FLYERS FACE PENGUINS IN 2017 COORS LIGHT NHL STADIUM SERIES
The Pittsburgh Penguins (37-14-8, 82 points), who have earned a point in 10 of their past 11 games (7-1-3), host the Philadelphia Flyers (28-25-7, 63 points) in the 2017 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh (8 p.m. ET, NBC, SN, TVA Sports 2, NHL.TV).
* This is the 279th regular-season game between the Pennsylvania rivals and the second this season; the Flyers hold the all-time edge with a 151-89-38 record (Pittsburgh is 97-144-37). The Penguins earned a 5-4 victory on Oct. 29, powered by two-goal efforts by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
STADIUM SERIES QUICK HITS
* The 2017 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series will be the second regular-season NHL game played outdoors at Heinz Field. The Washington Capitals defeated the Penguins 3-1 in the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic.
* The Penguins are playing in their fourth regular-season outdoor game (1-2-0). The Flyers will be skating in their third (0-1-1).
* The 2017 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series will be the 22nd regular-season NHL game played outdoors, and the fourth and final such one during the 2016-17 season. Of the 21 outdoor games played, nine have been played in baseball parks, 11 at football venues, and one at a soccer stadium.
* Penguins goaltender Matt Murray toured the NHL Centennial Fan Arena at The PreGame on Friday. The PreGame will be open to the public today from 3-8 p.m. at Stage AE next to Heinz Field, with the Stanley Cup on hand from 3-7 p.m.
FRIDAY'S RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
WASHINGTON 2, Edmonton 1
CAROLINA 3, Ottawa 0
Calgary 4, FLORIDA 2
DALLAS 5, Arizona 2
CAPITALS MATCH FRANCHISE RECORD WITH 13TH STRAIGHT HOME WIN
Braden Holtby made 30 saves and Justin Williams scored the game-winning goal in the third period as the Capitals won their 13th consecutive home game, matching a franchise record set from Jan. 5 - March 6, 2010.
* Per the Elias Sports Bureau, the Capitals became the first team to win 13 consecutive home games since the Penguins did it from Nov. 15, 2013 to Jan. 15, 2014 (13-0-0). Washington (41-12-7, 89 points) became the first team to reach 25 home wins this season and extended its lead over the Minnesota Wild (39-14-6, 84 points) atop the League standings.
* Holtby (31-8-5) is 16-0-2 in his past 18 decisions, becoming the first goaltender to earn a point in 18 consecutive decisions since he went 20-0-2 from Nov. 12, 2015 to Jan. 14, 2016. Jose Theodore holds the franchise record with a point in 23 consecutive decisions (20-0-3) from Jan. 13 - April 9, 2010.
FLAMES CONTINUE HOT PLAY ON THE ROAD
Deryk Engelland scored his career-best second game-winner of the season to help the Calgary Flames improve to 8-2-1 in their past 11 contests and 6-1-1 in their past eight road games.
* The Flames (32-26-4, 68 points) leapfrogged the idle Nashville Predators to take the first wild card berth into spot in the Western Conference. They trail the Edmonton Oilers (33-21-8, 74 points) by six points for third place in the Pacific Division.
* Engelland, who posted two game-winning goals in 388 games during his first seven NHL seasons, has two in 62 games in 2016-17.
* Matthew Tkachuk (0-2-2) had his 10th multipoint game of the season; three have come in his past five games (1-6-7). Tkachuk ranks fifth in rookie scoring (11-30-41).
LOOSE PUCKS
Eddie Lack (34 saves) had his first shutout of the season to help the Carolina Hurricanes snap a five-game losing streak. … Jamie Benn (1-1-2) had multiple points for the fourth time in his past six games as the Dallas Stars extended their home winning streak against the Arizona Coyotes to eight games. … Roberto Luongo (964 GP) passed Ed Belfour (963 GP) for sole possession of fourth place on the all-time games-played list among goaltenders. … Radim Vrbata (1-1-2) of the Coyotes extended his point streak to a career-high eight games (3-6-9). … Capitals forward Riley Barber made his NHL debut. … The Anaheim Ducks acquired forward Patrick Eaves in a trade from the Stars for a conditional second-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft … The Detroit Red Wings traded forward Tomas Jurco to the Chicago Blackhawks for a third-round pick in 2017. … Blues forward Patrik Berglund agreed to terms on a five-year contract, Berglund could have become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. … Grammy-winning, multi-platinum-selling band Train will provide entertainment at the 2017 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series. … The Capitals and Hurricanes each hosted You Can Play night as part of Hockey Is For Everyone month. … The Penguins and Flyers took to the ice for practice at Heinz Field on Friday.
SNEAK PEEK AT SATURDAY'S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Anaheim @ Los Angeles, 4 p.m., SN1, NHLN, FS-W, PRIME
Washington @ Nashville, 5 p.m., SN, FS-TN, CSN-DC
NY Islanders @ Columbus, 5 p.m., FS-O, MSG+ 2
NY Rangers @ New Jersey, 5 p.m., MSG+, MSG
Montreal @ Toronto, 7 p.m., CBC, CITY, TVA Sports
Philadelphia @ Pittsburgh, 8 p.m., NBC, SN, TVA Sports 2
San Jose @ Vancouver, 10 p.m., CBC, SN1, CSN-CA
Buffalo @ Colorado, 10 p.m., ALT, MSG-B
ORIGINAL SIX MATCHUP HIGHLIGHTS HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA SCHEDULE
The Atlantic Division-leading Montreal Canadiens (32-21-8, 72 points) look to protect their four-point lead over the Toronto Maple Leafs (28-20-12, 68 points) when the longtime rivals complete their season series at Air Canada Centre. Montreal has won all three games between the clubs this season. Hockey Night in Canada resumes with Joe Thornton (382-998-1,380) looking to become the 13th member of the 1,000-assist club when the Pacific Division-leading San Jose Sharks (35-18-7, 77 points) visit the Vancouver Canucks (26-28-6, 58 points) in their second of five games this season.
- NHL Public Relations
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