The Washington Capitals became the first team in the NHL to clinch a postseason berth after Tuesday's game against the Carolina Hurricanes was tied 1-1 at the end of regulation.
The Capitals were in need of just one point Tuesday to reach the playoffs.
More to come.
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Ottawa Senators forward Mike Hoffman ended an eight-game goalless drought Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild, finding the back of the net with a point shot early in the second period.
The goal came at the perfect time, not just because it tied the game at one, but because it came right after the TSN broadcast displayed the following graphic while discussing his recent scoring slump:
Hoffman's goal was his 26th of the year, one shy of his career-best set last season.
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The "Spacey in Space" phenomenon continues to grow.
The Florida Panthers' rallying cry emerged in shoe form Tuesday as the team tweeted out a fan's picture of his girlfriend's sweet kicks - and they are something.
@FlaPanthers when your girlfriend's shoes are out of this world. #SpaceyInSpace pic.twitter.com/pwoCs5ysca
— Patrick Swartz (@Strong_Patty_) March 15, 2016
Sweaters including the face of actor Kevin Spacey have been a hit at BB&T Center, though players have refused to explain the true meaning of "Spacey in Space."
These shoes also give new meaning to the term "moonwalk."
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Raffl has the moves. The Flyers have the lead. #FlyersTalk https://t.co/Gqgo5vYLQo
— Comcast SportsNet (@CSNPhilly) March 15, 2016
In a game with massive playoff implications, the Philadelphia Flyers grabbed an early lead in Tuesday's game with the Detroit Red Wings.
Michael Raffl picked up the puck in the neutral zone, and slid the puck around the outstretched left pad of Petr Mrazek after driving through defenseman Kyle Quincey. The game's opening goal his 11th of the season.
Fellow forward Wayne Simmonds doubled the lead just over a minute later, as the Flyers look to pull within a point of the Red Wings - who sit in the final Eastern Conference wild-card position - if they win Tuesday.
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Following Tuesday's earlier report that the NHL is going "full steam ahead" with streamlined goalie equipment next season, NHL general managers apparently discussed several other ideas intended to increase scoring at Tuesday's GM meetings.
Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin pitched the idea of players serving the full two minutes of a penalty even if a goal is scored, reports ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.
Chicago Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman reportedly proposed not allowing penalty-killing teams to ice the puck, while David Poile of the Nashville Predators suggested beginning a period with an offensive-zone faceoff in the event a power play carried over from the previous frame.
Tim Murray says there was talk about limiting time defensemen can spend in trapezoid to limit delays while teams change lines.
— Craig Custance (@CraigCustance) March 15, 2016
However, the GMs seemed to agree that such ideas take a backseat to the proposed changes to goalie equipment.
"To me, the goalie equipment trumps everything else we talked about (to improve offense)," said Poile. "Kay Whitmore has done a fantastic job and getting great cooperation from the players' association, Cory Schneider is the key guy in that and Cory has a great head on his shoulders and is very supportive of this.
"It seems like most of the top goalies are buying into the level playing field, if you will. If we get this done, I think a lot of other things (ideas to create offense) we won't have to talk about."
Tuesday's proposals to increase scoring were reportedly made in a smaller group of general managers and will be shared with the larger group on Wednesday.
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Jonathan Drouin returned to the AHL's Syracuse Crunch on Friday, and despite not playing for two months, didn't look like he'd missed a step, impressing Tampa Bay Lightning manager Steve Yzerman.
"Jonathan played his first three games back on the weekend. He played Friday, Saturday, Sunday. I wasn't at the games live, but watched them all on the AHL website. I thought considering the length of time he was out, he looked good," Yzerman said, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.
The 20-year-old recorded an assist in his first game against Bridgeport, and scored twice on Saturday against Rochester. He was held off the scoresheet in his final game of the weekend in Springfield, but did record five shots on goal.
Yzerman insisted this is what he expected when Drouin was originally sent down to Syracuse in January, which led to the former No. 3 pick's refusal to report to the club, and subsequent suspension from the Lightning.
The suspension was lifted when Drouin agreed to return to AHL earlier in March, and with his strong showing over the weekend, a return to Tampa Bay could come sooner rather than later.
"The plan was for him to go down and play and come back," Yzerman continued, "so with the situation right now, if it is good for our team and it is the right thing to do, he will be recalled. So it's very realistic."
The Lightning offense looked like it may need a boost last week after scoring just three goals over a three-game losing streak, but came back alive Sunday in a 4-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
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Vancouver Canucks defenseman Luca Sbisa is considered week to week with an upper-body injury, head coach Willie Desjardins announced Tuesday.
The blue-liner was hurt during Monday's game against the Winnipeg Jets after being hit into the boards by forward Adam Lowry. Sbisa left the game, and was seen with a sling on his left arm following the Jets 5-2 win.
Desjardins added that forward Markus Granlund is day to day after he suffered an upper-body injury of his own Monday. The team recalled forward Brendan Gaunce and defenseman Andrey Pedan from its AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets, to take their places.
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