Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

NHL Short Notes

03/20/2019 at 6:02am EDT

TUESDAY’S RESULTS

Home Team in Caps

Boston 5, NY ISLANDERS 0

Detroit 3, NY RANGERS 2

Montreal 3, PHILADELPHIA 1

CAROLINA 3, Pittsburgh 2 (SO)

Washington 4, NEW JERSEY 1

ST. LOUIS 7, Edmonton 2

NASHVILLE 3, Toronto 0

Colorado 3, MINNESOTA 1

DALLAS 4, Florida 2

CALGARY 4, Columbus 2

NHL - MORNING SKATE

THREE HARD LAPS: QUICK HITS FROM TUESDAY

* The idle Sharks clinched a berth in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, their 21st postseason appearance in 27 campaigns since joining the NHL in 1991-92.

* The Capitals reclaimed first place in the Metropolitan Division standings in pursuit of their fourth consecutive division title.


* Several teams strengthened their grip on playoff positions, while two inched closer to the final Wild Card spots in their respective conference.

IDLE SHARKS CLINCH BERTH IN 2019 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

The idle Sharks (43-22-8, 94 points) became the second Western Conference team to clinch a berth in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs by virtue of the Avalanche’s 3-1 win over the Wild. San Jose will make its fourth consecutive postseason appearance and 21st in franchise history.

CAPITALS RECLAIM FIRST PLACE IN METROPOLITAN DIVISION STANDINGS

Brett Connolly (1-1—2) scored his 20th goal of the season to help Washington improve to 9-2-0 in its last 11 games dating to Feb. 24. The Capitals moved to 43-23-7 (93 points) overall this season and passed the Islanders (42-24-7, 91 points) to reclaim first place in the Metropolitan Division standings.

* Connolly, who established single-season career highs for goals, assists and points in 2018-19 (20-22—42 in 73 GP), became the fifth Capitalsplayer to reach the 20-goal mark this season, joining Alex Ovechkin (48-34—82 in 72 GP), Tom Wilson (21-16—37 in 54 GP), Jakub Vrana(21-23—44 in 73 GP) and T.J. Oshie (21-24—45 in 62 GP). Wilson and Vrana also reached the 20-goal mark for the first time in 2018-19.

* Nicklas Backstrom collected a helper to reach the 50-assist mark for the sixth consecutive season and ninth time in his NHL career (18-50—68 in 72 GP).

OTHER TEAMS STRENGTHEN GRIP ON PLAYOFF POSITIONS . . .

The Bruins (44-20-9, 97 points), Predators (42-27-5, 89 points), Hurricanes (40-25-7, 87 points), Blues (38-27-8, 84 points) and Stars (38-29-6, 82 points) each secured wins on Tuesday to strengthen their grip on playoff positions:

* Tuukka Rask turned aside all 13 shots he faced to help the Bruins improve to 8-0-0 in their last eight road games against the Islanders dating to Jan. 27, 2014 (NYI: 0-8-0), outscoring them 35-13 in those contests. Boston, which occupies second place in the Atlantic Division standings, opened a six-point lead over Toronto in its pursuit of home-ice advantage in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

* Pekka Rinne made 22 saves to help the Predators, who occupy second place in the Central Division standings, earn a 3-0 win and sweep their season series with the Maple Leafs (also 4-0 W on Jan. 7). They became the second team in NHL history to sweep a season series with the Maple Leafs franchise with shutout wins in each contest (min. 2 GP), joining the Flyers in 1992-93 (4-0 W on April 4, 4-0 W on April 10).

* Justin Williams tied the game with 1:56 remaining in regulation and Dougie Hamilton (0-1—1) scored the decisive goal in the shootout as the Hurricanes reached the 40-win mark for the eighth time in franchise history and first since 2010-11 (40-31-11, 91 points). Carolina (72 GP), which occupies the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference standings, required the second-fewest games to reach 40 wins in a season behind only their Stanley Cup-winning campaign of 2005-06 (58 GP).

* Jaden Schwartz (3-1—4) scored the fourth hat trick of his NHL career and David Perron (2-1—3) extended his streak of consecutive appearances with a point to 16 (9-12—21) as the Blues improved to 8-2-0 in their last 10 home games. St. Louis occupies third place in the Central Division standings.

* Tyler Seguin collected four assists and Ben Bishop made 20 saves as the Stars, who occupy the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference standings, improved to 7-2-1 in their last 10 games dating to Feb. 28. Bishop had his franchise-record shutout streak end at 233:04 when he allowed a goal at 2:11 of the first period.

. . . WHILE CANADIENS, AVALANCHE INCH CLOSER TO WILD CARD SPOTS

The Canadiens (38-28-7, 83 points) and Avalanche (32-29-12, 76 points) each earned victories to inch closer to the final Wild Card spots in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference standings, respectively. Montreal moved within one point of Columbus (40-29-4, 84 points), while Colorado moved within two points of Arizona (36-31-6, 78 points).

* Max Domi (1-1—2), who was acquired by the Canadiens on June 15, 2018, scored his 25th goal of the season (25-39—64 in 73 GP) and became the first Montreal player to score 25 or more goals in his first season with the franchise since Erik Cole in 2011-12 (35-26—61 in 82 GP).

* Tyson Barrie scored the 71st regular-season goal of his NHL career (all w/ COL) to move within one of tying Sandis Ozolinsh (72) for the most by a defenseman in Avalanche/Nordiques franchise history.

QUICK CLICKS

* Flames defeat Blue Jackets, extend lead in Pacific, Western Conference

* NHL, Stars to hold Winter Classic press conference on Wednesday

* Five Questions with former NFL QB and hockey fan Boomer Esiason

* Panthers prospect Brady Keeper 'role model' to aboriginal youths

SNEAK PEEK AT WEDNESDAY’S ACTION

EAST POWERHOUSES FACE OFF IN WASHINGTON

The reigning Stanley Cup champion Capitals (43-23-7, 93 points) face the Presidents’ Trophy winning Lightning (56-13-4, 116) at Capital One Arena in Washington. The two teams last met on Saturday, when Tampa Bay opened the three-game season series with a 6-3 win. The two teams will play their head-to-head season finale on March 30.

* At least one of Washington and Tampa Bay have finished atop their respective division in every season since 2015-16 (WSH: 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18; TBL: 2017-18 and 2018-19). In that same span, the Lightning and Capitals rank either first or second in the entire League in regular-season wins (WSH: 203; TBL: 198), ROW (WSH: 190; TBL: 179) and points (WSH: 436; TBL: 420).

* Tampa Bay (73 GP) required the second-fewest games in NHL history to claim the Presidents’ Trophy, trailing only the 1995-96 Red Wings (71 GP). In 2015-16, Washington clinched the award after 75 games, tied for fourth-fastest in League history. Twelve members of the 2015-16Capitals are still with the team in 2018-19.

* Wednesday’s matchup will pit the League leader in assists/points, Nikita Kucherov (35-82—117 in 73 GP), against the top goal-scorer, Alex Ovechkin (48-34—82 in 72 GP), for the second time in five days.

* Kucherov’s 117 points are the third-most ever in one season by a Russian player, trailing only Sergei Fedorov (1993-94: 56-64—120 in 82 GP) and Alexander Mogilny (1992-93: 76-51—127 in 77 GP). Ovechkin, meanwhile, can reach the 50-goal mark for the eighth time in his NHL career. Gretzky and Mike Bossy, who each retired with nine 50-goal seasons, are the only players in League history to record more such campaigns.

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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