Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

NHL Short Notes

04/06/2018 at 6:24am EDT

NHL Morning Skate


THURSDAY’S RESULTS

Home Team in Caps
NEW JERSEY 2, Toronto 1

NY ISLANDERS 2, NY Rangers 1

PHILADELPHIA 4, Carolina 3

NASHVILLE 4, Washington 3

Pittsburgh 5, COLUMBUS 4 (OT)

Montreal 4, DETROIT 3

FLORIDA 3, Boston 2

WINNIPEG 2, Calgary 1

EDMONTON 4, Vegas 3

VANCOUVER 4, Arizona 3 (OT)

LOS ANGELES 5, Minnesota 4 (OT)

SAN JOSE 4, Colorado 2

DOWN TO THE WIRE

Eleven of 12 games contested on Thursday were decided by a one-goal margin, the most in one day in NHL history. The previous mark of 10 has occurred seven times in League history, most recently on Oct. 15, 2016.

SEDINS CREATE STORYBOOK ENDING IN FINAL HOME GAME

Henrik Sedin (0-2—2) provided the primary assist on the overtime winner by Daniel Sedin (2-0—2) to power the Canucks to victory in the brothers’ final game at Rogers Arena. Daniel and Henrik announced Monday they will retire at the end of the 2017-18 regular season, ending two remarkable careers that have been intertwined since the Canucks selected them No. 2 and No. 3 in the 1999 NHL Draft, respectively.

* Daniel scored his 16th career regular-season overtime goal and moved into a tie with Patrik Elias for the third-most in NHL history. Only Alex Ovechkin (22) and Jaromir Jagr (19) have scored more.

* Henrik collected his 23rd career regular-season overtime assist, passing Nicklas Lidstrom (22) and Ryan Getzlaf (22) for the most in NHL history. Henrik has assisted on 14 of his brother’s 16 career overtime goals.

* The Sedins received a standing ovation from fans at the conclusion of the game and Coyotes players remained on the ice to congratulate the brothers on their careers. Daniel and Henrik were named the first and second stars of the game, respectively.

“When the fans show up like that, you want to play well for them. We did tonight. I was real tired today, but the crowd was energizing. We fed off that. I saw our kids up on the jumbotron during the game and smiled. I knew we made the right decision.”Daniel Sedin

“Loved the Viking Clap. That was surprising. Hopefully it’s something Canucks fans keep going. It’s tough to find the words. Special from warm-up to now. This is a night to remember.”Henrik Sedin

* Click here for an in-depth look at the unprecedented careers of the Sedins, with statistics compiled prior to Thursday’s games.

PREDATORS CLINCH FIRST PRESIDENTS’ TROPHY IN FRANCHISE HISTORY

Roman Josi (1-1—2) tied the game in the third period and Ryan Johansen (1-1—2) scored the go-ahead goal with 5:27 remaining in regulation as the Predators (52-18-11, 115 points) clinched their first Presidents' Trophy in franchise history.

* By virtue of capturing the Presidents’ Trophy, the Predators also clinched top spot in the Western Conference and Central Division – both franchise firsts. Nashville established single-season franchise records for wins and points in 2017-18.

* Predators defensemen have combined for 56 goals in 2017-18, the highest total in the NHL. Nashville established a single-season franchise record for goals by defensemen, eclipsing the mark of 55 set in 2014-15 and matched in 2015-16.

DEVILS SNAP FIVE-YEAR PLAYOFF DROUGHT

Keith Kinkaid made 31 saves to help New Jersey (44-28-9, 97 points) clinch a berth in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Devils will make their 23rd postseason appearance in franchise history and first since 2012, when they reached the Stanley Cup Final.

* The Devils reached the postseason after finishing last place in the Eastern Conference in 2016-17 (28-40-14, 70 points) and winning the Draft Lottery to collect the first overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft.

* This marks the 27th time since the conference format was introduced in 1974-75 that the last-place team from a conference reached the playoffs the following season. Nine of those instances have happened since 2005-06.

* Kinkaid improved to 7-0-1 in his last eight appearances and 26-10-3 overall this season (2.77 GAA, .913 SV%, 1 SO). Prior to 2017-18, his single-season career high for wins was nine, a mark set in 2015-16.

BLUE JACKETS CLINCH SECOND STRAIGHT POSTSEASON BERTH

The Blue Jackets earned a point on Thursday to clinch a berth in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Columbus will make its second straight postseason appearance and fourth in franchise history.

LUONGO EARNS CRUCIAL WIN IN 1,000TH CAREER GAME

Roberto Luongo made 26 saves in his 1,000th career game as the Panthers (42-30-8, 92 points) – who defeated the League-leading Predators on Tuesday – kept their playoff hopes alive once more with a win over the Bruins. Florida sits four points back of Philadelphia (41-26-14, 96 points), which occupies the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

* Luongo became the third goaltender in NHL history to appear in at least 1,000 career regular-season games, joining Martin Brodeur (1,266) and Patrick Roy (1,029). Luongo, however, is the only goaltender to earn a win in his 1,000th career game; Brodeur suffered a 5-2 loss (Oct. 3, 2009 vs. PHI), while Roy played to a 1-1 tie (Jan. 20, 2003 vs. DAL).

* The Panthers improved to 26-11-3 (55 points) at BB&T Center in 2017-18 and matched their single-season franchise record for most home wins, a mark set in 1999-00 (26-9-6, 58 points). Florida owns a 13-2-0 record in its last 15 home contests and has one game remaining at BB&T Center; they host Buffalo on Saturday and visit Boston for a rescheduled game on Sunday.

HELLEBUYCK, JETS EXTEND STREAKS; WILL FACE WILD IN FIRST ROUND

Connor Hellebuyck made 31 saves to help the Jets (51-20-10, 112 points) extend their home win streak to a franchise-record eight games. Winnipeg clinched second place in the Central Division and will face third-seeded Minnesota in the First Round of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs, their first-ever postseason meeting.

* Hellebuyck improved to 8-0-0 in his last eight appearances, extending the longest win streak by a goaltender in Jets/Thrashers franchise history. Hellebuyck (Commerce, Mich.) earned his 43rd win of 2017-18 overall (43-11-9; 2.38 GAA, .923 SV%, 6 SO) and matched the single-season NHL record for most by a U.S.-born goaltender, a mark set by Tom Barrasso in 1992-93 (w/ PIT).

* He also improved to 29-5-2 at Bell MTS Place in 2017-18 (2.35 GAA, .920 SV%, 4 SO) and moved within one home win of matching the single-season NHL record for a goaltender (30), a mark set by Wayne Stephenson in 1975-76 (w/ PHI). The Jets host the Blackhawks in their final game of 2017-18 on Saturday.

BROWN CAPS FOUR-GOAL NIGHT WITH OVERTIME WINNER

Dustin Brown (4-0—4) scored his fourth goal of the game just 23 seconds into overtime as the Kings (45-28-8, 98 points) extended their point streak to five contests (4-0-1). Los Angeles leapfrogged Anaheim (42-25-13, 97 points) for third place in the Pacific Division.

* Brown established a single-game career high with four goals, becoming the 14th different player in franchise history to score four times in a game and second to do so this season, joining Anze Kopitar on March 22 (4-0—4 at COL). This season marked the first time the Kings had multiple four-goal performances in a single campaign since 1983-84 (Bernie Nicholls and Brian MacLellan).

* Brown scored his fourth career hat trick and first since Feb. 25, 2012 (3-1—4 vs. CHI). He became the fifth player in franchise history to record a hat trick which included a regular-season overtime goal and first since Michal Handzus on March 5, 2009 (3-0—3 vs. DAL).

FLYERS MAINTAIN FOUR-POINT EDGE OVER PANTHERS

Jakub Voracek scored the go-ahead goal with 5:45 remaining in regulation to power the Flyers (41-26-14, 96 points) to a 6-1-3 record in their last 10 games. Philadelphia occupies the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference and maintained its four-point edge over Florida (42-30-8, 92 points).

* Claude Giroux scored to extend his point streak to nine games (5-10—15) and boost his totals to 31-67—98 this season – tied for the second-most points in the NHL behind only Connor McDavid (41-65—106), who posted three assists on Thursday. Giroux’s 98 points are the most in a season by a Flyers player since Eric Lindros in 1995-96 (47-68—115).

PENGUINS RALLY FROM FOUR SEPARATE DEFICITS TO WIN

Pittsburgh overcame deficits of 1-0, 2-1, 3-2 and 4-3 before Phil Kessel (2-1—3) scored in overtime to power the Penguins (46-29-6, 98 points) past the Blue Jackets, their opponents in two of the past four playoff years. Pittsburgh is second in the Metropolitan Division, one point ahead of Columbus (45-29-7, 97 points).

* The Penguins overcame four separate deficits to win for the fifth time in franchise history and first since Feb. 26, 2011 (6-5 SO W at TOR).

SHARKS REACH 100-POINT MARK

The Sharks (45-26-10, 100 points) defeated the Avalanche to reach the 100-point mark for the eighth time in franchise history and first since 2013-14 (51-22-9, 111 points). San Jose is second in the Pacific Division, two points ahead of Los Angeles (45-28-8, 98 points).

QUICK CLICKS

· Sedin twins get amazing tribute, perfect finish in final home game

· Brian Boyle's son crashes postgame interview, proclaims Devils are in playoffs

· Capitals give Alex Ovechkin emotional tribute video for 1,000th NHL game

SNEAK PEEK AT FRIDAY’S ACTION

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the information above was provided by the NHL PR department

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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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