OILERS SOLVE COYOTES FOR THIRD STRAIGHT WIN
The Oilers opened a 3-0 lead early in the second period to win their third straight game overall and defeat the Coyotes in regulation for the first time since Jan. 25, 2011, halting Arizona’s point streak in the head-to-head series at 25 games (21-0-4).

* With Edmonton’s regulation win, the longest active head-to-head point streak in the NHL is now the Bruins’ 16-game run against the Oilers (13-0-3 dating to Nov. 6, 2001). The two teams face off twice this season: Jan. 5 at BOS and March 16 at EDM.

* Mark Letestu (1-2—3) posted his second three-point performance in 11 games this month (also Dec. 1 at WPG: 2-1—3) after compiling two such outings in his first 421 career NHL games.

LOOSE PUCKS
Teammates Lars Eller and Andre Burakovsky each posted 1-1—2, while Coyotes teammates Oliver Ekman-Larsson (1-1—2) and Radim Vrbata (0-2—2) and Oilers linemates MattHendricks (1-1—2) and Zack Kassian (0-2—2) also collected two points apiece . . . MUST SEE: Jack Eichel and the Sabres released their rendition of “All I Want For Christmas Is You” . . . ICYMI: The Flyers treated Vice President of the United StatesJoe Biden to an ice cream during their game against the Capitals . . . A group of seventh- and eighth-grade students with the NHL/NHLPA Future Goals-Hockey Scholar program received tickets to the 2017 Scotiabank NHL Centennial Classic during a tour of Exhibition Stadium. Click here for a time-lapse of the rink build in Toronto and here for a look at the progress at Busch Stadium in St. Louis for the 2017 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic.

SNEAK PEEK AT THURSDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Carolina @ Buffalo, 7 p.m., MSG-B, FS-CR
Philadelphia @ New Jersey, 7 p.m., MSG+, TCN-PH
Pittsburgh @ Columbus, 7 p.m., FS-O, ROOT
Minnesota @ Montreal, 7:30 p.m., SN360, RDS, FS-N, FS-WI
Anaheim @ Ottawa, 7:30 p.m., RDS2, TSN5, PRIME
St. Louis @ Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m., SUN, FS-MW
Boston @ Florida, 7:30 p.m., FS-F, NESN
Los Angeles @ Nashville, 8 p.m., FS-TN, FS-W
Toronto @ Colorado, 9 p.m., ALT, TSN4
Winnipeg @ Vancouver, 10 p.m., SNV, TSN3
NBC Sports Channel Finder
Sportsnet Channel Finder
NHLN Channel Finder

BLUE JACKETS, WILD AIM TO EXTEND WIN STREAKS VS. DIVISION LEADERS
Columbus and Minnesota aim to extend the two longest active win streaks in the NHL when they meet Eastern Conference division leaders Pittsburgh and Montreal, respectively:

* The Blue Jackets (21-5-4, 46 points) put their franchise-record 10-game win streak on the line when they host the Eastern Conference-leading Penguins (21-7-5, 47 points) at Nationwide Arena. Columbus, who also owns a 12-game point streak (11-0-1; one shy of the franchise record), sits one point back of Pittsburgh – who are 8-0-2 in their past 10 games – for the top spot in both the conference and Metropolitan Division. Columbus holds three games in hand.

* The Wild (19-8-4, 42 points) look to match a franchise record with a ninth consecutive victory when they visit the Atlantic Division-leading Canadiens (21-7-4, 46 points), who have won a League-best 15 home games this season. Minnesota goaltender Devan Dubnyk paces all netminders in goals-against average (1.55), save percentage (.948) and shutouts (5), while Montreal’s Carey Price ranks second in the NHL with 18 wins and sits third in goals-against average (1.87) and save percentage (.936).

JAGR EYES SOLE POSSESSION OF SECOND PLACE ON ALL-TIME POINTS LIST
After registering three assists in a 4-3 shootout victory on Tuesday, Panthers forward JaromirJagr (755-1,132—1,887) needs only one point to surpass Mark Messier (694-1,193—1,887) into sole possession of second place on the NHL’s all-time points list, behind WayneGretzky (894-1,963—2,857). Jagr, who trails only Gretzky and Gordie Howe (800) in career NHL goals, also is within three assists of tying Paul Coffey (1,135) for fifth place on the League’s all-time assists list.

the information above was supplied by the NHL PR department