NHL NEWS FEB 8 – LEAGUE-LEADING CAPITALS EXTEND HOME WIN STREAK TO 10 GAMES

Five different skaters scored and Braden Holtby turned aside all 23 shots he faced as the League-leading Capitals (37-11-6, 80 points) earned their 10th consecutive win at Verizon Center.

The Capitals have scored at least five goals in nine consecutive home games.

Alex Ovechkin opened the scoring on the power-play and ranks tied for third in the NHL with 26 goals this season. Ovechkin scored his 95th career game-winning goal to pass Steve Yzerman (94) for sole possession of 12th on the NHL’s all-time list. He also scored his 206th career power-play goal to pass Joe Sakic (205) for sole possession of 15th place in NHL history.

Holtby has earned wins in his last 12 decisions (1.78 GAA, .935 SV%, 4 SO) and improved to 27-8-4 overall (1.94 GAA, .930 SV%, 7 SO). His seven shutouts this season rank tied with Peter Budaj for the most in the NHL.

MATTHEWS NOTCHES ANOTHER GAME-WINNING GOAL

Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (GWG) leads all rookies in goals (25) and game-winning goals (6) this season. Matthews became the first Maple Leafs rookie to score 25 goals in a season since Sergei Berezin did so in 1996-97. He also became just the second rookie in franchise history to score at least six game-winning goals in a season, joining Howie Meeker (8) in 1946-47.

NHL NEWS AND MSUINGS

• Seth Jones scored his third overtime goal of the season to move into a tie with Jaroslav Spacek for the most by a defenseman in Blue Jackets franchise history
• Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist made a season-high 43 saves to help Alain Vigneault become the 15th head coach in NHL history to reach the 600-win milestone
• Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (0-1—1) moved within two points of the 1,000-point milestone (368-630—998)
• Patrick Marleau (7-4—11 in 7 GP), Mitch Marner (3-4—7 in 5 GP), Nicklas Backstrom (2-5—7 in 5 GP) and Tyler Bozak (1-4—5 in 5 GP) each extended point streaks
• Blues forward Ivan Barbashev scored the first goal of his NHL career (6 GP) . . . Sharks forward Marcus Sorensen collected an assist in his NHL debut
• Bruce Cassidy was named head coach of the Bruins
• The Penguins, Rangers and Sabres each held You Can Play Awareness Nights while the Blue Jackets and Bruins hosted community events, all as part of Hockey is for Everyone month. Hockey pioneer Willie O’Ree also attended the Ducks-Rangers game at Madison Square Garden.

TUESDAY’S NHL RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
BUFFALO 5, San Jose 4 (OT)
NY RANGERS 4, Anaheim 1
Calgary 3, PITTSBURGH 2 (SO)
WASHINGTON 5, Carolina 0
TORONTO 3, Dallas 1
St. Louis 6, OTTAWA 0
Columbus 3, DETROIT 2 (OT) Game photos HERE
TAMPA BAY 5, Los Angeles 0
NASHVILLE 4, Vancouver 2
Minnesota 4, WINNIPEG 2
COLORADO 4, Montreal 0

WEDNESDAY’S NHL ACTION
All Times Eastern
Chicago @ Minnesota, 8 p.m.