Posted on by Guest Writer
Detroit Red Wings vs Tampa Bay Lightning - In Play! magazine
The Eastern Conference Wild Card race remains tight as the Detroit Red Wings earned a crucial road victory against the higher-seeded Tampa Bay Lightning. Photo: Tim Jarrold - In Play! magazine
02
Apr

NHL Recap April 1, 2024 – RED WINGS, ISLANDERS STAY WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE OF WILD CARD SPOTS

The Red Wings (37-30-8, 82 points) and Islanders (32-27-15, 79 points) both earned crucial wins to stay within striking distance of postseason positions as Detroit matched Washington (36-27-10, 82 points), which occupies the second Wild Card spot, in terms of standings points while New York moved within three points of the playoff line. The Capitals have the most games remaining among the three clubs (WSH: 73 GP, DET: 75 GP & NYI: 74 GP).

  • Dylan Larkin (29-31—60 in 61 GP) bookended the contest with a pair of assists to record his third straight 60-point season and become the first Red Wings skater to post a run of that length since Henrik Zetterberg had a seven-year streak from 2005-06 to 2011-12. Larkin’s first assist set up Patrick Kane’s 18th goal of the season – only two players age 35 or older have scored as many in a campaign for Detroit in the past decade: Pavel Datsyuk (26 in 2014-15) and Daniel Alfredsson (18 in 2013-14).
  • Bo Horvat’s 30th goal of the season gave the Islanders one of their two leads before Morgan Frost tied the game for Philadelphia with 10 seconds remaining in regulation. Brock Nelson later reached the 30-goal mark for the third time in his career thanks to his winner in overtime. The 2023-24 season is the third in the past 12 years the Islanders have had multiple players reach the mark in a single campaign, following Anders Lee (40) and John Tavares (37) in 2017-18 as well as Matt Moulson (36) and Tavares (31) in 2011-12.

MATTHEWS SETS MAPLE LEAFS RECORD WITH GOALS NO. 61 AND 62
Auston Matthews (2-1—3) continued his push for the NHL’s first 70-goal campaign in more than three decades as he potted his 61st and 62nd tallies of 2023-24 to establish a Maple Leafs record for most in a season, besting his own benchmark set in 2021-22. Toronto (43-22-9, 95 points), which owns a game in hand on their Monday opponent, defeated Florida (47-23-5, 99 points) in a potential First Round preview and moved within four points of the Panthers for second place in the Atlantic Division.

  • Matthews (361-279—640 in 554 GP) collected his 12th three-point game of 2023-24, tied with three others for the fourth most in a season by a Maple Leafs skater, and matched Ron Ellis (332-308—640 in 1,034 GP) – a member of Toronto’s 1967 Stanley Cup-winning team – for sixth place on the franchise’s all-time points list.
  • Matthews recorded his 17th multi-goal game of the season – the most in a campaign by any player in the past 30 years – and the 76th of his career to pass Keith Tkachuk for the fourth most by a U.S.-born skater in NHL history. The list is topped by Pat LaFontaine (96), Mike Modano (92) and Joe Mullen (85).

CROSBY TIES GRETZKY WITH ANOTHER POINT-PER-GAME CAMPAIGN
Sidney Crosby (37-45—82 in 72 GP) collected 2-1—3 to guarantee the 19th point-per-game season of his NHL career and tied Wayne Gretzky for the most such campaigns in League history. Crosby (587-997—1,584 in 1,264 GP) needs three assists to become the 14th player in NHL history with 1,000 and six points to match Phil Esposito (1,590) for 10th place on the League’s all-time list.

NASHVILLE, VEGAS, WASHINGTON CAN STRENGTHEN GRIP ON PLAYOFF POSITIONS

The Predators (43-27-4, 90 points), Golden Knights (41-25-8, 90 points) and Capitals (36-27-10, 82 points) can bolster their postseason positioning during an eight-game slate Tuesday.

  • Nashville occupies the Western Conference’s first Wild Card spot and is 7-0-1 in its last eight home games dating to Feb. 27 as the Predators welcome the Atlantic Division-leading Bruins (43-17-15, 101 points) to Bridgestone Arena. Roman Josi (19-57—76 in 74 GP) scored the overtime winner in the Predators’ last home game and needs one goal to reach 20 for the second time in his NHL career (also 23 in 2021-22).
  • Vegas holds a three-point lead on Los Angeles (38-25-11, 87 points) for third in the Pacific Division and faces first-place Vancouver (46-20-8, 100 points) in a potential 2024 First Round matchup. Jack Eichel (4-1—5 in 6 GP) shares the team lead in goals during the active six-game point streak for the Golden Knights (5-0-1 dating March 21), who sat four points back of the Kings when the run began.
  • Washington will look to reclaim third place in the Metropolitan Division from Philadelphia (36-29-11, 83 points) when the Capitals square off with the Sabres (35-35-5, 75 points). Alex Ovechkin (41-25—66 in 63 GP) has 41 career goals versus Buffalo, which are tied with Peter Stastny for the third most in NHL history behind Jaromir Jagr (46) and Daniel Alfredsson (44).

MAPLE LEAFS SIGN FORWARD JACOB QUILLAN

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed forward Jacob Quillan to a two-year entry-level contract with an average annual value of $875,000 beginning in 2024-25.

Quillan, 22, skated in 39 games for Quinnipiac University this season, registering 46 points (17 goals, 29 assists) and was the recipient of the ECAC Gladiator Best Defensive Forward Award. In 116 NCAA games, the 6’0, 201-pound centre recorded 93 points (38 goals, 55 assists). Last season, the Dartmouth, NS native scored the overtime winning goal to secure the 2023 NCAA Championship for Quinnipiac and was awarded the Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player Award.

Blackhawks’ Bedard Named NHL ‘Rookie of the Month’ for March

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard, who led all rookies with 4-13—17 in 14 games (the most assists or points by a rookie in a calendar month since Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell in January 2022: 3-14—17 in 15 GP), has been named the NHL’s “Rookie of the Month” for March.

Bedard, who also earned “Rookie of the Month” honors for November and December, is the first player to win the award at least three times in one season since Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid in 2015-16 (October, February and March).

Bedard edged New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes (1-11—12 in 15 GP), Arizona Coyotes center Logan Cooley (8-3—11 in 15 GP), Colorado Avalanche goaltender Justus Annunen (4‑1-0, 1.51 GAA, .952 SV%, 1 SO) and Montreal Canadiens goaltender Cayden Primeau (3-1-1, 1.97 GAA, .939 SV%, 1 SO) for the March honor.

Bedard, who also ranked among the March rookie leaders in shots on goal (1st; 54), power-play points (t-1st; 8), power-play assists (2nd; 7) and average time on ice (3rd; 21:06), set a franchise record for assists in a calendar month by a rookie – ahead of Brandon Saad’s 12 in March 2013 (3-12—15 in 14 GP) – and became the third Blackhawks rookie to compile at least 17 points in a single month, joining Steve Larmer in December 1982 (9-10—19 in 14 GP) and March 1983 (8-9—17 in 14 GP) as well as Jeremy Roenick in December 1989 (7-11—18 in 12 GP).

The 18-year-old Bedard, the No. 1 overall pick from the 2023 NHL Draft, found the scoresheet in nine of his 14 March appearances. That included his fourth career multi-goal and third career three-point performance March 10 vs. ARI (2-1—3), followed by a career-best 1-4—5 March 12 vs. ANA. The latter marked the fifth five-point game by an 18-year-old in NHL history, following Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (0‑5—5 on Nov. 19, 2011), Ilya Kovalchuk (1-4—5 on Jan. 19, 2002), Dale Hawerchuk (3-2—5 on March 13, 1982) and Jack Hamilton (4-1—5 on Dec. 4, 1943), as well as the third four-assist contest by an 18-year-old (after Nugent-Hopkins and Kovalchuk).

Bedard also reached the 50-point and 20-goal milestones as part of his five-point performance (52 GP). He became the third-fastest Chicago player, from the start of his NHL career, to hit the 50-point mark – behind Bill Mosienko across three campaigns from 1941-42 to 1943-44 (35 GP) and Terry Ruskowski in 1979-80 (50 GP) – as well as the second 18-year-old in franchise history to score 20 goals in a season, joining Eddie Olczyk in 1984-85 (20-30—50 in 70 GP).

Despite missing 14 games due to injury, Bedard places first among rookies in goals (21), assists (36), points (57), shots on goal (190) and game-winning goals (t-2) through 60 total appearances this season. He also sits among the 2023-24 rookie leaders in power-play assists (2nd; 16), power-play points (2nd; 19), power-play goals (t-4th; 3), average time on ice (5th; 19:42 – minimum: 5 GP) and shooting percentage (10th; 11.1% – minimum: 1 SOG/GP).

McDavid, MacKinnon and Forsberg Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ for March

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon and Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the month of March.

FIRST STAR – CONNOR McDAVID, C, EDMONTON OILERS

McDavid paced the League with 24 assists and 31 points in 15 games (7-24—31) to lift the Oilers (45-23-5, 95 points) into second place in the Pacific Division via a 10-3-2 March. McDavid, who became the first NHL player to accumulate 30 points in a calendar month since he accomplished the feat in December 2022 (14-17—31 in 15 GP), also ranked among the March leaders in power-play points (1st; 10), power-play assists (t-1st; 8), plus/minus (t-10th; +12), game-winning goals (t-11th; 2) and shots on goal (18th; 51). He collected points in 13 of his 15 contests, highlighted by 11 multi-point performances. That included his ninth career four-assist outing (March 21 vs. BUF), five three-point efforts and a stretch of seven straight multi-point games to close the month (March 19-30: 4-15—19). McDavid picked up his 100th point March 7 at CBJ to become the sixth player in League history to reach the milestone at least seven times and the first to do so in four or more consecutive seasons since 1992-93, when Steve Yzerman (6) and Brett Hull (4) both achieved the feat. McDavid then collected his 90th assist March 24 at OTT to become the first player to hit the mark since Joe Thornton in 2006-07 (92). The 27-year-old McDavid has appeared in 71 total games this season (29-97—126), placing among the top performers in assists (1st; 97 – the most by any player since 1992-93), power-play assists (t-1st; 35), points (3rd; 126), power-play points (3rd; 42) and plus/minus (t-6th; +32).

SECOND STAR – NATHAN MacKINNON, C, COLORADO AVALANCHE

MacKinnon ranked among the March leaders in points (2nd; 27), shots on goal (t-2nd; 68), plus/minus (4th; +14), goals (t-4th; 11), assists (t-4th; 16) and power-play points (t-4th; 8) across 13 contests to power the Avalanche (47-22-6, 100 points) to their seventh straight playoff berth via a 10-2-1 month. He ran his home and overall point streaks to 35 (Oct. 19 – March 26: 29-48—77) and 19 (Feb. 13 – March 26: 13-25—38) games, respectively, before being held off the scoresheet March 28 vs. NYR. The former finished as the second-longest home point streak in NHL history – behind Wayne Gretzky’s unblemished 1988-89 home campaign (33-70—103 in 40 GP w/ LAK) – while the latter made MacKinnon the first player in League history to produce two separate point streaks of at least 19 games within the same season (also Nov. 20 – Dec. 27: 13-23—36). MacKinnon rebounded from his lone pointless outing with 2-2—4 March 30 vs. NSH, his eighth multi-point performance of the month, third with four points and second with multiple goals. The 28-year-old MacKinnon tops the NHL with 47-80—127 through 75 total contests this season, the second-most points in one campaign in franchise history behind Peter Stastny in 1981-82 (46-93—139 in 80 GP w/ QUE). MacKinnon also sits among the 2023-24 leaders in shots on goal (1st; 369), power-play points (2nd; 44), assists (3rd; 80), power-play assists (3rd; 34), goals (4th; 47), game-winning goals (t-4th; 9) and plus/minus (t-6th; +32).

THIRD STAR – FILIP FORSBERG, LW, NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Forsberg shared second place in goals (12) and finished fifth in points (23) across 13 outings (12‑11—23) to help the Predators (43-27-4, 90 points) move into the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference via a 9-2-2 month, highlighted by a franchise-record 18-game point streak from Feb. 17 – March 26 (16-0-2). Forsberg found the scoresheet in all but one of his March appearances, ending the month on a nine-game point streak (March 10-30: 8-9—17) that also featured a Nashville-record seven-game goal streak (March 13-28: 8-7—15). Overall, Forsberg scored in nine of his March contests, registered seven multi-point performances and collected a trio of game-winning goals (March 7 vs. BUF, March 13 at WPG and March 23 vs. DET). He also potted his franchise-record ninth career hat trick (March 7 vs. BUF) – five more than any other player in Predators history – and reached the 40-goal milestone for the second time (March 26 vs. VGK) – a first in team history. The 29-year-old Forsberg has played in 74 total contests this season (41-43—84), placing among the League leaders in game-winning goals (t-2nd; 10), shots on goal (5th; 304), goals (9th; 41) and points (13th; 84).

blank
Guest Writer