NHL NEWS MARCH 7 – EASTERN CONFERENCE WILD CARD RACE TAKES CENTER STAGE

NHL NEWS MARCH 7 – Several teams take to the ice looking to gain crucial points in the Eastern Conference, where six clubs competing for a Wild Card spot are separated by only five points.

• The Rangers (42-22-2, 86 points), who hold the first Wild Card position, visit the Panthers (29-24-11, 69 points), who sit two points out of a playoff spot.
• The Islanders (30-23-11, 71 points) look to hold on to the second Wild Card position as they visit the Oilers (35-22-8, 78 points) in game seven of their nine-game road trip.
• The Maple Leafs (28-22-14, 70 points), who sit only one point back of the second Wild Card position, host the Detroit Red Wings (25-27-11, 61 points).
• The Flyers (30-26-8, 68 points) and Sabres (27-27-12, 66 points), separated by only two points, will do battle on NBCSN as they wrap up their season series in Buffalo.

NHL MUSINGS AND NHL NEWS MARCH 7

• Mika Zibanejad scored the game’s lone goal with 1:04 remaining in overtime and Antti Raanta (38 saves) earned his third shutout of the campaign as the Rangers picked up their League-leading 23rd road win of the season
• Jamie Benn extended his point streak to a season-long seven games (5-5—10) as the Stars ended Washington’s home win and point streaks at 15 and 17 games, respectively
• Bruins forward Brad Marchand reached the 30-goal mark for the second consecutive season, while teammate David Pastrnak earned an assist to extend his point streak to six games (1-6—7)
• Capitals forward Daniel Winnik (700 GP) and Rangers forward Derek Stepan (500 GP) each skated in milestone games
• Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov, Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and Canadiens goaltender Carey Price were named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending March 5
• The Vegas Golden Knights signed Brandon Wheat Kings forward Reid Duke to an entry-level contract, making him the first player in franchise history
• Renowned Canadian artist Tony Harris unveiled portraits of legends Bobby Clarke and Luc Robitaille as part of the NHL Centennial Celebration
• Roy Forbes, a 1948 Olympic gold medalist with the Royal Canadian Air Force Flyers, dropped the puck at MTS Centre as part of Canadian Forces Appreciation Night.
• Joe Thornton recorded a helper on Joe Pavelski’s game-winning goal to become the 13th player in NHL history to join the 1,000-assist club.

MONDAY’S NHL RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
Dallas 4, WASHINGTON 2
OTTAWA 4, Boston 2
NY Rangers 1, TAMPA BAY 0 (OT)
San Jose 3, WINNIPEG 2

TUESDAY’S NHL ACTION
All Times Eastern
New Jersey @ Columbus, 7 p.m.
NY Rangers @ Florida, 7:30 p.m.
Philadelphia @ Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.
Detroit @ Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
St. Louis @ Minnesota, 8 p.m.
NY Islanders @ Edmonton, 9 p.m.
Carolina @ Colorado, 9 p.m.
Montreal @ Vancouver, 10 p.m.
Nashville @ Anaheim, 10 p.m.,