NHL NEWS APRIL 6, 2023 – FLAMES CLAIM CRUCIAL REGULATION WIN IN WINNIPEG AS PLAYOFF LINE HITS ZERO

Trailing after the first period for a fourth straight game, the Flames scored three unanswered goals and Jacob Markstrom made 34 saves to help Calgary (37-27-15, 89 points) draw even with Winnipeg (43-32-3, 89 points) at 89 points. The Flames remain the first club outside the playoff bracket in the Western Conference by virtue of playing more games; the Jets will hold the tiebreaker should the clubs finish knotted in points at the end of the regular season.

• Markstrom played on back-to-back nights for the third time this season, improving to 2-1-0 in the second half of those sets following a win March 7 in Minnesota and a loss Nov. 8 in New Jersey. Since 2020-21 when he joined the Flames, Markstrom tops the NHL in both victories (7-2-1) and appearances (10) on zero days rest – one ahead of Connor Hellebuyck (6-2-1 in 9 GP), his counterpart Wednesday, in each category.

“NUGE” NOTCHES 100TH POINT, OILERS’ STRETCH STREAK TO CLOSE IN ON NO. 1 SEED

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (36-64—100) hit the 100-point milestone for the first time in his career as the Oilers became the first team since 1995-96 – and 14th in NHL history – to have three or more players post a triple-digit point total in the same season. The only other instances since the start of the 1990s were achieved by the Penguins, in 1992-93 (4) and 1995-96 (3).

• There are now eight players with 100-plus points in 2022-23, with Connor McDavid (62-86—148) pacing the group and now two points shy of the first 150-point season in 27 years. Four others are within six points of the century mark.
• Nugent-Hopkins, the longest-serving current member of the Oilers, became the sixth player in NHL history to record his first 100-point season in his 12th campaign or later. Of those six players, only Nugent-Hopkins and Steven Stamkos (2021-22, 14th season) have achieved the feat in the past 50 years.
• The Oilers stretched their point streak to 12 games (11-0-1), the sixth run of at least a dozen games in franchise history and first in 19 years. Edmonton has allowed only two goals against over their past four contests, marking the third time the club has ever achieved that feat (also Nov. 4-11, 2001 & Oct. 20-28, 2016; both 2 GA in 4 GP). They now sit one point back of first place in the Pacific Division as they pursue their first division crown since 1986-87.

RANGERS REPEL LIGHTNING, GAIN GROUND ON DEVILS

After the Rangers took a 3-0 lead just over 10 minutes into the contest, the Lightning rallied back to make it a 4-3 game heading into the final 20 minutes of play. Chris Kreider (2-0—2) responded for New York in the final frame to seal the victory, while Adam Fox (0-2—2) factored on each of the Rangers’ third-period tallies to record his second straight 70-point season.

• New York (46-21-11, 103 points) moved within three points of New Jersey (49-21-8, 106 points) for second place in the Metropolitan Division, with both clubs having four games left on their schedules.

RACES GALORE HEADING INTO 14-GAME THURSDAY

The NHL will take a one-day break from games on Friday as a breather between a jam-packed 14-game Thursday and the first 16-game day in NHL history Saturday. Opening the three-day stretch, Thursday’s schedule includes two games on ESPN+ and Hulu, three on Sportsnet (national or regional) and a pair on TVA Sports.

EIGHT OF 10 TEAMS INVOLVED IN WILD CARD RACES TO HIT THE ICE THURSDAY

Ten teams remain in the hunt for four remaining spots in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs as the NHL winds down with its final 72 games of the regular season.

• All six teams still in the running for an Eastern Conference playoff spot are in action Thursday, including the current Wild Card holders: the Panthers (40-31-7, 87 points) and Islanders (39-30-9, 87 points) – both one point up on the Penguins (38-39-10, 86 points). Over the last 10 days, each of those three teams has spent at least two days in a playoff position.
• The three other clubs vying to extend their season in the East are playing another team also in the Wild Card race: the Sabres (37-32-7, 81 points) visit the Red Wings (35-33-9, 79 points) while the Senators (37-34-7, 81 points) are in Florida.
• In the Western Conference Wild Card race, the Kraken (43-26-8, 94 points) are closing in on clinching the first playoff berth in franchise history while the Predators (39-30-8, 86 points) will look to keep pace with the Jets (43-32-3, 89 points) and Flames (37-27-15, 89 points) after Calgary pulled even in points with a regulation victory in Winnipeg on Wednesday.

DIVISION TITLES UP FOR GRABS IN CENTRAL, PACIFIC AND METROPOLITAN

The difference between first place and second place ranges from zero to three points in three of four divisions – the lone exception being the Atlantic where the history-chasing Bruins have reigned supreme since day one.

• Central Division – Top Three Teams Tied at 98 Points: The Avalanche (46-24-6, 98 points), Stars (42-21-14, 98 points) and Wild (44-23-10, 98 points) have matching standings points in the race to the top of the Central Division. The gap between the top three teams in the Central has been four points or less for the past three weeks (since March 16), while the difference between Nos. 1 and 2 has been three points or fewer for 54 consecutive days (since Feb. 11).
• Pacific Division – Four Point Separate Top Three Teams: The Golden Knights (48-22-8, 104 points), Oilers (47-23-9, 103 points) and Kings (45-23-10, 100 points) are three of the League’s hottest teams since the end of February, all ranking among the top five in the NHL for wins, points and points percentage since Feb. 28. Edmonton (six division titles) and Los Angeles (one division title) will look to dethrone Vegas (two division titles), which has been the No. 1 seed since Feb. 7.
• Metropolitan Division – Three Points Separate Hurricanes, Devils: The Hurricanes (50-18-9, 109 points) and Devils (49-21-8, 106 points) are divided by three points, ahead of the third-place Rangers (46-21-11, 103 points), with Carolina holding a game in hand on each club. Carolina has held the No. 1 seed since Dec. 20, but have not led by more than three points since March 10.
• There is only one head-to-head matchup remaining among the clubs currently battling for a division title: tonight’s clash between the Golden Knights and Kings.

Rangers’ Fox Fined for Slashing

New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for slashing Tampa Bay Lightning forward Corey Perry during NHL Game No. 1241 in New York on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. The incident occurred at 8:50 of the second period. Fox was assessed a minor penalty for slashing. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Lightning’s Killorn Fined for Slashing

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Alex Killorn has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for slashing New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin during NHL Game No. 1241 in New York on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. The incident occurred at 11:34 of the second period. Killorn was assessed a minor penalty for slashing. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Mark Friedman has been fined $2,000 as supplementary discipline under NHL Rule 64 (Diving/Embellishment), the National Hockey League announced today.

NHL Rule 64 is designed to bring attention to and more seriously penalize players (and teams) who repeatedly dive and embellish in an attempt to draw penalties. Fines are assessed to players and head coaches on a graduated scale outlined below:

Citation # Player Fine(s) * Head Coach Fine(s)

• 1 Warning N/A
• 2 $2,000 N/A
• 3 $3,000 N/A
• 4 $4,000 N/A
• 5 $5,000 $2,000
• 6 $5,000 $3,000
• 7 $5,000 $4,000
• 8 $5,000 $5,000

*For head coaches, each FINE issued to a player on his club counts toward his total. Four FINES issued to one player or a club collectively results in the head coach receiving his first fine.

Citations are issued by the National Hockey League Hockey Operations Department, which tracks all games, logs all penalties for diving or embellishment, and flags all plays not called on the ice that in its opinion were deserving of such a penalty. A Citation is issued once Hockey Operations, through its internal deliberations, is convinced that a player warrants sanction.

Friedman was issued a Warning following an incident flagged by NHL Hockey Operations during NHL Game No. 560 vs. Detroit on Dec. 28. His second Citation, which triggered the $2,000 fine, was issued for an incident at 10:22 of the third period during NHL Game No. 1221 vs. Philadelphia on April 2. Flyers forward Travis Konecny received a minor penalty for slashing on the play.

The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.