Around the League notebook for Tuesday, Dec. 30

TUESDAY'S RESULTS

Home Team in Caps

Montreal 2, FLORIDA 1 (SO)

NASHVILLE 3, St. Louis 2

EDMONTON 3, Los Angeles 2 (SO)

Vancouver 3, SAN JOSE 1

TOKARSKI LEADS MONTREAL TO TOP OF EASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS

In his first start since Nov. 29, Dustin Tokarski made 36 saves through 65 minutes and stopped all three attempts in the shootout to power the Montreal Canadiens to a 2-1 victory against the Florida Panthers. Montreal improved to 24-11-2 (50 points) to tie the Tampa Bay Lightning in standings points for first place in the Eastern Conference. With the win, the Canadiens also improved to 7-1-0 over their last eight games.

* Tokarski is 4-2-1 with a 2.23 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage. Tokarski improved his shootout record to 3-1 this season with a .750 shootout save percentage.

* After a scoreless first period, Brendan Gallagher (1-0—1) opened the scoring late in the second period with his 11th goal of the season. Gallagher has netted five goals over his past 10 games and ranks second on the club in goals.

* Lars Eller (0-1—1) had his sixth assist of the season to extend his point streak to three games (1-2—3). The streak ties a season-high for Eller, who also posted a three-game point streak (3-2—5) from Nov. 8-13.

* PA Parenteau netted the shootout winner for the Canadiens.

WEBER LEADS PREDATORS TO VICTORY AGAINST BLUES

Shea Weber (2-0—2) scored twice, including the game-winner while shorthanded, to lead the Nashville Predators to a 3-2 win against the St. Louis Blues. Nashville improved to 24-9-3 (51 points) to remain second in the Central Division standings. With the victory, Nashville is 14-2-1 at home and 12-0-0 in games following a regulation, overtime or shootout loss this season.

* According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Weber's shorthanded game-winning goal is the first of his career. The last member of the Predators to score a game-winning goal while shorthanded was Sergei Kostitsyn, who did so on Feb. 21, 2012 in a 3-1 win against the Vancouver Canucks.

* Weber's two-goal performance is his first of the season and he has now recorded eight points (2-6—8) over his past seven games. Weber leads Predators defensemen in points (8-17—25) and ranks tied for fifth among NHL defensemen.

* Pekka Rinne stopped 26 of 28 shots to improve to 24-6-2 this season with a 1.88 GAA and .934 save percentage. Rinne paces NHL goaltenders with 24 wins and ranks second and third in the League for goals-against average and save percentage, respectively. Rinne has been in net for all 24 Nashville wins.

* Gabriel Bourque (1-1—2) recorded his second multipoint game of the season. Bourque's first multipoint game was Dec. 9 versus the Colorado Avalanche (1-1—2).

* Olli Jokinen (0-2—2) had his first two assists of the season. Jokinen's last multipoint game was on March 16 versus the Dallas Stars (1-2—3) when he was a member of the Winnipeg Jets.

* Roman Josi (0-1—1) had his 17th assist to extend his point streak to three games (1-3—4). Josi has seven points (2-5—7) over his past six games and ranks second in points (5-17—22) among Predators defensemen.

OILERS OVERCOME LATE RALLY TO DEFEAT KINGS

Despite having their 2-0 lead erased in the third period, the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 in a shootout. The Oilers are 8-22-7 (23 points) and interim coach Todd Nelson earned his first career NHL win since being hired by the club on Dec. 15.

* In his 100th career NHL game, Ben Scrivens made 37 saves through regulation and overtime and stopped all four Kings in the shootout to improve to 6-13-5 with a 3.10 GAA and .895 save percentage. Scrivens improved his shootout record to 1-1 this season with a .750 shootout save percentage.

* Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (1-0—1) scored his team-leading 11th goal and has now scored in consecutive games. Nugent-Hopkins also leads the Oilers in points (11-13—24).

* Matt Hendricks (1-0—1) opened the scoring early in the first period with his third goal of the season. Hendricks has three points (1-2—3) over his past four games.

* David Perron netted the shootout winner for the Oilers.

MILLER BACKSTOPS CANUCKS TO WIN AGAINST SHARKS

Ryan Miller made 31 saves to lead the Vancouver Canucks to a 3-1 win against the San Jose Sharks. The Canucks improved to 21-11-3 (45 points) to take sole possession of second place in the Pacific Division standings. With the win, Vancouver is 10-2-2 against divisional opponents this season.

* Miller stopped 31 of 32 shots to improve to 19-7-1 with a 2.50 GAA and .910 save percentage. Miller's 19 wins tie him for fourth among NHL goaltenders. Miller is 9-1-1 in 11 games against the Sharks, including 2-0-0 this season.

* Jannik Hansen (1-0—1) scored the game-winner with his ninth goal of the season and second game-winner.

* Radim Vrbata (1-0—1) netted his 14th goal of the season. Vrbata leads the club in goals and is ranked third with 26 points (14-12—26).

* Rookie Bo Horvat (1-0—1) opened the scoring early in the first period with his second goal.

* Henrik Sedin (0-1—1) had his 24th assist and Daniel Sedin (0-1—1) his 23rd assist of the season. D. Sedin paces the Canucks with 31 points (8-23—31), while H. Sedin ranks second with 30 (6-24—30).

DID YOU KNOW?

San Jose forwards Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton (1-0—1) were both awarded penalty shots, with Thornton converting on his attempt.

* According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Sharks have been awarded two penalty shots in a game once before, exactly five years ago on Dec. 30, 2009 in a 5-2 win against the Washington Capitals. Thornton also converted on this date and Ryane Clowe scored on the other penalty shot.

LOOSE PUCKS

Florida defenseman Aaron Ekblad (0-1—1) had his 15th assist and 20th point (5-15—20). Ekblad is now one point shy of tying Ed Jovanovski's franchise record of 21 points for a rookie defenseman. … Florida forward Jonathan Huberdeau (0-1—1) has three points (1-2—3) in his past two games. … St. Louis forward David Backes (0-2—2) had his first two-assist and third multipoint game of the season. Backes also skated in his 604th NHL game, passing Larry Patey for sole possession of ninth on the all-time franchise games played list. … St. Louis forward T.J. Oshie (1-0—1) scored while skating in his 400th NHL game and became the 19th forward in franchise history to reach the milestone. … St. Louis defenseman Chris Butler (1-0—1) has points in consecutive games (1-1—2) for the first time since Dec. 12-14, 2013 where he also recorded a goal and an assist. … Los Angeles forward Marian Gaborik (0-1—1) extended his point streak to seven games (7-4—11). … San Jose forward Joe Thornton (1-0—1) extended his point streak to four games (1-3—4). … Josiane Huberdeau, the 14-year-old sister of Florida Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau, sang a rendition of O Canada before the game.