Capitals win 11th straight game at home

LEAGUE-LEADING CAPITALS EXTEND HOME WIN STREAK TO 11 GAMES

* The Capitals have scored at least five goals in 10 consecutive home games. The Elias Sports Bureau notes that Washington became the second team in NHL history to score five or more goals in at least 10 straight home games; The Boston Bruins accomplished the feat in 11 consecutive home games from Dec. 6, 1970 - Jan. 23, 1971.
* Oshie had his fourth game of the season with at least three points. Backstrom extended his point streak to six games (3-7-10) and leads the team with 16-41-57. He moved within a point of the 700-point milestone (181-518-699).
* Braden Holtby (14 saves) has won his past 13 decisions (1.87 GAA, .930 SV%, 4 SO) and improved to 28-8-4 overall (1.97 GAA, .928 SV%, 7 SO).

THURSDAY'S RESULTS

Home Team in Caps
BOSTON 6, San Jose 3
Anaheim 5, BUFFALO 2
NY RANGERS 4, Nashville 3
NY Islanders 3, PHILADELPHIA 1
WASHINGTON 6, Detroit 3
Vancouver 3, COLUMBUS 0
St. Louis 2, TORONTO 1 (OT)
OTTAWA 3, Dallas 2
Los Angeles 6, FLORIDA 3
Pittsburgh 4, COLORADO 1
Montreal 5, ARIZONA 4 (OT)

SUCCESS CONTINUES UNDER NEW COACHES

Several clubs who recently appointed new coaches won on Thursday:
* Vladimir Tarasenko scored his third overtime goal of the season (seventh career) 20 seconds into the extra period as Mike Yeo improved to 4-1-0 since being named coach of the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 1. Elias notes that Tarasenko tied Pavol Demitra for the most overtime goals in franchise history. At 28-22-5 (61 points), the Blues leapfrogged the Nashville Predators (26-20-8, 60 points) for third place in the Central Division.
* Patrice Bergeron (1-3-4) had a season-high four points to extend his point streak to six games (4-8-12) and help Bruce Cassidy earn a win in his first game as coach of the Bruins. At 27-23-6 (60 points), the Bruins moved past the Philadelphia Flyers (26-22-7, 59 points) for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
* Thomas Greiss made 33 saves to help the New York Islanders improve to 7-1-2 since Doug Weight was named coach on Jan. 17. Greiss is 6-1-1 in his past eight appearances (2.09 GAA, .929 SV%, 2 SO). At 24-18-10 (58 points), the Islanders remained two points back of the Bruins for the final wild card spot in the East.

LOOSE PUCKS

Los Angeles Kings forward Jeff Carter (2-2-4) had his first four-point game of the season and moved within one goal of Sidney Crosby (30) for the League lead. … J.T. Miller (2-0-2) had his third multiple-goal game of the season to extend his point streak to five games (2-7-9) and guide the New York Rangers to their fourth consecutive win. … Max Pacioretty had two goals and two assists to eclipse the 200-goal milestone and help the Montreal Canadiens snap a four-game slide (0-3-1). … Patric Hornqvist (2-0-2) had his second multigoal game of the season to help the Pittsburgh Penguins extended their point streak to five games (4-0-1). … Ryan Miller (33 saves) had his third shutout of the season (39th career) and the Vancouver Canucks snapped a four-game losing streak (0-4-0). … Sharks forward Joe Thornton (381-994-1,375) scored a first-period goal to pass Mike Modano (561-813-1,374) for sole possession of 23rd on the NHL's all-time points list. … Colorado Avalanche forward Jarome Iginla skated in his 1,525th career game to pass Brendan Shanahan (1,524) for sole possession of 14th on the NHL's all-time list. … Dallas Stars forward Jiri Hudler skated in the 700th game of his NHL career. … Patrick Marleau (7-5-12 in 8 GP), Brad Marchand (7-5-12 in 6 GP), Brett Connolly (4-3-7 in 5 GP), Ryan Strome (2-5-7 in 5 GP) and Chris Kreider (4-1-5 in 5 GP) each extended point streaks. … Florida Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle was fined $2,000 as supplementary discipline under NHL Rule 64 (Diving/Embellishment). … Members of MLB's Miami Marlins dropped the ceremonial first puck at BB&T Center. … Fatima Al Ali, a member of the United Arab Emirates' women's national hockey team,
took a selfie
with Henrik Zetterberg and Alex Ovechkin after dropping the ceremonial first puck at Verizon Center as part of Hockey Is For Everyone month.

SNEAK PEEK AT FRIDAY'S ACTION

All Times Eastern
Tampa Bay @ Minnesota, 8 p.m., NBCSN, TVA Sports
Chicago @ Winnipeg, 8 p.m., TSN3, CSN-CH