Alex Ovechkin scored twice, including the opening goal 35 seconds into the game, to become the first player in Washington Capitals history to reach 1,000 NHL points (546-455-1,001) and help them to their seventh consecutive victory.
* Ovechkin became the 84th NHL player (sixth active) to reach the milestone, doing so in his 880th game. Elias notes that 23 players have hit the mark in fewer games, the last being Jaromir Jagr (763 GP).
* Ovechkin, a six-time winner of the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy, scored his 545th and 546th NHL goals to move past the legendary Canadiens scorer, who scored 544 goals in 978 GP, into sole possession of 29th place on the League's all-time list.
* Ovechkin (21-14-35) also became the 16th player in League history to reach 20 goals in each of his first 12 seasons. His 21 goals share third in the NHL this season behind Sidney Crosby (26) and Jeff Carter (22).
WEDNESDAY'S RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
Florida 2, NY ISLANDERS 1
Montreal 7, WINNIPEG 4
WASHINGTON 5, Pittsburgh 2
CALGARY 3, San Jose 2
CAPITALS, FLAMES GAIN KEY STANDING POINTS, CANADIENS PAD LEAD
The Capitals (27-9-5, 59 points) and Calgary Flames (23-19-2, 48 points) each earned regulation wins against divisional rivals, while the Montreal Canadiens (26-10-6, 58 points) increased their lead atop the Atlantic Division:
* Nicklas Backstrom (1-3-4) and T.J. Oshie (0-3-3) helped Washington, the reigning Presidents' Trophy winner, move within one point of the Columbus Blue Jackets (28-8-4, 60 points) for first place in the NHL. Backstrom (3-8-11) and Oshie (2-5-7) have combined for five goals and 18 points in three games against the Pittsburgh Penguins this season.
* Rookie Matthew Tkachuk scored a goal and two points, and provided the screen for the tiebreaking goal by Dougie Hamilton (1-1-2), with 2:19 left in third period to help the Flames extend their home winning streak to four games and move within four points of the San Jose Sharks (25-15-2, 52 points) for first place in the Pacific Division. Tkachuk, who had a nine-game point streak from Dec. 19 to Jan. 7 (1-9-10), ranks fourth among NHL rookies with 27 points (eight goals, 19 assists) (40 GP).
* Rookie Artturi Lehkonen (2-1-3) had his first career multi-goal and multi-point games (33 GP) to help the Canadiens to their fourth consecutive road victory and a nine-point lead atop the Atlantic Division. Phillip Danault (2-0-2) also had his first NHL multi-goal game, including his third game-winning goal of the season.
NHL REVEALS JERSEYS, FORMAT FOR 2017 HONDA NHL ALL-STAR WEEKEND
The NHL unveiled the four jerseys and announced that the 3-on-3 All-Star Tournament will return when 2017 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend takes over Staples Center in Los Angeles from Jan. 26-29.
* The Pacific Division, featuring the hometown Los Angeles Kings, will wear a black jersey, while the other three teams -- the Central (purple), Atlantic (gold) and Metropolitan (white) -- also will don uniforms that feature colors worn by Los Angeles during its 50-year history. Click here for more information on the design, which was inspired partly by the League's Centennial and the Kings' 50th anniversary.
* The 2017 Coors Light NHL All-Star Skills Competition on Saturday, Jan. 28 has added incentive this year. The winning division will have the right to select its first opponent and when its semifinal game will be played during the 3-on-3 tournament on Sunday, Jan. 29. Click here for more information.
LOOSE PUCKS
Defenseman Jason Demers established a NHL career high with his eighth goal of the season, scoring the winner in the Florida Panthers' fourth straight road victory . . . Sharks defenseman Brent Burns (1-1-2) had his fourth consecutive multi-point game (2-7-9) to move into a share of fourth in League scoring (17-27-44 in 42 GP) . . . Penguins teammates Phil Kessel (2-6-8) and Justin Schultz (1-5-6), and Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers (5-3-8) each extended their point streak to six games . . . Capitals coach Barry Trotz earned his 685th win to move past Pat Quinn into sole possession of seventh place in NHL history. Trotz served his 1,401st career game behind an NHL bench to also surpass Quinn into eight place on the all-time list . . . The NHL Centennial Fan Arena, a touring tribute to a century of hockey thrills, will begin its three-day stay in Dallas today at Victory Plaza outside American Airlines Center.
SNEAK PEEK AT THURSDAY'S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Vancouver @ Philadelphia, 7 p.m., CSN-PH, SNP
Pittsburgh @ Ottawa, 7:30 p.m., RDS2, TSN5, ROOT
Buffalo @ Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m., SUN, MSG-B
Boston @ Nashville, 8 p.m., SNO, TVA Sports, FS-TN, NESN
Montreal @ Minnesota, 8 p.m., NBCSN, SNE, RDS
Detroit @ Dallas, 8:30 p.m., FS-SW+, FS-D
New Jersey @ Edmonton, 9 p.m., SNW, MSG+
Anaheim @ Colorado, 9 p.m., ALT2, PRIME
St. Louis @ Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m., SN, SN360, FS-W, FS-MW
HALL RETURNS TO EDMONTON FOR FIRST TIME SINCE TRADE
Taylor Hall, the No. 1 selection by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2010 NHL Draft, returns to Edmonton for the first time since being traded to the New Jersey Devils on June 29. Hall, who scored 132 goals and 328 points in 381 games with the Oilers, shares the Devils lead with 25 points (nine goals, 16 assists) this season, but was held off the scoresheet in his first game against Edmonton on Saturday (2-1 OT L).
- National Hockey League PR
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