N H L - National Hockey League

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Rangers clinch playoff berth, defeat Blue Jackets

 

New York advances to sixth straight postseason; McDonagh left after first period with undisclosed injury

 

by Craig Merz / NHL.com Correspondent

April 5th, 2016

Rangers clinch playoff berth NYR@CBJ: Rangers win to clinch playoff berth

4/4/16: The Rangers celebrate clinching their sixth straight playoff berth as the clock winds down in a 4-2 victory against the Blue Jackets

COLUMBUS -- The New York Rangers had no time or reason to do much celebrating after a 4-2 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Monday clinched a berth into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.

The status of captain Ryan McDonagh for the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden is in question.

The defenseman did not play the final two periods after he blocked a shot by Brandon Dubinsky at the end of a Columbus power play with five minutes left in the first period. The shot appeared to hit him in the hand or arm, but Rangers coach Alain Vigneault did not provide many details.

"At this time he'll be reevaluated tomorrow," Vigneault said. "We're in that phase here where we're 'upper-body,' 'lower-body,' so we're calling it 'an upper-body.'"

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/rangers-clinch-playoff-berth-against-blue-jackets/c-280124974?tid=280077752

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Panthers hang on to defeat Maple Leafs

 

Rookie Grimaldi scores two goals to help Florida build on Atlantic lead

 

by Mike Brophy / NHL.com Correspondent

April 5th, 2016

Grimaldi scores two in the 2nd FLA@TOR: Grimaldi scores two in under three minutes

4/4/16: Rocco Grimaldi scores his second and third goals of the season in the 2nd period just two minutes and 40 seconds apart

TORONTO -- The Florida Panthers took another step toward winning the Atlantic Division with a 4-3 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre on Monday.

The win was the 700th in Panthers history, gave them 99 points this season to pass their previous high of 98 in 1999-2000, and clinched home-ice advantage in the Eastern Conference First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Rookie forward Rocco Grimaldi had two goals for Florida (45-25-9), and Nick Bjugstad and Aleksander Barkov also scored. Al Montoya made 22 saves for his 12th win of the season.

The Panthers, who have won three straight games, lead the Tampa Bay Lightning by four points for first place in the Atlantic. The Lightning lost 5-2 at the New York Islanders on Monday. Florida and Tampa Bay each has three games remaining.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/panthers-defeat-maple-leafs/c-280125664?tid=280077756

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Blues rally to defeat Coyotes

 

St. Louis moves into first-place tie in Central

 

by Louie Korac / NHL.com Correspondent

April 5th, 2016

Brodziak's shorthanded goal ARI@STL: Brodziak ties game with shorthanded goal

4/4/16: Kyle Brodziak beaks away from the defender for a breakaway, flring the puck top-shelf for a shorthanded goal to even the game at 2

ST. LOUIS -- Despite so many key components missing throughout the season on a roster ravaged by injuries, the St. Louis Blues have given themselves a chance at winning a second straight Central Division title.

The Blues pulled into a tie for first when they overcame a two-goal deficit by scoring five unanswered goals and defeated the Arizona Coyotes 5-2 at Scottrade Center on Monday.

The Blues (48-23-9) tied the Dallas Stars with 105 points and two games remaining for each. St. Louis leads the Chicago Blackhawks by six points for second place.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/st-louis-blues-defeat-arizona-coyotes/c-280127400?tid=280077758

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Miller makes 40 saves, Canucks top Kings

 

Los Angeles blows lead, fails to move back into first in Pacific

 

by Kevin Woodley / NHL.com Correspondent

April 5th, 2016

VANCOUVER -- The Vancouver Canucks are focused on improving their structure and building some momentum for next season, and it's been paying off.

Rookie Jared McCann scored the go-ahead goal on a breakaway with 33 seconds left in the second period, and Ryan Miller made 20 of his 40 saves in the third period to help the Canucks hold on for a 3-2 win against the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Arena on Monday.

Emerson Etem scored with 13 seconds left in the first period, and Jannik Hansen tied it on a 5-on-3 power play for Vancouver (30-36-13), which has won three straight games for the first time this season.

"We're happy with the wins, but we know where we stand," said Miller, who made five of his 20 third-period saves on a Kings power play with four minutes left. "We know it's not good enough and we're on the outside looking in. At least on my part, I feel like there's a foundation to be laid. You've got to play the right way. We've played a little bit better within the system and the structure and we got rewarded for it."

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/canucks-defeat-kings/c-280129922?tid=280077762

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Bruins drop crucial point in loss to Hurricanes

 

Boston defeated in shootout, unable to pass Detroit in Atlantic

 

by Matt Kalman / NHL.com Correspondent

April 6th, 2016

BOSTON -- Rookie defenseman Noah Hanifin scored in the fifth round of the shootout, and Jaccob Slavin scored his first goal in 52 games to help the Carolina Hurricanes defeat the Boston Bruins 2-1 at TD Garden on Tuesday.

The point gave the Bruins (41-30-9) a tie for a Stanley Cup Playoff spot. They are even with the Philadelphia Flyers for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference and with the Detroit Red Wings for third place in the Atlantic Division; each has 91 points. But Philadelphia has four games left, Detroit has three, and Boston has two.

The Red Wings and Flyers play Wednesday, and the Bruins host the Red Wings on Thursday.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/bruins-lose-to-hurricanes-atlantic-division-wild-card/c-280142548?tid=280114532

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Sabres, Johnson shut down Devils

 

Buffalo goalie makes 18 saves; Elias plays for New Jersey

 

by Mike G. Morreale / NHL.com Staff Writer

April 6th, 2016

NEWARK, N.J. -- Coach Dan Bylsma believes his Buffalo Sabres have plenty to play for with a less than a week remaining in the regular season.

Bylsma and Sabres general manager Tim Murray are no doubt watching closely the energy and enthusiasm exhibited by each player down the stretch despite the fact Buffalo will miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs for a fifth straight season.

The Sabres provided that effort Tuesday when Ryan O'Reilly, Johan Larsson and Jack Eichel scored, and goaltender Chad Johnson made 18 saves in a 3-1 win against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center.

"I think one of our things is our compete level and how hard we have played, and I think we've seen that for a quite a long time from our team," Bylsma said. "We haven't been in the playoff picture for a number of games but we have a reputation of being a hard team that's going to compete hard the whole game through. I thought [Tuesday] was no different; guys battled right until the end."

The win ended a five-game winning streak by the Devils against the Sabres. Buffalo lost twice to New Jersey this season.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/sabres-defeat-devils/c-280142512?tid=280114534

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Islanders headed back to playoffs

 

Hickey's OT goal completes rally against Capitals; Gibson gets first NHL win

 

by Katie Brown / NHL.com Correspondent

April 6th, 2016

WASHINGTON -- Nobody could have envisioned Christopher Gibson being the New York Islanders goaltender on the night they would clinch a berth in the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Gibson, the No. 4 goalie on the Islanders depth chart, got the call Tuesday with injuries to Jaroslav Halak and Jean-Francois Berube, and Thomas Greiss playing the previous night. But Gibson looked like he belonged in his first NHL start, making 29 saves, and Thomas Hickey scored at 2:13 of overtime in New York's 4-3 win against the Washington Capitals at Verizon Center.

John Tavares, Kyle Okposo and Anders Lee scored and Gibson made 29 saves for the Islanders (44-26-9), who will be in the playoffs for the third time in four years.

"He played extremely well for us," coach Jack Capuano said of Gibson, who was recalled from Bridgeport of the American Hockey League on an emergency basis Monday after Berube sustained a lower-body injury. "It just shows the confidence and poise that he has. He gave us a chance to win the game, and he was our best player tonight."

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/new-york-islanders-clinch-playoff-berth/c-280142540?tid=280114452

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Lightning lose to Rangers but clinch playoff berth

 

Stepan, Kreider score for New York; Tampa Bay advances to third straight postseason

 

by Dan Rosen @drosennhl / NHL.com Senior Writer

April 6th, 2016

NEW YORK -- At least the Tampa Bay Lightning clinched a berth into the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Tuesday because everything else that happened throughout the day felt like bad news.

The Lightning blew a two-goal lead in a 3-2 loss to the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

Tampa Bay, after reaching the Stanley Cup Final last season, is playoff-bound for a third straight season. The Lightning were in before the final buzzer because the Boston Bruins lost 2-1 in a shootout to the Carolina Hurricanes.

"I'm just really, really happy for the guys," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "I know it was kind of a sour note tonight because we lost the game but ultimately we get to sit back and say, 'You know what, our season is not ending Saturday night,' and we're really excited about that."

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/tampa-bay-lightning-new-york-rangers-recap/c-280142550?tid=280114454

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Panthers clinch Atlantic title, defeat Canadiens

 

Barkov scores fifth goal in four games to help Florida win division

 

by Sean Farrell / NHL.com Correspondent

April 6th, 2016

MONTREAL -- The Florida Panthers took a big step toward their latest goal with a 4-1 win against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday.

And 10 minutes later, watching on TV from their Bell Centre dressing room, they reached it by winning the Atlantic Division when the Tampa Bay Lightning lost 3-2 to the New York Rangers.

"It was fun," Florida center Nick Bjugstad said. "We didn't have champagne or anything, but I don't think we really need champagne for that. But it's exciting to see what we've accomplished this year. We've come a long way the last couple of years, so definitely a proud group of guys and keep rolling."

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/panthers-clinch-atlantic-division/c-280142300?tid=280114536

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Penguins rally, top Senators for seventh straight win

 

Crosby, Hagelin help Pittsburgh overcome early three-goal deficit

 

by Chris Stevenson / NHL.com Correspondent

April 6th, 2016

OTTAWA -- Carl Hagelin and Sidney Crosby each scored two goals, and the Pittsburgh Penguins overcame a three-goal deficit to defeat the Ottawa Senators 5-3 at Canadian Tire Centre on Tuesday for their seventh consecutive victory.

Hagelin tied the game 3-3 early in the third period, then scored at 14:03 to put the Penguins ahead. His backhand along the ice, intended as a pass to Phil Kessel, instead slid into the net past the stick of Senators goaltender Andrew Hammond.

Crosby scored his second goal of the game and 35th of the season into an empty net with seven seconds remaining, sealing the Penguins' 13th win in 14 games and the second in a week in which they overcame a three-goal deficit. The victory allowed the Penguins (47-25-8) to stay three points ahead of the New York Rangers for second place in the Metropolitan Division.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/ttsburgh-penguins-defeat-ottawa-senators/c-280142898?tid=280114538

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Predators eliminate Avalanche from playoff contention

 

Forbserg, Wilson score for Nashville; Colorado has lost four in a row

 

by Robby Stanley / NHL.com Correspondent

April 6th, 2016

NASHVILLE - Craig Smith's goal at 4:17 of the third period gave the Nashville Predators a 4-3 win against the Colorado Avalanche at Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday.

Smith scored on a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle. Filip Forsberg made the pass to Smith, who shot it past Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov, for his 21st goal.

Varlamov made 24 saves and Colorado (39-37-4) was eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention with the loss; the Avalanche have lost four in a row (0-4-0).

"Today I am very disappointed," Avalanche coach Patrick Roy said. "I'm sure we're going to have plenty of time to talk about it, but I mean it's not what we expect from this team. We expect more from this team."

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/predators-eliminate-avalanche-from-playoff-contention/c-280143462?tid=280114540

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Wild lose to Sharks but clinch playoff berth

 

San Jose's Reimer makes 29 saves in shutout, Minnesota gets in postseason with Colorado loss

 

by Dan Myers / NHL.com Correspondent

April 6th, 2016

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Moments after losing 3-0 to the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday, the Minnesota Wild were sullen and quiet in their dressing room at Xcel Energy Center.

Then the Wild learned they clinched their fourth consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Playoffs when the Colorado Avalanche lost 4-3 to the Nashville Predators.

Just like that, the pressures of a four-game losing streak and a week of scoreboard-watching vanished into thin air.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/wild-lose-to-sharks-clinch-playoff-berth/c-280143468?tid=280114542

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Panarin, Toews lift Blackhawks past Coyotes

 

Chicago wins third straight, trails Dallas, St. Louis by four points for Central lead

 

by Brian Hedger / NHL.com Correspondent

April 6th, 2016

Toews' slick breakaway SHG ARI@CHI: Toews breaks away to net beautiful SHG

4/5/16: Jonathan Toews steals the puck and breaks up ice all alone, using a pretty move to put it past Louis Domingue for the shorthanded goal

 

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Blackhawks have ignited their offense and turned a hot spell into a three-game winning streak.

Andrew Ladd scored two goals, rookie left wing Artemi Panarin had three assists, and the Blackhawks defeated the Arizona Coyotes 6-2 at United Center on Tuesday.

The Blackhawks (47-26-7, 101 points) have scored at least five goals in each game during the winning streak and six in each of the past two. Their power play is suddenly clicking, and their penalty k*ll is a perfect 17-for-17 in six games since center Marcus Kruger returned from a wrist injury.

"I think we're trying to remind ourselves of what motivates us to play well in these games," said captain Jonathan Toews, who had a goal and assist. "We want to get our game together and play the complete game that we're going to need in the playoffs, but at the same time, it's a lot easier to play at the highest level when the playoffs come around and that motivation's right there in front of your face."

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/blackhawks-defeat-coyotes/c-280147178?tid=280114544

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Carter lifts Kings past Flames in OT

 

Los Angeles avoids three-game skid with win at Calgary

 

by Aaron Vickers / NHL.com Correspondent

April 6th, 2016

Carter wins it in overtime LAK@CGY: Carter beats Ortio's five-hole for OT winner

4/5/16: Jeff Carter uses his speed to get to the net and chip in the winning goal past Joni Ortio in overtime, giving the Kings a 5-4 win

 

CALGARY -- Instead of a Pacific Division title, the Los Angeles Kings are more concerned with finding their game heading into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They took a step towards each Tuesday.

Jeff Carter scored 40 seconds into overtime, and Milan Lucic had two goals to help the Kings to a 5-4 win against the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome.

Andy Andreoff and Kris Versteeg scored for the Kings (47-28-5), who avoided a three-game losing streak and won for the third time in nine games since clinching a playoff berth on March 19.

"Your goal to when you start the season is to make the playoffs, and then finish as high up in the standings as you can," Lucic said. "That's still a goal of ours before the playoffs start, but I think the most important thing moving forward is get our game and identity back to what it was that got us the playoff spot."

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/kings-defeat-flames-in-ot/c-280150314?tid=280114546

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Jets rally for overtime victory against Ducks

 

Wheeler's OT goal costs Anaheim a point in battle for Pacific Division lead

 

by Abbey Mastracco / NHL.com Correspondent

April 6th, 2016

Wheeler's game-winning goal WPG@ANA: Wheeler fires in the game-winning goal in OT

4/5/16: Blake Wheeler gets the feed from Mark Scheifele, then powers it towards the net and off the goalie's shoulder for the game-winner

 

ANAHEIM - The Winnipeg Jets got a little revenge for the Anaheim Ducks' first-round sweep in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last spring.

The Jets cost the Ducks a valuable point in their battle for first place in the Pacific Division when Blake Wheeler scored 3:07 into overtime to give Winnipeg a 2-1 victory on Tuesday at Honda Center.

Jets forward Marko Dano tied the game at 1-1 with 3:46 left in the third period when he redirected Jacob Trouba's point shot past goaltender John Gibson. Wheeler won it when his wrist shot from near the right faceoff dot hit the crook of Gibson's elbow and trickled into the net, just ahead of Andrew Cogliano's desperate bid to sweep the puck off the goal line.

"When they beat us in the playoffs, it added a little bit to the rivalry," Winnipeg goalie Michael Hutchinson said. "That makes us a little more hungry. We got down against them but we kept battling and we really took it to them tonight."

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/winnipeg-jets-defeat-anaheim-ducks-in-overtime/c-280154006?tid=280114548

Edited April 6, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots