Around the League notebook for Wednesday, March 4

WEDNESDAY'S RESULTS

Home Team in Caps

Ottawa 3, WINNIPEG 1

DETROIT 2, NY Rangers 1 (OT)

COLORADO 3, Pittsburgh 1

ANAHEIM 3, Montreal 1

HAMMOND, SENATORS EXTEND STREAKS TO NARROW GAP IN EAST

Andrew Hammond made 35 saves, including 15 in the first period, to help the Ottawa Senators defeat the Winnipeg Jets 3-1. The Senators completed their road trip with a 4-0-1 record and stretched their overall point streak to seven games (6-0-1).

* At 28-23-11 (67 points), the Senators pulled within four points of the idle Boston Bruins (31-22-9, 71 points) for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The clubs face off two more times this season at Canadian Tire Centre: March 10 and March 19.

* According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Senators earned a point in each game of a road trip (minimum five games) for the first time since Feb. 11-17, 2009 (also 4-0-1). However, this is the first time the Senators have accomplished the feat with the same goaltender recording each decision.

* Hammond has been in net for each game during the Senators' seven-game point streak (6-0-1). Elias says he is the first goaltender to earn a point in his first seven career decisions, in consecutive team games, since Jim Carey with the Washington Capitals from March 2-13, 1995 (also 6-0-1).

* Hammond has allowed two goals or fewer in each of his nine career appearances (including two relief efforts), resulting in a 1.25 goals-against average and .959 save percentage.

* The Senators built a 3-0 lead through 40 minutes, led by 1-1—2 from Kyle Turris. He ranks third on the club with 16-29—45 in 62 GP, including 7-8—15 in his past 13 games.

* Bobby Ryan scored his fourth game-winner of 2014-15. Erik Condra scored his eighth goal of the season (48 GP), matching his career high set in 2011-12 (81 GP).

GIBSON, FORMER CANADIENS HELP DUCKS RECLAIM TOP SPOT IN NHL

John Gibson made 37 saves, two shy of his career-high set Sunday at DAL, to lead the Anaheim Ducks to a 3-1 win against the Montreal Canadiens, their fourth straight win and seventh victory in their past 10 games against the Canadiens dating to Dec. 10, 2005 (7-1-2).

* The Ducks (42-17-7, 91 points) became the first team to reach 90 points and leapfrogged the idle Nashville Predators (41-17-7, 89 points) into first place in the NHL, where the top eight teams are separated by eight points.

* Gibson, who fell 1:41 short of his third career shutout, improved to 9-5-0 with a 2.41 GAA and .924 save percentage in 15 appearances this season, including a 6-1-0 record in his past seven games (1.84 GAA, .942 SV%).

* Facing his former team for the first time since a Feb. 24 trade, Jiri Sekac had the primary assist on the game-winning goal. The undrafted rookie has three assists in five games with the Ducks and 7-11—18 overall in 55 GP.

* Francois Beauchemin, Montreal's third-round pick (No. 75) in the 1998 NHL Draft, scored the opening goal. His eight goals this season (48 GP) rank second among Ducks defensemen and equal his career high established in 2005-06 (72 GP) and matched in 2011-12 (82 GP).

* Rickard Rakell scored his first career game-winning goal; he ranks 10th among rookies with 6-19—25 in 55 games. Cam Fowler scored his second career shorthanded goal into an empty net.

WHILE ZIDLICKY DEBUTS WITH OT WINNER FOR RED WINGS

Making his Detroit Red Wings debut, Marek Zidlicky scored at 1:09 of overtime to lift his new club to a 2-1 win against the New York Rangers. It was Detroit's third straight victory and gave the Red Wings a 5-1-1 mark in their past seven games.

* At 36-15-11 (83 points), the Red Wings pulled within one point of the idle Tampa Bay Lightning (39-20-6, 84 points) for second place in the Atlantic Division, where the top three teams are separated by four points.

* Elias says Zidlicky is the first player to score in overtime while making his Red Wings debut since the five-minute overtime format was adopted in 1983-84. The last player to score an overtime goal in his debut with any team was David Tanabe for the Phoenix Coyotes on Oct. 10, 2003 vs. STL.

* Zidlicky, who was acquired from the New Jersey Devils on Monday, scored for the first time since Dec. 15 at NYI (snapping a 31-game drought). The 38-year-old defenseman was selected in the sixth round (No. 176) by the Rangers in 2001, but was traded to the Predators in 2002 before making his NHL debut.

* Jimmy Howard made 39 saves, one shy of his season high set Dec. 29 at BOS, to improve to 4-2-1 with a 1.84 GAA and .951 save percentage in his career vs. NYR.

* Henrik Zetterberg had 0-2—2 in his return to the lineup after missing four games due to injury. He ranks second on Detroit with 15-36—51, one point behind Pavel Datsyuk (22-30—52).

* Justin Abdelkader had his 14th goal and 32nd point of the season, extending career highs in each category.

LANDESKOG HELPS AVALANCHE KEEP PACE IN WILD CARD RACE

Gabriel Landeskog (1-2—3) equaled a career high with three points to guide the Colorado Avalanche to a 3-1 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins, giving them their first home win against the Penguins since Jan. 10, 2009 (0-1-2 since) and a 16-5-6 all-time head-to-head record in Denver.

* At 28-25-11 (67 points), the Avalanche are the third team outside the final Stanley Cup Playoff spot in the Western Conference, eight points behind the idle Minnesota Wild (34-22-7, 75 points), who occupy the final wild-card position.

* Landeskog had three points in a game for the sixth time in his career (last: March 25, 2014, 2-1—3 at NSH). He shares the Avalanche lead (w/ Jarome Iginla) with 17-26—43 this season, including 7-5—12 in his past 10 games.

* Jarome Iginla scored 13 seconds into the second period to reach the 20-goal mark for the 16th time in his career; only Jaromir Jagr (18) has more 20-goal seasons among active players. It also was his 1,210th career point, tying Bobby Clarke for 43rd in NHL history.

* Nathan MacKinnon scored his seventh career game-winner (second this season); he has five goals in his past five games and 14-24—38 in 64 GP.

* Making his career-high 20th consecutive start, Semyon Varlamov made 28 saves to improve to 10-8-2 with a 2.54 GAA and .914 save percentage in that span. He reached the 20-win mark for the second straight season and for the third time in his career.

BOYLE, TANGUAY HIT CENTURY MARK

Rangers defenseman Dan Boyle and Avalanche forward Alex Tanguay each played in his 1,000 career regular-season game Wednesday.

* Elias says the last time two players suited up for their 1,000th NHL game on the same day was Jan. 17, 2011, when New Jersey's Jamie Langenbrunner and the San Jose Sharks' Patrick Marleau each did it.

* Boyle became the 298th player in NHL history to reach the milestone. The undrafted defenseman began his career in 1998-99 and has compiled 152-424—576 with the Florida Panthers, Lightning, Sharks and Rangers. He has 14-56—70 in 107 career playoff games, winning the Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay in 2003-04.

* Taken by Colorado with the 12th pick in 1998, Tanguay has spent 15 seasons in the NHL and became the eighth player to reach the milestone in an Avalanche uniform. He had 6-15—21 in the 2001 postseason, including 2-1—3 in Colorado's 3-1 win against New Jersey in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. Tanguay also spent time with the Calgary Flames, Canadiens and Lightning, compiling 813 career regular-season points (269-544—813).

* Tanguay was the second Avalanche player to hit the century mark against the Penguins this season; defenseman Brad Stuart played his 1,000th NHL game on Dec. 18 at CONSOL Energy Center.

* The Avalanche honored Tanguay during a pregame ceremony, which included his son, Samuel, suited up in full Avalanche uniform.

LOOSE PUCKS

The Rangers (39-17-7, 85 points) lost in overtime but moved ahead of the idle New York Islanders (41-21-3, 85 points) into first place in the Metropolitan Division by virtue of having played two fewer games; they also own the ROW tiebreaker (NYR: 36, NYI: 34) . . . The Rangers have earned a point in 12 of their past 13 games (9-1-3) . . . Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin scored their only goal, extending his point streak to six games (6-6—12). He is tied for third in the NHL with 27-38—65, two points behind the League leaders . . . Rangers forward Rick Nash (0-1—1) reached 60 points for the fifth time in his career (38-22—60 in 62 GP) . . . Senators forward Mika Zibanejad had an assist to stretch his point streak to five games (2-3—5) . . . Lee Stempniak had an assist in his Jets debut . . . Tyler Myers had an assist; he has 2-5—7 in nine games with Winnipeg . . . Canadiens forward Devante Smith-Pelly returned to Anaheim for the first time since a Feb. 24 trade . . . The Jets wore special camouflage jerseys during warm-up and Canadian Armed Forces personnel dropped the ceremonial puck as part of Canadian Armed Forces Appreciation Night at the OTT-WPG game.