CANADIENS, DEVILS EARN SEASON SERIES SWEEPS ... The Montreal Canadiens and the New Jersey Devils earned wins on Sunday to sweep their season series versus the New York Islanders and Vancouver Canucks, respectively. * The Canadiens, who earned victories against the Islanders on Nov. 5 (4-1 W) and Nov. 20 (5-3 W), swept their season series vs. NYI for the second straight season. They are 6-0-0 in their past six games vs. NYI dating to Dec. 23, 2014 (NYI: 0-6-0). * Per Elias, the Devils – following their 4-3 overtime win against the Canucks on Nov. 8 – swept a season series of at least two games vs. VAN for the first time in their history. ... WHILE HURRICANES, SHARKS AVOID THE BROOMS The Hurricanes and the Sharks posted victories on Sunday to evade a season series sweep versus the Los Angeles Kings and Columbus Blue Jackets, respectively. * The Hurricanes, who suffered a 3-0 loss at LAK on Oct. 23, avoided a sweep at the hands of the Kings and are 6-1-2 in their past nine home games vs. LAK dating to Oct. 28, 2001 (LAK: 2-4-3). * After dropping a 5-2 decision to Columbus on Nov. 3, the Sharks dodged a second straight season sweep by the Blue Jackets, ending a three-game winless streak vs. CBJ dating to Oct. 23, 2014 (0-3-0). GALCHENYUK. CANADIENS REACH TOP OF CONFERENCE STANDINGS Tied 2-2, Alex Galchenyuk scored the go-ahead goal with 3:29 remaining in the third period to lead the Canadiens to a home-and-home sweep of the Islanders. * At 16-4-2 (34 points), the Canadiens moved into sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference. They also tied the idle Dallas Stars (17-4-0, 34 points) – in terms of points – for first place in the NHL standings. * Carey Price made 21 saves – including a sensational stop on Kyle Okposo (0-1—1) in the second period – to pick up his second straight victory since making his return to the Canadiens lineup. * Price – the reigning Hart Memorial Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award, Vezina Trophy and William M. Jennings Trophy winner – is 9-2-0 in his first 11 games of the season (2.10 GAA, .933 SV%, 2 SO). Price is 11-3-3 in 17 career games vs. NYI. SHARKS RALLY TO FINISH ROAD TRIP UNDEFEATED Down 3-1 in the third period, the San Jose Sharks scored four unanswered goals to rally past the Blue Jackets and conclude their season-high, six-game road trip with an unbeaten record. The Sharks have won seven consecutive road games dating to Nov. 1 at COL. Courtesy of the Elias Sports Bureau: * The Sharks swept a road trip longer than four games for the first time in their history. * The Sharks won six consecutive games, all on the road, for the first time in their history. * The Sharks won seven consecutive road games for the first time since winning nine straight from Dec. 21, 2009 to Jan. 8, 2010. * The Sharks overcame a multi-goal deficit in the third period and won in regulation for the first time since Nov. 8, 2014 at DAL (5-3 W). DEFENSEMEN LEAD HURRICANES PAST KINGS Carolina Hurricanes defensemen Justin Faulk (2-0—2) and Brett Pesce (1-1—2) combined for three of their four goals and Carolina edged the Kings and ended a five-game losing streak (0-2-3). * Faulk scored two power-play goals in the second period and extended his point streak to a career-high five games (3-3—6). Faulk leads the NHL with eight power-play goals (20 GP) and eclipsed his single-season career high of seven in 2014-15 (82 GP). * Per Elias, Faulk is the first defenseman in Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers history to score eight power-play goals in his first 20 games of a season. In fact, Faulk is the second skater in their history to accomplish the feat, joining Ron Francis (HFD) who did so in 1987-88. * Elias adds that Faulk is the first defenseman to score eight power-play goals in his first 20 games of a season since Andy Delmore (NSH) in 2002-03. * Faulk – who posted his first career multi-goal game – also leads all defensemen in goals with eight (all PPG). * Pesce, a third-round selection (66th overall) in the 2013 NHL Draft, scored the first goal of his career (13 GP). He also had an assist to record his first career multi-point game. MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS * Canadiens defenseman Andrei Markov (0-1—1) is one helper shy of becoming the third defenseman in their history to get 400 assists. The others: Larry Robinson (686) and Guy Lapointe (406). * Kings defenseman Drew Doughty registered an assist to tie Lubomir Visnovsky (70-209—279 in 499 GP) for fourth on their all-time points list among defensemen (68-211—279 in 544 GP). * Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty scored for the 300th point of his NHL career (155-145—300 in 421 GP). LOOSE PUCKS The Canadiens scored all four of their goals via special teams (3 PPG, 1 SHG). ... Kings forward Anze Kopitar (2-0—2) posted his first multi-goal game of the season. ... Sharks forward Joe Pavelski (2-0—2) scored his 11th and 12th goals of the season to move into sole possession of fourth among NHL leaders. ... San Jose forwards Patrick Marleau (1-1—2) and Joel Ward (0-2—2) had multi-point. ... Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban (0-2—2) trails John Klingberg (DAL) by one for the League-lead among defensemen with 18 assists. ... Canadiens forward Tomas Fleischmann scored his second career shorthanded goal. The other: Jan. 29, 2013 at TBL (w/ FLA). ... Islanders forward Kyle Okposo (0-1—1) extended his assist streak to five games (0-7—7). ... Canucks forward Henrik Sedin scored his first shorthanded goal of the season and has 2-4—6 in his past two games. ... Canucks forward Daniel Sedin (0-1—1) extended his point streak to five games |
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