ANDERSON POSTS SHUTOUT IN RETURN TO SENATORS’ NET
Craig Anderson denied all 33 shots he faced in his first appearance in more than two months to record his fourth shutout of the season and backstop the Senators to victory. Anderson took a leave of absence after his last start on Dec. 5 to be with his wife, Nicholle, during her cancer treatment.

* Anderson became the second goaltender in franchise history to record four shutouts within his first 20 appearances in a season. He and teammate Mike Condon (4 SO) are the first pair of Senators goaltenders to record at least four shutouts apiece in the same season.

CAPITALS HOLD OFF DUCKS TO KEEP STREAKS ALIVE
The Capitals led 3-0 and 4-1 before Zach Sanford (first NHL goal) scored the tiebreaking goal with 2:39 remaining in regulation to lift Washington to its 12th straight win at Verizon Center, one shy of the longest home win streak in franchise history (Jan. 5 – March 6, 2010: 13-0-0).

* Elias notes that the League-leading Capitals (39-11-6, 84 points), who also posted a 12-game win streak at Verizon Center in 2015-16, became the second team in NHL history to post home win streaks of at least 12 games in back-to-back seasons (also PIT: 2012-13 and 2013-14).

* Washington scored at least five goals for the 11th consecutive home game, scoring 60 times in that span. Elias notes that only one other team in NHL history has accomplished the feat: the 1970-71 Bruins (78 goals in 11 GP).

* Braden Holtby (18 saves) won his 14th consecutive decision to match the second-longest personal win streak in NHL history – becoming the second goaltender to achieve the feat this season (Sergei Bobrovsky: 14-0-0 from Nov. 29 to Jan. 3). Boston’s Gilles Gilbert is the only NHL goaltender to post a single-season win streak of more than 14 games (17-0-0 in 1975-76).

EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF RACE REMAINS LOG JAM
A number of clubs earned wins Saturday to keep pace in the crowded Eastern Conference playoff race:

* David Pastrnak, who has 5-4—9 in his past four games, scored the tiebreaking goal with two minutes remaining as the Bruins picked up their second straight win.

* Wayne Simmonds scored on a breakaway in the extra frame – his first career overtime goal (661 GP) – as the Flyers halted a three-game skid.

* Jaromir Jagr, who will celebrate his 45th birthday on Wednesday, scored one of the Panthers’ season-high seven goals to move within one point of 1,900 in his NHL career (759-1,140—1,899 in 1,683 GP).

* Victor Hedman, Ondrej Palat and Brayden Point each posted 1-1—2 as the Lightning extended their point streak to four games (3-0-1).

* Jack Eichel (0-3—3), Evander Kane (2-0—2) and Sam Reinhart (1-1—2) combined for 3-4—7 as the Sabres won for the third time in the past five games.

LOOSE PUCKS
Patrik Berglund recorded his first career hat trick (611 GP) to lead the Blues to their fourth straight victory . . . Patrick Kane tallied 1-2—3 extend his point streak to five games (4-5—9) and help the Blackhawks push their win streak to five games . . . Nicklas Backstrom (1-2—3) eclipsed the 700 career point milestone while extending his point streak to seven games (4-9—13). He shares second in the NHL with 17-43—60 this season . . . Stars forward Patrick Eaves scored twice while playing in his 600th career game to establish a career high for goals in a season (21) . . . Predators forward Viktor Arvidsson recorded his first career hat trick (115 GP) . . . Sharks forward Patrick Marleau reached the 20-goal mark for the 14th time in 19 NHL seasons, extending his point streak to nine games (8-5—13) . . . Artem Anisimov (CHI) and Mark Stone (OTT) reached the 20-goal mark for the second and third consecutive seasons, respectively . . . Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (35 saves) recorded his 30th win of the season to move back into a share of the League lead (with Devan Dubnyk) . . . Forwards Brett Connolly (4-4—8 in 6 GP), J.T. Miller (2-8—10 in 6 GP) and Kyle Okposo (2-3—5 in 5 GP) extended their points streaks . . . Penguins forward Josh Archibald (2-0—2) scored his first NHL goals (2 GP) . . . The Bruins and Maple Leafs each hosted events in support of Hockey Is For Everyone month . . . The Blue Jackets honored late Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch before their game against Detroit . . . Members of the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots participated in the ceremonial face-off at TD Garden.

SNEAK PEEK AT SUNDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
San Jose @ New Jersey, 12:30 p.m., SN360, SN1, MSG+, CSN-CA
Detroit @ Minnesota, 3 p.m., NBC
Dallas @ Nashville, 6 p.m., TVAS, FS-TN, FS-SW
Colorado @ NY Islanders, 6 p.m., MSG+, ALT
Montreal @ Boston, 7:30 p.m., SN, NBCSN, RDS
Vancouver @ Buffalo, 7:30 p.m., MSG-B, SNP
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STARS TAKE CENTER STAGE ON SIX-GAME SUNDAY
An Original Six rivalry will be renewed in a game televised nationally in both Canada and the U.S. during a six-game Sunday slate:

* In Canada, Rogers Hometown Hockeystops in Cochrane, Alta., as the Atlantic Division-leading Canadiens (31-18-8, 70 points) and Bruins (28-23-6, 62 points) clash at TD Garden in their final meeting of 2016-17. Montreal has won 15 of their past 19 regular-season games against Boston dating to March 3, 2013 (MTL: 15-3-1; BOS: 4-13-2), including a 2-0-1 mark this season (BOS: 1-2-0). Throughout the 2016-17 season, Sunday games will be broadcast from a different community rink in various towns across Canada. Included in each telecast will be local NHL player profiles, grassroots stories and local entertainment features.

* In the U.S., Shea Weber and the Canadiens visit Brad Marchand and the Bruins on NBCSN in the second half of a doubleheader on Star Sunday. The broadcast begins at 3 p.m. ET on NBC when Devan Dubnyk and the Western Conference-leading Wild (36-12-6, 78 points) host HenrikZetterberg and the Red Wings (22-23-10, 54 points). Airing most Sundays through the end of the regular season, NBC Sports’ Star Sunday games will shine a spotlight on a star from each team throughout the telecast, from pre-game features to an iso cam during game action.

the information above was provided by the NHL PR department