DID YOU KNOW?
Columbus’ 14-game run is tied for the third-longest single-season win streak in NHL history:

Longest Winning Streak, One Season
17 – Penguins (March 9 – April 10, 1993)
15 – Islanders (Jan. 21 – Feb. 20, 1982)
15 – Penguins (March 2-30, 2013)
14 – Bruins (Dec. 3, 1929 – Jan. 9, 1930)
14 – Capitals (Jan. 13 – Feb. 7, 2010)
14 – Blue Jackets (Nov. 29, 2016 – Present)

MAPLE LEAFS, RED WINGS WIN CENTENNIAL CLASSIC TUNE-UPS
Maple Leafs goaltender Antoine Bibeau and Red Wings goaltender Jared Coreau each backstopped their clubs to victory in their final games before meeting outdoors in the 2017 Scotiabank NHL Centennial Classic on Jan. 1 in Toronto:

* Bibeau made 25 saves to earn his first career NHL victory (2 GP) and lead the Maple Leafs to their fourth consecutive win. Auston Matthews (1-1—2) extended his point streak to five games (4-3—7) and moved into a tie for first among rookies with 18-12—30 this season (35 GP). Elias notes that Matthews is the first Maple Leafs player in the NHL’s modern era (since 1943-44) to score at least 18 goals in his first 35 career games.

* Coreau, who grew up about 50 miles southwest of Ottawa in Perth, Ont., and cheered on the Senators as a child, made 26 saves in his third career NHL game to guide the Red Wings to their fourth win in their last five road games. Anthony Mantha scored his first career overtime goal at 1:07 of the extra frame to extend his point streak to five games (3-3—6).

RANGERS, BLACKHAWKS CONTINUE SUCCESS AS VISITORS
The Rangers and Blackhawks each secured road victories to build on recent strings of success as visitors:

* Matt Puempel scored three power-play goals to record the first hat trick of his NHL career and guide the Rangers to their League-leading 12th road win of the season (12-6-0, 24 points). Puempel became the first Rangers player to score three power-play goals in a game since Mike Gartner on Jan. 31, 1994 vs. PIT.

* Patrick Kane (1-1—2) scored the go-ahead goal with 5:12 left in regulation as the Blackhawks picked up their fourth straight road win and maintained their grip on first place in the Western Conference (23-10-5, 51 points). Kane, who shares sixth in the NHL with 11-26—37 this season (38 GP), became the first player from the 2007 NHL Draft class to reach the 700-point milestone (262-438—700 in 696 GP).

LOOSE PUCKS
Keith Kinkaid (43 saves) denied both shootout attempts to help the Devils snap a six-game road skid (0-5-1) . . . Oilers defenseman Eric Gryba scored his first career game-winning goal (236 GP) and Ducks forward Antoine Vermette had 1-1—2 as both Edmonton (19-12-6, 44 points) and Anaheim (18-12-7, 43 points) inched closer to idle San Jose (22-12-1, 45 points) for first place in the Pacific Division . . . The Bruins scored four unanswered goals to defeat the Sabres in the first half of a home-and-home set . . . Phillip Danault (1-1—2) assisted on the tying goal with 2:37 left in regulation and scored 39 seconds into overtime to help the Canadiens snap a three-game slide (0-2-1) . . . Tyler Seguin (2-1—3) and Jamie Benn (0-3—3) each collected three points to help the Stars extend their point streak to five games (4-0-1) . . . The Wild scored three times in a span of 1:20 to set a club record for the fastest three goals in franchise history . . . Minnesota also established a franchise record for wins in a calendar month with 12 in December . . . Artemi Panarin (5-10—15 in 9 GP), Eric Staal (5-7—12 in 9 GP), Blake Wheeler (3-4—7 in 6 GP), Henrik Zetterberg (1-4—5 in 5 GP), Mats Zuccarello (0-7—7 in 5 GP) and Sam Reinhart (2-4—6 in 5 GP) each extended their respective point streaks . . . Avalanche forward Matt Duchene collected 1-1—2 to eclipse the 400-point milestone (169-232—401) . . . Defenseman Robert Bortuzzoagreed to a two-year contract with the Blues . . . Forward Artemi Panarinagreed to a two-year contract with the Blackhawks . . . The Senators retired No. 11 of former captain Daniel Alfredsson in a pre-game ceremony at Canadian Tire Centre . . . Linesman Jonny Murray was honored in a pre-game ceremony at BB&T Center for recently working his 1,000th career NHL game . . . NHL Network will air weekday studio shows NHL Now, NHL Tonight and On The Fly from the MLB Network’s Studio 42 at Busch Stadium ahead of the 2017 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on Jan. 2.

SNEAK PEEK AT FRIDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Chicago @ Carolina, 7:30 p.m., FS-CR, WGN
Nashville @ St. Louis, 8 p.m., SN1, TVAS, FS-MW, FS-TN
Philadelphia @ San Jose, 10 p.m., CSN-CA, CSN-PH
Anaheim @ Vancouver, 10 p.m., SNP, FS-W
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SERIES CHRONICLING JOURNEYS TO OUTDOOR CLASSICS RETURNS FRIDAY
The third episode of the four-part series chronicling the journeys of four teams – the Red Wings, Maple Leafs, Blackhawks and Blues – as they prepare for the 2017 Scotiabank NHL Centennial Classic and 2017 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic, respectively, makes its debut tonight in both the United States and Canada.

Viewers in the United States can watch the third episode of EPIX Presents Road to the NHL Outdoor Classics at 10 p.m. ET/PT / 9 p.m. CT via EPIX, EPIX.com and NHL.com. Click here for more details on the U.S. broadcast schedule.

Viewers in Canada can catch the third episode of Sportsnet All Access: NHL Outdoor Classics following the Predators-Blues game on Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Sportsnet NOW. Click here for more details on the Canadian broadcast schedule.

* Click here for a preview of Episode 3.

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the above information.