NHL NEWS MARCH 20 –  CANADIENS, FLAMES CONTINUE PUSH FOR POSTSEASON

NHL NEWS MARCH 20-  The Canadiens (41-23-8, 90 points) and Flames (41-27-4, 86 points) each secured victories to gain ground in their respective playoff races.

Jordie Benn scored the game-winning goal to help the Canadiens sweep their home-and-home set with the Senators (39-24-8, 86 points) and open a four-point lead atop the Atlantic Division. Montreal improved to 2-1-1 against Ottawa this season (OTT: 2-1-1) and will conclude their five-game season series on Saturday at Bell Centre.

Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan each collected 1-2—3 as the Flames moved to 13-1-1 in their last 15 games and reclaimed sole possession of third place in the Pacific Division. Brian Elliott (19 saves) earned his 11th consecutive victory (1.70 GAA, .942 SV%, 2 SO) to tie the longest win streak by a goaltender in franchise history set by Mike Vernon from Jan. 17 – Feb. 27, 1989.

JAGR REACHES ANOTHER RARE MILESTONE

Panthers forward Jaromir Jagr skated in the 1,700th game of his NHL career. Jagr – who recently passed Gordie Howe for the most points by an NHL player after turning 40 years of age – became the fourth player in NHL history to skate in 1,700 career regular-season games, joining Howe (1,767), Mark Messier (1,756) and Ron Francis (1,731).

NHL NEWS MARCH 20 AND MUSINGS

• Blackhawks goaltender Scott Darling (22 saves) extended his personal win streak to six games (1.51 GAA, .951 SV%)
• Travis Konecny tied the game in the final minute of regulation and Brayden Schenn scored 38 seconds into overtime to guide the Flyers to victory
• Winnipeg surrendered a 4-0 lead, but Josh Morrissey scored the go-ahead goal at 12:43 of the third period to lift the Jets to a 5-4 win
• Jets captain Blake Wheeler collected two assists to reach the 500-point milestone (194-306—500)
• Wild forward Eric Staal skated in the 1,000th game of his NHL career
• Jack Johnson (700) and Torrey Mitchell (600) also skated in milestone games
• Elias Lindholm (3-5—8 in 7 GP) and Artemi Panarin (4-4—8 in 6 GP) each extended point streaks
• Canadiens forward Paul Byron (1-1—2) reached the 20-goal mark for the first time in his NHL career.

SUNDAY’S NHL RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
Columbus 4, NEW JERSEY 1
PITTSBURGH 4, Florida 0
WINNIPEG 5, Minnesota 4
CHICAGO 6, Colorado 3
PHILADELPHIA 4, Carolina 3 (OT)
MONTREAL 4, Ottawa 1
CALGARY 5, Los Angeles 2

MONDAY’S NHL ACTION
All Times Eastern
Boston @ Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
Buffalo @ Detroit Red Wings, 7:30 p.m.
Arizona @ Nashville, 8 p.m.
San Jose @ Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Los Angeles @ Edmonton, 9 p.m.