N H L - National Hockey League

[Guns of the Patriots]

Credits NHL.com

 

Oilers exit Rexall Place with win against Canucks

 

Edmonton scores 18 seconds apart in final game at arena

 

by Derek Van Diest / NHL.com Correspondent

11:31 AM

EDMONTON -- Rookie forward Connor McDavid helped the Edmonton Oilers win their last NHL game at Rexall Place in the same way Wayne Gretzky helped them win their first.

McDavid had three points (one goal and two assists) in a 6-2 win against the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday in the final game at what's been their home arena since 1974.

"It was a pretty special night, we put on a good game for the last one here, everybody wanted to do that," McDavid said. "Everybody understood the message that was given down from the coaches and we came ready to play. The fans have been behind us all year long even though we haven't given the much to cheer about. Tonight they were great. That last minute was pretty special. We were all just trying to take it all in and soak it in for the last time here."

Edmonton's first NHL win at Rexall Place, originally Northlands Coliseum, was on Oct. 19, 1979. Gretzky had three points (all assists) in a 6-3 win against the Quebec Nordiques.

Patrick Maroon had two goals Wednesday, Taylor Hall had a goal and two assists, and Nail Yakupov and Leon Draisaitl scored for Edmonton (31-43-7), which ended a three-game losing streak. Jordan Eberle had two assists, and goaltender Cam Talbot made 25 saves.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/oilers-defeat-canucks-close-rexall-place/c-280167346?tid=280137944

Edited April 7, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots

[Guns of the Patriots]

Credits NHL.com

 

Dubinsky's two goals lift Blue Jackets

 

Columbus scores three times in 4:07 in third period; defeats Toronto

 

by Mike Brophy / NHL.com Correspondent

11:40 AM

Dubinsky scores twice in win CBJ@TOR: Dubinsky scores twice in Blue Jackets' win

4/6/16: Brandon Dubinsky nets a goal in the 1st and 3rd periods in the Blue Jackets' 5-1 win over the Maple Leafs

TORONTO -- The Columbus Blue Jackets scored three goals in a span of 4:07 in the third period to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-1 at Air Canada Centre on Wednesday.

Toronto (28-41-11) has lost four in a row and five of its past six games. It was the Maple Leafs final home game of the season; they finished 14-18-9 at Air Canada Centre.

The win means Columbus (32-40-8) can finish no lower than 28th in the standings. The Blue Jackets had lost six of their past seven games.

The Edmonton Oilers win against the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday meant Toronto is alone in 30th place.

The 30th-place team will have a 20 percent chance of selecting the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft Lottery. The 29th-place team has a 13.5 percent chance and the 28th-place team an 11.5 percent chance.

"There's lots of good things going on in the organization," Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said. "I think we all know that. Tonight wasn't one of those nights, though, so let's not kid ourselves. That effort was unacceptable."

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/blue-jackets-defeat-maple-leafs/c-280167118?tid=280137950

Edited April 7, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots

[Guns of the Patriots]

Credits NHL.com

 

Howard leads Red Wings past Flyers

 

Detroit inches closer to 25th consecutive playoff berth

 

by Paul Harris / NHL.com Correspondent

12 minutes ago

DETROIT -- Jimmy Howard made 30 saves and the Detroit Red Wings moved closer to their 25th consecutive appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 3-0 win against the Philadelphia Flyers at Joe Louis Arena on Wednesday.

"It's a big thing," said Red Wings rookie forward Andreas Athanasiou, who scored a goal. "These last couple of weeks we know how important every game is so we've been doing a good job being calm, cool and collective here. Even when we were looking on from the outside there for a little bit, we stuck with it because we believe in ourselves."

Detroit (41-28-11) is third in the Atlantic Division, two points ahead of the fourth-place Boston Bruins and two points ahead of the Flyers, who hold the second wild card from the Eastern Conference and have a game in hand.

The Red Wings can clinch a playoff berth with a win in any fashion at the Boston Bruins on Thursday.

"If we're playing like we did tonight, we will have a chance," Detroit captain Henrik Zetterberg said. "It's a short turnaround for us, just got to get on the plane here, get some fluid and food in us and get ready for tomorrow."

It was Howard's second shutout and 22^nd of his career.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/red-wings-shut-out-flyers/c-280168984?tid=280137956

Edited April 7, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots

[Guns of the Patriots]

Credits NHL.com

 

Backlund gets first hat trick, Flames defeat Canucks

 

Calgary's Stajan, Colborne get three points each, Ortio makes 24 saves in win

 

by Aaron Vickers / NHL.com Correspondent

11:57 AM

Backlund earns hat trick VAN@CGY: Backlund nets SHG to collect hat trick

4/7/16: Mikael Backlund rips a shot past the glove of Ryan Miller off a shorthanded rush to record his third goal of the game

CALGARY -- Mikael Backlund scored his first NHL hat trick, and Joni Ortio made 24 saves to help the Calgary Flames to a 7-3 win against the Vancouver Canucks at Scotiabank Saddledome on Thursday.

Matt Stajan had three assists, Joe Colborne had a goal and two assists, and Dougie Hamilton, Deryk Engelland and Sam Bennett scored for the Flames (34-40-7), who have at least a point in three straight games (2-0-1).

Nikita Tryamkin, Bo Horvat and Emerson Etem scored, and Ryan Miller made 36 saves for the Canucks (30-38-13), who have lost two in a row after a three-game winning streak.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/flames-backlund-defeat-canucks/c-280192682?tid=280160690

Edited April 8, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots

[Guns of the Patriots]

Credits NHL.com

 

Stars top Avalanche; Dickinson scores in NHL debut

 

Dallas can win Central Division with victory in season finale

 

by Steve Hunt / NHL.com Correspondent

11:31 AM

DALLAS -- Rookie Jason Dickinson scored a goal in his NHL debut, and the Dallas Stars moved within one victory of winning the Central Division by defeating the Colorado Avalanche 4-2 at American Airlines Center on Thursday.

Dallas (49-23-9) remained even in points with the St. Louis Blues, 2-1 overtime winners against the Chicago Blackhawks, for first place in the division. Each team plays its final game Saturday. However, the Stars own the tiebreaker because they have 47 regulation/overtime wins, three more than St. Louis.

The Stars have won eight of their past 11 games.

Dickinson, recalled from Texas of the American Hockey League earlier in the day because center Jason Spezza was ill and couldn't play, gave the Stars a 1-0 lead at 15:13 of the first period when he beat Calvin Pickard with a backhand shot that deflected off the stick of Colorado defenseman Tyson Barrie.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/dallas-stars-defeat-colorado-avalanche/c-280192570?tid=280160812

Edited April 8, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots

[Guns of the Patriots]

Credits NHL.com

 

Tarasenko, Blues rally for OT win against Blackhawks

 

St. Louis stays in race for No. 1 seed in West; Chicago will finish third in Central

 

by Brian Hedger / NHL.com Correspondent

11:33 AM

Tarasenko's game-winner STL@CHI: Tarasenko sinks winner in OT

4/7/16: Vladimir Tarasenko finishes off the Blackhawks with an overtime goal, his 39th of the season, giving the Blues a 2-1 victory

CHICAGO -- Vladimir Tarasenko scored late in regulation and again with 1:23 left in overtime to give the St. Louis Blues a 2-1 win against the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center on Thursday.

Tarasenko's heroics kept alive the Blues' chances of winning the Central Division and No. 1 seed in the Western Conference for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. St. Louis (49-23-9) and the Dallas Stars, who won 4-2 at the Colorado Avalanche, each have 107 points and one game left in the regular season.

Chicago (47-28-8, 102 points) will finish third in the Central and start the playoffs on the road against the Blues or Stars. St. Louis concludes the regular season against the Washington Capitals at Scottrade Center on Saturday, when Dallas plays the Nashville Predators at American Airlines Center.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/blues-tarasenko-defeat-blackhawks-in-ot/c-280190720?tid=280160688

Edited April 8, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots

[Guns of the Patriots]

Credits NHL.com

 

Predators rally late to defeat Coyotes

 

Nashville clinches first wild card spot in West after Josi scores 20 seconds into overtime

 

by Robby Stanley / NHL.com Correspondent

11:07 AM

Josi's game-winning goal in OT ARI@NSH: Josi powers to the net for overtime winner

4/7/16: Roman Josi powers his way to the net, skates across the crease and stuffs the game-winning goal into the twine 20 seconds into overtime

 

NASHVILLE -- Roman Josi's goal 20 seconds into overtime gave the Nashville Predators a 3-2 come-from-behind win against the Arizona Coyotes at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday.

The Predators (41-26-14) improved to 2-12 in overtime, and clinched the first wild card spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference and will play the winner of the Pacific Division in the first round.

Josi took the puck from James Neal, got around Coyotes forward Max Domi and extended the puck past goaltender Mike Smith for his 14th goal.

"Well we won the faceoff, which is obviously huge in [overtime] to get the puck possession right away," Josi said. "I got a pass in the neutral zone. [Neal] made a nice little drop pass. Their [defenseman], which was a forward, was kind of far back and he didn't have a lot of speed so I tried to go outside."

"Obviously we wanted to get a win in the last home game," Josi said. "Our fans have been so great to us this whole year so they definitely deserved the win."

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/arizona-coyotes-nashville-predators-recap/c-280189300?tid=280160808

Edited April 8, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots

[Guns of the Patriots]

Credits NHL.com

 

Senators end Panthers winning streak at four

 

Robinson scores first NHL goal for Ottawa

 

by Chris Stevenson / NHL.com Correspondent

10:28 AM

Ceci powers home goal FLA@OTT: Ceci shrugs off defender, drills puck home

4/7/16: Cody Ceci shrugs off a defender and rifles the puck past Al Montoya, giving the Senators a 3-1 lead in the 3rd period

 

OTTAWA -- Florida Panthers forward Jaromir Jagr made it clear what he expects from his teammates in their final game of the regular season on against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.

Jagr, who scored the only goal in the Panthers 3-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday, said the Panthers (46-26-9), who won the Atlantic Division title, can't afford to have the same kind of effort against the Hurricanes.

"It wasn't our best game, that's for sure. We just have to make sure we regroup," Jagr, who scored his 27th goal of the season to make it 2-1 early in the third period, said. "We've got one more game before the playoffs at home before our fans. We just have to make sure we play a lot better than tonight. We have to make sure we play the best hockey before going into the playoffs. Two bad games before the playoffs, I don't think it would be very smart."

Florida goaltender Al Montoya made 20 saves for the Panthers (46-26-9) who had their four-game winning streak end.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/ottawa-senators-defeat-florida-panthers/c-280188528?tid=280161084

Edited April 8, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots

[Guns of the Patriots]

Credits NHL.com

 

Lindgren, Canadiens knock off Hurricanes

 

Montreal goaltender wins NHL debut, makes 26 saves

 

by Kurt Dusterberg / NHL.com Correspondent

9:57 AM

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The nerves were at their worst during the national anthem, Charlie Lindgren said. And it didn't help when the first shot he faced in the NHL wound up in the back of the net.

But Lindgren, making his NHL debut for the Montreal Canadiens just two weeks after finishing his college career, settled down and stopped 26 shots in a 4-2 win against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena on Thursday.

Lindgren, who was an undrafted free agent, signed with Montreal on March 30 after completing his career at St. Cloud State. He was at his best in the final minute, stacking his pads to stop Victor Rask near the left post, before smothering a close-in chance from Jeff Skinner in the same spot.

"I just kept thinking, during the game, about getting that first NHL win and what it would mean," Lindgren said. "Just thinking about the people in the stands and my teammates back at St. Cloud State who were able to watch the game."

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/montreal-canadiens-carolina-hurricanes-recap/c-280185900?tid=280160978

Edited April 8, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots

[Guns of the Patriots]

Credits NHL.com

 

Penguins lock up second place in Metropolitan

 

Defeat Capitals in overtime, deny Holtby wins record

 

by Katie Brown / NHL.com Correspondent

11:42 AM

Crosby's GWG on breakaway PIT@WSH: Crosby nets breakaway for slick GWG in OT

4/7/16: With a minute to go in overtime, Sidney Crosby makes a nifty move on a breakaway and uses his backhand to score the game-winner

 

WASHINGTON -- Sidney Crosby scored 4:00 into overtime to give the Pittsburgh Penguins a 4-3 win against the Washington Capitals and home-ice advantage for the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

"We've worked hard to get to that point, and I think that we've just got to keep in mind what got us here and make sure we continue to play the same way," Crosby said.

Matt Cullen scored two goals, and Conor Sheary scored for Pittsburgh (48-25-8), which won its eighth game in a row and will finish second behind Washington in the Metropolitan Division. Matthew Murray made 27 saves.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/sidney-crosby-penguins-defeat-capitals/c-280188094?tid=280160976

Edited April 8, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots

[Guns of the Patriots]

Credits NHL.com

 

Bernier, Maple Leafs hand Flyers costly OT loss

 

Toronto goalie makes 41 saves; Philadelphia falls out of playoff spot

 

by Adam Kimelman @NHLAdamK / NHL.com Deputy Managing Editor

12:20 PM

Gardiner's overtime winner TOR@PHI: Gardiner beats Mason with slap shot for GWG

4/7/16: Jake Gardiner wires a power-play slap shot past Steve Mason, giving the Maple Leafs an overtime win over the Flyers

 

PHILADELPHIA -- Jake Gardiner scored at 2:51 of overtime, and the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 at Wells Fargo Center on Thursday to knock them out of a Stanley Cup Playoff spot.

Philadelphia trails the Boston Bruins, who won 5-2 against the Detroit Red Wings, by one point for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference. The Flyers have two games remaining, and the Bruins have one.

"If you told us two months ago we'd be in this position, we'd take it," Flyers captain Claude Giroux said.

Jonathan Bernier made 41 saves, William Nylander and Colin Greening each had a goal and an assist, and Michael Grabner scored for Toronto (29-41-11), which ended a four-game losing streak.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/flyers-lose-to-maple-leafs-in-ot/c-280184690?tid=280160974

Edited April 8, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots

[Guns of the Patriots]

Credits NHL.com

 

Islanders top Rangers, finish first season sweep

 

Three-goal second period backs 36 saves by Greiss

 

by Shawn P. Roarke @sroarke_nhl / NHL.com Director of Editorial

10:42 AM

NEW YORK -- The New York Islanders completed their first regular-season series sweep of the New York Rangers with a 4-1 victory at Madison Square Garden on Thursday.

Thomas Greiss made 36 saves for the Islanders (45-26-9), who went 4-0-0 against their archrival. They had never swept the Rangers (45-27-9) since entering the NHL in 1972.

"It's definitely fun beating those guys," said center Casey Cizikas, who scored the game-winning goal. "It's a tough game every single time we play them. It's fast, it's gritty and it's everything hockey is about. It's fun playing them, and getting the two points makes it even more exciting."

The Islanders and Rangers are battling for third place in the Metropolitan Division and enter the final weekend of the season tied with 99 points; the Islanders have a game in hand.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/new-york-islanders-defeat-new-york-rangers/c-280185780?tid=280160972

Edited April 8, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots

[Guns of the Patriots]

Credits NHL.com

 

Drouin scores game-winner in return to lineup

 

Forward hadn't played in NHL since December; Lightning defeat Devils

 

by Mike G. Morreale @mikemorrealeNHL / NHL.com staff writer

9:56 AM

NEWARK, N.J. -- Right wing Jonathan Drouin scored his first NHL game-winning goal in his return to the lineup on Thursday to help the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 4-2 victory against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center.

Drouin, recalled from Syracuse of the American Hockey League on Wednesday played his first NHL game since Dec. 30, and scored his first goal since Dec. 2. He controlled a drop pass from Vladislav Namestnikov in the right circle and took a wrist shot that beat goaltender Keith Kinkaid between the pads for a 3-1 lead 3:50 into the third period. It was Drouin's third goal of the season.

"I kind of blacked out a little bit [after the goal]," Drouin said. "Just all the emotions going through your body. I was really happy and it was definitely a big goal in the game, too.

"The puck kind of jumped a little bit going high-glove there; half the time when you miss your shot they go in," Drouin said.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/jonathan-drouin-lighting-defeat-devils/c-280186986?tid=280160968

Edited April 8, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots

[Guns of the Patriots]

Credits NHL.com

 

Bruins keep Red Wings from clinching

 

Boston ties Detroit for third in Atlantic Division with one game left

 

by Matt Kalman / NHL.com Correspondent

11:30 AM

Krug sets up Marchand DET@BOS: Marchand rips home one-timer from Krug

4/7/16: Brad Marchand drills a one-timed shot past Jimmy Howard to give the Bruins a 2-0 lead early in the opening period

 

BOSTON -- David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand scored in the first 2:44 to propel the Boston Bruins to a 5-2 win against the Detroit Red Wings that prevented Detroit from clinching a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on Thursday.

The Bruins, with 93 points, are tied with the Red Wings for third place in the Atlantic Division. Boston has one game remaining, Saturday at home against the Ottawa Senators. Detroit visits the New York Rangers.

The Philadelphia Flyers, who lost 4-3 in overtime to the Toronto Maple Leafs, have 92 points and two games left competing for the second wild card from the Eastern Conference.

Defenseman Torey Krug scored his first goal in 55 games and had two assists, and Tuukka Rask made 13 saves for Boston (42-30-9), which outshot the Red Wings 34-15 after losing in a shootout 2-1 to the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday. The Bruins were 2-7-1 in their past 10.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/bruins-defeat-red-wings-nhl-playoffs/c-280187418?tid=280160966

Edited April 8, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots

[Guns of the Patriots]

Credits NHL.com

 

Lucic, Versteeg help Kings defeat Ducks

 

Second-period goals enough for Los Angeles in battle for first in Pacific Division

 

by Curtis Zupke / NHL.com Correspondent

12 minutes ago

Lucic ties game with backhand ANA@LAK: Lucic deposits backhand for 20th goal

4/7/16: Milan Lucic receives a pass from Tanner Pearson and hammers his backhand shot into the twine, tying the game early in the 2nd period

 

LOS ANGELES -- Milan Lucic and Kris Versteeg scored in the opening 2:01 of the second period, and the Los Angeles Kings defeated the Anaheim Ducks 2-1 at Staples Center on Thursday.

The Kings (48-28-5, 101 points) are two points ahead of the Ducks (44-25-11) for first place in the Pacific Division. Los Angeles can clinch its first division title since 1991 with a win against the Winnipeg Jets in their regular-season finale Saturday.

Anaheim has two games remaining and could match Los Angeles with 103 points, but the Kings own the first tiebreaker of most wins in regulation and overtime, 46-41.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/kings-defeat-ducks/c-280198078?tid=280160814

Edited April 8, 2016 by Guns of the Patriots