NHL REVIEW APRIL 8 2018 – PANTHERS WIN BUT MISS PLAYOFFS
BRACKET, SCHEDULE CONFIRMED FOR 2018 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
The schedule for the First Round of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs was announced following the conclusion of the regular-season finale, a contest that decided the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and the final two postseason matchups. Click here for the full Stanley Cup schedule.
SUNDAY’S RESULT
Home Team in Caps
Florida 4, BOSTON 2
PANTHERS END SEASON WITH FIVE WINS IN SEVEN DAYS
The Panthers finished the regular season with five straight wins but fell just short of a berth in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs. They became the 13th team in NHL history to post five victories in a seven-day span and first since San Jose from Jan. 18-24, 2017. Florida shared the League lead with 24 wins from Feb. 1 through the end of the regular season (24-8-2, 50 points), tied with the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Predators (24-6-4, 52 points).
The Panthers finished one point back of the Devils (44-29-9, 97 points), who secured the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Florida’s quest for a berth in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs is chronicled in Home Team: Florida Panthers, with the second episode airing on Tuesday, April 10.
LIGHTNING CLAIM FIRST PLACE IN EASTERN CONFERENCE
By virtue of a Bruins loss, the idle Lightning (54-23-5, 113 points) clinched first place in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference. Tampa Bay clinched the top spot in the Eastern Conference for the second time in franchise history and first since 2003-04, when they won the Stanley Cup.
FINAL TWO MATCHUPS SET FOR 2018 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF
The 1,271st and final game of the 2017-18 regular season decided the final two matchups for the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs:
The Lightning (No. 1 Atlantic) will face the Devils (Wild Card 2) in the First Round. New Jersey has won each of the other two series, including their last meeting in the 2007 Conference Quarterfinals (4-2 W).
The Bruins (No. 2 Atlantic) will face the Maple Leafs (No. 3 Atlantic) in the First Round, their 15th postseason meeting and first since Boston’s victory in the 2013 Conference Quarterfinals (4-3 W). Toronto owns an 8-6 series edge in the previous 14 matchups.
McDAVID, OVECHKIN AND QUICK CAPTURE 2017-18 REGULAR-SEASON TROPHIES
The 2017-18 National Hockey League regular season concluded Sunday with Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid capturing his second consecutive Art Ross Trophy as the League’s scoring champion, Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin claiming his seventh career Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the NHL’s goal-scoring leader and Jonathan Quick of the Los Angeles Kings winning his second career William M. Jennings Trophy as the goaltender who plays at least 25 games for the club allowing the fewest goals.
McDavid finished the season with a League-leading 108 points (41-67—108) in 82 games, besting Philadelphia Flyers center Claude Giroux (34-68—102 in 82 GP) and Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (39-61—100 in 80 GP) for his second straight Art Ross Trophy. McDavid collected at least one point in 58 of his 82 appearances (70.7%), pacing the NHL with 32 multi-point performances and 14 three-point efforts. He also led the League with 84 even-strength points, 18 more than the next-closest player and the most by any NHLer since 1995-96. McDavid, who topped the League with 30-70—100 in 2016-17, became the first repeat winner of the Art Ross Trophy since Jaromir Jagr won four in a row from 1997-98 through 2000-01 (w/ PIT). At 21 years, 85 days, he also became the second player in NHL history to win multiple scoring titles prior to his 22nd birthday, joining Wayne Gretzky (3x, also w/ EDM).
Ovechkin scored a League-high 49 goals in 82 games, finishing ahead of Winnipeg Jets right wing Patrik Laine (44 in 82 GP) and Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson (43 in 82 GP) for his seventh career Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy (also 2007-08, 2008-09, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16). He became the second player in NHL history to finish atop the League’s goal-scoring race seven times, joining Bobby Hull (also 7x, all w/ CHI). At 32 years, 203 days, Ovechkin also became the oldest player to win the NHL’s goal-scoring title since Phil Esposito in 1974-75 (33 years, 45 days w/ BOS). Ovechkin recorded his 600th NHL goal March 12, requiring the fourth-fewest games to reach the milestone (990). His career average of 0.61 goals per game (607 in 1,003 GP) ranks fourth in League history (minimum 400 GP), behind only Mike Bossy (0.76), Mario Lemieux (0.75) and Pavel Bure (0.62).
Quick saw the most action on a Kings team that allowed a League-low 203 goals, eight fewer than the Nashville Predators (211) and 11 clear of the Boston Bruins (214). He earned his second career William M. Jennings Trophy as well as the second in franchise history, adding to the one he claimed with Los Angeles in 2013‑14 en route to winning the Stanley Cup. Quick appeared in 64 games, ranking in the top 10 among goaltenders in wins (9th; 33), goals-against average (10th; 2.40) and shutouts (t-4th; 5). The Milford, Conn., native finished the season seven victories shy of becoming the fifth U.S.-born goaltender to reach 300 NHL wins (293-195-56 in 556 GP).
GOALS, GOALS, GOALS
There were 7,552 goals scored over the 1,271-game schedule in 2017-18 (including 103 shootout-deciding goals), an average of 5.9 goals per game.
Only two other seasons since 1996-97 have featured at least 5.9 goals per game: 2005-06 (6.2; 7,588 G in 1,230 GP) and 2006-07 (5.9; 7,246 G in 1,230 GP).
The 7% increase in goals from 2016-17 to 2017-18 represents the largest year-to-year spike since a 9% rise from 1979-80 to 1980-81, excluding a 20% increase from 2003-04 to 2005-06 that followed various rule changes.
Twenty-one players recorded at least 80 points in 2017-18 after only seven players hit the mark last season. Since 1996-97,
BENN, LUONGO AND GIROUX THREE STARS WEEK ENDING APRIL 8
Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn, Florida Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo and Philadelphia Flyers center Claude Giroux have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending April 8.
FIRST STAR – JAMIE BENN, LW, DALLAS STARS
Benn led the NHL with seven goals, including a pair of hat tricks, and eight points in three games to power the Stars (42-32-8, 92 points) to a 2-1-0 week. He registered his third career hat trick, including the winning goal, in a 4-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks April 3. Benn then posted 1-1—2 in a 5-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks April 6. He closed the season with another hat trick, as well as the winning goal, in a 4-2 triumph over the Los Angeles Kings April 7. In doing so, Benn became the seventh player in Stars/North Stars history to record two hat tricks within a span of three team games and the first to accomplish the feat since Bill Guerin from Oct. 29 – Nov. 2, 2003. The 28-year-old Victoria, B.C., native paced Dallas with 36-43—79 in 2017-18 (82 GP), including 8-2—10 during a season-ending, five-game point streak.
SECOND STAR – ROBERTO LUONGO, G, FLORIDA PANTHERS
Luongo went 3-0-0 with a 1.59 goals-against average and .955 save percentage in four appearances to help the Panthers (44-30-8, 96 points) become the 13th team in NHL history to earn five wins in seven days. He made 27 saves in a 3-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes April 2 and matched a season high with 45 stops in a 2-1 triumph against the Nashville Predators April 3. Luongo then played in his 1,000th NHL game April 5 – becoming the third goaltender in League history to reach the milestone – and turned aside 26 shots for a 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins. He added eight saves in a relief effort as part of a 4-2 victory against the Bruins April 8. The 39-year-old Montreal native went 18-11-2 in 35 outings in 2017-18 (2.47 GAA, .929 SV%, 3 SO), climbing to fourth in NHL history with 471 career wins.
THIRD STAR – CLAUDE GIROUX, C, PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Giroux ranked second in the NHL with 5-2—7 in three games to propel the Flyers (42-26-14, 98 points) to their eighth playoff berth in the past 11 seasons. He collected 1‑1—2 in each of his first two contests, a 5-4 loss to the New York Islanders April 3 and a 4-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes April 5. Giroux then helped Philadelphia clinch its playoff berth with his first career regular-season hat trick (738 GP) in a 5-0 triumph against the New York Rangers April 7. The 30-year-old Hearst, Ont., native finished second in the NHL with 34-68—102 in 2017-18 (82 GP), becoming the first member of the Flyers to reach the 100-point milestone since Eric Lindros in 1995-96 (47-68—115).