COLORADO CLINCHES NO. 1 SEED IN WESTERN CONFERENCE AND CENTRAL DIVISION
Nathan MacKinnon scored two of his team’s seven goals to reach the 30-goal mark for the fourth time in his career as the Avalanche (55-14-6, 116 points) bested the Hurricanes (48-20-8, 104 points) to clinch both the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and the Central Division title. Colorado, which extended its win streak to nine games, leads the NHL with nine seven-goal outings in 2021-22.

* The Avalanche clinched the top spot in the Western Conference, despite facing a 10-point deficit behind the No. 1 seed on Dec. 3, 2021. The last team to win their conference after overcoming a deficit of 10 or more points was the Rangers in 2014-15 (13), also collecting the Metropolitan Division title.

* Of note, Colorado won the Presidents’ Trophy in 2020-21, when the League temporarily suspended conferences for the duration of the season.

FAST FOUR: CALGARY ACHIEVES RARE FEAT, PLAYOFF BOUND
After being held off the score sheet in the first period, Calgary scored four goals in the opening 3:11 of the second – before totaling nine unanswered – led by Matthew Tkachuk (2-2—4), Johnny Gaudreau (2-2—4) and Elias Lindholm (1-3—4). Hours earlier, by virtue of an Oilers regulation win, the Flames clinched a postseason berth for the third time in four seasons and 31st time in franchise history.



* The Flames (46-20-9, 101 points) earned 100 points for the sixth time in franchise history and tied their second-fewest contests required to hit the mark (75 GP). Their fastest came in 1988-89 (69 GP) en route to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup.



SCHENN SENDS BLUES TO PLAYOFFS WITH OVERTIME WINNER
A thrilling 11-goal contest between the Blues and Wild featured St. Louis skating to a 4-1 lead and Minnesota tying the game at 5-5 to set up a Brayden Schenn (1-2—3) overtime winner to send his team to the playoffs for the fourth consecutive campaign, 10th time in the past 11 seasons and 45th time in franchise history.

* The back-and-forth game is expected to be a First Round preview between the Central Division clubs as the second-place Blues (45-20-10, 100 points) and third-place Wild (46-21-7, 99 points) have been jockeying between No. 2 and No. 3 for 57 of the past 61 days (dating to Feb. 15).

* The Blues’ 45 all-time playoff appearances are the most among non-Original Six clubs (ahead of PHI: 40) and second most among all clubs since 1967-68, behind the Bruins (47, including 2022). St. Louis made 25 of its 45 appearances from 1980 to 2004, tied for the third-longest stretch of consecutive playoff appearances in NHL history.

* Schenn is one of ten members of the Blues’ Stanley Cup-winning team who remains with the club – St. Louis’ roster features a total of 12 Stanley Cup winners overall, which is the third most among all clubs behind Tampa Bay (17) and Washington (13).

BRUINS CLINCH, ATLANTIC FOES MAINTAIN LEADS
Two goals in the opening 2:01 of the first period from Trent Frederic and Erik Haula were all the Bruins needed Saturday to punch their ticket to the 2022 postseason, marking their sixth consecutive playoff appearance, the 13th time in 15 years and 75th instance in franchise history (second all-time behind Montreal, 85).



* Mark Giordano (1-2—3) recorded a game-high three points and scored the overtime winner to help Toronto (49-20-6, 104 points), which holds second place in the Atlantic Division, match the franchise record for most wins in a season (49 in 2017-18). Giordano (38 years, 195 days) became the third Maple Leafs defenseman age 38 or older to record three points in a game, joining Carl Brewer (0-3—3 on Jan. 7, 1980) and Tim Horton (1-2—3 on March 5 & 6, 1969), as well as the oldest player in franchise history to score in overtime, a mark previously held by Art Duncan (38 years, 170 days on Dec. 21, 1929).



* Victor Hedman (0-4—4) and Nikita Kucherov (2-2—4) each posted four points as the third-place Lightning (46-21-8, 100 points) recorded 100 points in a season for the seventh time in franchise history – five of those instances have come under head coach Jon Cooper. Saturday marked Hedman’s third career four-assist outing, which tied Tyson Barrie for the second most among active defensemen behind Morgan Rielly (4), while Kucherov tied Steven Stamkos (17) for the most four-point games in franchise history.

* Click here to read more on Calgary, St. Louis and Boston in #NHLStats Pack: Team Clinching Notes, a running document of notes for all teams as they clinch a berth in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

SHESTERKIN, SMITH SHOW OUT WITH SHUTOUTS ON #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
A couple of goaltenders posted notable shutouts Saturday to highlight the latest edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates:

* Igor Shesterkin (20 saves) blanked the Red Wings to follow up Alexandar Georgiev’s shutout against the Flyers on Wednesday. The tandem became the fifth pair of goaltenders in franchise history to post shutouts in consecutive team games and first since 2014-15 when Cam Talbot and Henrik Lundqvist combined for the feat.

* Mike Smith (39 saves) recorded his second straight shutout and became the fifth netminder in franchise history to accomplish the feat, joining Curtis Joseph (2x), Cam Talbot, Dwayne Roloson and Tommy Salo.



QUICK CLICKS

* Predators hang on against Blackhawks, strengthen hold on West wild card

* Capitals score eight in win against Canadiens, close in on playoff berth
* Bills QB Josh Allen gives out fist bumps in Sabres locker room
* Blues superfan Laila Anderson writes Fleury letter, brings him flower
* Brad Meier officiates last NHL game

HOP IN TO EASTER SUNDAY

Easter Sunday features twelve teams in action, including the NHL’s longest active point and win streak, when Jonathan Huberdeau’s 13-game point streak is put on the line as the Panthers (53-15-6, 112 points) visit the Red Wings (29-36-10, 68 points). Florida, which is 9-0-0 dating to March 29, will aim to post a double-digit win streak for the second time in franchise history.