NHL NEWS APRIL 2 – MATTHEWS TIES ROOKIE RECORDS AS MAPLE LEAFS CLIMB STANDINGS

NHL NEWS APRIL 2 – James van Riemsdyk (1-0—1) and Auston Matthews (2-1—3) scored 77 seconds apart in the final 2:26 of regulation – with Matthews’ goal standing as the winner – to help Toronto move into second place in the Atlantic Division.

At 38-24-15 (91 points), the Maple Leafs leapfrogged the Senators (41-27-9, 91 points) – who lost in regulation – into second place in the Atlantic Division, where seed Nos. 2-4 are separated by five points.

Matthews (38-28—66 in 77 GP) – who registered at least three points in a game for the fifth time in his career – matched a single-season Maple Leafs record for points by a rookie, equaling a mark set in 1982-83 by Peter Ihnacak (28-38—66 in 80 GP).

Matthews, who shares third in the NHL in both goals (38) and game-winning goals (8), tied a single-season NHL record for goals by a U.S.-born rookie.

Matthews has scored in four straight games and has tallied at least one point in eight straight contests (7-4—11) to open a four-point lead over Winnipeg’s Patrik Laine (34-28—62) in the rookie scoring race.

NHL NEWS APRIL 2 AND OTHER MUSINGS

• Cam Talbot registered his 40th win of 2016-17 to equal a single-season Oilers record set by Grant Fuhr in 1987-88
• The Ducks registered at least a point for the 10th straight game (7-0-3)
• Jason Spezza (GWG) and Kari Lehtonen (SO) combined to help the Stars halt Carolina’s franchise-record point streak at 13 games (9-0-4)
• Blake Wheeler (1-0—1) extended his point streak to five games (3-4—7) as Winnipeg picked up its fifth straight home win
• Anthony Stolarz made 26 saves in relief of Michal Neuvirth (6 saves) as the Flyers (37-32-8, 82 points) posted a 3-0 victory
• Todd McLellan (EDM) served his 700th regular season game as an NHL head coach
• Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov, Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane were named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the month of March, while Maple Leafs forward William Nylander was named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month
• Commissioner Gary Bettman announced O’Leary, Prince Edward Island as the winner of Kraft Hockeyville for 2017. The community will host 2017-18 preseason game between the Senators and Devils on Monday, Sept. 25.

SATURDAY’S NHL RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
BOSTON 5, Florida 2
NASHVILLE 3, Minnesota 0
WINNIPEG 4, Ottawa 2
Toronto 5, DETROIT RED WINGS 4
Montreal 2, TAMPA BAY 1 (OT)
PHILADELPHIA 3, New Jersey 0
Dallas 3, CAROLINA 0
EDMONTON 3, Anaheim 2 (OT)

SUNDAY’S NHL ACTION
All Times Eastern
Boston @ Chicago, 12:30 p.m.
NY Islanders @ Buffalo, 3 p.m.
Nashville @ St. Louis, 4 p.m.
Carolina @ Pittsburgh, 5 p.m.
Colorado @ Minnesota, 6 p.m.
Dallas @ Tampa Bay, 6 p.m.
Washington @ Columbus, 6 p.m.
San Jose @ Vancouver, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia @ NY Rangers, 7:30 p.m.
Anaheim @ Calgary, 9:30 p.m.
Arizona @ Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.