NHL Review April 25, 2022

LIGHTNING STRIKE EARLY AND OFTEN TO DEFEAT DIVISIONAL FOE (AGAIN)
Three days removed from an eight-goal performance against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the trio of Nikita Kucherov (2-3—5), Steven Stamkos (2-2—4) and Victor Hedman (0-4—4) once again sparked a Lightning offense that tallied eight times against the NHL-leading Panthers and ended their 13-game win streak.

• Kucherov, who extended his goal streak to six games, became just the second player to register three five-point outings with the franchise joining Vincent Lecavalier. Only one skater in Lightning history has had a larger single-game performance than Kucherov: Doug Crossman (3-3—6 on Nov. 7, 1992).
• Stamkos (37-60—97 in 78 GP) moved within three points of his first career 100-point campaign and has done so thanks in part to four consecutive outings with three-plus points. The Lightning captain became the first player in franchise history to register a streak of at least that length.
• Hedman (20-61—81) became the third defenseman to hit the 80-point mark this season, joining Roman Josi (21-70—91) and Cale Makar (27-58—85). The 2021-22 campaign is the first since 1993-94 to feature three-plus blueliners with 80 or more points, when Ray Bourque (91), Sergei Zubov (89) and Al MacInnis (82) all did so.

HAULA PROPELS BRUINS AFTER EMOTIONAL PRE-GAME CEREMONY AT BELL CENTRE
Prior to Erik Haula (2-0—2) becoming the fourth Bruins skater to score a penalty-shot goal against the Canadiens, Montreal held an emotional pre-game moment to honor the life of franchise legend Guy Lafleur in the team’s first home game since his passing. With several of Lafleur’s former teammates on hand, the Bell Centre crowd followed up the video tribute with a 10:10 standing ovation in respect to his iconic No. 10.

WILD, BLUES CONTINUE TO BATTLE IT OUT FOR HOME-ICE ADVANTAGE. . .
With the final week of the regular season approaching, the Wild (52-21-7, 109 points) and Blues (49-20-11, 109 points) each skated to high-scoring victories Sunday with the hopes of inching closer to securing home-ice advantage in their First Round matchup.

• Minnesota (79 GP) currently holds one game in hand over St. Louis (80 GP), but the Blues have captured more regulation wins (STL: 43, MIN: 36) – the first tie-breaker should the two clubs finish 2021-22 tied in standings points.
• The Predators scored three game-tying goals, but Dmitry Kulikov scored with 1.3 seconds remaining in overtime to help the Wild improve to 8-0-2 in their past 10 contests dating to April 8. Kulikov scored the sixth game-winning goal by a Minnesota defenseman in 2021-22; Colorado paces all teams with 13 such tallies.
• The Blues spoiled Ryan Getzlaf’s final NHL game after erasing a 2-0 deficit to extend their franchise-best point streak to 16 games (14-0-2). Two skaters also extended their personal point streaks: Ville Husso (14 saves) improved to 9-0-2 through his past 11 outings and trails only Jaroslav Halak (11-0-3 in 2011-12) for the longest such run by a Blues goaltender, while Robert Thomas (0-1—1) stretched his run to 17 games and matched Connor McDavid (17 GP from Oct. 13 – Nov. 20) for the longest point streak this season.

JOSI JOINS ELITE COMPANY
On Sunday a trio of Nashville skaters reached seasonal benchmarks: Filip Forsberg (40-40—80) joined Matt Duchene (41-40—81) as the second 40-goal scorer in franchise history, while Roman Josi (21-70—91 in 2021-22) became the NHL’s first defenseman to notch 70 assists in a single campaign since Brian Leetch in 1995-96 (70 w/ NYR).

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS ONLY ONE WEEK AWAY

With opening night of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs one week away, the bracket is far from set as seven of eight First Round matchups have yet to be confirmed, 13 seeds are up in the air and three playoff spots yet to be clinched.

Guaranteed Matchups: Minnesota vs. St. Louis

Guaranteed Seeds: Florida (A1), Colorado (C1) and Calgary (P1)

Teams in the Hunt: Los Angeles, Nashville, Dallas, Vegas and Vancouver

• One of the 44 remaining games in the 2021-22 regular season goes tonight in Chicago. Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane has 91 points, the third-highest point production of his career behind 2018-19 (110) and 2015-16 (106). With three games remaining, a third 100-point campaign is within the realm of possibility for the 33-year-old – Kane has posted at least nine points over a three-game span at three stages in his career, including last month when he collected 1-9—10 from March 8-12 to match his best three-game stretch in the NHL.

STAMKOS, FIALA AND QUICK NAMED NHL ‘THREE STARS’ OF THE WEEK

Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos, Minnesota Wild left wing Kevin Fiala and Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending April 24, 2022.

FIRST STAR – STEVEN STAMKOS, C, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Stamkos led the NHL with 4-9—13 in four contests, picking up at least three points in each of his appearances to power the Lightning (49-22-8, 106 points) to a 3-1-0 week. He recorded his 12th career three-assist performance – and third of the season (also Dec. 9 at TOR: 1-3—4 and March 16 at SEA: 0‑3—3) – in a 4-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings April 19. Stamkos, who was drafted first overall by Tampa Bay in 2008, then surpassed Martin St. Louis as the franchise’s all-time leading scorer with 1-2—3 in an 8-1 triumph over the Toronto Maple Leafs April 21. He followed that with another 1-2—3 outing in a 6-2 victory against the Nashville Predators April 23 before capping the week with 2-2—4, his 18th career four-point game and second of the season (also Dec. 9 at TOR), in an 8-4 win over the Florida Panthers April 24. The 32-year-old captain of the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions – who has multiple points in six straight outings dating to April 14 (5-12—17) – ranks eighth in the League with 37-60—97 through 78 total games this season, one point shy of his career high established in 2018-19 (45-53—98 in 82 GP).

SECOND STAR – KEVIN FIALA, LW, MINNESOTA WILD

Fiala registered multiple points in all four of his contests, totaling 4-7—11 and two game-winning goals to propel the Wild (51-21-7, 109 points) to a perfect week. He scored the decisive marker in each of his first two outings, potting 1-1—2 in a 2-0 victory against the Montreal Canadiens April 19 and two goals in a 6-3 triumph over the Vancouver Canucks April 21. Fiala then set a career high and single-game franchise record with five assists in a 6-3 win versus the Seattle Kraken April 22. He closed the week with 1-1—2, his fifth straight multi-point performance and seventh in his last eight appearances dating to April 12 (9-12—21), in a 5-4 overtime victory against the Nashville Predators April 24. The 25-year-old veteran of eight NHL seasons, who also was named “Second Star” for the week ending April 17, has established career highs in goals (33), assists (51), points (84) and game-winning goals (7) through 79 total contests thus far in 2021-22.

THIRD STAR – JONATHAN QUICK, G, LOS ANGELES KINGS

Quick stopped 63 of the 67 shots he faced, compiling a 3-0-0 record, 1.33 goals-against average and .940 save percentage to lift the Kings (43-27-10, 96 points) to a perfect week as they pursue their first playoff berth since 2018. The Milford, Conn., native reached the 20-win milestone for the ninth time (a feat achieved by only five other U.S.-born goaltenders in NHL history) with 29 saves in a 2-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks April 19. He then denied 15 shots in a 4-1 triumph against the Chicago Blackhawks April 21 before finishing the week with 19 saves in a 4-2 win versus the Ducks April 23. The 36-year-old Quick has appeared in 45 total games this season, going 22-13-9 with a 2.58 goals-against average, .909 save percentage and two shutouts.

KINGS’ KALIYEV FINED FOR CROSS-CHECKING

Los Angeles Kings forward Arthur Kaliyev has been fined $2,235.42, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for cross-checking Anaheim Ducks defenseman Josh Mahura during NHL Game No. 1258 in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 23, 2022. The incident occurred at 19:54 of the third period. Kaliyev was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for cross-checking. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

PANTHERS’ LOMBERG SUSPENDED ONE GAME

Florida Panthers forward Ryan Lomberg has been suspended for one game, without pay, for instigating a fight during the final five minutes of NHL Game No. 1260 in Tampa on Sunday, April 24, 2022. Lomberg will forfeit $3,625 in salary. In addition, Panthers head coach Andrew Brunette has been fined $10,000.

Lomberg was assessed a minor penalty for instigating, a major penalty for fighting, a 10-minute misconduct and a game misconduct at 16:24 of the third period. Both the suspension to the player and the fine of the coach are automatic for a violation of Rule 46.21.

DETROIT SIGNS TURNER ELSON TO NHL CONTRACT FOR REMAINDER OF 2021-22 SEASON
The Detroit Red Wings today signed center Turner Elson to an NHL contract for the remainder of the 2021-22 season.