NHL NEWS JAN 20 – CLUBS GAIN GROUND IN PLAYOFF RACE

The Rangers (29-16-1, 59 points), Sharks (28-16-2, 58 points), Senators (24-15-4, 52 points) and Predators (21-17-7, 49 points) each secured victories to gain ground in the playoff race.

Michael Grabner (2-0—2) eclipsed 20 goals for the third time in his NHL career (also 2010-11 and 2011-12 w/ NYI) to guide the Rangers to their League-leading 16th road win of the season (16-7-0, 32 points).

Logan Couture scored the go-ahead goal 22 seconds into the third period to lift the Sharks to their third consecutive win and into second place in the Pacific Division, one point ahead of the Oilers (25-15-7, 57 points).

Mike Condon made a career-high 42 saves to register his third shutout of the season (fourth career) as the Senators improved to 4-1-0 in their past five outings to move into a tie with the Bruins (23-19-6, 52 points) – in terms of points – for second place in the Atlantic Division. Ottawa, however, holds five games in hand.

The Flames scored three straight goals in the final 3:43 of regulation, but Filip Forsberg’s marker early in the third period stood as the winning tally as the Predators improved to 4-1-0 in their past five outings, with Forsberg netting each of the past three decisive goals. The Predators displaced the Kings (22-19-4, 48 points) for the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.

NHL NEWS NHL MUSINGS

• Maple Leafs forward James van Riemsdyk (0-1—1) extended his career-high point streak to nine games (3-10—13)
• Senators forward Kyle Turris (3-4—7), Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner (0-8—8) and Wild forward Mikael Granlund (0-6—6) each extended their point streak to five games
• The Flames and Predators honored referee Tom Kowal in a pre-game ceremony ahead of his 1,000th career NHL game
• The NHL announced the addition of five new stops on the NHL Centennial Fan Arena traveling tour
• The NHL announced the details of the 2017 Coors Light NHL All-Star Skills Competition, which will be preceded by the 2017 NHL All-Star Celebrity Shootout on Saturday, Jan. 28
• NHL Network announced that nine-year NHL veteran Ryan Whitney has joined as an on-air analyst

THURSDAY’S NHL RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
NY ISLANDERS 3, Dallas 0
Ottawa 2, COLUMBUS 0
NY Rangers 5, TORONTO 2
Washington 7, ST. LOUIS 3
MINNESOTA 4, Arizona 3
Nashville 4, CALGARY 3
ANAHEIM 2, Colorado 1
SAN JOSE 2, Tampa Bay 1

SNEAK PEEK AT FRIDAY’S NHL ACTION
All Times Eastern
Chicago @ Boston, 7 p.m.
Detroit @ Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Pittsburgh @ Carolina, 7 p.m.
Montreal @ New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Nashville @ Edmonton, 9 p.m.
Florida @ Vancouver, 10 p.m.