NHL REVIEW MARCH 25 2018 – WINNIPEG WHITEOUT TO RETURN
SUNDAY’S RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
PITTSBURGH 5, Philadelphia 4 (OT)
Vancouver 4, DALLAS 1
WINNIPEG 5, Nashville 4 (SO)
Boston 2, MINNESOTA 1 (OT)
Anaheim 5, EDMONTON 4 (OT)
JETS PUNCH TICKET TO POSTSEASON; WINNIPEG WHITEOUT TO RETURN
Mark Scheifele scored the decisive marker in the shootout to propel the Jets (46-19-10, 102 points) to victory and to a berth in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Winnipeg defeated League-leading Nashville (48-16-11, 107 points) to guarantee its third postseason appearance (also 2007 and 2015) and second since the franchise relocated in 2011-12. The Jets, who rallied from deficits of 2-0, 3-1 and 4-3, improved to 5-0-0 on their six-game homestand and lead the NHL with a franchise-record 29 home wins overall (29-7-2, 60 points). The 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs will feature the return of the “Winnipeg Whiteout”, a tradition which dates to 1987 when fans were asked to wear white clothing to home playoff games of the original Jets franchise. The tradition pays homage to the historically-fierce winters in Manitoba and the resilient character in its people.
KYLE CONNOR MOVES INTO SHARE OF ROOKIE GOALS LEAD
Winnipeg’s Kyle Connor (1-2—3) scored his 29th goal of the season, his seventh tally in the past six games (7-2—9), to move into a tie with Vancouver’s Brock Boeser for the rookie lead. Only one rookie in Jets/Thrashers franchise history has scored more goals in a season: Patrik Laine in 2016-17 (36). The Jets can become the eighth team in NHL history to feature at least one rookie with 30+ goals in consecutive seasons and first since the Penguins (Sidney Crosby in 2005-06, Evgeni Malkin in 2006-07). Connor (29-21—50) became the fifth rookie to reach the 50-point mark in 2017-18 (also Mathew Barzal, Clayton Keller, Yanni Gourde and Boeser). The 2005-06 season is the only other campaign in the past 23 years to feature at least five rookies with 50+ points apiece (Alex Ovechkin, Crosby, Brad Boyes, Jussi Jokinen and Marek Svatos).
McDAVID PADS LEAD IN ART ROSS RACE, SITS ONE POINT AWAY FROM 100
Oilers captain Connor McDavid collected 1-2—3 to boost his League-leading point total to 39-60—99 and move within one point of his second straight 100-point campaign. McDavid, who overtook Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov (37-58—95) for the most points in the NHL on Saturday, holds a four-point lead in the Art Ross Trophy race. McDavid looks to become the first player to win the Art Ross Trophy in consecutive seasons since Jaromir Jagr claimed the scoring title for four straight campaigns from 1997-98 to 2000-01. The 21-year-old Oilers captain can become just the eighth player to record multiple 100-point campaigns before his 22nd birthday. The others: Wayne Gretzky (4), Dale Hawerchuk (3), Mario Lemieux (3), Sidney Crosby (3), Jimmy Carson (2) and Joe Sakic (2).
MARCHAND MATCHES NHL RECORD WITH FIFTH OT GOAL OF THE SEASON
Brad Marchand (1-1—2) scored his franchise-record 12th career regular-season overtime goal and fifth of 2017-18 – tying an NHL record – as the Bruins extended their point streak to five games (3-0-2). At 47-17-10 (104 points), Boston sits two points back of Tampa Bay (51-20-4, 106 points) for first place in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference, and three points behind Nashville (48-16-11, 107 points) for first place in the entire NHL. Marchand matched the NHL record for most overtime goals in a season, equaling the benchmark also achieved by Steven Stamkos (2011-12), Jonathan Toews (2015-16) and Alex Galchenyuk (2016-17). Marchand has collected 9-13—22 since March 1 (12 GP), trailing only Oilers captain Connor McDavid (11-13—24) for the most points in the NHL during that span. Marchand (33-47—80) became the first Bruins player to record at least 80 points in consecutive seasons since Hockey Hall of Fame members Ray Bourque and Adam Oates did so in 1992-93 and 1993-94.
PENGUINS SWEEP BATTLE OF PENNSYLVANIA
In a potential First Round matchup, the Flyers tied the game with 42.6 seconds remaining in regulation before Penguins forward Bryan Rust scored in overtime to help Pittsburgh extend its home point streak to six contests (5-0-1). At 43-27-6 (92 points), the Penguins rank second in the Metropolitan Division, three points back of the Capitals (44-24-7, 95 points) and three points ahead of both the Blue Jackets (42-29-5, 89 points) and Flyers (38-25-13, 89 points). The Penguins swept their four-game season series with the Flyers (PHI: 0-2-2), scoring five goals in every game to outscore them 20-11 overall. Elias notes that Pittsburgh swept a season series with Philadelphia (min. 4 GP) for the second time in franchise history (also 2006-07: 8-0-0). Sidney Crosby (1-1—2) scored and provided the primary assist on Rust’s overtime winner to boost his stats to 26-57—83 this season, six points shy of his 2016-17 totals (44-45—89). Crosby has collected 27 career regular-season points in overtime (12-15—27), tied with Evgeni Malkin (12-15—27) for the most in franchise history.
DUCKS RALLY TO EXTEND POINT STREAK
Former Windsor Spitfire Adam Henrique (2-0—2) tied the game with 1:29 remaining in regulation and Hampus Lindholm scored in overtime as the Ducks (39-24-13, 91 points) extended their point streak to six contests (5-0-1). Anaheim is third in the Pacific Division, four points behind San Jose (43-23-9, 95 points) for second place. The Ducks have six games remaining, including four against clubs within seven points of them in the standings (all at home: Friday vs. LAK, Sunday vs. COL, April 4 vs. MIN and April 6 vs. DAL). John Gibson (28 saves) has backstopped the Ducks in each contest of their six-game point streak, posting a 1.81 goals-against average, .940 save percentage and two shutouts in that span.
SHARKS, MAPLE LEAFS LOOK TO EXTEND STREAKS
The Sharks (43-23-9, 95 points) and Maple Leafs (45-23-7, 97 points) aim to extend streaks on Monday.
San Jose looks to extend its overall win streak to eight games when it visits Chicago (31-36-9, 71 points). TheSharks, who own the longest active win streak in the NHL, aim to earn victories in at least eight consecutive games for the fifth time in franchise history and first since 2010-11 (8-0-0).
Toronto, meanwhile, looks to extend its franchise-record home win streak to 14 games when it hosts Buffalo (23-40-12, 58 points). The Maple Leafs, who own the longest home win streak in the NHL this season, can establish single-season franchise records for overall and home wins with a victory.
STREAKING ROOKIES KELLER, PIONK AIM TO STAY HOT
Coyotes forward Clayton Keller and Rangers defenseman
Keller aims to extend his point streak to a career-high nine games. He can become the fifth rookie inCoyotes/Jets franchise history to record at least one point in nine or more consecutive team games, joiningDale Hawerchuk (9 GP in 1981-82), Alexei Zhamnov (10 GP in 1992-93), Keith Tkachuk (12 GP in 1992-93) and Teemu Selanne (17 GP in 1992-93).
Pionk, who made his NHL debut on Feb. 9, looks to extend his point streak to eight games. He can establish a franchise record for longest point streak by a rookie defenseman, eclipsing the mark of seven games set by Brian Leetch in 1988-89.
McDAVID, ALLEN AND CONNOR NAMED NHL THREE STARS OF THE WEEK ENDING MARCH 25 2018
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, St. Louis Blues goaltender Jake Allen and Winnipeg Jets left wing Kyle Connor have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending March 25.
FIRST STAR – CONNOR McDAVID, C, EDMONTON OILERS
McDavid paced the NHL with five goals and 10 points in four games (5-5—10) to move into first place in the Art Ross Trophy race and propel the Oilers (34-36-6, 74 points) to a 3-0-1 week. He collected one assist in a 7-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes March 20 followed by 2-2—4, his third four-point performance of the season, in a 6-2 triumph against the Ottawa Senators March 22. McDavid then scored twice, including the winning goal, in a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings March 24. In doing so, he leapfrogged Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov – who had held the outright lead since Dec. 12 – for first place in the NHL scoring race. McDavid closed the week with 1-2—3 in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks March 25. The 21-year-old Richmond Hill, Ont., native and reigning Art Ross Trophy winner paces the League with 39-60—99 in 76 contests this season. He is aiming to become the first repeat Art Ross Trophy winner since Jaromir Jagr won four straight scoring titles from 1997-98 through 2000-01 (w/ PIT).
SECOND STAR – JAKE ALLEN, G, ST. LOUIS BLUES
Allen went 3-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average and .961 save percentage to help the Blues (42‑28‑5, 89 points) extend their winning streak to five games and move into the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. He made 21 saves in a 2-1 overtime victory against the Boston Bruins March 21, followed by 19 stops in a 4-1 triumph over the Vancouver Canucks March 23. Allen finished the week with 33 saves in a 2-1 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets March 24, also pushing his personal winning streak to five contests (1.97 GAA, .921 SV%). The 27-year-old Fredericton, N.B., native owns a 26-21-2 record with a 2.68 goals-against average, .908 save percentage and one shutout in 53 appearances this season.
THIRD STAR – KYLE CONNOR, LW, WINNIPEG JETS
Connor registered 4-2—6, including a pair of overtime goals, in three games as the Jets (46-19-10, 102 points) went 3-0-0 to clinch their third playoff berth in franchise history. He scored twice, including the overtime winner, in a 2-1 victory against the Los Angeles Kings March 20 and again notched the overtime goal in a 3-2 triumph versus the Anaheim Ducks March 23. In doing so, Connor joined Andrew Cogliano (2007-08 w/ EDM) as the only rookies in NHL history to score regular-season overtime goals in consecutive team games. Connor capped the week with 1-2—3, his third three-point effort of the season, in a 5-4 shootout victory against the Nashville Predators March 25. The 21-year-old Shelby Township, Mich., native shares first place among rookies with 29 goals and ranks fifth among first-year skaters with 50 points (29-21—50) in 69 outings this season.
NHLSchedule for Monday Mar 26 2018
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Matchup |
Time |
|---|---|
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Buffalo@ Toronto |
7:00 PM ET |
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Florida@ NY Islanders |
7:00 PM ET |
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Ottawa@ Carolina |
7:00 PM ET |
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Washington@ NY Rangers |
7:30 PM ET |
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Detroit@ Montréal |
7:30 PM ET |
|
Arizona@ Tampa Bay |
7:30 PM ET |
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San Jose@ Chicago |
8:30 PM ET |
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Colorado@ Vegas |
10:00 PM ET |
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Calgary@ Los Angeles |
10:30 PM ET |