Senators clinch a playoff berth, Canadiens secure top spot in the Atlantic Division and more in your NHL Canadian Corner.
The Ottawa Senators celebrate their playoff-clinching victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.
OTTAWA SUN: The Senators completed one of the most stunning comebacks in NHL regular-season history to clinch a playoff berth with a 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Mark Stone scored twice and Andrew Hammond made 34 saves. After being 14 points out of contention in mid-February, the Sens went 23-4-4 in their last 31 games to qualify for the playoffs. They will face the Montreal Canadiens in the opening round.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to the Senators for their remarkable comeback. Even if you’re not a Sens fan, you have to be impressed by how this team rallied back when they were seemingly down and out almost two months ago. And if you’re a Canadiens fan, you have to be nervous about the Senators, who were 3-1 in the season series with the Habs. Speaking of the Canadiens…
MONTREAL GAZETTE/TORONTO SUN: The Montreal Canadiens clinched the Atlantic Division title with a 4-3 shootout win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Alex Galchenyuk tallied the game winner for the Habs, while the Maple Leafs slink off into the offseason following one of their worst seasons in franchise history.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lots of speculation over the Leafs offseason plans over in the “Rumors” section, where I daresay there will be lots more to come between now and the end of the playoffs.
THE VANCOUVER SUN/EDMONTON JOURNAL: Ryan Miller looked rusty in his first game back from a knee injury, but he still backstopped the Vancouver Canucks to a 6-5 win over the Edmonton Oilers. Alexander Edler potted the game winner in overtime while Miller gave up five goals on 28 shots. Taylor Hall, Nail Yakupov and Jordan Eberle all scored to close out the Oilers season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s thought Miller will get the start when the Canucks meet the Calgary Flames in the opening round of the 2015 playoffs. His struggles in this game won’t inspire much confidence among Canucks fans. Most probably prefer backup Eddie Lack get the start, as he played well in Miller’s absence.
WINNIPEG SUN/CALGARY HERALD: The Winnipeg Jets thumped the Calgary Flames 5-1. With both clubs bound for the playoffs, the Flames rested several core players (Defencemen Kris Russell, T.J. Brodie and Dennis Wideman, the entire No. 1 line of Jiri Hudler, Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau, goalie Jonas Hiller) for this one. Flames rookie Sam Bennett and Jets rookie Andrew Copp each picked up their first NHL points in this game.
Sens have been playing playoff hockey for almost 2 months now , and have always fared well against Montreal , including 3 and 1 this season , should be a fun series with an upset more than realistic.
Wednesday can’t come soon enough.
Lack will likely play until he falters and so he should as he’s been great. Calgary had to rest all those players as they’ve been overplaying them due to a chronic lack of depth. that very same lack of depth will be the reason they’re bounced out of the playoffs in the first round. since Giordano was hurt their top 4 has played twice the shifts of their bottom pairing and Hudler,Gaudreau, & Monahan have also played way more than the other forwards (particularlly when Calgary is behind as they’re responsible for 1/3 of the Flames offence). if you look at where Calgary’s offence has come from it’s primarily been the top line, their top 4 dmen, Bouma, Jones and Glencross round out their top 10. now stop and consider that Glencross & Giordano are gone having played only 3/4’s of the Flames games and are STILL in their top 10 scoring and it gives you an idea of how little depth Calgary has when it comes to offence.