NHL NEWS MARCH 24 – CAPITALS, BLACKHAWKS KEEP PACE IN PRESIDENTS’ TROPHY RACE

The Capitals (48-17-8, 104 points) and Blackhawks (48-20-6, 102 points) – who sit atop the Eastern and Western Conference, respectively – each earned shootout wins to improve their position in the race for the Presidents’ Trophy.

T.J. Oshie scored the lone goal in the shootout to guide the Capitals past the Blue Jackets (47-19-7, 101 points) in a battle between two of the top three teams in the NHL. The Capitals recorded their 30th home win of 2016-17 (tops in the NHL) to match a single-season franchise record set in 1985-86 and equaled in 2009-10. Braden Holtby (29 saves) registered his 38th win of the season to move within one of tying Sergei Bobrovsky – who made 44 saves in a losing cause – for the League lead.

Patrick Kane scored in regulation and the shootout to help the Blackhawks extend their point streak to seven games (6-0-1) and open an eight-point lead over the Wild (44-23-6, 94 points) – who lost in regulation – for first place in the Central Division. Corey Crawford (42 saves) reached the 30-win mark for the sixth time in his career, the second-most such campaigns in Blackhawks history (Tony Esposito: 8). Chicago has posted an 18-3-1 record since the start of February to lead the NHL in wins (18) and points (37) in that span.

NHL NEWS MARCH 24 AND MUSINGS

• Oilers captain Connor McDavid (0-2—2) extended his point streak to six games (3-9—12) to increase his League leads in both assists (61) and points (87)
• The Hurricanes extended their point streak to nine games (6-0-3) . . . Carolina’s Elias Lindholm scored to extend his point streak to nine games (4-6—10)
• Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen was suspended for three games for interference against Penguins forward Jake Guentzel
• Maple Leafs defenseman Roman Polak was suspended for two games for boarding Blue Jackets forward Oliver Bjorkstrand
• The starting time of the Predators/Stars game on April 6 at American Airlines Center has been changed to 7:30 p.m. CT (originally 7 p.m. CT)
• The NCAA Men’s Division I Ice Hockey Tournament – which features draft picks from 30 of 31 NHL teams – begins today at 3 ET when 2017 NHL Draft prospect Jake Oettinger leads Boston University against the University of North Dakota, last year’s champion
• Ed Belfour took the ice at United Center as part of the Blackhawks’ One More Shift program.

THURSDAY’S NHL RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
Tampa Bay 6, BOSTON 3
WASHINGTON 2, Columbus 1 (SO)
TORONTO 4, New Jersey 2
Carolina 4, MONTREAL 1
OTTAWA 2, Pittsburgh 1 (SO)
FLORIDA 3, Arizona 1
ST. LOUIS 4, Vancouver 1
NASHVILLE 3, Calgary 1
Philadelphia 3, MINNESOTA 1
CHICAGO 3, Dallas 2 (SO)
Edmonton 7, COLORADO 4
LOS ANGELES 5, Winnipeg 2

FRIDAY’S NHL ACTION
All Times Eastern
NY Islanders @ Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
Tampa Bay @ Detroit Red Wings, 7:30 p.m.
San Jose @ Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Winnipeg @ Anaheim, 10 p.m.