Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

NHL Short Notes

03/28/2015 at 11:05am EDT

THIRD-PERIOD SURGE POWERS WILD TO FOURTH STRAIGHT WIN
Knotted at 1-1 after 40 minutes, the Wild scored three third-period goals to sweep their three-game season series with the Flames and pick up their fourth consecutive victory overall.

* At 43-25-7 (93 points), the Wild moved three points ahead of the idle Jets (39-24-12, 90 points) for the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.


* The Wild also moved within one point of the Blackhawks (44-24-6, 94 points) – who lost in regulation – for third place in the Central Division. Chicago holds one game in hand, but Minnesota owns the ROW tiebreaker (MIN: 39, CHI: 35). The teams face off for a fifth and final time on April 7 at CHI (CHI: 3-1-0, MIN: 1-3-0).


* The Wild lead the NHL with a 25-6-2 record since Jan. 15 and also have earned a League-high 47 points in 29 games since the All-Star break (23-5-1).

* Zach Parise scored his team-leading 30th goal of the season, reaching the milestone for the sixth time in his career and first time in a Wild uniform. He became the fourth player in franchise history to achieve the feat, joining Marian Gaborik (5x), Brian Rolston (3x) and Jason Pominville.

* Parise also paces the Wild with 30-28—58 this season (68 GP), including 5-7—12 in his last 11 outings.

* Thomas Vanek notched the tiebreaking goal early in the third period to hit the 20-goal milestone for the 10th time in as many NHL seasons. Per Elias, only two other active players have scored at least 20 goals in each of their first 10 NHL campaigns: Jaromir Jagr (first 17) and Alex Ovechkin (first 10, active).

* Making his 34th consecutive start (and 33rd w/ MIN), Devan Dubnyk stopped 23 shots to improve to 34-11-3 in 52 appearances this season. He ranks second in the NHL with a 2.07 goals-against average and .930 save percentage.

* Dubnyk also improved to 25-6-1 in 33 games since joining the Wild. He has a 1.72 goals-against average, .938 save percentage and five shutouts in that span.

* Dubnyk became the first goaltender to start 34 consecutive games since Antti Niemihad an equal run for the Sharks from Jan. 15 – April 4, 2011. The last goaltender with a longer stretch: Dwayne Roloson, who made 36 straight starts for the Oilers from Jan. 18 – April 7, 2009.

* Matt Dumba and Mikko Koivu supplied the other goals for the Wild, who improved to 9-2-1 in their last 12 meetings with the Flames dating to March 22, 2012.

ATKINSON’S HAT TRICK HELPS BLUE JACKETS SET FRANCHISE RECORD
Cam Atkinson recorded his second career hat trick to power the Blue Jackets to their franchise-record seventh consecutive road victory, surpassing the previous mark established Jan. 19 – Feb. 18, 2011 (6-0-0).


* The Blue Jackets also equaled a franchise record with their 21st road win of the season (21-15-2), a mark set in 2013-14 (21-17-3).

* Overall, the Blue Jackets improved to 8-1-0 in their last nine games, including five consecutive victories – their longest winning streak since Dec. 1-16 (7-0-0).

* Atkinson registered his fifth career three-point performance and first since Dec. 10, 2013 vs. NJD (2-2—4). His lone other hat trick came on April 5, 2012 at COL (3-0—3).

* Atkinson has 6-4—10 in his last nine outings and 19-16—35 overall this season (70 GP) – two goals and five points shy of his career highs established in 2013-14 (21-19—40 in 79 GP).

* DID YOU KNOW?: Scott Hartnell also posted a hat trick in the club’s last game (March 24 vs. ANA: 3-0—3), marking the first time in franchise history the Blue Jackets have recorded hat tricks in consecutive team contests. Elias says two other clubs have achieved that feat this season: the Rangers (Dec. 23-27: Rick Nash and Derek Stepan) and Blues (Jan. 3-6: T.J. Oshie and David Backes).

* Ryan Johansen registered 1-1—2 to extend his point streak to six games (3-5—8). He also became the third Blue Jackets player to record 25 goals this season (25-40—65), following Nick Foligno (26-39—65) and Hartnell (25-28—53). It marks the first time in franchise history that the Blue Jackets have had three 25-goal scorers in one season.

* Kevin Connauton notched his fourth career game-winning goal. Cody Goloubef (0-2—2) added his second career multi-point performance (also Jan. 4 at COL: 0-2—2).

* The Blue Jackets swept their two-game season series with the Blackhawks and picked up their first win at United Center since Feb. 18, 2011, snapping a six-game skid (0-5-1).

BACHMAN’S FLAWLESS PERFORMANCE LIFTS OILERS PAST STARS
Richard Bachman stopped all 29 shots he faced, including 13 in the second period, to record his second career shutout and lead the Oilers to a 4-1-2 mark in their past seven games.

* Bachman, a fourth-round selection (120th overall) by the Stars in the 2006 NHL Draft, faced his former club for the first time, picking up his 15th career victory and first since April 13, 2013 vs. SJS (w/ DAL). His lone other shutout came on Dec. 13, 2011 at NYR (34 SV w/ DAL).

* Andrew Miller, who made his NHL debut on March 18 (5 GP), scored his first career goal – via a penalty shot. Elias says he became the first player in Oilers history to record his first career goal via a penalty shot. The last player to accomplish that feat for any team was Blues forward Jay McClement on Oct. 11, 2005 vs. CHI.

* Jordan Eberle scored 33 seconds after the opening face-off for what stood as his 18th career game-winning goal and second of the season (also March 16 vs. TOR).

* Benoit Pouliot posted 1-1—2 for his eighth multi-point performance of the season and third in his past six games. He also tied a career high with his 17th goal of the season, first achieved in 2009-10 (w/ MIN and MTL).

* Ryan Nugent-Hopkins added one assist. He has 7-9—16 in his last 10 games.

* The Oilers earned their first home-ice victory over the Stars since Feb. 15, 2011, snapping a six-game skid at Rexall Place (0-4-2).

LOOSE PUCKS
Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky made 31 saves to improve to 8-1-0 in his last nine starts (2.39 GAA, .929 SV%) . . . Playing in his 200th NHL game, Blackhawks forward Brandon Saad scored his 22nd goal of the season . . . Stars goaltender Kari Lehtonen (24 SV) suffered his first road loss since Jan. 27 at MTL, snapping his franchise-record road winning streak at nine games . . . Oilers forward Taylor Hallcollected one assist. He has at least one point in each of his past five appearances dating to Feb. 2 (1-4—5), including all four games since his return from injury . . . Blue Jackets forward Artem Anisimov recorded one assist to extend his point streak to four games (1-3—4), matching a career high last achieved Feb. 27 – March 4, 2014 (5-1—6) . . . Blackhawks defenseman Johnny Oduya (0-2—2) posted his 13th career multi-point game and first since Nov. 9, 2013 at DAL (0-2—2) . . . Brothers Mikael (MIN) andMarkus Granlund (CGY) faced off for the second time in the NHL. Mikael (0-1—1) improved to 2-0-0 against his younger brother, while Markus scored his sixth goal of the season.

SATURDAY’S CLINCHING SCENARIOS
With 15 days remaining in the regular season, there are 15 berths up for grabs in the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs:

Clubs that can clinch their spots today:

* The Canadiens would clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the Panthers in any fashionOR if the Rangers defeat the Bruins in any fashion OR if they get one point against the Panthers AND the Bruins defeat the Rangers in a shootout.

* The Ducks would clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the Islanders in any fashion OR if they lose to the Islanders in overtime or a shootout.

* The Lightning would clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the Red Wings in any fashionOR if they get one point against the Red Wings AND the Rangers defeat the Bruins in any fashion OR if the Rangers defeat the Bruins in regulation.

* The Predators would clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the Capitals in any fashion.

SNEAK PEEK AT SATURDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Nashville @ Washington, 12:30 p.m., FS-TN, CSN-DC
NY Rangers @ Boston, 1:00 p.m., NHLN-US, SN360, MSG, NESN
Anaheim @ NY Islanders, 1:00 p.m., PRIME, MSG+
San Jose @ Philadelphia, 1:00 p.m., CSN-CA, CSN-PH
Arizona @ Pittsburgh, 1:00 p.m., FS-A, ROOT
Tampa Bay @ Detroit, 2:00 p.m., SUN, FS-D
Ottawa @ Toronto, 7:00 p.m., CBC, TVA2
Florida @ Montreal, 7:00 p.m., CITY, TVA, FS-F
New Jersey @ Carolina, 7:00 p.m., MSG+, FS-CR
Columbus @ St. Louis, 8:00 p.m., FS-O, FS-MW
Los Angeles @ Minnesota, 8:00 p.m., NHLN-US, SN, FS-W, FS-N
Buffalo @ Colorado, 9:00 p.m., MSG-B, BELL TV, ALT2
Dallas @ Vancouver, 10:00 p.m., CBC, FS-SW
NBCSN Channel Finder
Sportsnet Channel Finder

HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA SHOWCASES PLAYOFF RACES
Saturday’sHockey Night in Canada schedule features a quartet of games with significant playoff implications:

* The Senators (37-25-11, 85 points), who currently occupy the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, visit the Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre in the fourth of five installments of the Battle of Ontario. Ottawa has won three of its last four meetings with Toronto dating to April 12, 2014. The Senators also have won 15 of their past 18 overall contests dating to Feb. 18 (15-2-1), but fell to the Rangers 5-1 in their most recent outing on Thursday.

* The Panthers (34-26-14, 82 points), who sit three points behind the Senators for the final Wild Card spot in the East, try to improve their playoff hopes when they take on the division-leading Canadiens (46-21-8, 100 points) at Bell Centre. This marks the fourth of five meetings between these Atlantic Division rivals; Montreal is 4-0-1 in their last five matchups dating to Jan. 6, 2014 (FLA: 1-3-1). Overall, the Panthers have won three of their last four outings, while the Canadiens are 3-1-1 in their past five.

* Two teams currently in playoff spots face off when the Kings (37-23-14, 88 points) visit the Wild (43-25-7, 93 points) at Xcel Energy Center. Los Angeles sits in third in the Pacific Division, one point clear of the playoff barrier and two points behind Vancouver (43-27-4, 90 points) for second place in the division. Minnesota occupies the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, but also trails Chicago (44-24-6, 94 points) by one point for third place in the Central Division. The Kings have won the first two meetings between these teams this season and three straight overall. The Wild have won four in a row, including a 4-2 victory over the Flames on Friday.

* The Canucks (43-27-4, 90 points), who currently rank second in the Pacific Division, try to pad their lead on the Kings when they play host to the Stars (36-29-10, 82 points) at Rogers Arena. Vancouver has won five of its last seven outings, but lost to Colorado by a 4-1 margin in their most recent game on Thursday. Dallas, meanwhile, is coming off a 4-0 shutout loss on Friday at Edmonton. The Stars, who are eight points behind the Jets (39-24-12, 90 points) for the final Wild Card spot in the West, have won the first two meetings between these clubs this season and six straight in the head-to-head series dating to April 18, 2013.

MORE GAMES WITH PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS
Four other games on Saturday’s schedule include two teams jockeying for playoff positioning:

* The Capitals (40-24-10, 90 points) look to move ahead in the Metropolitan Division when they welcome the Predators (46-21-8, 100 points) to Verizon Center. Washington currently occupies the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, but sits one point behind Pittsburgh (40-23-11, 91 points) for third place in the division. Nashville, meanwhile, can clinch a playoff berth with a win in any fashion. Overall, the Capitals have won four of their last five games, while the Predators have picked up three straight victories.

* The Bruins (36-25-13, 85 points) try to reclaim the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference when they play host to the League-leading Rangers (47-19-7, 101 points) at TD Garden. Boston has dropped six consecutive games (0-3-3), but is tied with Ottawa (37-25-11, 85 points) – in terms of points – for the last playoff spot in the conference. This marks the third and final meeting of the season between these Original Six clubs; the Bruins have collected points in eight of their last nine regular-season matchups dating to April 1, 2012 (6-1-2).

* The Ducks (47-22-7, 101 points) and Islanders (44-26-5, 93 points) both look to advance their playoff hopes when they face off at Nassau Coliseum. Anaheim can lock up a postseason berth if it earns at least one point. Although New York cannot clinch a playoff spot, it can strengthen its grip on home-ice advantage or drop behind Pittsburgh (40-23-11, 91 points) in the Metropolitan Division. This marks the second and final meeting of the season between these teams; the Ducks have picked up at least one point in six of their last seven matchups dating to March 19, 2010 (5-1-1).

* The Lightning (46-22-7, 99 points) visit the Red Wings (39-22-12, 90 points) at Joe Louis Arena in a potential First Round preview. Tampa Bay, currently the No. 2 seed in the Atlantic Division, also can move into first in the division, where it sits one point behind Montreal (46-21-8, 100 points). This marks the fourth and final meeting of the season between these clubs; the Lightning have won the first three and seven of the past eight dating to Nov. 9, 2013. Overall, Tampa Bay is 8-2-1 in its last 11 games, while Detroit has one win its past five outings (1-3-1).

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the above information.

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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.

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