NHL REVIEW APRIL 4 2018 – DUCKS CLINCH SIXTH STRAIGHT POSTSEASON

WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
Ottawa 4, BUFFALO 2
Chicago 4, ST. LOUIS 3
ANAHEIM 3, Minnesota 1

DUCKS WIN TO CLINCH SIXTH STRAIGHT POSTSEASON APPEARANCE

Ondrej Kase scored the winning goal for the second straight game to help the Ducks (42-25-13, 97 points) clinch a berth in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs – their sixth straight postseason appearance and 14th in franchise history.

Anaheim extended its winning streak at Honda Center to six games dating to March 14, outscoring their opponents 20-9 in that span.

The Ducks leapfrogged the Kings (44-28-8, 96 points) into the No. 3 seed in the Pacific Division, one point back of the Sharks (44-26-10, 98 points). Each club has two games remaining, with Los Angeles guaranteed to win the ROW tiebreaker against either San Jose or Anaheim (LAK: 42, SJS: 39, ANA: 38).
 
IDLE KINGS CLINCH POSTSEASON BERTH
The idle Kings (44-28-8, 96 points) clinched a berth in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs following the Blues’ loss. Los Angeles reached the postseason for the seventh time in the last nine years – a stretch that includes Stanley Cup wins in 2012 and 2014 – and 30th time in franchise history.

KEITH HINDERS BLUES’ PLAYOFF HOPES WITH LATE GO-AHEAD TALLY

Duncan Keith broke a 21-game goalless drought with 8.5 seconds left in regulation to complete the Blackhawks’ rally from a 3-1 deficit and prevent the Blues from moving back into the playoff picture.

Keith netted the fourth go-ahead goal in the final 10 seconds of the third period in the NHL this season. Vegas defenseman Shea Theodore (Dec. 19 vs. TBL), Washington forward Jay Beagle (Jan. 12 at CAR) and Florida forward Jonathan Huberdeau (Feb. 3 vs. DET) also achieved the feat.

2017-18 ROOKIE CLASS CONTINUES TO IMPRESS

Blackhawks forward Alex DeBrincat (1-1—2) tied the game in the third period with his team-leading 28th goal of the season to move into sixth among NHL rookies with 28-24—52 in 2017-18.

With two games remaming in 2017-18, DeBrincat aims to become just the sixth rookie in franchise history to lead the team in goals. The only Blackhawks rookies to do so are Tuomo Ruutu (23 in 2003-04), Darryl Sutter (40 in 1980-81), Ed Litzenberger (23 in 1954-55), Doug Bentley (12 in 1939-40) and Vic Ripley (11 in 1928-29).

DeBrincat is one of seven rookies with at least 50 points this season. The last campaign with at least seven rookies at the 50-point mark was 1993-94 (also seven).

There also are seven rookies with at least 20 goals apiece this season, with two others at 19 goals. Only two campaigns since 1990-91 have featured more than seven 20-goal rookies: 1992-93 (12) and 2005-06 (11).

ALL EYES ON THE EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF PICTURE

Four Metropolitan Division teams divided by only two points and one Atlantic Division club looking to stay in the playoff race take the ice tonight.

Opponents in two of the past four playoff years, the No. 2 Penguins (45-29-6, 96 points) visit the No. 3 Blue Jackets (45-29-6, 96 points). Columbus owns a 13-1-1 record in its past 15 games and needs only one point or a Florida loss to clinch a playoff berth. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, could clinch home ice in the First Round with a regulation win (they would also need a New Jersey loss).

With former Windsor Spitfire Taylor Hall (39-54—93) sitting three points away from matching the single-season franchise record, the Devils (43-28-9, 95 points) take the ice looking to guarantee their place in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs. There are three scenarios that would put New Jersey into the playoffs for the first time since 2011-12: any type of win; or one point and a Florida loss; or a Florida regulation loss.

Captain Claude Giroux (30-67—97) sits three points shy of becoming the sixth different player in franchise history to reach the 100-point plateau as the Flyers (40-26-14, 94 points) continue their playoff push. A win of any kind and a Florida loss would put Philadelphia into the postseason, as would one point and a Florida regulation loss.

The Panthers (41-30-8, 90 points) take their 25-11-3 record at BB&T Center into their game against the conference-leading Bruins (49-18-12, 110 points). A victory would keep Florida in the playoff race and match a single-season franchise record for home wins.

AVALANCHE PUSH FOR FINAL PLAYOFF SPOT IN WEST

Colorado visits San Jose looking to increase its lead in the battle for the final Western Conference playoff spot. The Avalanche (42-29-9, 93 points) hold the second Wild Card position, one point ahead of the Blues (43-31-6, 92 points). Both clubs have 40 ROW and two games remaining – St. Louis visits Chicago on Friday before heading to Colorado for a potential playoff-deciding season finale on Saturday. All four meetings between Colorado and St. Louis have been decided in regulation, with the Blues winning three of them.

PREDATORS VISIT CAPITALS WITH SIGHTS SET ON PRESIDENTS’ TROPHY

The League-leading Predators (51-18-11, 113 points) look to advance their bid for their first-ever Presidents’ Trophy when they visit the Capitals (48-25-7, 103 points) – winners of the award in each of the past two seasons. A Nashville victory and a Boston regulation loss would make them the 16th different team to win the Presidents’ Trophy since its inception in 1985-86.

There are three scenarios that would allow the Predators to clinch first place in the Western Conference: a win; or one point and a Winnipeg loss; or a Winnipeg regulation loss and a Vegas loss.

There are also three scenarios that would allow the Predators to clinch first place in the Central Division: a win; or one point and a Winnipeg loss; or a Winnipeg regulation loss.

SEDIN BROTHERS PREPARE FOR FINAL HOME GAME
After being drafted by the Canucks at second and third overall, respectively, in the 1999 NHL Draft, Daniel and Henrik Sedin will play the final home of their careers when Vancouver welcomes Arizona to Rogers Arena. Since making their NHL debuts at the beginning of the 2000-01 season, all 1,463 Canucks games have featured at least one Sedin (1,358 regular season and 105 playoffs).

Henrik is the club’s all-time leader in assists, points and games played, while Daniel sits atop the Canucks’ goals list and ranks second in each of the other categories. In fact, the brothers have factored on the same goal 743 times, trailing only Wayne Gretzky and Jari Kurri (764) for the most instances in NHL history.

NHL Schedule for Thursday Apr 5 2018

Matchup	Time
Toronto@ New Jersey	7:00 PM ET
NY Rangers@ NY Islanders	7:00 PM ET
Carolina@ Philadelphia	7:00 PM ET
Nashville@ Washington	7:00 PM ET
Pittsburgh@ Columbus	7:00 PM ET
Montréal@ Detroit	7:30 PM ET
Boston@ Florida	7:30 PM ET
Calgary@ Winnipeg	8:00 PM ET
Vegas@ Edmonton	9:00 PM ET
Arizona@ Vancouver	10:00 PM ET
Minnesota@ Los Angeles	10:30 PM ET
Colorado@ San Jose	10:30 PM ET