WILD CLINCH SIXTH STRAIGHT PLAYOFF BERTH

Zach Parise scored twice and Devan Dubnyk turned aside all 22 shots he faced to help the Wild (44-25-10, 98 points) clinch a berth in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs, their sixth straight postseason appearance and ninth in franchise history.

* Dubnyk has recorded 20 shutouts since being acquired by the Wild on Jan. 14, 2015, the most among all goaltenders in that span.

SHARKS CLINCH 20TH POSTSEASON BERTH IN CLUB HISTORY

The idle Sharks (44-25-10, 98 points) clinched a berth in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs following wins by the Capitals and Kings. The Sharks will make their third consecutive postseason appearance and 20th in club history. Only two franchises have clinched more playoff berths since San Jose began play in 1991-92: Detroit (24) and Pittsburgh (22).

RESURGENT KOPITAR HELPS KINGS EARN CRUCIAL VICTORY

Anze Kopitar assisted on the winning goal by Dustin Brown to help the Kings (44-28-8, 96 points) defeat the Avalanche (42-29-9, 93 points) – a team they are battling in the playoff push – and improve to 5-1-2 in their last eight contests. Los Angeles leapfrogged idle Anaheim (41-25-13, 95 points) into third place in the Pacific Division.

* The Kings, Ducks, Avalanche and Blues (43-30-6, 92 points) – who lost in regulation on Monday – are competing for the final three playoff spots in the Western Conference. Los Angeles and Colorado each have two games remaining while the others have three apiece; that includes a showdown between the Avalanche and Blues on Saturday.

* Kopitar boosted his career-high totals to 35-56—91 this season, 39 points more than his 2016-17 output (12-40—52). His 91 points in 2017-18 are the most by a Kings player in a season since 1993-94 (Wayne Gretzky: 38-92—130), while his 56 assists are the most the club has seen since 1997-98 (Jozef Stumpel: 58).

PANTHERS SHRINK GAP IN EASTERN CONFERENCE WILD CARD RACE

Alexander Petrovic scored the go-ahead goal with 7:58 remaining in regulation as the Panthers (40-30-8, 88 points) moved within five points of the Devils (42-28-9, 93 points) for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

* Florida has four games remaining, including three against a current conference-leader. They host Nashville tonight, Boston on Thursday, Buffalo on Saturday and visit Boston for a rescheduled game on Sunday.

* Florida improved to 24-11-3 (51 points) at BB&T Center in 2017-18, two home wins shy of matching its single-season franchise record. The Panthers own an 11-2-0 record in their last 13 home contests.

OVECHKIN OPENS THREE-GOAL LEAD IN “ROCKET” RICHARD RACE

The Capitals scored three goals in a span of 7:03 during the second period and Alex Ovechkin scored his League-leading 46th goal into an empty net as Washington followed up Sunday’s Metropolitan Division-clinching victory with its fifth straight road win. The Capitals (48-25-7, 103 points) are guaranteed to play their First Round series against the first Wild Card team in the Eastern Conference – either the Blue Jackets, Flyers, Devils or Panthers.

* Ovechkin opened a three-goal lead in his push for a seventh career Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the League’s top goal-scorer.

* With two games remaining in 2017-18, he sits four tallies shy of his eighth career 50-goal season and from tying Dino Ciccarelli (608) for 18th place on the League’s all-time list. Ovechkin has scored a total of 17 goals within the final two games of a season over his first 12 campaigns, including a hat trick in the 2015-16 finale that propelled him to the 50-goal mark.

JETS STAY ALIVE IN HUNT FOR CENTRAL DIVISION CROWN

The Jets (49-20-10, 108 points) defeated the Senators to improve to 8-1-0 in their last nine contests and prevent the Predators (51-17-11, 113 points) from clinching first place in the Central Division.

* Winnipeg, second in the Central, has established single-season franchise records for wins and points in 2017-18 – six victories and nine points more than its previous benchmarks. The Jets have three games remaining this season.

* Connor Hellebuyck improved to 7-0-0 in his last seven appearances (2.77 GAA, .904 SV%), the longest win streak by a goaltender in Jets/Thrashers franchise history. The Commerce, Mich., native improved to 42-11-9 overall in 2017-18 (2.40 GAA, .922 SV%, 6 SO), tied for the second-most wins in a season by a U.S.-born goaltender.

MAPLE LEAFS MATCH SINGLE-SEASON FRANCHISE RECORD FOR POINTS

Auston Matthews and William Nylander each collected 2-1—3 to help the Maple Leafs (48-25-7, 103 points) improve to 9-3-0 in their last 12 games and match a single-season franchise record for points (2003-04: 45-24-13, 103 points). Toronto will finish as the No. 3 seed in the Atlantic Division and start the First Round on the road against the No. 2 seed, either Tampa Bay or Boston.

* Matthews has found the score sheet in all seven games since returning from injury on March 22 (5-5—10) and has at least a point in eight straight appearances dating to Feb. 22 (6-5—11).

* The Maple Leafs rank second in the NHL with 272 goals for in 2017-18 (including seven shootout-deciding goals), their most in a season since 1993-94 (280).

ANOTHER 60-POINT SEASON FOR KARLSSON

Senators captain Erik Karlsson (9-53—62) collected three assists to eclipse the 60-point mark for the fifth consecutive season. Only five defensemen in NHL history have recorded longer runs of 60+ point campaigns: Paul Coffey (13; 1981-82 – 1993-94), Ray Bourque (13; 1981-82 – 1993-94), Phil Housley (11; 1982-83 – 1992-93), Al MacInnis (8; 1984-85 – 1991-92) and Bobby Orr (7; 1968-69 – 1974-75).

DANIEL AND HENRIK SEDIN TO RETIRE AFTER 17 NHL SEASONS

Brothers Daniel and Henrik Sedin announced Monday they will retire at the end of the 2017-18 regular season, ending two remarkable careers that have been intertwined since the Canucks selected them No. 2 and No. 3 in the 1999 NHL Draft, respectively.

* Click here for more information.

QUICK CLICKS

· Sedins well-respected by opposing coaches, players (via Tim Campbell)

· Sedins to retire with same class they showed in 17 seasons with Canucks (via Nick Cotsonika)

· Sedins put up remarkable numbers in 17 seasons with Canucks

· William Karlsson, Antti Raanta, Jack Eichel named “Three Stars” of the week

· Bruins forward Brad Marchand fined for cross-checking

SNEAK PEEK AT TUESDAY’S ACTION

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EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF SPOTS UP FOR GRABS
The Blue Jackets (44-29-6, 94 points), Flyers (40-25-14, 94 points) and Devils (42-28-9, 93 points) are all in position to lock up a playoff spot tonight, while the Panthers (40-30-8, 88 points) look to remain in contention:

* The Blue Jackets aim to make consecutive playoff appearances for the first time. In his first campaign with Columbus, Artemi Panarin (26-51—77) sits two points shy of matching the single-season franchise record set in 2008-09 (Rick Nash: 40-39—79).

* The Flyers are trying for their eighth playoff berth in 11 seasons. With three games remaining, captain Claude Giroux (29-66—95) needs five points to achieve the ninth 100-point season in club history and first since 1995-96 (Eric Lindros: 47-68—115).

* The Devils eye their first playoff berth since reaching the 2012 Stanley Cup Final. In his second campaign with New Jersey, Taylor Hall (37-52—89) needs only one point to post the fourth 90-point season in franchise history and first since 2008-09 (Zach Parise: 45-49—94).

* The Panthers, meanwhile, look to stay in the playoff picture when they take on the League-leading Predators. With four games remaining, Florida can reach a maximum of 96 points and 41 ROW – Columbus and Philadelphia currently have 38 ROW apiece, while New Jersey has 37.

TURNING POINT IN PRESIDENTS’ TROPHY RACE
All five teams still in the running for the Presidents’ Trophy are in action tonight:

* The League-leading Predators (51-17-11, 113 points) visit the Panthers, pursuing the first Presidents’ Trophy in club history. Nashville can set a single-season franchise record with its 52nd win of 2017-18, which would eclipse the mark of 51 set in 2006-07.

* The two teams battling for the No. 1 seed in both the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference meet for the second time in six days when the Bruins (49-17-12, 110 points) and Lightning (52-23-4, 108 points) clash at AMALIE Arena. This marks the fourth and final meeting between the clubs in 2017-18. Boston has won each of the first three contests in regulation, including a 4-2 victory on Thursday that propelled them into first place in the division and conference to end Tampa Bay’s nearly six-month run atop both.

* After clinching the Pacific Division crown in their home finale, the Golden Knights (50-22-7, 107 points) hit the road for a three-game tour through Western Canada to close their inaugural regular season. Vegas ranks third in the NHL with 50 wins, including a League-best 47 ROW (BOS: 46, TBL: 46, NSH: 45, WPG: 45).

* The Jets (49-20-10, 108 points) conclude their four-game road trip with a visit to the Canadiens at Bell Centre. Winnipeg can reach the 50-win mark for the first time in franchise history.

the information above was supplied by the NHL PR department