Streaking Ducks, Lightning set franchise records

DUCKS SET FRANCHISE RECORD, TAKE DIVISION LEAD . . .
Jakob Silfverberg (1-1-2) scored at 2:24 of the third period for what stood as the game-winning goal to help the Ducks improve to 18-1-1 in their last 20 games and establish a franchise record with their 11th straight victory. The Ducks' 11-game winning streak is one shy of the longest such run in the NHL this season, achieved by the Panthers (Dec. 15 - Jan. 10: 12-0-0) and Blackhawks (Dec. 29 - Jan. 19: 12-0-0).
* The Ducks (37-19-8, 82 points) defeated the Kings (38-22-4, 80 points) for the third time this season to leapfrog their intrastate rival into sole possession of first place in the Pacific Division. The two clubs will contest the final game of the Freeway Faceoff on April 7 at STAPLES Center (ANA: 3-1-0, LAK: 1-3-0).

* Prior to games on Jan. 1, the Ducks (15-5-6, 36 points) were tied with the Flames (17-18-2, 36 points) for fifth place in the Pacific Division. They have since climbed into top spot by posting points in 24 of their past 28 games (22-4-2). That includes an active streak of 11-straight wins within their own division.
* Anaheim has recorded at least one point in 13 consecutive games overall (12-0-1), tied for the second-longest such run in franchise history behind a 16-game run from Oct. 6 - Nov. 9, 2006 (12-0-4). The Ducks also improved to 12-1-3 in their past 16 contests as visitors, including six straight wins.
* Frederik Andersen made 32 saves to match a career high with his seventh straight win (also Jan. 2-27, 2015). Andersen has at least one point streak in 15 consecutive decisions (13-0-2); Elias says that is the second-longest such streak in franchise history, behind Jonas Hiller's 16-game run (Nov. 30, 2013 - Jan. 12, 2014: 14-0-2).

SATURDAY'S RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
Minnesota 3, BUFFALO 2 (SO)
Nashville 5, COLORADO 2
Calgary 4, PITTSBURGH 2
Anaheim 3, LOS ANGELES 2
WINNIPEG 4, Montreal 2
Ottawa 3, TORONTO 2
TAMPA BAY 4, Carolina 3 (OT)
Washington 2, BOSTON 1 (OT)
PHILADELPHIA 6, Columbus 0
ARIZONA 5, Florida 1
Vancouver 4, SAN JOSE 2
. . . LIGHTNING DO THE SAME WITH OVERTIME WIN
Alex Killorn scored with 42.5 seconds remaining in overtime to lift the Lightning to their ninth straight win, establishing a franchise record.
* At 39-22-4 (82 points), the Lightning moved two points ahead of the Panthers (36-21-8, 80 points) - who lost in regulation - into sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division.
* Ben Bishop (24 SV) extended his winning streak to six games to match a career high (Nov. 1-14, 2013). He also moved to 7-1-0 in eight career appearances against the Hurricanes (1.86 GAA, .942 SV%, 2 SO).
* Killorn notched his second career overtime goal (also Oct. 8, 2013 at BUF) to help the Lightning improve to 10-4 past regulation this season, including a 7-1 mark during three-on-three overtime.
* Ondrej Palat posted his seventh career multi-goal game (second this season), highlighted by a dazzling goal to open the scoring.

CAPITALS HIT CENTURY MARK WITH OVERTIME VICTORY
Matt Niskanen scored at 2:36 of overtime to lift the Capitals to their sixth straight victory over the Bruins dating to the start of the 2014-15 season (BOS: 0-5-1).
* At 48-13-4 (100 points), the League-leading Capitals became the first team to reach the 100-point milestone this season. Via Elias, Washington is the first team to hit the century mark within their first 65 games of a season since the Red Wings in 2001-02 (46-11-8, 100 points in 65 GP).
* Elias adds the Capitals became the first team to reach 100 points in a season for just the second time in franchise history. They also were the first to 100 during the 2009-10 campaign when they established club records for wins and points in a season (54-15-13, 121 points).
* The Capitals improved to 12-0-1 in games following a regulation defeat this season; they remain the only team without consecutive regulation losses in 2015-16.
* Niskanen posted his third game-winning goal of the season, all in the past month: Feb. 7 vs. PHI and March 2 vs. TOR. It marked the 13th decisive tally of his career and first in overtime (638 GP).

PREDATORS, WILD PULL AHEAD IN WILD CARD RACE
The Predators (33-21-12, 78 points) and Wild (31-25-10, 72 points) both overcame one-goal, third-period deficits to gain ground in the Western Conference Wild Card race.
* James Neal scored the tying goal 62 seconds into the third period and Mike Fisher notched the eventual game-winner midway through the frame to help the Predators extend a pair of franchise records - they stretched their overall point streak to 12 games (8-0-4) and road point streak to 11 contests (9-0-2). They also picked up their fifth straight victory on the road, tying the second-longest road win streak in club history behind a seven-game run from Oct. 16 - Nov. 4, 2006.
* Mikko Koivu scored the tying goal with less than six minutes remaining in the third period and former-Sabre Jason Pominville notched the decisive tally in the shootout to lead Minnesota past Buffalo for their fourth straight win. Via Elias, the Wild extended a franchise record by scoring a power-play goal in their 12 straight road game - the longest such streak in the NHL since an equal run by the Red Wings from Dec. 27 - Feb. 10, 2009.
FLYERS, SENATORS CAPTURE KEY POINTS IN PURSUIT OF PLAYOFFS
The Flyers (30-23-11, 71 points) and Senators (31-28-7, 69 points) both earned wins to gain ground on the Penguins (33-23-8, 74 points) - who lost in regulation - in the Eastern Conference Wild Card race.
* Radko Gudas (2-2-4) posted his second career multi-point game (also March 22, 2014 at PIT: 0-2-2 w/ TBL) to power the Flyers to a 6-2-1 record in their past nine games. Gudas, who scored from the red line for his first tally since Dec. 4, 2014 w/ TBL (65 GP), entered the contest with 0-6-6 in his first 57 games this season. Steve Mason (19 SV), who played with the Blue Jackets from 2008-13 (232 GP), posted his 30th career shutout (fourth this season) while facing his former club.

* Zack Smith scored the go-ahead goal with 2:15 remaining in regulation to lift the Senators to a 6-2-1 record in their past nine games and to their first regulation win at Air Canada Centre since Jan. 17, 2012 (1-3-3 since). Smith notched his 10th career game-winning goal (third this season) to extend his career-high with 17 goals overall in 2015-16. Dion Phaneuf, who played 423 games with the Maple Leafs and served as captain from 2010-15, logged 21:55 TOI in his return to Toronto.
AROUND THE RINKS
* The line of Antoine Vermette (1-3-4), Alex Tanguay (2-1-3) and Anthony Duclair (0-2-2) combined for nine points (3-6-9) to help the Coyotes halt their losing streak at seven games (0-7-0). Vermette matched a career-high with four points (also April 3, 2008 at TOR: 3-1-4 w/ OTT), while Tanguay became the first player in Coyotes/Jets franchise history to record three or more points in his team debut (per Elias).
* Dan Hamhuis broke a 2-2 deadlock at 10:28 of the third period to lift the Canucks past the Sharks in the back-end of a home-and-home set, their third meeting in the past week (Feb. 28: 4-1 L and March 3: 3-2 L). Hamhuis, who notched his first goal since April 9, 2015 vs. ARI, picked up his 10th career game-winning goal and first since March 8, 2011 at PHX.
* Mark Scheifele (3-0-3) registered his first career hat trick - and second straight multi-goal game (March 3 vs. NYI) - to reach the 20-goal milestone for the first time and help the Jets halt a six-game home losing streak (0-5-1).

* The Flames scored three unanswered goals - including the eventual game-winning goal by Mikael Backlund (1-1-2) - to halt a seven-game skid overall (0-6-1) and six-game road losing streak (0-6-0).
MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS
* Panthers forward Jaromir Jagr played in his 1,612th career game to tie Ray Bourque for ninth place in NHL history.
* Maple Leafs forward William Nylander, the eighth overall selection in the 2014 NHL Draft, scored his first career goal (4 GP). His father, Michael, scored his final NHL goal on April 5, 2009 vs. ATL (w/ WSH). Brooks Laich notched the primary assist on both tallies.
* Jets defenseman Joshua Morrissey, the 13th overall selection in the 2013 NHL Draft, and Penguins forward Josh Archibald, a sixth-round selection (174th overall) in the 2011 NHL Draft, both made their League debut.
* Ducks forward Ryan Kesler scored while skating in his 800th NHL game.
* Predators defenseman Shea Weber scored his 163rd career goal (all w/ NSH) to tie Martin Erat for second place in franchise history, behind David Legwand (210).
* Patrice Bergeron (232-375-607 in 804 GP) posted his 607th career point (all w/ BOS) to move past Terry O'Reilly (204-402-606 in 891 GP) into sole possession of eighth place on the franchise's all-time points list. Bergeron has a goal in three straight games and 26 overall this season.

* Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau registered his 400th career win behind an NHL bench (400-186-77). Via Elias, Boudreau (663) reached the mark in fewer games than any head coach in NHL history, besting the mark previously held by Scotty Bowman (690).
CAREER YEAR
* Sharks defenseman Brent Burns scored to establish a career high with 23 goals this season (64 GP).
* Canadiens forward Alex Galchenyuk (2-0-2) posted his eighth career multi-goal game (fifth this season) to establish a career high with 21 goals this season (66 GP).
* Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad scored his 13th goal of the season (61 GP), one more than he posted in 2014-15 (81 GP) en route to winning the Calder Trophy.
LOOSE PUCKS
Sharks forward Joe Thornton (0-1-1) picked up at least one point for the 31st time in his past 35 games dating to Dec. 15 (11-35-46) . . . Filip Forsberg (NSH) and Sidney Crosby (PIT) both scored their 28th goal of the season to move into a share of ninth in the League. Forsberg has 14 goals in his past 14 outings while Crosby picked up his sixth multi-goal game of the season . . . Sharks forward Michael Haley scored his first NHL goal since March 19, 2011 at FLA (w/ NYI; 45 GP) . . . Wild forward David Jones scored his first goal with the club (2 GP) . . . Goaltender James Reimer (22 SV) made his debut with the Sharks . . . Sabres forward Jack Eichel (1-1-2) scored his team-leading 19th goal of 2015-16, tied for second among rookies . . . Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien notched an assist to extend his point streak to a career-high eight games (1-7-8) . . . Panthers forward Jussi Jokinen (0-1-1) extended his assist/point streak to seven games (0-8-8) . . . Penguins forward Patric Hornqvist (0-2-2) extended his point streak to five games (5-4-9) . . . Ryan Suter notched his 37th assist of 2015-16 to match a single-season Wild record for assists by a defenseman (Marek Zidlicky, 2010-11: 37 A in 78 GP). Suter also stretched his point streak to five games (0-6-6) . . . Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler notched an assist to extend his point streak to five games (1-4-5) . . . ICYMI: Tennis player Roger Federer

. . . The NHL will hold a press event Sunday in Winnipeg . . . The top 10
finalists for Kraft Hockeyville Canada were revealed
. . . The Coyotes presented Shane Doan (1-0-1) with a golden stick in recognition of his becoming the franchise's all-time points leader.