QUICK HITS

* The expansion Golden Knights won to clinch a historic postseason appearance.

* San Jose won its eighth consecutive game, the longest active win streak in the NHL.

* Alex Ovechkin scored his 45th goal of the season, padding his League lead.

VEGAS CLINCHES PLAYOFF BERTH TO CONTINUE UNPRECEDENTED SEASON

After rallying a city with an 8-1-0 start to their inaugural season, the Vegas Golden Knights (48-21-7, 103 points) won to become the third expansion team since 1968-69 – and first to start from scratch – to clinch a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In 1979-80, the Hartford Whalers and Edmonton Oilers each reached the postseason after joining the NHL from the World Hockey Association.

Major North American Professional Sports History

The following information focuses on the Golden Knights’ achievement as it relates to the broader North American professional sports landscape, compiled with help from the Elias Sports Bureau. It includes franchises to join the NHL after 1967-68 and is based on the following timeframes for the other three major professional leagues: since 1961 for MLB and NFL; and since 1961-62 for NBA.

* In addition to the Golden Knights, Oilers and Whalers, only four other expansion clubs from any of the four North American professional sports leagues qualified for the playoffs.

* The four other expansion clubs to reach the playoffs – all from the NBA – are the 1966-67 Chicago Bulls, 1976-77 Denver Nuggets, 1976-77 San Antonio Spurs and 2002-03 New Orleans Hornets. The Nuggets and Spurs joined from the defunct American Basketball Association, while the newly-formed Bulls were part of an eight-team playoff bracket in a 10-team league. The Hornets, meanwhile, relocated from Charlotte but are considered an expansion franchise by the NBA.

NHL History

The following information focuses on the Golden Knights’ achievement as it relates to NHL history, dating back to 1917-18.

* Among clubs to join the NHL in the past 27 years,three clinched their first postseason berth in their third season: Sharksin 1993-94, Panthers in 1995-96 and Wild in 2002-03. All three won their first series, with Minnesota reaching the Conference Finals and Florida advancing to the Stanley Cup Final.

* Playing under different rules and circumstances, 11 other franchises reached the playoffs in their first NHL season:

Inside Vegas’ Clinching Victory

Vegas earned its clinching victory exactly six months after hosting its first preseason game at T-Mobile Arena. Monday’s contest saw Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlsson each post 1-2—3 and Marc-Andre Fleury make 28 saves as the Golden Knights maintained their six-point lead atop the Pacific Division – a position they have held since Dec. 27.

* Marchessault (25-47—72) eclipsed the 70-point mark for first time in his NHL career and became the 10th player in League history to record at least 70 points while playing for a team in its inaugural season (last: Brian Bradley in 1992-93 w/ TBL).

* Karlsson (40-29—69) reached the 40-goal mark for the first time in his NHL career and became the eighth player in League history to record at least 40 goals while playing for a team in its inaugural season (last: Bradley in 1992-93 w/ TBL).

* Fleury, meanwhile, earned his 403rd career win to move into a tie with Grant Fuhr for 11th place on the NHL’s all-time list.

SHARKS EXTEND WIN STREAK TO EIGHT GAMES

Kevin Labanc scored the decisive shootout marker to power the Sharks to their eighth consecutive victory. San Jose (44-23-9, 97 points) ranks second behind Vegas (48-21-7, 103 points) in the Pacific Division; the clubs will conclude their four-game season series on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena (VGK: 2-0-1; SJS: 1-1-1).

* The Sharks have won at least eight consecutive games for the sixth time in franchise history and first since 2010-11 (8-0-0).

* Martin Jones (28 saves) improved to 7-0-0 in his last seven appearances dating to March 12 (2.38 GAA, .919 SV%). He became the first Sharks goaltender to post a win streak of at least seven games since Antti Niemi in 2014-15 (7-0-0).

KINGS, PANTHERS AID PLAYOFF PUSH WITH SHUTOUTS

* Jonathan Quick made 23 saves as the Kings (42-28-7, 91 points) blanked the Flames to leapfrog the Blues (42-28-5, 89 points) and Avalanche (41-27-8, 90 points) into the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. Los Angeles is also tied with Anaheim (39-24-13, 91 points) for the third-most points in the Pacific Division; they visit the Ducks on Friday and host the Avalanche on Monday.

* James Reimer turned aside all 32 shots he faced to record his fourth shutout of the season and backstop the Panthers (39-28-7, 85 points) to victory, their 13th win in their past 17 games (13-3-1). Florida moved within one point of New Jersey (39-28-8, 86 points) for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference standings. The Panthers, who sat 10 points out of the playoff picture on Jan. 30 – and have not occupied a postseason position since Oct. 12 – hold one game in hand on the Devils.

NHL’S ACTIVE GOAL LEADERS CONTINUE TO ROLL

Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (1-1—2) and Maple Leafs forward Patrick Marleau (1-1—2), who are first and second in career goals among active NHL players, each found the back of the net:

* Ovechkin scored his League-leading 45th goal of the season to pad his lead in the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy race and help the Capitals improve to 8-1-0 in their last nine games. He sits five goals shy of his eighth career 50-goal season and from tying Dino Ciccarelli (608) for 18th place on the League’s all-time goals list, with six games remaining in 2017-18.

* Washington (45-24-7, 97 points) opened a five-point lead atop the Metropolitan Division standings as they pursue their third consecutive division title and 11th overall.

* Ovechkin scored his 101st career game-winning goal to move into a tie with Jarome Iginla for eighth place on the NHL’s all-time list. Marleau occupies seventh place on that list with 103 career game-winning goals; he also sits one goal shy of tying FrankMahovlich (533) for 33rd place in total NHL goals.

KELLER EXTENDS POINT STREAK TO JOIN ELITE ROOKIE COMPANY

Coyotes forward Clayton Keller (1-1—2) extended his point streak to a career-high nine games (5-8—13). He became the fifth rookie in Coyotes/Jets franchise history to record at least one point in nine or more consecutive team games and first since the franchise relocated in 1996-97.

QUICK CLICKS

· Connor McDavid, Jake Allen, Kyle Connor named "Three Stars" of the week

· Teemu Selanne's son scores game-winner in overtime for national championship

· Lias Andersson scores in first game with Rangers in front of proud family

· Golden Knights in rare company after clinching playoff berth

· Golden Knights not satisfied with clinching playoff berth

SNEAK PEEK AT TUESDAY’S ACTION

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METROPOLITAN DIVISION MADNESS TAKES CENTER STAGE

Four of tonight’s nine games feature a top-five team from the Metropolitan Division, where seeding remains in flux with only 13 days remaining in the regular-season.

* Led by the high-scoring trio of Evgeni Malkin (42-50—92; t-3rd in NHL), Phil Kessel (30-55—85; t-8th in NHL) and Sidney Crosby (26-57—83; t-10th in NHL), the No. 2-ranked Penguins (43-27-6, 92 points) visit the Red Wings. Pittsburgh could become the first team since the 2003-04 Lightning to have at least three players finish among the top-10 in the League in points.

* Carrying a 10-1-0 record since March 4, the No. 3-ranked Blue Jackets (42-29-5, 89 points) begin a three-game road trip through Western Canada against Connor McDavid – who needs one point for his second straight 100-point season – and the Oilers.Artemi Panarin (25-44—69) needs one point to become the fifth player in Blue Jackets history to hit the 70-point mark in one campaign.

* Owners of the first Wild Card spot, the Flyers (38-25-13, 89 points) take their five-game point streak (3-0-2) into Dallas to take on the Stars (38-30-8, 84 points), who are battling for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Philadelphia forwards Claude Giroux(26-65—91) and Jakub Voracek (19-61—80) could become the 25th set of teammates to finish first and second in the NHL in assists since 2008-09 (Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby w/ PIT).

* Holding the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, the Devils (39-28-8, 86 points) continue a four-game homestand against the Hurricanes. Nico Hischier (18-31—49) has scored in each of his past two games and needs one point to become the sixth rookie to hit 50 points in 2017-18; the last campaign with at least six 50-point rookies was 1993-94 (7).

STREAKING SHARKS, BLUES TO FACE OFF IN ST. LOUIS

Two of the League’s hottest teams meet in St. Louis as the Sharks (44-23-9, 97 points) and Blues (42-28-5, 89 points) aim to extend streaks and inch closer to a playoff berth. Winners of five straight games, the Blues aim to stretch their longest win streak of the season and move back into a playoff spot. Meanwhile, a ninth straight win for the Sharks would put them within four points of the Golden Knights (48-21-7, 103 points) for first place in the Pacific Division – the two clubs close their season-series on Saturday.

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.