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Special operations over in Brussels, arrests and massive troops presence reported — RT News

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Belgian security forces launched a massive-scale operation in Brussels on Sunday evening. Authorities asked the public not to report on their movements after a number of images showing heavy police presence were posted on social media.

The police crisis center announced that operations were over in Brussels sometime after 11 pm (10 pm GMT) local time.

Unconfirmed reports by DH.de suggest that six suspects were arrested during the operation, with one wounded. Those arrested reportedly did not include Salah Abdeslam, the Paris attack terror suspect.

Belgian news agency RTBF reported that several arrests were made elsewhere, including the detention of one man in the region of Charleroi.

Authorities said they will hold a press conference at 00:30 local time (23:30 Sunday GMT).

Earlier, Belgian Defense Minister Steven Vandeput asked the public on Twitter “not to report their movements on social media” using the hashtag #BrusselsLockdown,

“For safety, please observe radio silence on social media about ongoing police operations,” police press-service posted on Twitter.

Residents in central Brussels were told to stay away from windows, and hotel guests were asked to stay inside.

Several central streets in Brussels were cordoned off, while another “large” police deployment was reported in the Etterbeek municipality near the capital.

“Many people, police asked everyone to leave further apart, no explanation as to why,” a Belgian VRT reporter said on Twitter, posting an image of armed law enforcement in the street.

Helicopters have been seen flying over some areas around Brussels, RTL reported, citing witnesses. Police presence has also been reported in Etterbeek, the media said, adding that the Interior Ministry has asked journalists not to give the precise locations of the areas where special forces are deployed.

Authorities said they will hold a press conference when the operations are finished.

The highest level of alert will remain in effect for Brussels on Monday, Belgium’s prime minister announced on Sunday, saying that there is a threat of coordinated, multiple, Paris-like attacks. Brussels has been at the center of an investigation into the Paris attacks, as several of the assailants came from Belgium, and one of the suspected attackers is believed to have returned.

 

Source: Special operations over in Brussels, arrests and massive troops presence reported — RT News

Canada’s Energy-Rich Alberta to Cap Oil Sands Emissions

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CALGARY, Alberta—The government of oil-rich Alberta province in western Canada on Sunday pledged to phase out coal emissions by 2030, limit greenhouse gases from oil-sands production and implement an economywide carbon tax.

The province unveiled the long-awaited plan one day ahead of a meeting in Ottawa among Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, and the leaders of other Canadian provinces and territories to discuss environment policy. Mr. Trudeau has pledged to develop a framework for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions before a United Nations summit on Nov. 30.

The plan comes at a challenging time for coal and oil producers in western Canada that are struggling to cope with low commodity prices.

“Our goal is to become one of the world’s most progressive and forward-looking energy producers,” Ms. Notley said at a news conference in Edmonton. “We are turning the page on the mistaken policies of the past.”

The premier described President Barack Obama’s rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline earlier this month as a “kick in the teeth” and a wake up call for Canada to improve the province’s environmental reputation. Mr. Obama cited Alberta’s “dirtier crude oil” in his decision not to approve the project, which is designed to carry oil-sands crude from Alberta to the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Flanked by oil industry executives and representatives from Native American and environmental groups, Ms. Notley said the new levies would be “revenue neutral” to offset other taxes, and that some funds will be set aside to research energy technologies.

Ms. Notley’s left-leaning government swept into power in May, ousting a right-of-center party that ruled the province for four decades and had played down the urgency of policies to address global climate change. Weeks later, Alberta said it would double its existing carbon tax on large-scale industrial emitters to 30 Canadian dollars ($22.50) per metric ton by 2017.

That tax will be extended across the province’s economy by instituting levies on sales of gasoline and on household utility bills. Alberta also will end coal-fired generation of electricity and mandate that renewable forms of energy account for 30% of electrical production by 2030. Coal currently accounts for about 38% of Alberta’s electrical generation capacity, with natural gas making up 44% of the total. The remainder comes from renewables such as hydroelectric generation, biomass and wind.

The government also said it would enact a limit on total oil-sands emissions of greenhouse gases of 100 million metric tons.

Alberta’s oil sands are one of the most emissions-intensive forms of crude extraction. Oil-sands wells require steam injections to leach out crude embedded in sand, a process that burns up to 1,000 cubic feet of natural gas to produce a single barrel of oil. Canada’s government estimates that oil sands-related emissions will nearly double to 103 million metric tons by 2020.

Oil and gas producers in Alberta had expressed concerns about the rapid policy shift in recent weeks. But four of the biggest oil sands producers, including Suncor Energy Ltd., Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. , Cenovus Energy Inc. and the Canadian unit of Royal Dutch Shell PLC, on Sunday said they backed the new initiative, noting it would accelerate clean- energy technology investment.

“This plan recognizes a need for a balance between the environment and the economy,” Murray Edwards, chairman of Canadian Natural Resources, said at the news conference. “We will do our part to address climate change while protecting jobs and industry competitiveness,” he said, speaking on behalf of the province’s top oil-sands producers.

Production from the oil sands has been growing at a steady clip in recent years, making the industry one of the fastest-growing contributors to rising Canadian carbon emissions. Canada’s environment ministry says the country’s CO2 emissions have risen over the past five years and are expected to hit 781 million metric tons a year by 2020 if no reduction measures are taken.

“Meaningful action in Alberta was long overdue,” Alberta’s environment minister, Shannon Philips, said at the news conference. She called climate change “the single greatest threat to our health and out economy.”

Source: Canada’s Energy-Rich Alberta to Cap Oil Sands Emissions – WSJ

Brussels stays on high alert over serious, imminent threat

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By RAF CASERT and FRANK JORDANS   Associated Press

BRUSSELS (AP) – With hundreds of troops patrolling Brussels for a second day and authorities hunting one or more suspected militants, the Belgian government chose Sunday to keep the capital on the highest state of alert into the start of the workweek to prevent a Paris-style attack.

Citing a “serious and imminent” threat, Prime Minister Charles Michel announced that schools and universities in Brussels will be closed Monday, with the subway remaining shut down, preventing a return to normal in the city that is also home to the European Union’s main institutions.

“We fear an attack like in Paris, with several individuals, perhaps in several places,” Michel said after chairing a meeting of Belgium’s National Security Council.

While Brussels was kept on the highest of four alert levels, the rest of the country remain on a Level 3 alert, meaning an attack is “possible and likely.”

“Nobody is pleased with such a situation. Neither are we. But we have to take our responsibility,” Michel said.

The situation was tense Sunday night in the wider area around the Grand Place, with police out in force and several raids looking for suspects going on. At one point, security forces closed off streets and yelled at people to stay away.

Western leaders stepped up the rhetoric against the Islamic State group, which has claimed responsibility for the attacks in Paris that killed 130 people and wounded hundreds more; the suicide bombings in Beirut that killed 43 people and injured more than 200; and the downing of the Russian jetliner carrying 224 people in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. All happened within the past month.

“We will not accept the idea that terrorist assaults on restaurants and theaters and hotels are the new normal, or that we are powerless to stop them,” President Barack Obama said in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said IS must be destroyed at all costs. “We must annihilate Islamic State worldwide … and we must destroy Islamic State on its own territory,” Le Drian said. “That’s the only possible direction.”

The decision to put Brussels on the highest alert came early Saturday as authorities frantically searched for Salah Abdeslam, who is believed to have played a key role in the Nov. 13 attacks in France. He is known to have crossed into Belgium the day after the attacks.

Interior Minister Jan Jambon warned that the threat wouldn’t necessarily disappear if Abdeslam was found, because they are looking for several people in connection with a possible planned attack in Brussels.

“The terror threat is wider that just that person,” Jambon said. “We are looking at several things. That is why we are making the big show of power and following everything up by the minute. It’s of no use to hide this.”

Several of the Paris attackers had lived in Brussels, including Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the plot’s orchestrator who was killed Wednesday in a standoff with French police.

Abdeslam is known to have crossed into Belgium on Nov. 14. His brother, Mohamed Abdeslam, went on Belgian TV and urged him to surrender, saying he would rather see him “in prison than in a cemetery.”

On Saturday, authorities in the Turkish coastal city of Antalya detained a 26-year-old Belgian citizen suspected of being linked to Islamic extremists and possibly to the Paris attacks.

France has intensified its aerial bombing in Syria and Le Drian said the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, which has been sent to the Mediterranean to help combat IS militants in Syria, will be “operational” from Monday and “ready to act.”

Also Monday, French President Francois Hollande is scheduled to meet in Paris with British Prime Minister David Cameron and will travel to Washington and Moscow later in the week to push for a stronger international coalition against IS. Cameron is expected to outline his plan for combating the militants as he seeks parliamentary approval to join France, the U.S. and Russia in striking the group’s strongholds in Syria.

Russia also is trumpeting action it’s taking to fight IS. It has intensified its airstrikes in Syria in response to the Oct. 31 downing of its passenger plane in Egypt.

On Sunday, Russian law enforcement officers raided a militant hideout in the North Caucasus, killing 11 in an exchange of fire. The militants were part of a group whose members had pledged allegiance to IS, the National Anti-Terrorist Committee said in a statement.

Attacks like those in Paris are aimed partly at provoking the West, as the Islamic State group hopes that stepped-up military action in the region will reinforce its narrative of a clash of civilizations and attract more Muslims to its ranks. IS and other militant groups seize on harsh Western rhetoric and civilian deaths to portray themselves as defending Muslims from modern “Crusaders.”

In an effort to minimize possible targets, Belgian officials recommended that sports competitions and all activities in public buildings be canceled this weekend, and malls and commercial centers closed.

The security measures left Brussels eerily quiet, with streets deserted and many of the city’s famous beer bars and restaurants largely empty.

Residents were bracing for the impact that the continued clampdown would have on this city of more than 1 million as the workweek began.

“I can’t believe they are closing down the city. It is crazy but they must have a good reason,” said Josephine Lemmens, a physiotherapist.

Lemmens said she didn’t know what she would do with her 11-year-old son now that schools have been ordered closed, but she conceded the measures were justified if they prevented an attack like the one in Paris.

Restaurant worker Raphael Lungo said the decision to keep the subway idle would affect him most.

“This is really going to complicate my life. I take the metro very day and I don’t know what I will do tomorrow,” he said, voicing confidence that the emergency wouldn’t last too long. “Europe succeeded in beating the Nazis,” he said.

The European Union’s executive Commission decided to stay open for business but its vice president, Kristalina Georgieva, warned people to be vigilant and expect increased security checks. NATO also said it would be open Monday, with security measures increased.

In France, police issued a new appeal to identify the third attacker who was killed in the assault at the national stadium. They posted a photo of the man on Twitter, asking the public for information that would help identify him.

France has extended a state of emergency, which allows police raids, searches and house arrest without permission from a judge, for three months. On Saturday, it also extended a ban on demonstrations and other gatherings through Nov. 30, when a U.N. climate conference with more than 100 heads of state is scheduled to start.

In a sign of the nervousness in Paris since the attacks, some travelers at the Gare Du Nord station ran out of their trains Sunday after hearing noises they thought were gunshots but actually were caused by a pigeon being electrocuted on the tracks.

Jordans reported from Paris. Maria Sanminiatelli and Thomas Adamson in Paris, Josh Lederman in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Gregory Katz in London, Joseph Krauss in Cairo, and Lorne Cook and Maria Cheng in Brussels contributed to this story.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.

Source: Brussels stays on high alert over serious, imminent threat

No Shortage Of Advice For The Canucks To Shake The Doom And Gloom Naysayers….Just Saying

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By Andrew Phillip Chernoff   November 22, 2015   Just Saying….

 

Just-saying

The Vancouver Canucks returned from a disappointing seven game road trip, arguably their toughest road trip of the entire 2015-16 season.

Many people had their opinions as to what went wrong and what needed to be done to salvage the rest of the season, where competition is stiff, and very few points can be given up in a short period of time and still make a successful season. What is a successful season? Well, for the Canucks, it would be making the playoffs.

The Canucks have not had so few wins after 20 games since the 1997-98 season. The Canucks started 4-13-3 that season under former head coach Mike Keenan and finished the year with just 65 points. Brad Ziemer,Vancouver Sun, Nov 20, 2015

Media covering the Canucks, as well as Jim Benning, Ryan Miller, Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, wasted little time in making their opinions known November 19-21.

Some key things for the Canucks remainder of the season according to those that voiced their thoughts include:

  • Play inspired, not intimidated.  A visit from the defending Cup champs usually brings out the best in a team wanting to use the game as a measuring stick. The Canucks might not be feeling too confident lately but they still should be fired up and wanting to show they can be competitive against the league’s best. Canucks website, Nov 21, 2015.
  • Prust brings some life. Brandon Prust may not be the guy you’re counting on for goals and points, but when it comes to energy he brings it every night. The Canucks have sorely missed the veteran winger and his expected return tonight should galvanize a team that desperately needs something positive right now. Canucks website, Nov 21, 2015.
  • “You need to manage the puck properly,” Benning said. “I think in some instances we haven’t been focused on managing the puck, getting it out at our blue line and making sure when we get to their blue-line, not losing the puck and getting it in and chasing after it. BRAD ZIEMER, Vancouver Sun
  • Need to get the big goal when they need it. Offensively, the Canucks can’t seem to get a big goal when they need it most. Radim Vrbata, who had a team-high 31 goals last season, has just three despite being tied for seventh in the NHL with 74 shots on net. BRAD ZIEMER, Vancouver Sun
  • Need to close—–finish. Whatever spin you choose to summarize a sobering 1-4-2 road trip — including losing two one-goal games in regulation and two more in overtime to sink to 0-for-6 in the new 3-on-3 format — one thing is clear after 20 games. The Vancouver Canucks are good enough to keep games close, they just can’t close. Ben Kuzma, The Province
  • Ryan Miller needs to maintain focus and reduce distractions. He was rightly feted in his long anticipated return to Buffalo and understandably upset following an overtime loss in New Jersey.Willie Desjardins loves that his starter rarely gives up rebounds, has a high level of compete and studies the game like a professor. That’s where the smarts kick in and that’s where Miller can be better. . Ben Kuzma, The Province
  • Horvat has to step up against better opposition. Even before training camp, Bo Horvat spoke of and was well aware of the sophomore jinx. He knew players who went through it, knew what to expect.Really? He’s only 20. Add power-play and penalty kill responsibilities this season and it shouldn’t be that surprising that the centre has two goals through 20 games after 13 as a rookie.Is he pressing and missing great scoring chances? Absolutely. Has he been anxious to get in transition and not been as diligent in his own zone or the faceoff circle? Probably. And with Brandon Sutter injured, Horvat has to step up against better opposition and it’s a long way from being a fourth line rookie centre with limited expectations and even-strength minutes.He’s gone from 12:15 of average ice time and a 51.4 per cent faceoff efficiency to 16:20 and 49.2 per cent in the circle and a minus-9 rating. That’s a lot to shoulder. . Ben Kuzma, The Province
  • A team is only as good as its goalie. Vancouver shot out of the gates on the back of Miller, who started the team’s first 10 games until Richard Bachman spelled him off on Oct. 30. Miller had a 2.16 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage in those 10 games. Not surprisingly, the Canucks went 4-2-4 and were tied with the Los Angeles Kings for first in the Pacific Division.Since then, however, Miller — unsurprisingly — has come back to earth. He has been, well, less than stellar in six starts so far in November, with a 3.04 GAA and an .892 SP, and the Canucks have gone just 1-4-1 in those six starts. Perhaps the most telling statistic is that he has allowed three goals or more in 10 of his 16 starts. Ronnie Shuker, The Hockey News
  • Eliminate the silver-platter scoring chances they are presenting (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun). Keep it simple. Stick to basics. No need to be flashy. Have the shot, shoot. Go to the net. Don’t have the shot, look for somebody. Put the puck on net, good things can happen.
  • Get better on special teams play. Need to finish around the net on the power play. Need to be more disciplined on the penalty kill.
  • Get points, get points, and get points!!! The Canucks are home, but their schedule isn’t getting easier. After spending two weeks on the road, Vancouver plays the Chicago Blackhawks and New Jersey Devils back-to-back, Saturday and Sunday at Rogers Arena, then travel again for games in Minnesota, Dallas, Anaheim and Los Angeles. November could decide their season.Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun
  • Leave no points on the table.No team has left more points on the table than the Vancouver Canucks have this season. “It could be a big part of defining our season,” Vancouver GM Jim Benning told The Province. “Because last year, in games that went to overtime and the shootout we were (12-5). That’s the difference between making the playoffs and not making the playoffs.” Jason Brough
  • You create your own breaks. Positives are not results. Raise the intensity level. Attention level to detail has to go up. Mistakes need to go down. Gotta have confidence and bring it. “We keep saying we’re close,” said Miller, who made 30 saves. “We’ve got to make the turn here. It’s not ideal mentally for this group to be really close [in] games. We’ve got to park it. We’ve got to find a way to keep coming with energy and believe it’s going to turn. The only thing you can do in this situation is work hard and believe that hard work will translate. ” Daniel Sedin found some positives with the road trip but admitted that the Canucks need results. “I think we’ve got to turn it around now,” he said. “We need some wins. But at the same time, I think we need to look at the big picture. We’re playing better than we were before. That’s a good sign. But right now we need a win.” Henrik Sedin concurred. “I don’t think you can question the way we battled, but our intensity has to go up, and our attention to detail needs to be there,” he said. “It’s a game of mistakes. We’re still making a few too many to win the close games.” Patrick Williams NHL.com
  • Play with urgency in the moment. You can’t do anything about what has past. The future is yours to write. So excel in the moment. Andrew Chernoff, andrewchernoff.wordpress.com

The game on Saturday night against the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks provided Vancouver with a perfect opportunity to pull a true Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and show a side of themselves that was reminiscent of the start of the season when they were firing on all cylinders and looking like they were going to be a playoff contender in the Western Conference. Not a pretender.

The leaders—–the Sedin brothers, Ryan Miller, Jannick Hansen, Alex Edler, Chris Tanev, Brandon Prust, Alex Burrows, Chris Higgins, to speak of a few; the youth—–Bo Horvat, Jared McCann, Jake Virtanen—–reminded the coaches, the general manager, the president of the Canucks, and all Canuck fans…..how this team could actually play if inspired, focused, disciplined and able to fight off distractions and stay with the game plan.

The result was there last night against the Blackhawks, a 6-3 victory that ended a four game losing streak, but one game does not make a season or make up for the points left on the table.

Great individual efforts such as exhibited by Daniel and Henrik Sedin, are to be praised in the moment and used for inspiration, for future upcoming games.

The team had the confidence and brought it. They raised their intensity level, created their own breaks, reduced their mistakes and were rewarded for it all.

There are 61 games left, including tonight against the New Jersey Devils and the upcoming four game road trip.

The Canucks have not had so few wins after 20 games since the 1997-98 season. The Canucks started 4-13-3 that season under former head coach Mike Keenan and finished the year with just 65 points.

Vancouver, more now then ever, have to turn up their game as they did against Chicago, and sustain it for the rest of the season, if they are going to seriously compete against the leading Western Conference teams and achieve their goal of making the playoffs next Spring.

Standings seldom alter to a great degree after U.S. Thanksgiving. Catching teams after that date is one thing, passing them is another. And with Brandon Sutter, Luca Sbisa and Radim Vrbata injured to varying degrees, the climb will be more arduous if areas of considerable concern aren’t immediately addressed. Ben Kuzma, The Province, Nov 20, 2015

Canucks have to play with urgency in the moment. You can’t do anything about what has past. The future is there to write. So excel in the moment….Just Saying….

NHL MORNING SKATE – NOV. 22, 2015

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NHL MORNING SKATE – NOV. 22, 2015

Welcome to the “NHL Morning Skate,” a daily collection of the latest news and notes from around the League.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS

Home Team in Caps
BOSTON 2, Toronto 0
OTTAWA 4, Philadelphia 0
TAMPA BAY 5, Anaheim 0
NY Rangers 5, FLORIDA 4 (OT)
San Jose 3, PITTSBURGH 1
WASHINGTON 7, Colorado 3
WINNIPEG 3, Arizona 2
Detroit 4, ST. LOUIS 3 (OT)
DALLAS 3, Buffalo 0
MINNESOTA 4, Nashville 0
VANCOUVER 6, Chicago 3

MARLEAU REACHES 1,000-POINT MILESTONE IN SHARKS’ WIN

Patrick Marleau collected a pair of assists to eclipse 1,000 NHL points (462-539—1,001 in 1,349 GP) and help the Sharks improve to 5-0-0 on their season-high, six-game road trip that concludes this afternoon in Columbus.

* Via Elias, the Sharks have won five consecutive games, all on the road, for the first time since Oct. 21-29, 2011 (also 5-0-0).
* Marleau, the second overall selection by San Jose in the 1997 NHL Draft, became the 83rd player in League history – and first in Sharks history – to reach the 1,000-point milestone. Marleau also is San Jose’s all-time leader in goals and games played and ranks second in club history in assists.
* Marleau, who reached the milestone at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, was drafted across the street at the former site of Civic Arena, the Penguins’ previous home. Only two other players from the 1997 NHL Draft have hit the 1,000-point milestone: current teammate Joe Thornton (361-912—1,273 in 1,305 GP) and Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa (489-576—1,065 in 1,190 GP).
* “I guess just having everybody coming up and congratulating me and throwing different numbers out there, it starts to take a little bit of shape how big it kind of is,” Marleau said. “A lot of teammates are a part of it over the years and it wouldn’t happen without them.”

* Click here for a closer look at Marleau’s milestone performance.

PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 21: Patrick Marleau #12 of the San Jose Sharks poses with his 1000th career NHL point puck after a 3-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins at Consol Energy Center on November 21, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images)

PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 21: Patrick Marleau #12 of the San Jose Sharks poses with his 1000th career NHL point puck after a 3-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins at Consol Energy Center on November 21, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images)

HAT TRICKS POWER CANUCKS, RANGERS

Hat tricks by Daniel Sedin (3-1—4) and Rick Nash (3-0—3) powered the Canucks and Rangers, respectively, to wins on Saturday:

* D. Sedin posted his sixth career hat trick, including his 900th NHL point, and brother Henrik Sedin notched 1-4—5 to lift the Canucks to a victory in their return home following a 1-4-2 road trip. D. Sedin, the second overall selection by Vancouver in the 1999 NHL Draft, registered his first hat trick since Dec. 6, 2011 vs. COL (3-0—3) and became the second player in franchise history to reach 900 points (337-566—903 in 1,082 GP). The other: H. Sedin (217-718—935 in 1,113 GP).
* H. Sedin equaled and established career highs for assists and points in a game, respectively. He became the first Canucks player to record at least five points in a game since Feb. 6, 2007 at EDM, when he and his brother also combined for nine points (D. Sedin: 3-2—5, H. Sedin: 0-4—4). Overall, D. Sedin (10-12—22) and H. Sedin (6-14—20) rank first and second, respectively, on the Canucks in scoring this season (21 GP).
* The Panthers erased a two-goal deficit in the final 2:28 of regulation, but Nash completed his seventh career hat trick at 2:01 of overtime to lead the Rangers to their 10th win in their last 11 outings. At 15-3-2 (32 points), the Rangers are off to their best 20-game start to a season – in terms of wins – in the franchise’s 89-year history. Their 32 points also equal a club record, established in 1971-72 (14-2-4).
* Nash, who entered the contest with two goals in his first 17 outings of the season, notched his first hat trick since Dec. 23, 2014 vs. WSH (3-0—3). Per Elias, he became the fourth player in Rangers history to complete a hat trick with an overtime goal. The others: Cecil Dillon (Dec. 12, 1936 at TOR), Tomas Sandstrom (Dec. 31, 1986 vs. NYI) and Marian Gaborik (Jan. 23, 2013 vs. BOS).

DEFENSE, OFFENSE HELP STARS CONTINUE RECORD-SETTING START . . .

Antti Niemi stopped all 22 shots he faced and both Jamie Benn (2-0—2) and Tyler Seguin (0-2—2) collected two points to power the Stars to their fifth consecutive victory.
* At 17-4-0 (34 points), the League-leading Stars continued their best start to a season (through 21 GP) – in terms of wins and points – in the franchise’s 48-year history.
* Niemi earned his 34th career shutout and second of the season (also Oct. 8 vs. PIT: 37 SV). He turned aside 46 of 47 shots in Dallas’ two wins over Buffalo in the past week (.979 SV%).
* Benn notched his third multi-goal performance of the season to extend his point streak to five games (4-4—8) and reclaim the League lead in goals (14).
* Seguin also extended his point streak to five games (2-5—7). He and teammate John Klingberg (0-1—1) share first in the NHL with 19 assists (also tied w/ Patrick Kane).

. . . FOUR OTHER CLUBS STOP THEM ALL

Four other teams also recorded shutouts en route to wins on Saturday:

* Craig Anderson made 36 saves to pick up his second consecutive shutout (31st of his career) in helping the Senators extend their point streak to five games (3-0-2). Anderson has posted consecutive shutouts for the second time in his career – he also did so from March 2-4, 2008 (w/ FLA).
* Devan Dubnyk denied 23 shots to earn his third shutout of 2015-16, tied for first in the NHL, and help the Wild improve to 8-1-0 this season at Xcel Energy Center. Dubnyk has eight shutouts since joining Minnesota in January (57 GP); he had nine in his first 192 NHL appearances.
* Ben Bishop celebrated his 29th birthday by stopping 30 shots en route to his 13th career shutout (first this season) and the Lightning’s second straight victory following a 1-3-1 stretch. Bishop, who made 13 of his saves in the second period, improved to 5-0-1 in six career appearances vs. ANA (1.04 GAA, .965 SV%, 1 SO).
* Tuukka Rask turned aside 22 shots to record his second shutout of the season and lead the Bruins past the Maple Leafs in the first half of their home-and-home series. Rask improved to 12-3-1 in 18 career regular-season appearances vs. TOR, the team that drafted him 21st overall in 2005 (1.74 GAA, .938 SV%, 2 SO).

AROUND THE RINKS

* Seven different Capitals players scored – including a quartet of defensemen – to guide the club to a 5-2-1 record in its past eight outings. Four Capitals defensemen scored in the same game for the first time since Dec. 4, 1992 vs. NYR. ICYMI: Dmitry Orlov fooled the entire Avalanche team before notching his first goal of the season.
* The Blues tied the game with 2:10 remaining in regulation, but Teemu Pulkkinen scored with 18.8 seconds left in overtime to propel the Red Wings to a 3-0-1 record in their last four outings. Dylan Larkin scored for the fourth straight game (4-0—4); he shares first among rookies with eight goals this season (w/ Max Domi).
* Chris Thorburn notched the tiebreaking goal – while shorthanded – with 8:51 remaining in regulation to lift the Jets to their second straight victory following a 0-5-1 skid. Thorburn registered his fourth career shorthanded goal and first since Jan. 30, 2010 at NSH (w/ ATL).

STREAKING

* Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane collected one assist to extend his point streak to a career-high 16 games (10-16—26). Via Elias, Kane – who paces the League in assists (tied) and points this season (13-19—32 in 21 GP) – became the first player (on any team) to post a point streak of 16 or more games since March 7 – April 7, 2012, when Penguins forward Pascal Dupuis totaled 10-12—22 during a 17-game point streak. Kane also became the first Blackhawks player to record a point streak of 16 or more games since Dec. 12, 1987 – Jan. 13, 1988 (Denis Savard: 11-17—28 in 16 GP).
* Senators forward Bobby Ryan notched two assists to extend his point streak to a career-high eight games (3-7—10).
* Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron recorded one assist to extend his point streak to seven games (3-5—8).
* Avalanche forward Matt Duchene (6-6—12), Senators captain Erik Karlsson (5-5—10) and Wild captain Mikko Koivu (1-5—6) all extended their point streaks to six games.
* Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk (2-5—7) and Blackhawks forward Artem Anisimov (3-3—6) both extended their point streaks to five games.

MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS

* Panthers forward Jaromir Jagr scored his 730th career goal to move within one of tying Marcel Dionne (731 G) for fourth place in NHL history.
* Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk notched his first goal of the season (6 GP) to move within one of 300 in his NHL career (299-572—871 in 893 GP).
* Blues forward Kyle Brodziak recorded his 100th NHL goal (642 GP).
* Avalanche forward Andreas Martinsen posted his first NHL goal (6 GP).
* Coyotes captain Shane Doan, who played his first NHL season in Winnipeg, scored his first goal in the city since 1995-96. Doan (374 G) also moved within five goals of tying Dale Hawerchuk (379 G) for the most in franchise history.
* Avalanche forward Matt Duchene collected his 200th NHL assist (439 GP).
* Avalanche forward Jarome Iginla played in his 1,412th career game to surpass Harry Howell (1,411 GP) and move into sole possession of 31st place in NHL history.
* Captain Mikko Koivu, who has spent his entire NHL career with the Wild, became the second player in franchise history to play in 700 games (also Nick Schultz: 743 GP).
* Blues forward Alexander Steen also played in his 700th NHL game.

LOOSE PUCKS

Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko (1-1—2) scored his 13th goal of the season, tied for second in the NHL (w/ Patrick Kane). He has 6-3—9 in his past six outings, including four multi-point performances . . . Lightning captain Steven Stamkos posted 2-1—3, including his 10th and 11th goals of the season – tied for fourth in the NHL (w/ Tyler Seguin) . . . Per Elias, Rangers forward Chris Kreider became the sixth player in NHL history to attempt a penalty shot in consecutive games. The others: Mike Walton (1967-68 Maple Leafs), Brent Peterson (1983-84 Sabres), Esa Pirnes (2003-04 Kings), Erik Cole (2005-06 Hurricanes) and Marian Hossa (2005-06 Thrashers) . . . Wild defenseman Ryan Suter, the seventh overall selection by the Predators in the 2003 NHL Draft, scored his first goal against his former club (1-11—12 in 15 GP). Suter (1-2—3) also matched a career high with his seventh three-point performance . . . Stars forward Antoine Roussel registered his third game-winning goal of the season (19 GP) while celebrating his 26th birthday. He had three game-winning goals in his first 200 NHL appearances prior to 2015-16 . . . Maple Leafs goaltender James Reimer turned aside 35 of 36 shots, but saw his personal winning streak end at five games . . . Capitals forward Jason Chimera equaled a career high with three assists . . . ICYMI: Coyotes forward Max Domi, who was born in Winnipeg, spent time with a young fan who also has diabetes . . . The Penguins aired a video tribute for Sharks defenseman Paul Martin, who totaled 17-92—109 (297 GP) with Pittsburgh over the past five seasons.

SNEAK PEEK AT SUNDAY’S ACTION

All Times Eastern
Los Angeles @ Carolina, 1:00 p.m., FS-W, FS-CR
San Jose @ Columbus, 5:00 p.m., CSN-CA, FS-O
NY Islanders @ Montreal, 7:00 p.m., NHLN-US, SN, MSG+, RDS
New Jersey @ Vancouver, 10:00 p.m., MSG, SNP, SNV

HOMETOWN HOCKEY TOUR STOPS IN CORNER BROOK

The Canadiens and Islanders complete their home-and-home series as Rogers Hometown Hockey visits Corner Brook, Nfld. – the home province of former NHL players Keith Brown and Darren Langdon as well as the latest stop in the career of former NHL forward Arron Asham. Throughout 2015-16, Sunday games will be broadcast from a different community rink in various towns across Canada. Included in each telecast will be local NHL player profiles, grassroots stories and local entertainment features.

Click here for more details about the festivities in Corner Brook.

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