Washington — Adam Oates considered his 1,000th career assist a family milestone.
Dainius Zubrus scored 13 seconds into overtime on a play set up by Oates to lead the Washington Capitals to a 1-0 victory over the Boston Bruins on Monday night.
"I talked to my Mom and Dad all in the last couple weeks, and for our family it really means a lot," Oates said. "They have been watching me for 35 years, and that's a lot of hockey games. It's very special for them and I owe it all to them."
Olaf Kolzig made 30 saves for his third shutout of the season and 24th of his career for the Capitals, who are unbeaten in their last four games. Kolzig has gone 134 minutes and 34 seconds without allowing a goal.
"The 30 shots obviously was one thing," Kolzig said. "But we've really, really in the last week cut down on the odd man rushes against, and that's been the key to our success. We're giving teams perimeter shots now and not the high-quality stuff we were used to giving up in the first part of the season."
Oates, 39, who leads the league with 37 assists, became the eighth NHL player to reach 1,000 assists in his 17th NHL season.
"Especially the way I play, I can't say that I ever thought that number would come," Oates said. "But if you play a long time and you are a point-producer in our game, you're going to get them.
"I can't say I've ever approached the game to get points, but I've always told my former coach and my parents that if you work hard, they're going to come."
Flyers 5, Canadiens 3
Montreal John LeClair had two goals, and Philadelphia scored three times in the third period to rally the Flyers to victory over Montreal to extend the Flyers' winning streak to five games.
Simon Gagne, Keith Primeau and Jeremy Roenick also scored for the Flyers, who have not lost since a 5-2 defeat at San Jose on Jan. 2. Philadelphia is 11-2-0 in its last 13, and is tied with Toronto and Boston for the Eastern Conference lead with 58 points.
Rangers 2,
Blue Jackets 2
New York Tyler Wright scored with 1:09 remaining in regulation to lift Columbus to a tie with New York. Ray Whitney also scored and Marc Denis made 28 saves for Columbus, who are 2-2-1 in their last five games.
Blackhawks 2,
Oilers 1
Chicago Alex Zhamnov and Phil Housley scored 1:13 apart early in the third period to lift Chicago over Edmonton. Jocelyn Thibault stopped 17 shots for the Blackhawks, who outshot Edmonton 15-3 in the third period and have won eight of their last 10 games.
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