Monthly Archives: April 2016

Hockey News

Wild grab final playoff spot in West after Avalanche loss

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Despite being shut out 3-0 by the San Jose Sharks earlier in the night, the Minnesota Wild grabbed the final playoff spot in the Western Conference as the Colorado Avalanche were eliminated after a 4-3 loss to the Nashville Predators on Tuesday.

"Well we're in the playoffs and that's the number one thing," said head coach John Torchetti after the loss to the Sharks. The interim coach now has until Saturday to help his team find its form before its regular-season finale against the Calgary Flames.

Despite their recent struggles, the Wild have been a different team since the firing of former bench boss Mike Yeo, compiling a 15-10-1 record under Torchetti to save their season.

"The guys have done a great job, I'm proud of them," Torchetti continued, per Michael Russo of the Star-Tribune. "They could have folded when I got here, so I'm really proud of them."

"It's nice to get it out of the way and shift our focus," added goalie Devan Dubnyk, who has now lost three consecutive starts, allowing at least three goals in each start.

The Wild will await the Central Division champion in the first round of the playoffs, who will either be the St. Louis Blues, Dallas Stars, or Chicago Blackhawks.

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Panthers clinch Atlantic Division title

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The Florida Panthers clinched first place in the Atlantic Division with a 4-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens, coupled with the Tampa Bay Lightning's 3-2 loss to the New York Rangers on Tuesday night.

It's the first Atlantic Division title and second division banner for the Panthers, who finished first in the Southeast back in 2011-12.

Florida's 46th victory of the season increased its franchise record, and the Panthers reached the 100-point mark for the first time.

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Lightning secure 3rd straight playoff berth with Bruins’ loss

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The Tampa Bay Lightning clinched a berth in the Stanley Cup playoffs Tuesday night during their game against the New York Rangers.

The Boston Bruins' shootout loss to the Carolina Hurricanes ensured the Lightning of a postseason spot for the ninth time in franchise history.

Tampa Bay improved to 45-29-5, moving four points ahead of the idle Detroit Red Wings for second place in the Atlantic Division, and both teams have three games remaining.

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Islanders clinch playoff berth with comeback win over Capitals

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The New York Islanders clinched a playoff berth Tuesday after finding themselves down 3-1 early in the third period, as Thomas Hickey completed the 4-3 comeback win with an overtime goal.

"I think it's the hard way," Hickey said about clinching a playoff spot, according to Newsday's Laura Albanese. "We didn't wait for someone else to do it for us. ... That's the right way to do it."

Kyle Okposo and Anders Lee provided the third-period heroics, while rookie goaltender Christopher Gibson recovered from allowing a goal on the first shot he faced, finishing the night with 29 saves to record a win in his first NHL start.

"I don't have any words. I'm still on a high from that game," the 23-year-old netminder said. "I believed in our team and I knew we were going to come back."

John Tavares scored the other Islanders goal, his 31st of the season.

The Islanders' win draws them into a tie for third in the Metropolitan Division at 97 points with the rival New York Rangers, who are in action Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

While Gibson picked up his first victory, Capitals goalie Braden Holtby was prevented from picking up his 48th win of the season, which would tie Martin Brodeur's single-season record.

Alex Ovechkin scored a pair of goals for the Capitals to bring his league-leading total to 47, while T.J. Oshie finished the night with a goal and two assists.

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Karlsson makes history with 80th point of season

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Turns out Erik Karlsson's season isn't a total loss.

The Ottawa Senators defenseman reached a slew of milestones in a single play, firing a slap pass that deflected off Pittsburgh Penguins forward Patric Hornqvist's skate and into the net Tuesday night.

Karlsson became the first blue-liner in club history to notch 80 points in a season, padding his career high.

He also matched Nicklas Lidstrom's league record for points in a single campaign by a Swedish defenseman and became the second rearguard in franchise history to score 100 career goals.

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VIDEO: Filip Forsberg goes between-the-legs to beat Varlamov

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Filip Forsberg continued his incredible second half of the season with a highlight-real goal Tuesday against the Colorado Avalanche.

The 21-year-old scored his 32nd goal of the season - bringing him one shy of the Nashville Predators' single-season record - by going between-the-legs and lifting the puck past Semyon Varlamov to give his team a 2-0 lead.

The goal was his 18th since the All-Star break, bringing him even with Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin - who also scored Tuesday - for the most in the NHL at the time. Ovechkin would retake the lead with another goal later in his game against the New York Islanders.

(Video courtesy: NHL.com)

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Rangers’ Glass ejected for late hit on Lightning’s Namestnikov

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New York Rangers forward Tanner Glass received a five-minute major for interference and a game misconduct for his hit on forward Vladislav Namestnikov during the first period of Tuesday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Namestnikov went straight to the dressing room following the hit, joining fellow forward Alex Killorn - who left the ice injured just minutes before. The Lightning entered the game with key players Steven Stamkos, Anton Stralman, Victor Hedman, and Ryan Callahan all sidelined with injuries.

Thankfully for Tampa Bay, both Namestnikov and Killorn were back on the bench for the start of the second period.

Glass has never been suspended in the NHL, but was fined last season for butt-ending Boston Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid.

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VIDEO: Devils salute reporter on his final day after 14 years on beat

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The New Jersey Devils are sending Tom Gulitti off in style.

The Devils honored the longtime beat reporter at practice Tuesday before their game against the Buffalo Sabres, gathering and raising their sticks in his direction at the end of the morning skate.

Head coach John Hynes and many of his players also wished Gulitti well with personal messages in the post-practice media session, and the team presented him with a jersey during his final game Tuesday night.

Gulitti announced last week that he is leaving The Record for the league's official website after 18 years - 14 of which were spent covering the Devils for the New Jersey-based publication.

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