NHL Preview April 1, 2024 – MAPLE LEAFS LOOK TO CLINCH ON NATIONAL TELECAST MONDAY

An eight-game Monday will feature multiple national broadcasts, including the Panthers (47-22-5, 99 points) visiting the Maple Leafs (42-22-9, 93 points) on Sportsnet and TVA Sports as well as the Blues (39-31-4, 82 points) welcoming the Oilers (45-23-4, 94 points) on ESPN+ and Hulu.

• Florida will have the opportunity to re-take top spot in the Atlantic Division and reach the 100-point mark for the third time in franchise history, while Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs look to clinch a playoff spot.
• The contest between the Panthers and Maple Leafs could be a First Round playoff preview, which would mark the second meeting in as many years between the clubs after the Wild Card Panthers eliminated the Maple Leafs in five games in the 2023 Second Round. The only team Florida has faced in consecutive playoff years is state rival Tampa Bay (2021 & 2022).
• After a turnaround among the best in NHL history, Connor McDavid will try to help his Oilers inch closer to a playoff spot – and continue to gain ground in the Art Ross Trophy race – when they clash with the Blues, who will try to narrow the gap on the Kings (38-24-11, 87 points). Los Angeles sits in the second Wild Card spot, but St. Louis could move within three points with a win and regulation loss by the Kings.
• The Eastern Conference Wild Card race will also be a focus Monday as the Lightning, current holders of the first Wild Card spot, try to put themselves in position to climb the standings later in the week. A regulation loss by Toronto on Monday paired with a Tampa Bay win would give the Lightning a shot at moving into third place in the Atlantic Division when the clubs meet Wednesday in yet another 2023 playoff rematch on national television.

WEEK AHEAD FEATURES MORE NOTEWORTHY TELECASTS

More notable stats to look forward to through this week’s national telecasts include:

Wednesday, April 3: Devils at Rangers (7 p.m. ET on TNT, Max)

• A rematch of the 2023 First Round will see the Devils face off against the Rangers, who continue to push toward a conference title. Entering the week, Artemi Panarin needs one point to surpass Mark Messier (1991-92) for sole possession of the third most in a season by a Rangers player and two to tie Jean Ratelle (1971-72) for second behind franchise record holder Jaromir Jagr (123 in 2005-06).

Wednesday, April 3: Oilers at Stars (9:30 p.m. ET on TNT, Max, SN360)

• Connor McDavid and the Oilers will face Jamie Benn and the Stars in a contest that features two clubs ousted by the eventual Stanley Cup champion in the past two Western Conference Final series – Edmonton lost to Colorado in 2022 and Dallas to Vegas in 2023. McDavid enters the week needing four assists to become the fourth player in League history with 100-plus in a campaign and can become the first player in more than 20 years to win the Art Ross Trophy after trailing the leader by more than 20 points at any point in the season. Across the ice, Benn and the Stars are on pace for 112 standings points, which would match the second-highest total in franchise history – the club had 114 points in 1998-99 en route to winning their only Stanley Cup.

Saturday, April 6: Panthers at Bruins (3:30 p.m. ET on ABC, ESPN+)

• The Panthers and Bruins – the top two teams in the Atlantic Division – are among a group of seven teams separated by five points atop the NHL standings. This is the fourth time in a conference-based season that the Presidents’ Trophy race includes that many clubs separated by such a narrow margin 90% of the way through (also 2014-15, 2006-07 & 2003-04).

Saturday, April 6: Maple Leafs at Canadiens (7 p.m. ET on SN, CBC, TVAS)

• The 846th all-time matchup between the Maple Leafs and Canadians (including playoffs) will be featured during a four-game Hockey Night in Canada slate. NHL goals leader Auston Matthews (60-35—95) already has the third most career goals against Montreal among active players (26 in 33 GP) as he and teammate William Nylander (40-55—95) track down 100-point seasons.

McDavid, Thompson and Lafrenière Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the Week

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Logan Thompson and New York Rangers left wing Alexis Lafrenière have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending March 31.

FIRST STAR – CONNOR McDAVID, C, EDMONTON OILERS

McDavid led the NHL with 3-5—8 in three games to propel the Oilers (45-23-4, 94 points) to a perfect week and four-point cushion for second place in the Pacific Division. He collected a pair of assists in a 4-3 overtime victory against the Winnipeg Jets March 26. McDavid then posted 1-2—3, his fifth straight multi-assist performance (March 21-28: 1-13—14), in a 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings March 28 to become the seventh player in NHL history to record 120 points in at least three consecutive seasons, joining Wayne Gretzky (13 straight), Phil Esposito (5), Guy Lafleur (5), Paul Coffey (3), Marcel Dionne (3) and Mario Lemieux (3). McDavid added 2-1—3, including the game-winning goal, in a 6-1 triumph versus the Anaheim Ducks March 30 to extend his multi-point streak to seven contests dating to March 19 (4-15—19). The 27-year-old McDavid, who has won three consecutive and five total Art Ross Trophies, ranks third in the NHL with 29-96—125 through 70 total appearances this season – two points behind League leader Nathan MacKinnon (47-80—127 in 74 GP) – after sitting as many as 22 points back of first place through games of Jan. 24. McDavid also places among the top 2023-24 performers in assists (1st; 96 – the most by any player since 2005-06), power-play assists (1st; 35), power-play points (3rd; 42) and plus/minus (t-5th; +33).

SECOND STAR – LOGAN THOMPSON, G, VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

Thompson paced the NHL with three wins and 102 saves in three starts, compiling a 0.98 goals-against average and .971 save percentage to lift the Golden Knights (41-25-8, 90 points) into third place in the Pacific Division via a 3-0-1 week and 5-0-1 record in their past six contests dating to March 21. He made 31 stops, and denied an overtime penalty shot, in a 2-1 triumph over the St. Louis Blues March 25 to reach the 20-win milestone for the second consecutive season. Thompson then turned aside 39 shots, including all 15 he faced in the third period, in a 4-1 victory against the Winnipeg Jets March 28. He finished the week with 32 saves, his 13th 30-save performance of 2023-24, in a 2-1 overtime win versus the Minnesota Wild March 30. The 27-year-old Thompson, who is 5-0-0 in his last six appearances dating to March 17 (1.13 GAA, .962 SV%), owns a 22-12-5 record, 2.63 goals-against average, .911 save percentage and one shutout through 41 total games this season.

THIRD STAR – ALEXIS LAFRENIÈRE, LW, NEW YORK RANGERS

Lafrenière topped the NHL with five goals and ranked third with seven points (5-2—7) in three games to help the Rangers (50-20-4, 104 points) extend their winning streak to five contests dating to March 21. He scored twice, his fifth career multi-goal outing and third of 2023-24, in a 6-5 overtime victory against the Philadelphia Flyers March 26 as New York became the first team to clinch a berth in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Lafrenière then was held off the scoresheet in a 3-2 shootout win versus the Colorado Avalanche March 28, but rebounded with a career-high 3-2—5 (including his first career hat trick) in an 8-5 triumph over the Arizona Coyotes March 30. The 22-year-old Lafrenière, the No. 1 overall pick from the 2020 NHL Draft, has established career highs in goals (25, six more than his previous best), assists (27, four more than his prior high) and points (52, 13 more than his previous best) through 74 total appearances this season.

Wild’s Hartman Suspended Three Games for Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman has been suspended for three games, without pay, for unsportsmanlike conduct during NHL Game No. 1166 in Minnesota on Saturday, March 30. The incident occurred at 3:30 of overtime. Hartman was assessed a 10-minute misconduct. Hartman is considered a repeat offender under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, will forfeit $62,195.13. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.