CANADIENS, OILERS MAKE PROGRESS IN PURSUIT OF DIVISION TITLES
The Canadiens (45-24-9, 99 points) and Oilers (44-25-9, 97 points), who each clinched playoff berths earlier this week, earned overtime wins to strengthen their bids for division titles:

* Alexander Radulov scored 51 seconds into the extra frame – his first NHL overtime goal since Feb. 2, 2008 (w/ NSH) – to lift Montreal to its fourth straight win and an eight-point lead atop the Atlantic Division. Radulov, who signed as a free agent in the offseason, has collected 17-35—52 in 2016-17 to rank second in team scoring behind captain Max Pacioretty (35-31—66).

* Connor McDavid (1-2—3) and Leon Draisaitl (1-1—2) each assisted on the tying goal with 1:58 remaining in regulation before teaming up for the overtime winner as the Oilers rallied past the Ducks (42-23-13, 97 points) to leapfrog them into first place in the Pacific Division. McDavid (6-13—19) and Draisaitl (5-13—18) pushed their point streaks to 10 games apiece as the Oilers (who have one home game remaining) matched a franchise record with their eighth consecutive home win. Elias says that the 10-game point streaks by McDavid and Draisaitl equal the longest such run by an Oilers player over the past 19 seasons (Sam Gagner: 3-8—11 in 10 GP from Jan. 20 – Feb. 6, 2013).

WILD CARD TEAMS INCH CLOSER TO PLAYOFF BERTHS
The Predators (40-27-11, 91 points) and Bruins (42-30-6, 90 points) each earned wins to strengthen their grip on the final Wild Card spot in the Western and Eastern Conference, respectively:

* Filip Forsberg and Kevin Fiala scored 10 seconds apart late in the second period and PekkaRinne (31 saves) posted his third shutout of the season to guide the Predators to their fifth win in their past seven outings. The Predators moved into a tie – in terms of points – with the Blues (42-28-7, 91 points) for third place in the Central Division. Nashville and St. Louis conclude their season series today at Scottrade Center (NSH: 3-1-0; STL: 1-3-0), with the Predators needing only one point to clinch the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

* Patrice Bergeron scored twice and Brad Marchand netted his 39th goal of the season to lead the Bruins to their fourth consecutive victory. Marchand ranks second in the race for the Maurice Richard Trophy behind Sidney Crosby (43). Boston squares off with Tampa Bay (38-29-10, 86 points) – the first team outside the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference – for their season finale on Tuesday at TD Garden (BOS: 3-1-0; TBL: 1-2-1).

BLACKHAWKS CLINCH FIRST PLACE IN CENTRAL, BEST RECORD IN WEST
By virtue of Minnesota’s loss to Nashville, the idle Blackhawks (50-21-7, 107 points) clinched the 16th division title in franchise history as well as the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference for the second time (also 2012-13). Chicago sits in second place in the NHL, three points back of Washington (51-18-8, 110 points) in the race for the Presidents’ Trophy.

LOOSE PUCKS
Cam Talbot registered his 40th win of 2016-17 to equal a single-season Oilers record set by Grant Fuhr in 1987-88 . . . The Ducks registered at least a point for the 10th straight game (7-0-3) . . . Jason Spezza (GWG) and Kari Lehtonen (SO) combined to help the Stars halt Carolina’s franchise-record point streak at 13 games (9-0-4) . . . Blake Wheeler (1-0—1) extended his point streak to five games (3-4—7) as Winnipeg picked up its fifth straight home win . . . Anthony Stolarz made 26 saves in relief of Michal Neuvirth (6 saves) as the Flyers (37-32-8, 82 points) posted a 3-0 victory . . . Todd McLellan (EDM) served his 700th regular season game as an NHL head coach . . . Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov, Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane were named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the month of March, while Maple Leafs forward William Nylander was named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month . . . Commissioner Gary Bettman announced O’Leary, Prince Edward Island as the winner of Kraft Hockeyville for 2017. The community will host 2017-18 preseason game between the Senators and Devils on Monday, Sept. 25.

SNEAK PEEK AT SUNDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Boston @ Chicago, 12:30 p.m., NBC, TVAS
NY Islanders @ Buffalo, 3 p.m., SN, MSG-B, MSG+
Nashville @ St. Louis, 4 p.m., FS-MW, FS-TN
Carolina @ Pittsburgh, 5 p.m., NHLN, ROOT, FS-CR
Colorado @ Minnesota, 6 p.m., FS-N, ALT
Dallas @ Tampa Bay, 6 p.m., SUN, FS-SW+
Washington @ Columbus, 6 p.m., FS-O, CSN-DC+
San Jose @ Vancouver, 7 p.m., SN, CSN-CA+
Philadelphia @ NY Rangers, 7:30 p.m., NBCSN
Anaheim @ Calgary, 9:30 p.m., SN1, PRIME
Arizona @ Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m., FS-W, FS-A PLUS
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STAR SUNDAY FEATURES CLUBS IN THICK OF EASTERN CONFERENCE RACE
The NHL on NBC opens another Star Sunday doubleheader at 12:30 ET on NBC, when Brad Marchand and the Bruins (42-30-6, 90 points) visit Jonathan Toews and the Blackhawks (50-21-7, 107 points), who are locked into the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. Marchand scored his 39th goal of the season yesterday to help Boston open a four-point lead in the race for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. The focus shifts to NBCSN at 7:30 ET when Claude Giroux and the Flyers (37-32-8, 82 points) look to keep their playoff hopes alive against RickNash and the Rangers (46-26-6, 98 points), who hold the first Eastern Conference Wild Card spot.

PLAYOFF-BOUND SHARKS VISIT CANUCKS ON HOMETOWN HOCKEY
The Sharks (43-28-7, 93 points) look to gain ground in the Pacific Division – where the top four teams are separated by five points – when they visit the Canucks (30-38-9, 69 points) on Rogers Hometown Hockey, which will showcase the city of Guelph, Ont. The tour, which concludes next weekend in Hamilton, Ont., has aired live from a different community rink in various towns across Canada all season long. Local NHL player profiles, grassroots stories and local entertainment features are included in each telecast.

the above information was provided by the NHL PR department