McDAVID POWERS OILERS IN FINAL GAME AT REXALL PLACE . . .
Connor McDavid posted 1-2—3, including what stood as the winning goal, to power the Oilers to a victory in the final NHL game at Rexall Place, the team’s home since 1974-75 (when it was in the World Hockey Association).
* McDavid, who ranks fourth among rookies with 16-32—48 in just 44 outings this season, recorded his fourth career three-point performance and fifth career game-winning goal. His average of 1.09 points per game ranks third in the entire NHL in 2015-16.
* ICYMI: Click here for more details from the final game at Rexall Place, including videos featuring the more than 150 alumni, staff and special guests in attendance.
. . . A LOOK BACK
Oilers forward Blair MacDonald scored the first NHL goal at Rexall Place (at 12:06 of the first period) on Oct. 13, 1979, in a 3-3 tie against the Red Wings.
Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl provided the final goal in the building, at 18:03 of the third period in Wednesday’s game.
MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS
* Sergei Bobrovsky (26 SV) earned his 97th victory with the Blue Jackets to move pastSteve Mason (96) as the winningest goaltender in franchise history.
LOOSE PUCKS
Five players – Matt Calvert (1-2—3), Brandon Dubinsky (2-0—2), Oliver Bjorkstrand(1-1—2), Brandon Saad (1-1—2) and Cam Atkinson (0-2—2) – registered multiple points to lift the Blue Jackets to their second win in their past three outings . . . Oilers forwards Taylor Hall (1-2—3), Patrick Maroon (2-0—2) and Jordan Eberle (0-2—2) also picked up multiple points . . . Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly established a career high with his ninth goal of the season (and first career SHG) . . . ICYMI: The NHL honored Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk for recording his 600th career assist on March 26 vs. PIT . . . Predators forward Mike Fisher sang a duet with country music legend Garth Brooks.
TODAY’S CLINCHING SCENARIOS
* The Red Wings will clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the Bruins in any fashion.
* The Stars will clinch the Central Division title and the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference if they defeat the Avalanche in any fashion AND the Blues lose to the Blackhawks in regulation.
* The Lightning will clinch the No. 2 seed in the Atlantic Division if they defeat the Devils in any fashion OR if they get one point against the Devils AND the Red Wings lose to the Bruins in any fashion OR if the Red Wings lose to the Bruins in regulation.
* The Penguins will clinch the No. 2 seed in the Metropolitan Division if they defeat the Capitals in any fashion OR if they get one point against the Capitals AND the Rangers lose to the Islanders in any fashion or defeat the Islanders in a shootout.
SNEAK PEEK AT THURSDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Detroit @ Boston, 7:00 p.m., NBCSN, TVAS, FS-D, NESN+
Tampa Bay @ New Jersey, 7:00 p.m., SUN, MSG+
NY Islanders @ NY Rangers, 7:00 p.m., MSG+ 2, MSG
Toronto @ Philadelphia, 7:00 p.m., SNO, CSN-PH
Pittsburgh @ Washington, 7:00 p.m., SN360, ROOT, CSN-DC
Montreal @ Carolina, 7:00 p.m., SNE, RDS, FS-CR
Florida @ Ottawa, 7:30 p.m., FS-F, TSN5, RDS2
Arizona @ Nashville, 8:00 p.m., FS-A, FS-TN
St. Louis @ Chicago, 8:30 p.m., FS-MW, CSN-CH
Colorado @ Dallas, 8:30 p.m., ALT, FS-SW+
Vancouver @ Calgary, 9:00 p.m., SNP, SNW
Anaheim @ Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m., SN360, PRIME, FS-SD, FS-W
Winnipeg @ San Jose, 10:30 p.m., TSN3, CSN-CA+
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PLENTY ON THE LINE AS 26 TEAMS HIT THE ICE
Nine of Thursday’s 13 games feature playoff implications:
* The Red Wings (41-28-11, 93 points) attempt to extend their 24-season playoff streak when they visit the Bruins (41-30-9, 91 points), the first team on the outside of the postseason picture, at TD Garden.
* The Flyers (39-27-13, 91 points) try to maintain their grip on the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference when they play the Maple Leafs (28-41-11, 67 points) at Wells Fargo Center.
* The Stars (48-23-9, 105 points) look to clinch the Central Division title, as well as the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, when they welcome the Avalanche (39-37-4, 82 points) to American Airlines Center.
* The Stars’ closest competition – the Blues (48-23-9, 105 points) and Blackhawks (47-26-7, 101 points) – face off at United Center in a potential First Round preview.
* The Ducks (44-24-11, 99 points) and Kings (47-28-5, 99 points) battle for first place in the Pacific Division when they meet at STAPLES Center.
* The Penguins (47-25-8, 102 points), winners of seven straight and 13 of their last 14, attempt to wrap up the second seed in the Metropolitan Division when they visit the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Capitals (55-17-7, 117 points) at Verizon Center.
* The Rangers (45-26-9, 99 points) and Islanders (44-26-9, 97 points) continue to battle for third place in the Metropolitan Division when they meet at Madison Square Garden.
* The Lightning (45-30-5, 95 points) try to clinch the second seed in the Atlantic Division when they play the Devils (37-35-8, 82 points) at Prudential Center.
* The Sharks (45-29-6, 96 points) eye second place in the Pacific Division when they welcome the Jets (33-39-8, 74 points) to SAP Center.
DID YOU KNOW?
Three clubs are separated by four goals in the race for the William M. Jennings Trophy, awarded “to the goalkeeper(s) having played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals scored against it.”
The Ducks, who currently rank second in goals against, play both of their closest competitors – the Kings (today) and Capitals (Sunday) – over the final four days of the season.
REMINDER: NCAA FROZEN FOUR BEGINS TODAY
The NCAA Frozen Four begins today at Amalie Arena in Tampa:
Semifinal 1 – Boston College vs. Quinnipiac (5:00 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
Semifinal 2 – Denver vs. North Dakota (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
Click here for more information.
Thanks to the NHL PR department for the above information.
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