Home Team in Caps
COLUMBUS 4, Toronto 2
PHILADELPHIA 4, Detroit 3
CALGARY 2, St. Louis 1
COUTURIER LIFTS FLYERS TO VICTORY IN BACK-AND-FORTH AFFAIR
The Flyers (15-12-7, 37 points) tied the game twice in the second period before Sean Couturier (1-0—1) broke a third-period deadlock to lead Philadelphia to its seventh win in the last eight contests.
* Couturier (16-15—31 in 34 GP) scored his team-leading 16th goal of the season to eclipse his single-season career high of 15 established in 2014-15 (82 GP). He also sits eight points shy of matching his career high for points in a single season (39), accomplished in 2013-14 (82 GP) and matched in 2015-16 (63 GP).
* Brian Elliott has started nine consecutive games in goal for the Flyers, posting a 7-2-0 record with a 2.11 goals-against average and .926 save percentage over that span.
* Robert Hagg – who was selected in the second round (41st overall) by the Flyers in the 2013 NHL Draft – became the third Flyers player (also Travis Sanheim and Nolan Patrick) to score his first career NHL goal this season.
The Blue Jackets (21-13-1, 43 points) and Flames (18-14-3, 39 points) each had defensemen play crucial roles in their home victories:
* Seth Jones (1-1—2), who leads all Blue Jackets defensemen with 6-13—19 in 35 GP this season, found the back of the net for the second straight game and the third time in his last four contests to help the Blue Jackets improve to 8-2-0 in their last 10 games at Nationwide Arena and move within two points of the idle Capitals (22-12-1, 45 points) for first place in the Metropolitan Division.
* Dougie Hamilton, who ranks second among Flames defensemen with 4-12—16 in 35 GP, scored at 7:57 of the third period to break a 1-1 tie and help the Flames leapfrog the idle Sharks (17-11-4, 38 points) into third place in the Pacific Division.
SNEAK PEEK AT THURSDAY’S ACTION
Thursday’s 10-game schedule is highlighted by five games between teams from the same division, with four of those contests featuring clubs within six standings points of each other:
* In the Central Division, two teams tied in terms of points face off when the Blackhawks (17-11-5, 39 points) visit the Stars (18-14-3, 39 points) at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Chicago, whose current season-high five-game winning streak is the longest active stretch in the League, looks to win at least six straight contests for the first time since 2016-17 (7-0-0 from Feb. 19 – Mar. 4).
* In the Metropolitan Division, where teams Nos. 2 – 7 are separated by just six points, the No. 2 Devils (19-9-5, 43 points) host the No. 4 Rangers (19-12-3, 41 points) at Prudential Center and the No. 3 Blue Jackets (21-13-1, 43 points) visit the No. 7 Penguins (17-15-3, 37 points) at PPG Paints Arena.
* Separated by four points in the Pacific Division, the Canucks (15-16-4, 34 points) visit the Sharks (17-11-4, 38 points) at SAP Center in San Jose. Forward Brock Boeser leads the Canucks and all rookies in goals and points (18-14—32 in 32 GP) while Sharks defenseman Brent Burns has produced 5-5—10 in his last six games, including five multi-point outings.
* In an Atlantic Division clash, the League-leading Lightning (24-7-2, 50 points), who own an 8-2-0 record in their last 10 contests, host the Senators (11-14-7, 29 points), who have won two of their last three games. Tampa Bay forward Nikita Kucherov – who leads the NHL in goals (tied) and points with 23-25—48 in 33 GP – enters the contest on a five-game point streak (4-4—8).
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