KINGS FACE STARS IN SECOND HALF OF BACK-TO-BACK GAMES
One night after defeating the No. 3 Blackhawks (41-23-6, 88 points), the No. 4 Kings (41-22-5, 87 points) face another top Western Conference team when they visit the No. 1 Stars (41-20-9, 91 points) at American Airlines Center. This marks the second of three meetings in 2015-16 between Los Angeles and Dallas; the Kings recorded a 3-2 victory in their first matchup on Jan. 19 in Southern California. These clubs will close their three-game season series on April 2 at STAPLES Center.

TRIO OF HAT TRICKS LIFT TEAMS TO VICTORIES
Anaheim’s Jakob Silfverberg (3-1—4), Nashville’s James Neal (3-0—3) and Calgary’sMichael Frolik (3-0—3) all recorded hat tricks to power their teams to victories:

* Silfverberg notched his first career hat trick to help the Ducks snap a three-game skid overall (0-2-1) and extend their home point streak to 10 contests (9-0-1). Silfverberg also set career highs with four points and a +4 rating. He became the 17th different player in franchise history to register a hat trick (48th hat trick overall).

* Neal potted his sixth career hat trick – and first since Oct. 23, 2014 vs. CHI (3-0—3) – to help the Predators pick up points for the 15th time in their last 16 outings overall (10-1-5) and 13th time in their past 14 road contests (11-1-2). Neal added the game-winning goal, his third of the season: also Dec. 19 vs. MIN and Jan. 26 at VAN.

* Frolik recorded his second career hat trick – also Oct. 31, 2015 at EDM (3-0—3) – to help the Flames snap the Blues’ winning streak at six games. Frolik scored two of his goals while shorthanded; Elias notes that he became the first Flames player to post multiple shorthanded goals in one contest since Cory Stillman (2) on Jan. 9, 1998 vs. FLA.

DID YOU KNOW?
Monday marked the second time this season that three hat tricks were recorded on the same day. That also happened on Feb. 11, when Dallas’ Patrick Eaves (3-0—3 at CHI), Edmonton’s Jordan Eberle (3-1—4 vs. TOR) and Washington’s Alex Ovechkin (3-0—3 at MIN) scored three times in wins for their respective teams.

AROUND THE RINKS
* Jonathan Quick stopped all 32 shots he faced, including 16 in the third period, to help the Kings extend their point streak to four games (3-0-1). Quick (Milford, Conn.) earned his 41st career shutout to move past Frank Brimsek (Eveleth, Minn.) and John Vanbiesbrouck (Detroit, Mich.) – both with 40 – for the most by a U.S.-born goaltender in NHL history.

* Down 2-0 with less than eight minutes remaining, the Islanders scored three unanswered goals – including the tiebreaker by Cal Clutterbuck with 1:39 left on the clock – to extend their home point streak to seven contests (6-0-1). Via Elias, the Islanders overcame a multi-goal deficit in the final 10 minutes of the third period to win in regulation for the first time since Jan. 13, 1991 at QUE (4-3 W).

* Four players – Marko Dano (2-1—3), Alexander Burmistrov (1-1—2), Tyler Myers (1-1—2) and Mathieu Perreault (0-2—2) – registered multiple points to propel the Jets to their second straight victory. Dano matched career highs for goals and points in one contest, while Mark Scheifele scored to extend his point streak to a career-high eight games (8-4—12).

MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS
* Panthers forward Jaromir Jagr played in his 1,616th career game to move past Larry Murphy (1,615) and into sole possession of eighth place in NHL history.

* Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler played in his 400th NHL game.

* Ducks forward Nick Ritchie, the 10th overall selection in the 2014 NHL Draft, scored his first career goal (25 GP).

* Bruce Boudreau became the second head coach in Ducks history to win 200 games, joining Randy Carlyle (273). Elias adds that Boudreau, who recorded 201 victories with the Capitals, became the seventh head coach in NHL history to win 200-plus games with multiple teams.

* Head coach Darryl Sutter earned his 179th win with the Kings to move past Bob Pulford (178) and into sole possession of second place in franchise history.

LOOSE PUCKS
Flames teammates Sean Monahan (2-1—3), Johnny Gaudreau (0-3—3) and Dougie Hamilton (0-3—3) all registered three points . . . Ducks forwards Andrew Cogliano (1-2—3) and Ryan Kesler (1-2—3) also posted three points . . . Kings forward Anze Kopitar(0-1—1) reached the 60-point milestone for the ninth time in his 10 NHL seasons (21-39—60) . . . Blues forward Paul Stastny (2-0—2) recorded his first multi-goal game since Dec. 6, 2014 at NYI (2-0—2) . . . Kings forward Milan Lucic (1-0—1) extended his point streak to six games (3-5—8) . . . Blues forward Robby Fabbri (1-5—6) and Islanders captainJohn Tavares (3-2—5) extended their point streaks to five games . . . Forward Kris Versteeg (1-1—2) scored his first goal/points with the Kings (6 GP) . . . The Blackhawks signed defenseman Viktor Svedberg to a two-year contract extension . . . The Penguins signed forwards Tom Kuhnhackl, Bryan Rust and Scott Wilson to two-year contract extensions . . . ICYMI: The Department of Player Safety will have a hearing today with Blue Jackets defenseman Dalton Prout for roughing/sucker punching Lightning forwardNikita Kucherov . . . Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko, Panthers forward Vincent Trocheck and Devils goaltender Keith Kinkaid were named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending March 13.

TODAY’S CLINCHING SCENARIOS
The Capitals will clinch a playoff berth:

* If they get at least one point against the Hurricanes; OR

* If the Flyers defeat the Red Wings in regulation; OR

* If the Islanders defeat the Penguins in regulation; OR

* If the Red Wings defeat the Flyers in regulation AND the Islanders defeat the Penguins in any fashion.

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.