Around the League notebook for Sunday, Feb. 22

SUNDAY’S RESULTS

Home Team in CAPS

PHILADELPHIA 3, Washington 2

Boston 6, CHICAGO 2

PITTSBURGH 5, Florida 1

Nashville 2, BUFFALO 1 (SO)

Vancouver 4, NY ISLANDERS 0

COLORADO 5, Tampa Bay 4

NY RANGERS 4, Columbus 3 (SO)

MINNESOTA 6, Dallas 2

AVALANCHE’S MACKINNON RECORDS FIRST CAREER HAT TRICK IN WIN AGAINST LIGHTNING

Nathan MacKinnon (3-0-3) recorded the first hat trick of his NHL career, which included his second game-winning goal of the season, to power the Colorado Avalanche to a 5-4 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

* According to the Elias Sports Bureau, at 19 years, 174 days old, MacKinnon became the third-youngest player in franchise history to record a hat trick; as a member of the Quebec Nordiques, Joe Sakic recorded hat tricks on Oct. 22, 1988 at 19 years, 107 days old in a 7-3 loss to the New York Islanders and on Nov. 11, 1988 at 19 years, 140 days old in a 5-3 win against the Montreal Canadiens.

* In his 16th consecutive start, Semyon Varlamov made 28 saves to improve to 18-15-7 this season with a 2.59 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage. Varlamov’s 16 straight starts tied him with Patrick Roy for the second-longest streak by an Avalanche goaltender since the franchise relocated to Denver.

* Ryan O’Reilly (0-2-2) posted his fourth multi-assist game of the season.

* Gabriel Landeskog (0-1-1) registered his 23rd assist of the season and extended his season-high point streak to six games (5-1-6). The helper was also the 100th assist of his NHL career.

Hats off to @Mackinnon9. pic.twitter.com/eGFu9glZ5E

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) February 23, 2015

WILD NET FRANCHISE RECORD SIX THIRD PERIOD GOALS TO DEFEAT STARS

Facing a 1-0 deficit at the outset of the third period, the Minnesota Wild scored six goals in a 6-2 victory against the Dallas Stars. The Wild, who have earned points in 15 of their past 17 games (13-2-2), are 31-21-7 (69 points) this season and leapfrogged the idle San Jose Sharks and Calgary Flames for sole possession of the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Minnesota has also earned points in 11 of its past 12 games versus the West (10-1-1).

* Minnesota's six goals in the third period were a franchise record for the most goals scored in any period.

* Devan Dubnyk made 18 saves to record his third consecutive victory and his career-high 22nd win of the season. Overall, Dubnyk is 22-7-3 this season with a 2.19 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage. Since being acquired by the Wild, Dubnyk is 13-2-1 in 16 decisions.

* Mikael Granlund (1-2-3) scored his sixth goal and added two assists to record his first three-point game of the season. Zach Parise (2-0-2) recorded his fourth multi-goal game of the season and has posted 25 points (11-14-25) in 18 career games versus Dallas. Christian Folin (0-2-2) posted his first career multi-point game.

* Stephane Veilleux (1-0-1) netted his first goal of the season, which also stood as his first game-winning goal since Dec. 23, 2008.

CANUCKS CONTINUE DOMINANCE OF METROPOLITAN DIVISION OPPONENTS

The Vancouver Canucks scored three goals in the second period in a 4-0 win against the New York Islanders. The Canucks, who are 12-2-0 versus Metropolitan Division opponents this season, improved to 34-22-3 (71 points) this season and moved three points ahead of the idle Los Angeles Kings, who rank third in the Pacific Division standings with a record of 28-18-12 (68 points).

* Radim Vrbata (1-1-2) scored his 22nd goal on a power-play and added his 20th assist to post his ninth multi-point performance of the season. The tally was also the ninth power-play goal of the season for Vrbata.

* Henrik Sedin (0-2-2) recorded his ninth multi-assist game of the season and extended his point streak to four games (3-5-8). Daniel Sedin (0-1-1) registered his 39th assist of the season and extended his point streak to four games (0-6-6).

* Zack Kassian (1-0-1) opened the scoring 28 seconds into the second period on a power play with his eighth goal of the season. The marker was also the first power-play goal and the first game-winning goal of the season for Kassian, who has scored three of his eight goals this season in his past two games (3-0-3).

* Ryan Miller made 10 saves and Eddie Lack made 27 saves to combine for the shutout victory. Miller earned the win and is 28-15-1 this season with a 2.47 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage.

* According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Lack’s 27 saves are the most saves in a relief performance without allowing a goal in Canucks history. Arturs Irbe held the previous record of 22 saves without allowing a goal when he relieved Kirk McLean in a 4-2 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Nov. 29, 1997.

MALKIN, HORNQVIST LEAD PENGUINS PAST PANTHERS

Evgeni Malkin (2-1-3) and Patric Hornqvist (2-1-3) each recorded two goals and an assist to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 5-1 win agains the Florida Panthers. The Penguins, who have earned points in five straight games versus Atlantic Division opponents (4-0-1), are 34-17-9 (77 points) this season and moved within one point of the New York Rangers, who rank second in the Metropolitan Division standings with a record of 36-16-6 (78 points).

* Pittsburgh has won 10 of its past 11 games against the Panthers on home ice.

* Malkin scored twice and added his 34th assist to post his fourth three-point performance of the season. The performance, which included his fourth game-winning goal of the season, extended Malkin's point streak to three games (3-2-5). Hornqvist scored twice and added his 19th assist to post his second three-point performance of the season. The second tally was also the sixth power-play goal of the season for Hornqvist.

* Sidney Crosby (0-2-2) posted his 11th multi-assist performance of the season.

* Marc-Andre Fleury made 33 saves and is 27-13-6 this season with a 2.16 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage. Fleury has allowed two or fewer goals in seven consecutive games.

FLYERS EDGE CAPITALS, INCH CLOSER TO WILD-CARD SPOT

Claude Giroux (1-1-2) recorded his 15th multi-point game of the season to propel the Philadelphia Flyers to a 3-2 victory against the Washington Capitals. The Flyers, who have earned points in 11 of their past 13 games (8-2-3), are 26-23-11 (63 points) overall this season and moved within four points of the Boston Bruins, who occupy the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with a record of 29-21-9 (67 points).

* Giroux opened the scoring on a power-play with his 17th goal and added his 40th assist of the season. The tally was also the 10th power-play goal of the season for Giroux, which extended his career-high for power-play goals in a season. Giroux ranks second on the club in assists and points (17-40-57) this season and ranks third among team-leaders in goals.

* Mark Streit (0-2-2) posted his fifth multi-assist game of the season and Jakub Voracek (0-2-2) posted his 11th multi-assist performance of the season. The two assists brought Voracek's point total to 63 this season (19-44-63), which established a new career-high; he eclipsed his previous best of 62 points (23-39-62) from the 2013-14 season. Voracek ranks third among League-leaders in points this season.

* Wayne Simmonds (1-0-1) netted his team-leading 24th goal of the season on a power-play and extended his career-high point streak to eight games (6-4-10). The marker was also the team-leading 13th power-play goal of the season for Simmonds, who ranks third among League-leaders in the category.

* With the score tied at 2-2, Michael Del Zotto (1-0-1) scored his career-high third game-winning goal of the season with 4:13 remaining in the third period. The tally was also the seventh goal of the season for Del Zotto.

* Rookie goaltender Rob Zepp made 21 saves to improve to 5-1-0 in six career decisions. Zepp boasts a 2.63 goals-against average and a .894 save percentage.

BOSTON SNAPS SIX-GAME LOSING STREAK IN WIN AGAINST CHICAGO

The Boston Bruins netted a season-high goal total in their 6-2 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks. The Bruins, who ended a six-game losing streak (0-4-2) and a five-game road losing streak (0-3-2), are 29-21-9 (67 points) this season and remain in the second Eastern Conference wild-card position.

* The Bruins have earned points in seven consecutive regular season visits to Chicago (4-0-3). In fact, Boston's most-recent regulation road loss in the regular season to the Blackhawks was an 8-5 defeat on March 9, 2003.

* Patrice Bergeron (1-2-3) opened the scoring with his 17th goal of the season and added two assists to post his third three-point performance of the season. The marker was also the 200th career goal for Bergeron.

* Dougie Hamilton (1-1-2) scored his 10th goal on a power-play and added his 24th assist to record his ninth multi-point game of the season. The marker was also the team-leading fifth power-play goal of the season for Hamilton, who leads Bruins defensemen in assists and points (10-24-34). Reilly Smith (1-1-2) scored his 12th goal with 3.1 seconds left in the second period and added his 20th assist to record his sixth multi-point game of the season. The performance extended Smith's point streak to a season-high four games (2-3-5).

* Milan Lucic (1-0-1) scored his 12th goal of the season, which also stood as his second game-winning goal of the season.

* Tuukka Rask made 24 saves and is 24-15-9 this season with a 2.37 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage. Rask has appeared in 16 consecutive games.

PREDATORS, RANGERS EARN SHOOTOUT VICTORIES

Filip Forsberg of the Nashville Predators and Rick Nash of the New York Rangers each scored shootout-winners to lead his respective clubs to a 2-1 win against the Buffalo Sabres and a 4-3 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets, respectively.

* Nashville improved its League-best record to 40-13-7 (87 points) and became the first team to reach 40 wins this season. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Predators reached the 40-win mark through 60 games for the first time in their history; the previous best was when they reached 40 wins through 61 games during the 2006-07 season (40-18-3).

* Forsberg has converted on three of seven shootout attempts this season, with all three of his markers standing as game-deciding goals.

* Carter Hutton made 16 saves through 65 minutes and additionally stopped three of four shooters in the shootout. He is 6-4-4 this season with a 2.51 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage. Hutton is 2-2 in shootout scenarios this season and has stopped eight of 15 shooters for a .533 shootout save percentage.

* The Predators, who lead the Central Division, are 7-1-1 in nine all-time games at the First Niagara Center.

* The Rangers, who have earned points in eight straight games (6-0-2), are 36-16-6 (78 points) this season and moved within two points of the New York Islanders, who lead the Metropolitan Division with a record of 39-20-2 (80 points). However, the Rangers hold three games in hand and own the ROW tiebreaker (NYR: 33, NYI: 32). The Rangers have also earned points in six straight games on home ice (4-0-2) and in 17 of their past 19 games versus Metropolitan Division opponents (16-2-1).

* Nash has converted on two of five shootout attempts this season, with each of his tallies standing as game-deciding goals.

* Cam Talbot made 27 saves through 65 minutes and additionally stopped two of three shooters in the shootout. He is 10-5-3 this season with a 2.59 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage. With his first shootout victory of the season, Talbot has earned points in seven straight decisions (5-0-2).

* Martin St. Louis (2-0-2) posted his second multi-goal performance of the season and has scored four times in his past four games (4-2-6). Derek Stepan (0-2-2) record his seventh multi-assist game of the season and has posted nine points (2-7-9) in his past five games.

LOOSE PUCKS

Boston forward Brian Ferlin (0-1-1) recorded the first point of his NHL career. ... Boston forward Brad Marchand (0-1-1) extended his point streak to four games (2-2-4). ... Chicago defenseman Duncan Keith (0-2-2) posted his third multi-assist performance of the season. ... Chicago forward Patrick Kane (0-1-1) recorded his 64th point of the season (27-37-64) and moved into a tie with Nicklas Backstrom of the Washington Capitals for the League-lead in points. ... Buffalo forward Matt Moulson extended his point streak to three games (1-2-3). ... Tampa Bay forward Tyler Johnson (1-2-3) posted his fifth three-point performance of the season. ... Tampa Bay forward Nikita Kucherov (1-1-2) recorded his 12th multi-point game of the season. ... Tampa Bay forward Ondrej Palat (1-0-1) extended his point streak to a season-high five games (4-3-7). ... Rangers forward Carl Hagelin (0-1-1) extended his point streak to three games (2-2-4). ... Rangers forward Mats Zuccarello and Columbus forward Matt Calvert skated in the 200th games of their NHL careers. ... Columbus forward Marko Dano (1-1-2) posted the second multi-point performance of his career. ... Columbus forward Artem Anisimov (1-1-2) recorded his first multi-point game of the season. ... Columbus forward Nick Foligno (0-2-2) posted his fourth multi-assist performance of the season. ... Minnesota defenseman Jonas Brodin (0-1-1) extended his point streak to a career-high four games (0-4-4). ... Minnesota forward Justin Fontaine (0-1-1) extended his point streak to three games (3-1-4), which matched a career-high. ... Minnesota forward Mikko Koivu (1-0-1) extended his point streak to three games (2-2-4). ... Dallas forward Jason Spezza (2-0-2) posted his first multi-goal performance of the season. ... Dallas forward Jamie Benn (0-1-1) extended his point streak to seven games (7-5-12), which tied his season-high. ... Staff Sergeant John Perozzi, a WWII veteran paratrooper, participated in a ceremonial puck drop prior to the Avalanche