NHL March 31 2019 – Flames Clinch First Place in the West
SUNDAY’S RESULTS – Home Team in Caps
- NY Rangers 3, PHILADELPHIA 0
- ARIZONA 4, Minnesota 0
- PITTSBURGH 3, Carolina 1
- Columbus 4, BUFFALO 0
- DETROIT 6, Boston 3
- Calgary 5, SAN JOSE 3
FLAMES CLINCH FIRST PLACE IN WESTERN CONFERENCE
The Flames (49-23-7, 105 points) defeated the Sharks and clinch first place in the Western Conference standings. Calgary will conclude a season atop its conference for the fourth time in franchise history; the previous instances were when the Flames secured three consecutive first-place finishes in the Clarence Campbell Conference from 1987-88 to 1989-90.
* Calgary will become the 10th team and second in as many years to conclude a season atop its conference after not qualifying for the Stanley Cup Playoffs during the previous campaign (since 1974-75 when teams realigned into conferences).
* The Flames captured their seventh division title in franchise history and first since 2005-06, when they finished the season with a 46-25-11 (103 points) record to clinch top spot in the Northwest Division.
* Calgary moved within one victory of reaching the 50-win mark for the second time in franchise history and first since 1988-89, when it had 54 en route to capturing the Stanley Cup (54-17-9, 117 points). The Flames’ 105 points in 2018-19 are tied for their second-most in a season, behind only their total of 117 in 1988-89.
SHARKS TO FACE GOLDEN KNIGHTS IN 2019 FIRST ROUND
By virtue of the Flames’ win, the Sharks (44-26-9, 97 points) will face the Golden Knights (42-30-7, 91 points) in the First Round of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
* Both teams met in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs, a six-game triumph by Vegas in the Second Round. The Golden Knights will become the first team to face the same opponent in each of their first two trips to the Stanley Cup Playoffs since the Wild faced the Ducks in the 2003 Conference Finals and 2007 Conference Quarterfinals.
BLUE JACKETS EXTEND WIN STREAK, CLIMB EASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS
Sergei Bobrovsky turned aside all 38 shots he faced to help the Blue Jackets (45-30-4, 94 points) blank the Sabres and extend their win streak to five games, tied for the longest active run in the NHL (w/ DET). Columbus leapfrogged Carolina (43-29-7, 93 points) for the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference standings as it pursues a third consecutive postseason berth.
* Bobrovsky concluded the month of March 9-4-0 with a 1.74 goals-against average, .940 save percentage and four shutouts, including a 5-0-0 record in his last five appearances (0.80 GAA, .971 SV%, 3 SO). He matched his career high for most shutouts in a calendar month during the regular season, a mark set in March 2017.
* Bobrovsky (36-23-1; 2.55 GAA, .914 SV%, 9 SO) recorded his ninth shutout of 2018-19 overall to move within one of matching the franchise record for most in a season, a mark set by Steve Mason in 2008-09 (10). He has accounted for 36 of Columbus’ 45 wins in 2018-19 (80.0%).
* Bobrovsky recorded his 21st regular-season shutout since the beginning of the 2016-17 campaign, five more than countryman Andrei Vasilevskiy (16) for the most among NHL goaltenders in that span.
PENGUINS, COYOTES TRIUMPH IN PIVOTAL INTRACONFERENCE SHOWDOWNS
The Penguins (43-25-11, 97 points) and Coyotes (38-33-8, 84 points) each triumphed in pivotal showdowns against intraconference opponents. Pittsburgh strengthened its grip on third place in the Metropolitan Division standings, while Arizona moved within one point of Colorado (36-29-13, 85 points) for the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.
* Matt Cullen (1-1—2) scored his second game-winning goal over the last seven days (also March 25 at NYR) to help the Penguins defeat the Hurricanes. Cullen (born Nov. 2, 1976), who captured the Stanley Cup with Carolina in 2006, became the first player to score multiple game-winning goals in a season at age 42 or older since Florida’s Jaromir Jagr in 2016-17 (2).
* Darcy Kuemper turned aside all 39 shots he faced as the Coyotes defeated the Wild to extend their point streak to three contests (2-0-1) on the heels of a five-game slide (0-3-2). Kuemper improved to 2-0-1 in his last three appearances with a 0.65 goals-against average, .979 save percentage and two shutouts in that span.
MONDAY’S GAMES
| Washington@ Florida | 7:00 PM ET |
| NY Rangers@ New Jersey | 7:00 PM ET |
| Toronto@ NY Islanders | 7:00 PM ET |
| Tampa Bay@ Ottawa | 7:30 PM ET |
| Colorado@ St. Louis | 8:00 PM ET |
| Winnipeg@ Chicago | 8:30 PM ET |
| Edmonton@ Vegas | 10:00 PM ET |
| Calgary@ Los Angeles | 10:00 PM ET |
2018-19 SEASON ENTERS FINAL WEEK
Two division titles, six berths in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs and seven of eight First Round matchups are to be decided as the 2018-19 regular season enters its final week with 96% of games now completed (1,220 of 1,271). The season is set to conclude following a 15-game day on Saturday where 30 of 31 teams are in action; only the Ducks will be idle.
AVALANCHE AIM TO STRENGTHEN GRIP ON FINAL WILD CARD SPOT
The Avalanche (36-29-13, 85 points) aim to strengthen their grip on the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference standings when they visit the Blues (42-28-8, 92 points) at Enterprise Center. Colorado will face Western Conference opponents in each of its remaining four games (also April 2 vs. EDM, April 4 vs. WPG and April 6 at SJS).
* Contributing to Avalanche’s push for a second straight postseason berth has been the play of Philipp Grubauer, who went 7-2-1 through 11 appearances in March with a 1.48 goals-against average, .955 save percentage and two shutouts. His save percentage was the second-highest by an Avalanche/Nordiques goaltender in a calendar month during the regular season (min. 5 GP), behind only a mark set by Peter Budaj through seven appearances in December 2009 (5-3-2; 1.32 GAA, .957 SV%, 1 SO).
* St. Louis, meanwhile, is 3-0-0 through three of its four games against Colorado this season (COL: 0-1-2). The Blues can sweep a season series with the Avalanche/Nordiques (min. 2 GP) for the fifth time in franchise history and first since 1991-92 (2-0-0).
LIGHTNING LOOK TO REACH 60-WIN MARK
The Lightning (59-15-4, 122 points) look to become the third team in NHL history to reach the 60-win mark in a season when they visit the Senators (28-44-6, 62 points) at Canadian Tire Centre.
* If the Lightning go 4-0-0 through their remaining four games, it would mark the second time in the last three years that a major North American professional sports team set a single-season wins record in their respective league. The Golden State Warriors went 73-9 in 2015-16 to establish an NBA record for most wins in a season, eclipsing the previous high of 72 set by the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls in 1995-96 (72-10).
Sharks’ Thornton Fined for High-Sticking
San Jose Sharks forward Joe Thornton has been fined $2,500 for high-sticking Vegas Golden Knights forward Ryan Reaves during NHL Game No. 1211 in San Jose on Saturday, March 30, 2019. The incident occurred at 15:20 of the first period. Thornton was assessed a minor penalty for high-sticking. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Golden Knights’ Reaves Fined for High-Sticking
Vegas Golden Knights forward Ryan Reaves has been fined $2,500 for high-sticking San Jose Sharks forward Joe Thornton during NHL Game No. 1211 in San Jose on Saturday, March 30, 2019. The incident occurred at 16:10 of the third period. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Bobrovsky, Bertuzzi and Kuemper Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the Week
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, Detroit Red Wings left wing Tyler Bertuzzi and Arizona Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending March 31.
FIRST STAR – SERGEI BOBROVSKY, G, COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
Bobrovsky went 4-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average, .966 save percentage and two shutouts to help the Blue Jackets (45-30-4, 94 points) extend their overall winning streak to five games and move into the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Bobrovsky stopped all 26 shots he faced for his 32nd career shutout – and second straight (also March 24 at VAN) – in a 4-0 victory over the New York Islanders March 26. He made 26 more saves in a 6-2 triumph against the Montreal Canadiens March 28, lifting Columbus ahead of Montreal for the final playoff spot in the conference. Bobrovsky added 23 saves in a 5-2 win over the Nashville Predators March 30, followed by 38 stops – for his League-leading ninth shutout of 2018-19 – in a 4-0 victory against the Buffalo Sabres March 31. The 30-year-old Novokuznetsk, Russia, native and two-time Vezina Trophy winner ranks second in the NHL with 36 wins in 60 total appearances this season (2.55 GAA, .914 SV%, 9 SO).
SECOND STAR – TYLER BERTUZZI, LW, DETROIT RED WINGS
Bertuzzi shared the League lead with 3-7—10 in four outings to power the Red Wings (31-38-10, 72 points) to a perfect week and their fifth consecutive victory overall. He collected one assist in a 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks March 25. Bertuzzi then registered three straight three-point performances, posting 2-1—3 (including his first career overtime goal) in a 5-4 triumph against the Buffalo Sabres March 28, 1-2—3 in a 4-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils March 29 and three assists in a 6-3 win against the Boston Bruins March 31. In doing so, Bertuzzi became the first Detroit player to record three consecutive three-point games since 1992-93, when Steve Yzerman achieved the feat twice (Feb. 3-11 and March 5-10). The 24-year-old Sudbury, Ont., native has notched career highs across the board this season, ranking fourth on the Red Wings with 19-25—44 in 70 contests.
THIRD STAR – DARCY KUEMPER, G, ARIZONA COYOTES
Kuemper stopped 95 of the 97 shots he faced, going 2-0-1 with a 0.65 goals-against average, .979 save percentage and two shutouts for the Coyotes (38-33-8, 84 points) as they pursue a Wild Card berth in the Western Conference. Kuemper earned his 15th career shutout with 31 saves in a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks March 26. He then denied 25 shots in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche March 29. Kuemper closed the week with another shutout (his fifth of 2018-19), making 39 saves in a 4-0 triumph against the Minnesota Wild March 31. The 28-year-old Saskatoon, Sask., native has recorded a career-high 26 wins in 53 appearances this season, ranking in the top 10 in the NHL in goals-against average (6th; 2.34) and save percentage (9th; .924).