVAS, FS-F, MSG+
Los Angeles @ Chicago, 8:00 p.m., NBCSN, SNE, SNO, CSN-CH+
St. Louis @ Calgary, 9:00 p.m., FS-MW, SNW
Nashville @ Edmonton, 9:00 p.m., FS-TN, SNOL
Winnipeg @ Vancouver, 10:00 p.m., TSN3, SNP
New Jersey @ Anaheim, 10:00 p.m., MSG, PRIME, FS-SD
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BLACKHAWKS, KINGS MEET FOR FINAL TIME IN 2015-16
Two of the top teams in the Western Conference face off when the No. 3 Blackhawks (41-22-6, 88 points) play host to the No. 4 Kings (40-22-5, 85 points) at United Center. This marks the third and final meeting of the season between these clubs, who have combined to win five of the past six Stanley Cups – including each of the last four (CHI in 2010, 2013 and 2015; LAK in 2012 and 2014). They also have met in the Western Conference Final in two of the past three seasons – Chicago won in five games in 2013 en route to its Stanley Cup victory, while Los Angeles won a seven-game series in 2014 on the way to its second championship. The Blackhawks and Kings have split their first two matchups of this season, with each team winning on home ice – Chicago posted a 4-2 victory on Nov. 2 at United Center, while Los Angeles recorded a 3-2 overtime win on Nov. 28 at STAPLES Center.

the above information was provided by the NHL PR department