There’s just one last NHL sprint to the playoffs.
Yesterday, eight games were on the schedule, and many of them had a direct impact on the standings.
Here are the results and highlights:
Oh #NHLStats for Monday? Connor McDavid became the first player in 33 years with an 100-assist season, three teams in East’s Wild Card race earned wins, the @NYRangers locked in the Presidents’ Trophy & the @NYIslanders clinched a postseason berth.
More: https://t.co/X2F5cuM56t pic.twitter.com/YwWmjVgHHd
– NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 16, 2024
1. A 100th pass for Connor McDavid this season
Connor McDavid is truly inhuman. Over the past few days, he’s had to take some time off, but yesterday, he was back in the game.
And he became only the fourth player ever to collect 100 assists in a single season. Only Mario Lemieux, Wayne Gretzky (11 times) and Bobby Orr have achieved the feat.
Connor McDavid(@cmcdavid97) joins @WayneGretzky (x11), Mario Lemieux, and Bobby Orr as the only players to register 100 assists in a single season! 
pic.twitter.com/Ta3ejTLDWc
– NHL (@NHL) April 16, 2024
Before reaching this plateau, it didn’t take him long to make his presence felt.
He was one of the main contributors to the Oilers’ crushing victory over the Sharks.
Final score: 9-2.
Well, McJesus is back. pic.twitter.com/NRbmJIbWfU
– Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) April 16, 2024
In Tampa Bay, the Lightning hosted the Buffalo Sabres.
Despite the loss, Nikita Kucherov picked up an assist and came within one assist of the 100-mark plateau.
On the play, Steven Stamkos scored his 40th of the season.
Kucherov gets his 99th assist on Stamkos’ 40th goal 
pic.twitter.com/lqdRYaV1U3
– B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 16, 2024
2. Patrick Roy’s Islanders in the playoffs
When he was hired, Patrick Roy had the daunting task of taking the Islanders to the playoffs.
And at the trade deadline, he received no help from GM Lou Lamoriello.
But now Roy has done it: New York is in the playoffs and will face the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round.
Patrick Roy coaches the New York Islanders into the playoffs.
– Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) April 16, 2024
Yesterday, the Islanders won 4-1.
Pierre Engvall, Brock Nelson, Kyle Palmieri and Anders Lee each collected two points.
Good luck to Roy and his team.
3. Rangers finish first in the NHL
Last night, we were obviously following the Canadiens’ game, but also the Rangers’. And why? Because the Senators were the opponents and we wanted them to win.
But it was New York who came out on top, 4-0.
26-save shutout for Igor Shesterkin.
It was a 26-save @pepsi shutout for Igor Shesterkin to help secure the Presidents’ Trophy for the @NYRangers in their regular-season finale at @TheGarden! 
pic.twitter.com/4jiLdQRqmD
– NHL (@NHL) April 16, 2024
With this convincing win, the Rangers secured first place in the overall standings and, by the same token, home-ice advantage for the entire playoffs.
What a season!
In yesterday’s win, Artemi Panarin, Adam Fox and Chris Kreider all put in two-point performances.
Peter Laviolette’s team will face the Caps, Flyers, Red Wings or Penguins in the first round.
4. Four teams for a playoff spot
Speaking of those four playoff teams, three of the four will be in action tonight. Four teams, one playoff spot.
It’s going to be very interesting to watch, in any case.
So here are the scenarios for each team:
Capitals: win OR a point against the Flyers AND a Wings loss against the Habs AND a Penguins loss against the Islanders
Red Wings: win against the Habs AND a Caps point or less against the Flyers OR an overtime/play-off loss against the Habs AND a Washington regulation-time loss AND a Penguins point or less
Penguins: win against the Islanders AND one point or less from the Caps AND the Wings. The other scenario: one point against the Islanders AND a regulation-time loss by the Caps and Wings.
Flyers: a regulation-time win against the Capitals AND a regulation-time loss by the Caps AND the Penguins.
Scenarios for final East playoff spot with all four teams at 81 GP:#allcaps:
-Any win vs. PHI
OR
-One point vs. PHI AND any #LGRW loss vs. MTL
AND
-One point vs. PHI AND any #pens loss vs. NYI
(Simplest path in East: Win and Caps are in) #LGRW:
-Any win vs. MTL AND #allcaps…
– Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) April 16, 2024
5. Jérémy Lauzon breaks a record
Jérémy Lauzon is having an excellent season. In terms of points, he’s not at the level of the Cale Makar and Adam Fox of this world, but he’s the best physically.
Yesterday, he broke a record with his 383rd shoulder check of the season.
383 shoulder hits this season for Jérémy Lauzon
https://t.co/dP6aO2zMcw
– TVA Sports (@TVASports) April 16, 2024
He thus surpassed Matt Martin’s 382 in 2014-2015.
Jeremy Lauzon gets 9 hits to set a new NHL record of 383. He surpasses Matt Martin’s previous high of 382. https://t.co/vbhXDnldAn
– Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) April 16, 2024
Nashville lost, however, and kept Pittsburgh alive in the playoff race.
In defeat, Filip Forsberg continued his excellent season by scoring his 48th goal of the campaign.
Goal No. 48 for No. 9 
pic.twitter.com/6PHvwz4gG7
– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 16, 2024
Extension
– He’s excellent.
Alex Nedeljkovic extended his streak in decisions as the @penguins maintained in the race for the final Wild Card spot of the 2024 #StanleyCup Playoffs.#NHLStats: https://t.co/X2F5cuM56t pic.twitter.com/jUuubMZwZq
– NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 16, 2024
– Disaster averted.
Boko Imama was looking for the fight with Matt Rempe 
pic.twitter.com/e95nVxVru1
– TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 15, 2024
– Six three-pointers.
(Credit: NHL.com)
– Eight more duels tonight.
(Credit: Google)
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