NHL NEWS NOV 17 – BLUES HOST SHARKS IN PLAYOFF REMATCH

The Blues (8-6-3, 19 points) play host to the Sharks (9-7-0, 18 points) at Scottrade Center in their first meeting since the 2016 Western Conference Final, a 4-2 series win by San Jose. In their last matchup, Logan Couture (1-2—3) and Joel Ward (2-0—2) combined for three of San Jose’s five goals to help the Sharks win Game 6 and advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in franchise history.

BACKSTROM, OSHIE LIFT CAPITALS OVER PENGUINS

Nicklas Backstrom (2-3—5) and T.J. Oshie (2-2—4) combined for 4-5—9 to lead the Capitals to a win in the opener of their five-game homestand and a 5-2-0 record overall this season at Verizon Center.

Backstrom equaled a career high with his fifth career five-point game and first since Dec. 10, 2013 vs. TBL (1-4—5). Only Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin (6) has more such performances since Backstrom entered the NHL in 2007-08.

Oshie also matched a career high with his fourth career four-point game and first since Dec. 18, 2015 vs. TBL (2-2—4). He shares the club lead with eight goals in 2016-17.

MUSINGS AND NHL NEWS NOV 17

• Forward Michael Frolik (1-1—2) notched an assist on the tying goal in the third period and scored 49 seconds into overtime as the Flames picked up their second straight win on the heels of a four-game slide (0-4-0)
• The Capitals scored a season-high seven goals, their most in one game since Jan. 10 vs. OTT (7-1 W)
• Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin recorded his 533rd career goal to tie Frank Mahovlich for 32nd place in NHL history
• The Las Vegas expansion franchise announced details of its Nov. 22 ceremony to unveil their name and logo
• The Verizon Center crowd helped sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” after the microphone stopped working during pre-game festivities.

WEDNESDAY’S NHL RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
WASHINGTON 7, Pittsburgh 1
CALGARY 2, Arizona 1 (OT)

THURSDAY’S NHL ACTION
All Times Eastern
Tampa Bay @ Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Winnipeg @ Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
Florida @ Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
Nashville @ Ottawa, 7:30 p.m.
San Jose @ St. Louis, 8 p.m.
Boston @ Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Colorado @ Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Arizona @ Vancouver, 10 p.m.
New Jersey @ Anaheim, 10 p.m.
Edmonton @ Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.