Around the League notebook: Saturday, Jan. 16

SATURDAY'S RESULTS

Home Team in Caps

NY Rangers 3, PHILADELPHIA 2 (SO)

New Jersey 2, ARIZONA 0

Ottawa 5, LOS ANGELES 3

BOSTON 3, Toronto 2

BUFFALO 4, Washington 1

COLUMBUS 2, Colorado 1

ST. LOUIS 4, Montreal 3 (OT)

NASHVILLE 3, Minnesota 0

EDMONTON 2, Calgary 1 (SO)

SAN JOSE 4, Dallas 3 (OT)

BLUES, ELLIOTT EMERGE VICTORIOUS ON "GOALIES NIGHT"

Brian Elliott made a career-high 46 saves and Jori Lehtera scored at 2:04 of overtime to guide the St. Louis Blues past the Montreal Canadiens and to a 6-2-1 record in their past nine games at Scottrade Center.

* At 26-15-7 (59 points), the Blues moved within four points of tying the Dallas Stars (29-13-5, 63 points) – who lost in overtime – for second place in the Central Division.

* Elliott, who improved to 3-1-0 in his last four games, became the first Blues goaltender to make at least 46 saves on home ice since April, 11, 1993, when Curtis Joseph made 46 saves in a 5-1 win against the Minnesota North Stars.

* Fittingly, Elliott had his career-best performance on Goalies Night at Scottrade Center, after the Blues honored former goalies Joseph, Mike Liut and Grant Fuhr during a pre-game ceremony.

* "It was special for me to play in front of those guys," said Elliott, who wore a special mask and gear in tribute to Joseph, his childhood idol. "I was playing street hockey pretending I was them."

OTHER WESTERN CONFERENCE CLUBS EARN KEY POINTS

Two other clubs earned important points to move up the Western Conference standings:

* Carter Hutton denied all 29 shots he faced to help the Nashville Predators end a five-game losing streak (0-4-1) and win their season series against the Minnesota Wild (NSH: 3-1-0, MIN: 1-3-0). Hutton earned his third career shutout to improve to 4-2-1 in seven games this season (2.55 GAA, .910 SV%, 1 SO). Eric Nystrom scored the eventual game-winning goal less than 90 seconds into the game, while Roman Josi and Filip Forsberg added insurance goals in the third period.

* At 20-17-8 (48 points), the Predators leapfrogged the Colorado Avalanche (22-21-3, 47 points) – who lost in regulation – into the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. They also moved within four points of the Wild (22-15-8, 52 points), their Central Division rival, for the first Wild Card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference.

* Martin Jones made 32 saves and Tomas Hertl scored at 1:12 of overtime – after the San Jose Sharks surrendered leads of 2-1 and 3-2 in the third period – to guide San Jose to its fifth consecutive victory. Jones improved to 20-13-2 in 36 appearances this season to reach the 20-win mark for the first time. Marc-Edouard Vlasic (2-1—3) earned his first career multi-goal game (710 GP) and collected at least three points in a game for the first time since Nov. 20, 2011 at COL (0-3—3).

* At 23-18-2 (48 points), the Sharks inched closer to the Los Angeles Kings (27-13-3, 57 points) and Arizona Coyotes (22-17-5, 49 points) – the only two teams ahead of them in the Pacific Division – after each lost Saturday. San Jose has one game in hand on Arizona.

LATE WINNER HELPS BRUINS CLIMB IN ATLANTIC DIVISION

Brad Marchand scored the go-ahead goal with 47 seconds remaining in regulation to lift the Boston Bruins to consecutive wins for the first time since they won three in a row from Dec. 16-20, 2015. The Bruins also improved to 16-3-2 in their last 21 regular-season games against the Toronto Maple Leafs since Oct. 20, 2011, including 9-1-1 at TD Garden.

* At 23-16-5 (51 points), the Bruins leapfrogged the idle Tampa Bay Lightning (23-17-4, 50 points) into sole possession of third place in the Atlantic Division, where the top five teams are separated by seven points.

* Tuukka Rask made 27 saves, including 12 in the first period, to move to 14-3-1 in 20 career regular-season appearances against the Maple Leafs (1.81 GAA, .937 SV%, 2 SO).

* Marchand, who scored his first goal since Dec. 14 against the Edmonton Oilers (11 GP), became the first Bruins player to score a go-ahead goal in the last minute of the third period since Dec. 7, 2013 against the Pittsburgh Penguins (Zdeno Chara, 19:47). Per Elias, Marchand also became the seventh player to score a tiebreaking goal in the final minute of regulation this season:

Tiebreaking Goals in Final Minute of Regulation, 2015-16

19:51 – Michael Frolik (CGY) on Oct. 31 at EDM

19:43 – Rasmus Ristolainen (BUF) on Nov. 7 vs. VAN

19:43 – Justin Faulk (CAR) on Dec. 6 vs. ARI

19:41 – Patrick Sharp (DAL) on Dec. 8 vs. CAR

19:39 – Aaron Ekblad (FLA) on Nov. 16 vs. TBL

19:13 – Brad Marchand (BOS) on Jan. 16 vs. TOR

19:06 – Mats Zuccarello (NYR) on Nov. 15 vs. TOR

QUICK STRIKES: DID YOU KNOW?

Saturday featured six goals in the opening minute of a period, including two by Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron (0:45 of 1st and 0:39 of 2nd). The other such goals were scored by New Jersey Devils forward Kyle Palmieri (0:18 of 3rd), Stars forward Tyler Seguin (0:33 of 3rd), Blues forward Robby Fabbri (0:34 of 1st) and Columbus Blue Jackets forward Brandon Dubinsky (0:58 of 1st). Via Elias, there have been 147 goals scored in the first minute of any period this season, including 33 in the opening minute of a game.

RANGERS ALSO CLIMB AS LUNDQVIST REACHES 20-WIN MARK . . .

Henrik Lundqvist made 34 saves through overtime – then denied all three attempts in the shootout – to lead the New York Rangers past the Philadelphia Flyers and to a 3-1-1 record in their past five games.

* At 24-15-5 (53 points), the Rangers leapfrogged the idle New York Islanders (24-15-5, 53 points) – by virtue of the ROW tiebreaker (NYR: 22, NYI: 21) – into second place in the Metropolitan Division.

* Lundqvist earned his 20th win of the season to become the first goaltender in NHL history to have at least 20 wins in each of his first 11 seasons. He also established a Rangers record for most career 20-win seasons, one more than Mike Richter had during his 14-year career in New York.

* Per Elias, Lundqvist is the third goaltender in NHL history to post at least 11 consecutive 20-win seasons at any point:

Most Consecutive 20-Win Seasons, NHL History

12 – Tony Esposito (CHI): 1969-70 – 1980-81

12 – Martin Brodeur (NJD): 1995-96 – 2007-08

^11 – Henrik Lundqvist (NYR): 2005-06 – 2015-16

^ At least 20 wins in each of his first 11 NHL seasons

* ICYMI: Mats Zuccarello sealed the victory with a highlight-reel goal in the shootout.

. . . OTHER TEAMS GAIN GROUND IN EASTERN CONFERENCE

The Devils (22-19-5, 49 points) and Ottawa Senators (21-18-6, 48 points) each earned wins to inch closer to a playoff position in the Eastern Conference, where teams Nos. 3-13 are separated by seven points. That includes seven teams within four points of a Wild Card spot:

* Cory Schneider denied all 38 shots he faced, including 28 over the final two periods, for his 21st career shutout (fourth this season) to help the Devils end their four-game road trip with a victory (2-2-0). Schneider improved to 7-1-1 in nine career appearances against Arizona, including four shutouts (0.88 GAA, 0.969 SV%).

* The Senators faced deficits of 2-0 and 3-1 before scoring four unanswered goals in the third period – powered by two-point performances from Mika Zibanejad (1-1—2; GWG), Bobby Ryan (1-1—2) and Jean-Gabriel Pageau (1-1—2) – to rally past the Kings. Via Elias, the Senators overcame a multi-goal, third-period deficit to win in regulation for the first time since March 19, 2013 at the Islanders (5-3 W). They also became the 22nd team to overcome a multi-goal, third-period deficit to win this season.

AROUND THE RINKS

* Chad Johnson made 33 saves, including 15 in the second period, to help the Buffalo Sabres end a six-game losing streak at First Niagara Center since Dec. 19 (0-5-1) and also halt the Washington Capitals' winning streak at five games. Buffalo carried a 4-0 lead into the third period on the strength of multi-point performances by Evander Kane (1-1—2) and Zach Bogosian (0-2—2).

* Jack Johnson scored the go-ahead goal at 18:53 of the third period to help the Blue Jackets earn back-to-back wins and improve to 8-3-4 record in their last 15 games at Nationwide Arena since Nov. 14. Joonas Korpisalo (29 SV) has allowed two goals in winning each of his past two games (Jan. 13 at TOR: 41 SV, 3-1 W)

* Cam Talbot made 31 saves through overtime and denied all three shooters he faced in the tiebreaker to help the Oilers pick up their first win against the Calgary Flames at Rexall Place since April 1, 2013, ending a seven-game skid (0-5-2).

MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS

* Devils forward Lee Stempniak (0-1—1) earned his 400th career point (175-225—400).

* Senators goaltender Craig Anderson (30 SV) earned his 200th career win.

* Predators forward Paul Gaustad (700) and Stars forward Tyler Seguin (400) each played in milestone games.

LOOSE PUCKS

Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby lost in regulation for the first time since Nov. 10, ending his run of 22 consecutive decisions with at least a point (20-0-2). Only one goaltender had a longer personal point streak in the past 20 NHL seasons: Jose Theodore, who set a Capitals record with a 23-game stretch Jan. 13 – April 9, 2010 (20-0-3) . . . Sharks forward Joe Thornton (0-1—1) has at least one point in 13 of his past 14 games (5-13—18), including two goals and seven points on his five-game point streak . . . Ryan O'Reilly (0-1—1) had a point for the fifth straight game (2-3—5). With 17 goals, 21 assists and 38 points in his first 45 games with the Sabres, he leads them in goals, assists (tied w/ Rasmus Ristolainen) and points . . . Flames forward Sam Bennett scored Calgary's lone goal. He has six goals in his past three games, surpassing his total from his first 40 NHL appearances (5-10—15) . . . Forward Vincent Lecavalier scored his first goal with the Kings (4 GP) . . . Oilers defenseman Mark Fayne scored his first goal since Feb. 14, 2015 at OTT (49 GP) . . . Despite their shootout loss, the Flyers picked up at least one point for the fifth straight game (4-0-1) and also for the eighth straight game at Wells Fargo Center (6-0-2) . . . Blues forward Ty Rattie scored at 14:35 of the third period to force overtime, his second goal in as many games (compared to 0-4—4 in his first 18 career appearances) . . . Stars forwards Tyler Seguin (1-1—2) and Jamie Benn (0-2—2) each had multiple points, their first such efforts since Dec. 31 against Nashville . . . Jake Muzzin (LAK) had an assist to extend his point streak to a career-high six games (1-5—6). Via Elias, that is the longest point streak by a Kings defenseman since Dec. 21-30, 2010 (Jack Johnson: 2-5—7 in 6 GP) . . . Forward Mike Richards (13:01 TOI) made his debut with the Capitals . . . Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick lost his first game in regulation since Dec. 22, 2015, ending his personal point streak at eight games (7-0-1) . . . The Kings signed forward Anze Kopitar to an eight-year contract extension . . . The Penguins acquired forward Carl Hagelin from the Ducks for forward David Perron and defenseman Adam Clendening . . . The Flyers and the League honored defenseman Nick Schultz, who played his 1,000th career game Thursday.