First NHL games played 99 years ago

NHL CELEBRATES 99TH ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST GAMES

REMINDER: HOLIDAY ROSTER FREEZE

For all players on an NHL active roster, injured reserve, or with non-roster and injured non-roster status as of midnight (local time) Dec. 19, a roster freeze shall apply through midnight (local time) Dec. 27, with respect to waivers, trades and loans, subject to the exceptions provided for in CBA Article 16.5 (d).

SUNDAY'S RESULTS

Home Team in Caps
BOSTON 1, Los Angeles 0
WINNIPEG 4, Colorado 1
Columbus 4, VANCOUVER 3 (OT)
CHICAGO 4, San Jose 1
Ottawa 6, NY ISLANDERS 2
NY RANGERS 3, New Jersey 2 (SO)

SURGING BLUE JACKETS TIE FRANCHISE RECORD WITH NINTH STRAIGHT WIN

The Columbus Blue Jackets surrendered 2-0 and 3-2 leads in the third period, but Seth Jones scored 46 seconds into overtime to help them to their ninth consecutive victory, equaling the longest win streak in their history from March 18 - April 4, 2015.

* At 20-5-4 (44 points), the Blue Jackets climbed within a point of the idle Pittsburgh Penguins (20-7-5, 45 points) for second place in the Metropolitan Division. Columbus holds three games in hand.

* Jones scored his second overtime goal in a Blue Jackets uniform (also Nov. 1 vs. DAL) and joined Jaroslav Spacek (3) as the only defensemen in Columbus history to score multiple overtime goals with the team.

* Sergei Bobrovsky (14 saves) picked up his eighth consecutive win and improved to 19-5-2 (1.94 goals-against average, .932 SV%, 3 SO). His 19 victories this season lead all goaltenders.

* Bobrovsky needs one victory to equal the Blue Jackets record for most consecutive wins by a goaltender, a mark he set from Nov. 29, 2013 - Jan. 23, 2014 (9-0-0).

TOP TWO CLUBS IN THE NHL PICK UP WINS

The Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers, who rank first and second in the NHL standings, respectively, each secured victories:

* Tied 1-1, the Blackhawks scored three unanswered goals in the third period to pick up their fifth consecutive victory and improve to 13-2-3 at United Center. At 22-8-4 (48 points), the Blackhawks own the best record in the League and remain a point ahead of the Rangers. Scott Darling (33 saves) earned his fifth straight win and improved to 10-2-2 overall (2.22 GAA, .927 SV%, 1 SO).

* Derek Stepan tied the game with 1:14 left in the third period and Kevin Hayes scored the decisive goal in the shootout to help the Rangers picked up their sixth win in their past seven games. At 23-10-1 (47 points), the Rangers own the best record in the Eastern Conference and kept pace with the Blackhawks for the top spot in the League. Henrik Lundqvist (29 saves) denied three of four shootout attempts to earn his 389th win and tie Dominik Hasek for 12th on the NHL's all-time list among goaltenders.

LAINE CONTINUES TO LEAD THE WAY AMONG ROOKIES

Patrik Laine (1-2-3) and Nikolaj Ehlers (2-0-2) combined for three goals and five points to help the Winnipeg Jets improve to 4-0-1 in their past five games against the Colorado Avalanche since Feb. 6 (COL: 1-4-0). Laine, the No. 2 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, paces all rookies in goals (18) and points (29) this season (34 GP).

* Elias notes that Laine, who will celebrate his 19th birthday on April 19, has the remainder of the 2016-17 season to attempt to reach the NHL record for most goals by an 18-year-old (45), a mark set by Dale Hawerchuk in 1981-82 with the original Winnipeg Jets.

LOOSE PUCKS

Zack Smith (2-1-3) and Mark Stone (1-2-3) each had three points to help the Ottawa Senators to a 6-2 win against the New York Islanders . . . Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask (18 saves) earned his fourth shutout of the season to move into a tie with Devan Dubnyk for the League lead . . . San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns (0-1-1) extended his point streak to eight games (4-5-9), matching his NHL career high from Dec. 12, 2015 - Jan. 12, 2016 (6-6-12). Burns (13-17-30) is tied with Senators captain Erik Karlsson (7-23-30) for the most points among defensemen this season . . . Blue Jackets forward Cam Atkinson (1-1-2) extended his point streak to an NHL career-high six games (4-6-10) . . . Blackhawks forward Artemi Panarin (0-2-2) extended his point streak to five games (4-7-11) . . . Islanders forward Andrew Ladd skated in the 800th game of his NHL career . . . Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella became the 24th coach in NHL history to earn 500 regular-season wins. Elias adds that Tortorella (Boston, Mass.) is the first American-born coach to reach the milestone.

SNEAK PEEK AT MONDAY'S ACTION

All Times Eastern
Nashville @ Philadelphia, 7 p.m., TVA Sports, CSN-PH, FS-TN
Detroit @ Carolina, 7 p.m., FS-CR, FS-D+
Anaheim @ Toronto, 7:30 p.m., SNO, PRIME
Edmonton @ St. Louis, 8 p.m., FS-MW, SNW
Calgary @ Arizona, 9 p.m., FS-A, SNF

ANDERSEN, CARLYLE FACE FORMER CLUBS WHEN DUCKS VISIT MAPLE LEAFS

Former Anaheim Ducks goaltender Frederik Andersen faces the Ducks for the first time as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, while former Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle returns to Toronto for the first time with the Ducks. The Maple Leafs are 8-0-1 in their past nine home games against the Ducks since March 14, 2001 (ANA: 1-7-1), including four consecutive wins.