CAPITALS INCH CLOSER TO REGULAR-SEASON TITLES, FRANCHISE RECORDS
The Capitals scored four unanswered goals – powered by Evgeny Kuznetsov (0-3—3) and Daniel Winnik (0-2—2) – to improve to 4-1-1 in their past six games overall and 21-3-1 in their past 25 contests at Verizon Center.

* At 51-14-5 (107 points), the League-leading Capitals hold leads of 19 and 18 points in the race for first place in the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference, respectively. Their 51 victories rank second in franchise history behind a 54-win campaign in 2009-10, when they won the Presidents’ Trophy.

* The Capitals also pace the NHL in home wins (28) and home points (58) in 2015-16. Their 28 victories at Verizon Center are two shy of matching the franchise record for home wins in one season established in 1985-86 and equaled in 2009-10.

* Kuznetsov posted his eighth three-point game of the season to extend his assist/point streak to five games (0-7—7). He shares third in the League with 20-53—73 overall (70 GP).

* Winnik notched his first goals with the Capitals (8 GP) and first multi-goal game since Jan. 21, 2013 at CGY (w/ ANA) to reach 200 career points.

GUIDED BY THE GOALIE
Three goaltenders posted shutouts to backstop their clubs to victories:

* Cam Talbot made 40 saves, including 16 in each of the final two periods, to record his 11th career shutout (third this season) and backstop the Oilers to their second straight win. Talbot improved to 13-0-1 all-time when making 35 or more saves in a game (1.56 GAA, .960 SV%, 2 SO), including a 6-0-0 clip when facing at least 40 shots (2.00 GAA, .953 SV%, 1 SO).

* Frederik Andersen stopped 38 shots, including 16 in the second period, to post his fifth career shutout and lead the Ducks to a 10-1-1 in their past 12 games at Honda Center. Andersen improved to 20-9-6 overall this season (2.17 GAA, .924 SV%, 2 SO) and boosted his record to 15-1-1 in his last 17 decisions dating to Jan. 13.

* Scott Darling denied all 28 shots he faced, highlighted by a sprawling cross-crease stopto preserve a scoreless tie, to help the Blackhawks snap a four-game losing streak (0-3-1). Darling posted his second career shutout exactly one year after his first clean sheet (March 18, 2015 at NYR). According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Darling is the first goaltender in NHL history to record his first two career shutouts exactly one year apart.

DID YOU KNOW?
Sabres forward Sam Reinhart tallied 1-1—2, including his 20th goal of 2015-16, to help Buffalo improve to 2-0-1 in their past three games. Reinhart shares third among rookies in goals, behind Chicago’s Artemi Panarin (25) and teammate Jack Eichel (22). Eichel and Reinhart became the third pair of Sabres rookies to each reach the 20-goal milestone in the same season. The others: Gilbert Perreault (38) and Steve Atkinson (20) in 1970-71 and Danny Gare (31) and Peter McNab (22) in 1974-75.

LOOSE PUCKS
Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane (1-1—2) notched his eighth game-winning goal to move into a share of second in the League behind San Jose’s Joe Pavelski (10) . . . Capitals forward T.J. Oshie (1-0—1) established and tied career highs for goals (22) and game-winning goals (5) in a season (70 GP), surpassing and equaling marks set with the Blues in 2013-14 (21 G, 5 GWG in 79 GP) . . . Oilers forward Connor McDavid (0-1—1) shares second place in the NHL with 9-18—27 in 24 games since returning from injury on Feb. 2 . . . Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby (20 SV) recorded his League-leading 43rd win of the season . . . Blackhawks forward Andrew Ladd, who received a standing ovation in his return to Winnipeg, reached the 20-goal milestone for the fifth time . . . Flames defenseman Mark Giordano and forward Freddie Hamilton scored shorthanded goals 30 seconds apart, the third-fastest such goals in club history . . . ICYMI: Jets goaltenderOndrej Pavelec sprawled out for a tremendous glove save . . . Dallas Stars announced that the Club has signed defenseman Stephen Johns to a two-year contract extension . . . The Department of Player Safety suspended Flyers forward Chris VandeVelde for two games for elbowing Blackhawks forward Jonathan Toews.

SNEAK PEEK AT SATURDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia, 1:00 p.m., ROOT, CSN-PH
Carolina @ Minnesota, 2:00 p.m., FS-CR, FS-N
NY Rangers @ San Jose, 4:00 p.m., MSG+, CSN-CA
Buffalo @ Toronto, 7:00 p.m., MSG-B, CBC, CITY
Montreal @ Ottawa, 7:00 p.m., TVAS, SN
Detroit @ Florida, 7:00 p.m., FS-D+, FS-F, NHLN-US
New Jersey @ Columbus, 7:00 p.m., MSG+ 2, FS-O
NY Islanders @ Dallas, 8:00 p.m., MSG+, FS-SW
St. Louis @ Vancouver, 10:00 p.m., FS-MW, CBC, SN
Tampa Bay @ Arizona, 10:00 p.m., SUN, FS-A
Boston @ Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m., NESN, FS-W
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PENGUINS-FLYERS RIVALRY HEATS UP
Philadelphia has compiled an 8-1-1 record in its past ten games to climb within one point of Detroit for the last Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference; the Flyers sit four points behind Pittsburgh in the Metropolitan Division. The Penguins have won four straight and are 7-3-0 in their last ten games on the heels of captain Sidney Crosby who enters today’s game with a 10-game point streak intact (6-10—16). This marks the second meeting of the season between these clubs; the Penguins won the first head-to-head contest 4-3. The Flyers and Penguins will play twice in the last week of the season (April 3rd and April 9th).

TODAY’S CLINCHING SCENARIOS
Two clubs can clinch Stanley Cup Playoff berths today.

The Stars will clinch a playoff berth:

* If they defeat the Islanders in regulation or overtime AND the Wild lose to the Hurricanes in regulation.

The Kings will clinch a playoff berth:

* If they defeat the Bruins in regulation or overtime AND the Coyotes lose to the Lightning in any fashion or defeat the Lightning in a shootout; OR

* If they defeat the Bruins in a shootout AND the Coyotes lose in any fashion; OR

* If they get one point against the Bruins AND the Coyotes lose in regulation.

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the above information.