Flames and Jets clinch playoff berths, Carey Price sets franchise record for wins, Senators keep playoff hopes alive and more in your NHL Canadian Corner.
CALGARY SUN: Jiri Hudler scored twice as the Calgary Flames defeated the Los Angeles Kings 3-1. The Flames reach the postseason for the first time since 2009, while eliminating the defending Stanley Cup champion from playoff contention.
WINNIPEG SUN: The Winnipeg Jets dropped a 1-0 decision to the Colorado Avalanche in a shootout, but clinched a playoff spot thanks to the Flames victory over the Kings.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This year will mark the first time there’s been NHL playoff hockey in Winnipeg since 1996. The drama over which clubs will secure the remaining playoff berths in the Western Conference is over.
Montreal Canadiens congratulate Carey Price on his franchise-record 43rd victory.
MONTREAL GAZETTE: Lars Eller scored in overtime to give the Montreal Canadiens a 4-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. The victory gave Habs goalie Carey Price the franchise record for wins (43), surpassing Hall of Fames Jacques Plante and Ken Dryden. Despite the loss, the Red Wings clinched a playoff berth for the 24th consecutive year.
OTTAWA SUN: Andrew Hammond made 26 saves backstopping the Ottawa Senators to a 3-0 blanking of the New York Rangers. The win combined with the Boston Bruins loss to the Florida Panthers vaulted the Senators ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins by one point and two points over the Bruins into the first wild-card berth.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Senators pick up one point against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, they will secure a playoff spot and complete an incredible second-half comeback.
THE PROVINCE: Eddie Lack made 28 saves and Yannick Weber scored twice as the playoff-bound Vancouver Canucks shut out the Arizona Coyotes 5-0.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers Call-up goalie Laurent Brossoit made 49 saves in a losing cause as Edmonton fell to the San Jose Sharks 3-1.
TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs have clinched the NHL’s fourth-worst record this season.
Still work to be done….need to win the lottery, or atleast hope that no one from 5th on does….need a center.
….and congrats to all the Flames and Jets fans, it will be awsome to see the playoff atmosphere back in both cities Calgary with the Red mile and especially the Peg and the MTS center, that place will be rocking.
It IS good to see Calgary back. They were aweseome competition in 2004 and many of us in Tampa still think they were the classiest crew of out of town fans ever to joint the festivities on our plaza.
Vancouver fan here. I’m stoked to see that the Jets and Flames are joining the Habs and Canucks in the playoffs (not that I won’t be cheering hard for the Canucks to topple the Flames – it should be a great series). It’s looking good for Ottawa too.
I really posted to laugh at this hilarious quote: “The Maple Leafs have clinched the NHL’s fourth-worst record this season.” At this point, after so much hype and so many dodgy attempts to jostle for draft position (by various teams, not just the Leafs), I’d rather see the top pick go to an up-and-coming team that actually tries to win. Like Columbus, Florida, Dallas.
Can you imagine if Columbus wins the lottery. The Stanley Cup Parade planning might start as that team looks quite good already. Haha
I am hoping someone out of the top 6 wins the lottery. Mainly to discourage tanking in the future.
One more game Sens, Just one more game and the story of how this run was motivated by Murray’s illness can be written. Then do him proud and put on a good showing in the playoffs.
Murray never gave up on you. He traded no one and picked up know on at the trade deadline and has been coming to the rink each day while undergoing Chemo. He’s all the motivation you need to see this through one final day.
Go Sens Go!!!!
Agreed and a great point Jeff, as good a story as Hammond has been, the hero of the Sens story this season is Murray, and it shouldnt be overlooked.
Dress it up any way you want to, call it fatigue from too many games, call it a lack of depth, or even say it was because of key injuries but ultimately the Kings didn’t get it done when it mattered the most. things will only get tougher for the Kings next year when they have to find a way to fill out a roster with a lack of funds. they’ll have to choose between expensive UFA’s and less expensive (but most likely less talented) rookies. it could get very ugly and the golden parachute that most teams console themselves with after a bad season won’t be there as they’ve already dealt away their top pick for next year (no “generational” talent like McDavid at the top but probably deeper overall) for Sekera.