Hockey News from the rest of the NHL

Cudos to the winner. He knew when to stop and showed genuine concern.

www.yahoo.com/sports/panthers-weegar-knocks-habs-byron-005458677.html

I remember watching this live on TV . Right in front of the Kings bench. It was glorious.

WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS

Home Team in Caps

PHILADELPHIA 5, Toronto 4 (SO)

BOSTON 6, NY Rangers 3

Dallas 2, CALGARY 1

COLORADO 4, Vegas 3

NHL MORNING SKATE

THREE HARD LAPS: QUICK HITS FROM WEDNESDAY



* David Pastrnak recorded five points to help the Bruins improve to 12-0-0 in their last 12 games at TD Garden, the longest home win streak in the NHL this season.



* Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron continued to find the score sheet at TD Garden and joined a pair of franchise legends on the list of Bruinsteammates to record simultaneous home point streaks of at least 17 games.



* The Stars swept the Western Conference-leading Flames for the second time in as many seasons.



PASTRNAK RECORDS FIVE POINTS TO HELP BRUINS EXTEND HOME WIN STREAK

David Pastrnak (3-2—5) recorded five points to establish a career high for most in a regular-season game and help the Bruins (47-21-9, 103 points) extend their home win streak to 12 contests, their sixth-longest such run in franchise history and longest since a 14-game streak from Oct. 25, 2008 – Jan. 1, 2009. Boston, which clinched a berth in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Saturday, occupies second place in Atlantic Division standings, six points ahead of Toronto (45-25-7, 97 points).



* Pastrnak, who became the first Bruins player to record five points in a regular-season game against the Rangers since Jason Allison (3-2—5) andDmitri Khristich (2-3—5) on March 14, 1998 (5-1 W), scored his third hat trick of the season (also 3-0—3 on Oct. 13, 2018 vs. DET and 3-1—4 on Nov. 10, 2018 vs. TOR). He became the sixth different player in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68) to score three or more hat tricks in a season against Original Six opponents and first since Buffalo’s Alexander Mogilny in 1992-93 (3).







* Pastrnak scored his team-leading 34th, 35th and 36th goals of 2018-19 (36-41—77 in 61 GP) to establish a career high for most in a season, eclipsing his previous mark of 35 set in 2017-18 (35-45—80 in 82 GP). His 17 power-play goals in 2018-19 are the most in a season by a Bruinsplayer since 2000-01, when Joe Thornton had 19.



MARCHAND, BERGERON EXTEND HOME POINT STREAKS TO 17 GAMES

Bruins forwards Brad Marchand (0-3—3) and Patrice Bergeron (1-1—2) have collected at least one point in each of Boston’s last 17 home games dating to Jan. 14. Marchand (11-22—33 in 17 GP) and Bergeron (11-14—25 in 17 GP) became the sixth and seventh different players in franchise history to record a home point streak of 17 or more games and first since Ray Bourque from Jan. 28 – April 11, 1993 (6-19—25 in 17 GP).







* Only one set of Bruins teammates have recorded longer simultaneous home point streaks: Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito, whose runs at the Boston Garden in 1970-71 overlapped for 18 games.







FLYERS RALLY PAST MAPLE LEAFS FOR ANOTHER MULTI-GOAL COMEBACK WIN

Philadelphia overcame a 2-0 deficit in regulation and Sean Couturier (1-0—1) scored the decisive marker in the shootout as the Flyers (37-32-8, 82 points) rallied past the Maple Leafs. Philadelphia earned its eighth multi-goal comeback win of 2018-19, three shy of the franchise record for most in a season set in 1979-80 (11).

^The only teams with more multi-goal comeback wins in 2018-19 are the Lightning (9) and Flames (9)



STARS SWEEP WESTERN CONFERENCE-LEADING FLAMES

Anton Khudobin turned aside 13 of 14 shots he faced in the third period to help the Stars (40-31-6, 86 points) sweep their three-game season series with the Western Conference-leading Flames (CGY: 0-2-1). Dallas occupies the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference standings in pursuit of its 32nd postseason berth in franchise history and first since 2016.



* The Stars improved to 6-0-0 in their last six games against the Flames dating to Oct. 27, 2017 (CGY: 0-5-1), outscoring them 18-9 in those contests. Aside from 2018-19 and 2017-18, the only other time the Stars swept a season series with the Flames (min. 2 GP) was in 2003-04 (4-0-0).

Stars



* The Stars can become the second intraconference team to sweep a season series with an opponent who concluded the campaign first place in the Western Conference standings (min. 2 GP); they would join Anaheim, which went 3-0-0 against Chicago in 2012-13.

^Since 1993-94 when the Prince of Wales and Clarence Campbell Conferences were renamed Eastern and Western



BARRIE PASSES OZOLINSH IN AVALANCHE WIN

Tyson Barrie (1-2—3) factored on three of four goals to help the Avalanche (35-29-13, 83 points) improve to 8-2-1 in their last 11 home games. Colorado, which is pursuing its second straight postseason berth and 24th in franchise history, occupies the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference standings – two points ahead of Arizona (37-33-7, 81 points).



* Barrie scored the 73rd regular-season goal of his NHL career (all w/ COL) to pass Sandis Ozolinsh (72) for the most by a defenseman in Avalanche/Nordiques franchise history. He became one of five active players who sit atop their current franchise’s all-time lists for regular-season goals, assists and points among defensemen, joining Kris Letang with the Penguins (112-381—493 in 745 GP), Brent Burns with the Sharks (140-320—460 in 584 GP), Victor Hedman with the Lightning (94-324—418 in 695 GP) and Dustin Byfuglien with the Jets/Thrashers (122-293—415 in 604 GP).







MARLEAU CLIMBS ALL-TIME GAMES PLAYED LIST

Maple Leafs forward Patrick Marleau skated in the 1,652nd regular-season game of his NHL career to pass Chris Chelios (1,651) and move into a tie with Mark Recchi for fifth place on the League’s all-time list. Marleau has skated in 783 consecutive regular-season games dating to April 9, 2009, the sixth-longest “Ironman” streak in NHL history.



QUICK CLICKS


* WATCH: Skates Off with Sebastian Aho

* Flyers legend Bernie Parent, finally gets his day with Stanley Cup

* NCAA hockey tournament to feature plenty of NHL prospects



SNEAK PEEK AT THURSDAY’S ACTION







CAPITALS, HURRICANES MEET IN POTENTIAL PLAYOFF PREVIEW

The Metropolitan Division-leading Capitals (45-24-8, 98 points) visit the Hurricanes (42-27-7, 91 points) – who hold the first Wild Card position in the Eastern Conference – in the second meeting in three days between two teams that would face each other in the First Round of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs if the postseason started today. The two clubs have never met in the playoffs.



* The reigning Stanley Cup champion Capitals are looking for their fourth consecutive division title. It would mark the second time the franchise has captured four straight division titles after claiming the No. 1 seed in the Southeast Division each year from 2007-08 to 2010-11. The Bruins (1927-28 to 1930-31 and 1975-76 to 1978-79) are the only franchise to win four consecutive division titles on multiple occasions.



* The Hurricanes have recorded the fifth-most wins in franchise history in their bid to return to the postseason for the first time since a trip to the Conference Finals in 2008-09. Carolina is 26-10-2 (54 points) since the turn of the calendar on Jan. 1 – only the League-leading Lightning have more wins over that span.







CANADIENS, BLUE JACKETS MEET IN PIVOTAL EASTERN CONFERENCE SHOWDOWN

The Canadiens (41-28-8, 90 points) visit the Blue Jackets (42-30-4, 88 points) at Nationwide Arena in a matchup between two teams battling for berths in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Columbus is two points back of Montreal, which occupies the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference standings.

I golfed with Jumbo maybe a month after that. He told me DD just woukd not let up and even called him a pussy. And jumbo just lost it. He was also talking to the Kings bench while beating down DD for if anyone else wanted more. Jumbo is the man.

Doughty calling anybody a pussy is laughable. He was probably calling Tkachuk a pussy the other night as he was quickly making his way to the safety of the penalty box. I was hoping Jumbo would really fuck up Doughty in that bout. I wanted chiclets maybe even a broken jaw.
You golfed with Jumbo and didn't invite me? For shame!! 🖕🖕 Although, May isn't a good time for Jumbo to be golfing...😝

At this rate they might as well call up the entire Barracuda team, slip into third place, and then no one will be surprised when the go out in five games to the Golden Knights.

Test

After being dead last on January 3rd, the St. Louis Blues have clinched their spot in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs!

from Andrew Knoll of the New York Times,

From 2009 to 2018, the Los Angeles Kings, the Anaheim Ducks and the Chicago Blackhawks combined for 27 playoff appearances, nine trips to Western Conference finals and five Stanley Cups.

With one week left in the N.H.L. regular season, the Kings sit last in the conference with the Ducks directly in front of them, while the Blackhawks find themselves in the Central Division cellar for the second straight season.

“It’s shocking to me, to be honest,” Kings defenseman Drew Doughty said.

Some peaks and valleys can be expected in a league with a hard salary cap and a draft system in which poor-finishing franchises gain immediate access to elite talent. But this season, particularly in the Western Conference, big-market American powers have largely fallen behind smaller market franchises like the Central Division-leading Winnipeg Jets and the Pacific-leading Calgary Flames. The upending of the standings has been accelerated by a youth movement across the sport that has not discriminated based on population or popularity.

Entering Saturday’s games, eight of the top 12 scorers are under age 25.

continued

FRIDAY’S RESULTS

Home Team in Caps
NY RANGERS 4, St. Louis 2

Nashville 3, PITTSBURGH 1

DETROIT 4, New Jersey 0

COLORADO 3, Arizona 2 (SO)

CALGARY 6, Anaheim 1

Minnesota 3, VEGAS 2

NHL Morning Skate – March 30, 2019

THREE HARD LAPS: QUICK HITS FROM FRIDAY



* The Blues rise from the bottom of the standings on Jan. 2 to clinch a playoff berth on March 29.



* The Golden Knights make it two playoff appearances in two NHL seasons.


* The Avalanche secure a key win over the Coyotes to extend their lead on the final Wild Card position in the Western Conference to three points. The Wild keep pace and remain four points back of Colorado.



BLUES RISE FROM BOTTOM OF STANDINGS TO CLINCH PLAYOFF BERTH

The Blues (41-28-8, 90 points) clinched a postseason berth for the seventh time in eight seasons by virtue of Colorado’s shootout win over Arizona, capping an improbable turnaround that saw the club rally from last place in the overall standings on Jan. 2 to within four points of the Central Division-leading Jets (45-28-4, 94 points).



* The Blues, who held the No. 31 seed in the standings on Jan. 2 (15-18-4, 34 points in 37 GP), are now the seventh team in the NHL’s expansion era to make the playoffs after ranking last overall at any point after New Year’s Day (min. 20 GP). The others to do so since 1967-68: the 1976-77 North Stars, 1979-80 Oilers, 1982-83 Maple Leafs, 1987-88 Kings, 1987-88 Maple Leafs and 1996-97 Senators.



* Contributing to the dramatic rise in the standings was a franchise-record 11-game winning streak from Jan. 23 – Feb. 19 and a 21-5-1 mark from rookie goaltender Jordan Binnington (1.85 GAA, .928 SV%, 5 SO), who recorded a shutout in his first start on Jan. 7 and went on to require the third-fewest starts in NHL history to reach 20 career wins (25 starts).







GOLDEN KNIGHTS RETURN TO PLAYOFFS AFTER UNFORGETTABLE RUN IN 2018

The Golden Knights (42-30-6, 90 points) also benefited from the Avalanche shootout win, clinching a postseason berth for the second time in as many NHL seasons.



* The Golden Knights now embark on another playoff run as they look to improve upon their unforgettable postseason journey in 2018 that saw them sweep their way through the first playoff series in franchise history, claim three series-clinching victories on the road and become the 20th team from either the NHL, MLB, NBA or NFL/AFL to reach the championship series/game in their first trip to the postseason.

^All-time for NHL and NBA; since 1966 for NFL/AFL; since 1969 for MLB



* Vegas is the seventh team in NHL history to make the playoffs in each of its first two seasons, joining the Oilers as the only team to do it in the post-expansion era (i.e. excluding teams who joined the NHL in 1967-68 or earlier). The Oilers went on to extend their streak to 13 consecutive seasons, a run which saw them capture five Stanley Cups within their first 11 campaigns.







AVALANCHE, WILD CONTINUE WILD CARD PUSH WITH KEY VICTORIES

The Avalanche (36-29-13, 85 points) and Wild (36-33-9, 81 points) each secured pivotal victories in their pursuit of the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference:



* The Avalanche survived a last-minute tying goal from the Coyotes (37-33-8, 82 points) – the team closest to them in the standings – to win in a shootout and extend their lead for the final Wild Card position in the West to three points.



* The Wild remain four points back of the Avalanche after securing a win over the Golden Knights. Devan Dubnyk made 35 saves to improve to 30-27-6 and record his fifth consecutive 30-win season. Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby (five straight) is the only other goaltender with an active streak of five or more consecutive 30-win campaigns.



* Each team’s next game will be just as key to the Wild Card race with the Coyotes hosting the Wild on Sunday and the Avalanche visiting the Blueson Monday.







PREDATORS GAIN GROUND ON JETS IN CENTRAL DIVISION

Viktor Arvidsson (1-0—1) recorded his 100th career regular-season goal and Craig Smith (1-1—2) reached the 20-goal mark as the Predators(44-28-6, 94 points) won to match the point total of the Central-division leading Jets in a bid to overtake their rivals in the final eight days of 2018-19 and earn a second consecutive division title.



* Among players to make their NHL debut with the franchise, Arvidsson (100-83—183) became the fastest to reach 100 career goals (274 GP), eclipsing the previous mark held by teammate Filip Forsberg (281 GP). Among all Predators players, Jason Arnott required the fewest games to score 100 goals with the franchise (247 GP).



* Smith recorded his fifth 20-goal season (all w/ NSH) to tie Forsberg for the most such campaigns in franchise history. With the goal, Smith (143-154—297) also tied Forsberg for fourth place on the franchise goals list.



QUICK CLICKS


* Sean Monahan leads Flames to victory with four-point performance

* Andreas Athanasiou becomes second Red Wings player to reach 30 goals in 2018-19

* Women's hockey in brighter spotlight as World Championship nears

* NHL Network Ice Time: Interview with the Blue Jackets’ Matt Duchene

* NHL Network Ice Time: On-ice demo with his teammate Seth Jones

* NHL Network Ice Time: Rapid-fire questions with Taylor Hall



SNEAK PEEK AT SATURDAY’S ACTION






LIGHTNING, CAPITALS FACE OFF IN EASTERN CONFERENCE SHOWDOWN

In a battle between the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Lightning (59-14-4, 122 points) and the Metropolitan Division-leading Capitals (46-24-8, 100 points), Tampa Bay aims to continue adding to a historic season by inching closer to the NHL record for most wins in a season while Washington looks to create more space between rivals in its bid for a fourth straight division title. The Lightning lead the season series 2-0-0 (WSH: 0-1-1).



* The Lightning are one game shy from becoming the third team in NHL history to earn 60 wins in a season - only the 1995-96 Red Wings (62; the NHL record) and 1976-77 Canadiens (60) have accomplished the feat.



* Washington captain Alex Ovechkin (49-37—86) sits one goal shy of his eighth career 50-goal season. Only two players have recorded more such seasons in NHL history: Wayne Gretzky (9) and Mike Bossy (9). The player closest to Ovechkin in the ‘Rocket’ Richard Trophy race, Leon Draisaitl (47-54—101), is also in action on Saturday in pursuit of his first career 50-goal campaign.

thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above