from Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe,

- Leaguewide stats don’t necessarily make the case, but the view here is that the Lightning again will enter the playoffs with Andrei Vasilevskiy ranked as the best goalie on the planet. “So much better than every other NHL goaltender,” ex-Bruins backstop Andrew Raycroft tweeted the other day. One curious note, for whatever it’s worth: Vasilevskiy, 27, has surrendered 11 hat tricks since entering the league in 2014-15, including the three Matthews put on him on Monday night. Of those 11, five came this season, with Matthews joined by Tyler Bertuzzi (Red Wings), Mika Zibanejad (Rangers), Johnny Gaudreau (Flames), and David Pastrnak (Bruins).

- Jokerit, the lone Finnish entry in Russia’s KHL, officially pulled out of the league for next season, because of Russia’s ongoing brutal attack of Ukraine. Earlier, Dinamo Riga (Latvia) pulled the plug. Ex-NHL great Jari Kurri, president of Jokerit, also resigned from the KHL board.

- It looks as though Washington and Florida will square off in Round 1 of the playoffs, barring a near-total collapse by the Capitals (who host the Bruins on Sunday). The Capitals have a comfy edge in the standings over the Islanders, whose solid play of late hasn’t made up for their woeful start. All of which means that April 28 and 29 — Islanders home games against Washington and Tampa Bay — could be the final twirls for ex-Bruins captain Zdeno Chara.

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