CAPTAIN CROSBY LEADS PENGUINS INTO 2022 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
Sidney Crosby (1-2—3) recorded his 159th career three-point game – the 11th most in NHL history – to reach 50 assists and 80 points in 2021-22 as the Penguins clinched their 16th consecutive postseason berth and 37th in franchise history.



* Crosby and Evgeni Malkin each are set to make their 11th consecutive postseason appearance (both missed the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs due to injury), which would tie Jaromir Jagr for the longest stretch in franchise history. The last NHL players to make 11 or more consecutive trips to the postseason with one franchise were Pavel Datsyuk (14; 2002–2016) and Henrik Zetterberg (13; 2003–2016) with the Red Wings.

* Crosby (69-122—191 in 174 GP) needs five points to tie Paul Coffey (59-137—196 in 194 GP) for sixth place in career points during the Stanley Cup Playoffs and nine to become the sixth player in NHL history to accumulate 200 career postseason points. He also needs one assist to tie Jaromir Jagr (123) for ninth place in playoff history. Crosby’s next playoff goal will move the Penguins captain into a tie with Steve Yzerman (70) on the all-time NHL list; he trails only Alex Ovechkin (71) among active NHL players.

TWO-TIME DEFENDING-CHAMPION LIGHTNING CLINCH POSTSEASON BERTH

Tampa Bay surrendered a 2-0 lead at AMALIE Arena, but Nikita Kucherov pulled the hosts even with 12.3 seconds remaining in regulation and Anthony Cirelli (1-1—2) scored the overtime winner as the Lightning rallied past the Ducks to clinch a berth in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs.



* Cirelli is no stranger to scoring big overtime winners, especially in the postseason. He had overtime goals to clinch the Memorial Cup in 2015 and J. Ross Robertson Cup in 2017 – Cirelli also beat Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov at 13:18 of extra time in Game 6 of the 2020 Stanley Cup Semifinals, powering Tampa Bay to its first of two straight Final appearances.

* The Lightning will aim to become the fourth franchise in NHL history – and first in nearly 40 years – to claim at least three consecutive Stanley Cup wins. The last club to do so was the Islanders dynasty (4x: 1980-1983), and before them the Canadiens (5x: 1956-1960; 4x: 1976-1979) and Maple Leafs (3x: 1947-1949; 3x: 1962-1964) each did so twice.

* Click here to read more on Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh 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.

MATTHEWS HITS 100, CONTINUES HISTORIC SEASON
Auston Matthews (0-2—2) surpassed the 100-point mark, while William Nylander (2-0—2), Ilya Mikheyev (2-0—2) and Michael Bunting (2-0—2) all posted multiple goals as the Maple Leafs (48-20-6, 102 points) recorded 102 points for the third time in franchise history (also 105 in 2017-18 & 103 in 2003-04).

* Matthews (58-42—100 in 69 GP) became the third player in Maple Leafs history to hit 100 points in a season and the first in 28 years. He joined Doug Gilmour (127 in 1992-93 & 111 in 1993-94) and Darryl Sittler (117 in 1977-78 & 100 in 1975-76).

* Matthews became the third U.S.-born player in 25 years to record 100 points in a season, joining Patrick Kane (2018-19 & 2015-16) and Johnny Gaudreau (2021-22).

* Matthews joined Leon Draisaitl (54-51—105 in 74 GP) as the second player this season to record 50 or more goals and 100 or more points. The 2021-22 campaign is the third in the past 15 years to feature multiple players with 50-plus goals and 100-plus points. The others: 2009-10 (Alex Ovechkin & Sidney Crosby) and 2006-07 (Vincent Lecavalier & Dany Heatley).

THOMAS, TARASENKO POST RARE FIVE POINT-PERFORMANCES FOR BLUES
Robert Thomas (0-5—5) and Vladimir Tarasenko (3-2—5) became the first Blues skaters to post five-point performances since Dallas Drake on Oct. 29, 2003 as St. Louis won its seventh straight game and extended its point streak to 10 contests (9-0-1 dating to March 28). The Blues (44-20-10, 98 points), who occupy third place in the Central Division, kept pace with the second-place Wild (46-21-6, 98 points), who were also victorious Thursday.

* St. Louis featured two players record five-plus points in the same game for the fourth time in franchise history and first since Oct. 18, 1989 (Sergio Momesso: 2-4—6 & Brett Hull: 3-2—5).

* Thomas, who extended his career-high point streak to 11 games (6-17—23), became just the fifth player in franchise history to record a five-assist performance. The others: Dallas Drake (Oct. 29, 2003), Adam Oates (Jan. 26, 1991), Bernie Federko (Feb. 27, 1988) and Brian Sutter (Nov. 22, 1983).



* Tarasenko recorded his fifth NHL hat trick – and first in more than three years – as he reached the 30-goal mark for the sixth time in his career. Only three active skaters have posted more 30-goal seasons: Alex Ovechkin (16), Sidney Crosby (9) and Steven Stamkos (7).

DRAISAITL’S HAT TRICK FEATURED IN #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
Thursday’s edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates featured more notes from the 12-game slate, including Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (54-51—105 in 74 GP) scoring the sixth hat trick of his NHL career (and second at Bridgestone Arena) to reach 54 goals on the season.

NHL PODCAST WEEKLY ROUNDUP

* Fantasy on Ice (4/11): Pete & Nick w/ James Harding highlighting best fantasy pickups

* NHL @TheRink (4/14): Dan & Shawn w/ NHL.com’s Mike Zeisberger

* Fantasy on Ice (4/14): Pete & Nick w/ John Hahn (Sirius XM) talk West playoff races

QUICK CLICKS

* 2023 Winter Classic will pit Penguins against Bruins on Jan. 2
* Kori Cheverie to make history as assistant coach for Canada at U-18 Worlds

* Alex Nedeljkovic shuts out former team with 46-save performance

* Bruins honor 1972 Stanley Cup championship team

* Ryan Getzlaf gets two assists in final head-to-head game with longtime teammate Corey Perry

Photo via @AnaheimDucks

THE GOOD FRIDAY EDITION
Jonathan Huberdeau (9-12—21 in 12 GP) will aim to become the third player in franchise history to record a point streak of 13 or more games on a two-game Friday when the Eastern Conference-leading Panthers (52-15-6, 110 points) welcome the Jets (35-28-11, 81 points) to FLA Live Arena.