HURRICANES PUNCH TICKET TO STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS WITH MULTI-GOAL COMEBACK
Sebastian Aho and Jordan Staal each scored twice to help the Hurricanes (46-17-8, 100 points) complete a multi-goal comeback and earn their fourth straight Stanley Cup Playoffs berth. Carolina, which recorded its second 100-point season in franchise history, has made the postseason for the ninth time since relocating to Raleigh in 1997-98 and 17th overall.



* Aho (14-21—35 in 34 GP) ranks among the top five in franchise history for career playoff goals (t-4th), assists (3rd) and points (4th). Aho, who has the second-highest playoff points-per-game rate in club history (1.03), enters 2022 three points shy of tying his head coach Rod Brind’Amour (18-20—38 in 72 GP) for third place on the franchise playoff points list.

* Staal, who tied the game 5:12 into the third period, can become the sixth player in NHL history to go 13-plus years between Stanley Cup wins – only Chris Chelios (1986 MTL & 2002 DET), Mark Recchi (1991 PIT & 2006 CAR), Bill Guerin (1995 NJD & 2009 PIT), Craig Ludwig (1986 MTL & 1999 DAL) and Brian Skrudland (1986 MTL & 1999 DAL) have done so.



* ICYMI: The 2021-22 season has featured the debut of #NHLStats Pack: Team Clinching Notes, a running document of notes for all teams as they clinch a berth in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Click here to read more.

FRANCHISE RECORDS FALL
The Maple Leafs (46-19-6, 98 points) and Predators (41-25-4, 86 points) each had a skater continue their strings of success in 2021-22 and witnessed franchise records fall during Thursday’s action:

* In his 400th career game – a milestone contest he already holds the most goals through in franchise history and by a U.S. born skater – Auston Matthews (2-0—2) broke the Maple Leafs record for most goals in a season as he surpassed Rick Vaive (54 in 1981-82) with his 55th and 56th of 2021-22. He also boosted his road goal total to 28, which again passed Vaive (27 in 1981-82) for the most in a campaign in franchise history.

* Matthews (56-41—97), a San Ramon, Calif., native, set a record for most goals in a season by a U.S.-born player, surpassing the previous benchmark held by Jimmy Carson (55 in 1987-88 w/ LAK) and Kevin Stevens (55 in 1992-93 w/ PIT). With his 52nd career multi-goal game, the 24-year-old passed Pat LaFontaine (51) for the most by a U.S.-born player before age 25.



* ICYMI: After his famous “Bonino” call in the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Harnarayan Singh was part of another monumental moment as he called Matthews’ record-setting goal Thursday.

* Roman Josi (0-3—3) factored on all three of Nashville’s goals to boost his season totals to 19-68—87 and establish a Predators franchise record for points in a single season. The Predators are the third active franchise to feature a defenseman hold a single-season record for points among all skaters. The others: Denis Potvin (1973-74 to 1976-77 w/ NYI) and Norm MacIver (1992-93 w/ OTT).

* Thursday marked Josi’s 12th three-point game of the season, the most by a defenseman in a single campaign since Paul Coffey in 1993-94 with the Red Wings (12). The last blueliner with more was Al MacInnis (13 in 1990-91 w/ CGY).



PANARIN PUTS ONE PAST PENGUINS IN 500TH NHL GAME
Artemi Panarin scored one of his team’s three goals while skating in his 500th career game and Igor Shesterkin turned aside all 30 shots he faced as the Rangers (46-20-6, 98 points) continued their chase of the Metropolitan Division-leading Hurricanes (46-17-8, 100 points), defeating the Penguins (41-21-10, 92 points) for the third time in 14 days. New York has outscored Pittsburgh 11-3 through that span.

* Panarin boosted his career totals to 185-373—558. The only active players with more points through 500 career games are Sidney Crosby (706), Connor McDavid (680), Alex Ovechkin (633) and Evgeni Malkin (611).

McDAVID EXTENDS GOAL AND POINT STREAK ON #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES

The latest edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates features several notes from Thursday’s 10-game slate, including another multi-point outing from Connor McDavid (1-1—2), who extended his goal and point streaks to six and 15 games, respectively, and helped the Oilers win their sixth straight contest.

* McDavid became the first Oilers player with at least a goal in six straight games since Jimmy Carson in 1988-89 (7 GP) and the first NHL player to have multiple 15-game point streaks in a single season since Wayne Gretzky in 1990-91.

QUICK CLICKS

* Doug Wilson steps down as GM of Sharks after 19 seasons

* Marian Hossa to have No. 81 retired by Blackhawks next season

* Pittsburgh teacher Scott Caplan named NHL/NHLPA Most Valuable Teacher

* NHL announces North American partnership with FanDuel, BetMGM
* #NHLStats Pack: Team Clinching Notes

CRUCIAL ATLANTIC DIVISION DUEL SET FOR FRIDAY
The third-place Bruins (44-21-5, 93 points) travel to AMALIE Arena to clash with the fourth-place Lightning (43-20-7, 93 points) for the final time this season as the two clubs continue to jockey for position in the Atlantic Division. Boston contests nine of its remaining 12 games against teams above the playoff line, while Tampa Bay has five of its final 12 games against teams currently holding down a postseason position.

* Twenty-five-year-old David Pastrnak (38-33—71 in 69 GP) sits two tallies shy of becoming the eighth player to record multiple 40-goal seasons with the Bruins after he posted 48-47—95 in 2019-20. Of the previous seven instances, only two Boston skaters achieved the feat multiple times before their 26th birthday: Cam Neely (3x; last: 1990-91) and Barry Pederson (2x; last: 1982-83).

* Lightning captain Steven Stamkos enters the contest with points in each of his past eight games dating to March 24 (5-8—13) and has collected 471-474—945 in his career (910 GP). Already the franchise leader in goals, Stamkos is on pace to surpass Martin St. Louis (365-588—953 in 972 GP) for the most points in franchise history by the end of the 2021-22 campaign.

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.