The introduction of 3-on-3 overtime last season has resonated positively with just about everyone in hockey circles, especially the Los Angeles Kings.

Needing extra time to down the Minnesota Wild 4-3 on Saturday, Los Angeles improved to 8-1 in overtime games this season. Tanner Pearson scored his second overtime winner in three games, and more importantly, the Kings moved back into a wildcard spot in the West.

Since 2015-16, the Kings have a 3-on-3 record of 20-4, best in the NHL, according to Jon Rosen of Fox Sports West. Considering their combined 3-6 record in shootouts dating back to last season, it's safe to assume Los Angeles prefers to get it done before the skills competition.

The Kings win in overtime the same way they win in regulation: dominating possession. Los Angeles owns an NHL-best 67.39 corsi-for percentage in nine extra periods this season (corsica-hockey).

With the likes of Anze Kopitar, Jeff Carter, and Drew Doughty among the names Darryl Sutter can choose from to start the extra frame, it's no wonder they're so tough to beat.

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Hockey in its purest form takes place outdoors - we all know that.

Just not when it's pouring rain.

The AHL's Bakersfield Condors and Ontario Reign suited up for the annual Outdoor Classic game Saturday night in Bakersfield, Calif., and, unfathomably, played through brutal conditions during the second period.

The storm would eventually let up.

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Much like the nature of the situation surrounding his trade, Taylor Hall felt the absence of control Saturday night.

In his first game versus the Edmonton Oilers - the team that dealt him to the New Jersey Devils six years after selecting him first overall - Hall admitted that the moment affected his performance.

"You want to show yourself so well that you almost kind of forget how to play hockey and what you need to do out there," Hall said after the 2-1 overtime loss, according to Andrew Gross of the Bergen Record.

Hall certainly didn't make a statement, but was still reasonably effective under the circumstances. He fired three shots on Cam Talbot, and had the top possession numbers among Devils skaters in a game which they were out-attempted 77-34.

Since the deal, Hall has spoken candidly about the disappointment of leaving Edmonton, and the bruising feeling of being singled out as a scapegoat for his former team's shortcomings. He told Gross he's still "a bit bitter," but is now happy to be a member of the Devils.

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This one's (partly) on coach.

Mike Babcock conceded he was culpable after the Toronto Maple Leafs' 5-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, saying it was a mistake to start Frederik Andersen again on the second night of a back-to-back.

"Obviously I didn't make the right decision there," Babcock said after the game. "In saying that, the last time we did it we thought it was the right decision. This time it wasn't the right decision. It's amazing how winning and losing goes into those things."

Andersen was wobbly early on, and allowed two goals on the first four shots he faced, but stayed in for the full 60 minutes despite not ever looking settled. The Leafs quickly erased their two-goal deficit, which likely factored into the decision to keep Andersen in goal.

Toronto's 13th consecutive loss versus the Canadiens snapped a seven-game point streak. The club is now 12 points back of division-leading Montreal, and fell out of the Atlantic Division's top three seeds.

The Maple Leafs are 2-6-1 on the second half of a back-to-back this season.

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OTTAWA, Ontario - Braden Holtby made 30 saves for his second straight shutout and fifth of the season and the Washington Capitals beat the Ottawa Senators 1-0 on Saturday night for their fifth straight victory.

T.J. Oshie scored 1:38 into the game to help the Capitals improve to 25-9-5.

Mike Condon made 19 saves for Ottawa. The Senators have lost four straight to drop to 20-14-4. They played for the first time falling 2-1 to the Capitals on Jan. 1.

On the goal, the Capitals broke into the Senators' zone and Oshie released a one-timer off a pass from Nicklas Backstrom past Condon.

Ottawa had a late power play in the third period after Karl Alzner was called for boarding Mark Stone. The Senators had some solid chances during the advantage, but were unable to beat Holtby.

They pulled Condon with 1:20 to play, but could only manage one shot on goal.

Early in the second period, Oshie took a hard hit from Senators defenceman Dion Phaneuf at the Ottawa blue line. Oshie slowly made his way to the Washington bench favoring his left shoulder. After a few moments on the bench, Oshie went to the locker room. He returned later in the period, but sat out the third.

Notes: Bobby Ryan was scratched for the Senators. Taylor Chorney and Liam O'Brien were scratches for the Capitals. ... Senators forward Curtis Lazar has yet to register a point in 18 games this season.

UP NEXT

Capitals: At Montreal on Monday.

Senators: Host Edmonton on Sunday.

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With a steal, a burst of speed, and a tidy finish, Michael Grabner shaved a point off the franchise-record total the Columbus Blue Jackets will surely establish come April.

The New York Rangers forward picked off a Seth Jones pass and scored what stood as the game-winner on a breakaway with 16 ticks remaining in Saturday's marquee clash between Metropolitan Division heavyweights.

With two from Grabner and a pair from Adam Clendening, New York erased a 4-1 deficit to earn the important four-point swing in the division standings.

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When the NHL reveals the remaining names on the 100 Greatest Players list at the All-Star Game in Los Angeles later in January, the league plans to have the active players included represent All-Star rosters, Nick Kypreos reported on Hockey Night in Canada's "Headlines" segment Saturday.

Kypreos added that six active players are expected to be included on the list compiled to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the NHL.

Sidney Crosby was already named Metropolitan Division captain, but this means we should likely expect Alex Ovechkin to participate in the three-on-three tournament, too.

Kypreos did mention an important caveat, indicating that Jaromir Jagr - an obvious shoe-in for selection - may not necessarily have to skate, but would still be expected in Los Angeles.

Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Drew Doughty, Duncan Keith, and Zdeno Chara were the other possible names mentioned by the Hockey Night in Canada panel.

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Mitch Marner just wants to make his linemates' lives easier.

After scooping the puck on the half boards, Marner circled the offensive zone before finding James van Riemsdyk for a tap-in goal.

Related: Watch: Marner's no-look, backhand pass sets up perfect tic-tac-toe goal

The play marked Marner's third primary assist of the night.

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Nikita Scherbak's maiden NHL goal is worth another look.

On a Montreal Canadiens man advantage in his debut, Scherbak collected a pass while darting toward the front of the net Saturday. And in one motion, he smoothly dragged the puck around a committed Frederik Andersen, and flipped it home.

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