Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

NHL Short Notes

04/04/2018 at 8:07am EDT

NHL Morning Skate


TUESDAY’S RESULTS

Home Team in Caps
NEW JERSEY 5, NY Rangers 2

NY ISLANDERS 5, Philadelphia 4

COLUMBUS 5, Detroit 4 (OT)

Winnipeg 5, MONTREAL 4 (OT)

TAMPA BAY 4, Boston 0

FLORIDA 2, Nashville 1

Arizona 4, CALGARY 1

Vegas 5, VANCOUVER 4 (SO)

Dallas 4, SAN JOSE 2

JETS REACH 50 WINS, CONNOR SCORES 30TH GOAL OF THE SEASON

Kyle Connor (1-2—3) scored his 30th goal of the season 3:00 into overtime as the Jets (50-20-10, 110 points) reached the 50-win mark for the first time in franchise history.

* Winnipeg, which improved to 9-1-0 in its last 10 games, is second in the Central Divison and moved within three points of League-leading Nashville (51-18-11, 113 points) for first. The Jets are looking to capture their second division title in franchise history and first since 2006-07, when the Thrashers won the Southeast.

* Connor passed Brock Boeser (29) for the most goals among rookies in 2017-18 and can become the first player in Jets/Thrashers franchise history to conclude a season leading all rookies outright in goals. Two players accomplished the feat with the original Winnipeg Jets: Dale Hawerchuk in 1981-82 (45) and Teemu Selanne in 1992-93 (76).

DID YOU KNOW?

The Jets (Patrik Laine in 2016-17, Kyle Connor in 2017-18) became the eighth team in NHL history to feature at least one rookie with 30+ goals in consecutive seasons and first since the Penguins (Sidney Crosby in 2005-06, Evgeni Malkin in 2006-07).

LUONGO MAKES 45 SAVES, PANTHERS KEEP PLAYOFF HOPES ALIVE

Appearing in his 999th career game, Roberto Luongo matched a season high with 45 saves to backstop the Panthers (41-30-8, 90 points) past the League-leading Predators (51-18-11, 113 points) and keep Florida’s playoff hopes alive. The Panthers moved within four points of the Flyers (40-26-14, 94 points), who occupy the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

* Florida improved to 25-11-3 (53 points) at BB&T Center in 2017-18, one home win shy of matching its single-season franchise record set in 1999-00 (26-9-6, 58 points). The Panthers own a 12-2-0 record in their last 14 home contests.

* Florida has three games remaining this season, including two at BB&T Center. They host Boston and Buffalo on Thursday and Saturday, respectively, and visit Boston for a rescheduled game on Sunday.

BLUE JACKETS RALLY AGAIN, IMPROVE TO 13-1-1 IN LAST 15 GAMES

Columbus overcame a 4-1 deficit and Pierre-Luc Dubois scored in overtime as the Blue Jackets (45-29-6, 96 points) improved to 13-1-1 in their last 15 games. Columbus is third in the Metropolitan Division and tied Pittsburgh (45-29-6, 96 points) for the second-most points; the Penguins, however, own the ROW tiebreaker (PIT: 43, CBJ: 39).

* Artemi Panarin (27-53—80) collected 1-2—3 to establish a franchise record for most points in a season, eclipsing the mark set by Rick Nash in 2008-09 (40-39—79). Panarin was acquired by the Blue Jackets on June 23, 2017.

* The Blue Jackets overcame a three-goal deficit to win for the second time this season; the previous instance occurred eight days ago on March 27 (7-3 W at EDM). Columbus became the first team to overcome a deficit of at least three goals to win multiple times this season.

LIGHTNING BLANK BRUINS, SET CLUB RECORD FOR POINTS IN A SEASON

Andrei Vasilevskiy turned aside all 33 shots he faced as the Lightning (53-23-4, 110 points) shut out the Bruins (49-18-12, 110 points) in a meeting between the two teams battling for the No. 1 seed in both the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference. Boston is first in the Atlantic Division by virtue of holding one game in hand over Tampa Bay.

* The Lightning established a single-season franchise record for points, eclipsing the mark set in 2014-15 (50-24-8, 108 points). Tampa Bay trails only Nashville (51-18-11, 113 points) in the Presidents’ Trophy race.

* Vasilevskiy recorded his eighth shutout of 2017-18 and improved to 43-17-3 (2.58 GAA, .921 SV%, 8 SO), the most wins among all goaltenders. He established a franchise record for most shutouts in a season by a goaltender, eclipsing the mark of seven set by Nikolai Khabibulinin 2001-02.

* Brayden Point opened the scoring to record his 11th game-winning goal of 2017-18, tied for the most in the NHL (w/ Sean Monahan and Nathan MacKinnon). Only one player in franchise history has scored more game winners in a season: Steven Stamkos in 2011-12 (12).

HALL MOVES CLOSER TO DEVILS HISTORY WITH FOUR-POINT GAME

Taylor Hall collected 2-2—4, including his second career penalty shot goal, to help the Devils (43-28-9, 95 points) extend their point streak to seven games (6-0-1). New Jersey leapfrogged Philadelphia (40-26-14, 94 points) for the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

* Hall (39-54—93) extended his point streak to nine games (8-9—17), the longest active run in the NHL. With two games remaining in 2017-18, he sits within striking distance of matching the franchise record for most points in a season, a mark set by Patrik Elias in 2000-01 (40-56—96).

BARZAL ECLIPSES 80-POINT MARK, JOINS ELITE COMPANY

Islanders forward Mathew Barzal (22-60—82) collected 2-1—3 to become the third rookie in franchise history to eclipse the 80-point mark in a season and first on any team to do so since Evgeni Malkin in 2006-07 (33-52—85).

* Barzal became the eighth rookie in NHL history to reach the 60-assist mark in a season and first since Sidney Crosby in 2005-06 (63).

PACIFIC DIVISION-CHAMPION GOLDEN KNIGHTS DEFEAT CANUCKS

Shea Theodore (0-1—1) scored the decisive marker in the shootout as the Golden Knights (51-22-7, 109 points) followed up Saturday’s Pacific Division-clinching victory with their third straight win.

* William Karlsson (1-2—3) collected multiple points for the third consecutive game (3-5—8), including his 43rd goal of 2017-18. Only five players have scored more goals while playing on a team in its inaugural season: Blaine Stoughton in 1979-80 (56 w/ HFD), Wayne Gretzky in 1979-80 (51 w/ EDM), Blair MacDonald in 1979-80 (46 w/ EDM), Mike Rogers in 1979-80 (44 w/ HFD) and Joe Malone in 1917-18 (44 w/ MTL).

PRICE, ZETTERBERG CLIMB FRANCHISE LISTS

* Canadiens goaltender Carey Price (27 saves) appeared in his 557th career regular-season game (all w/ MTL) and passed Jacques Plante (556) for the most by a netminder in franchise history.

* Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg (336-621—957) collected three assists to pass Sergei Fedorov (400-554—954) for sole possession of fifth place on the franchise’s all-time points list.

QUICK CLICKS

· Avalanche focused on finishing surprising season with playoff berth (via Lisa Dillman)

· Wild forward depth key in return to Stanley Cup Playoffs (via Tracey Myers)

· Sharks propelled by Evander Kane trade, goaltending

· Evgeni Malkin wants Penguins to make history in playoffs

· Jacob Markstrom sports special mask for World Autism Awareness Day

SNEAK PEEK AT WEDNESDAY’S ACTION

NBC Sports Channel Finder | Sportsnet Channel Finder | NHL Network Channel Finder

DUCKS, KINGS (IDLE) LOOK TO CLINCH PLAYOFF BERTHS

The Ducks (41-25-13, 95 points) and idle Kings (44-28-8, 96 points) can clinch berths in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs if the following scenarios occur on Wednesday:

* The Ducks will clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the Wild in any fashion AND the Blackhawks defeat the Blues in any fashion. Anaheim would reach the postseason for the sixth consecutive season and 14th time in franchise history.

* The idle Kings, meanwhile, will clinch a playoff berth if the Blackhawks defeat the Blues in any fashion. Los Angeles would reach the postseason for the seventh time in the last nine years and 30th time in franchise history.

Thanks to the NHL: PR department for the information above.

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Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.

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