Date for NHL Draft Lottery revealed, John Tortorella reaches a coaching milestone & more in today’s collection of notable NHL headlines.
The 2016 Playoff Race.
LOS ANGELES TIMES: Goaltender Jonathan Quick’s 28-save performance backstopped the Los Angeles Kings to a 2-1 win over the Boston Bruins, clinching a playoff berth for the Kings. They are only the second team thus far assured of a playoff spot, joining the first-overall Washington Capitals.
TRIBLIVE.COM: A three-goal second period gave the Pittsburgh Penguins a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, moving the Penguins into third in the Metropolitan Division. The loss keeps the Flyers outside the Eastern Conference playoff window.
THE DETROIT NEWS: The Red Wings netted four unanswered goals, including two by Pavel Datsyuk, to beat the Florida Panthers 5-3, spoiling actor Kevin Spacey’s visit to watch his new favorite team. The win gives the Wings a 3-point cushion over the Flyers for the final wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference.
THE TAMPA TRIBUNE: Ben Bishop set a franchise record for shutouts (15) backstopping the Lightning to a 2-0 win over the Arizona Coyotes, snapping the latter’s three-game win streak and moving the Bolts to within two points of the Atlantic Division-leading Florida Panthers.
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Kari Lehtonen collected his 34th career NHL shutout as the Dallas Stars blanked the New York Islanders 3-0, moving the Stars closer to clinching a playoff spot. The Islanders loss knocks them to fourth in the Metropolitan Division and into one of the two Eastern Conference wild-card berths.
TWINCITIES.COM: The Minnesota Wild remained within a point of the final wild-card berth in the Western Conference by edging the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 in a shootout.
SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS: Joe Thornton tallied the game winner as the San Jose Sharks peppered New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist with 52 shots on route to a 4-1 victory, moving the Sharks within a point of the Anaheim Ducks for second in the Pacific Division.
Notable NHL Headlines.
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella coached his 1,000th career NHL game on Saturday as his club skated to a 6-3 win over the New Jersey Devils.
USA TODAY: The injury-depleted Montreal Canadiens made dubious history on Saturday, giving up three shorthanded goals for the first time in franchise history during their 5-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators.
SPORTSNET: The Toronto Maple Leafs have become the first team this season to be mathematically eliminated from the 2016 NHL playoffs.
THE TAMPA TRIBUNE: A brief profile of agent Don Meehan and his handling of contract negotiations with client Steven Stamkos.
NBC SPORTS: The 2016 NHL Draft Lottery will reportedly be held on Saturday, April 30.
“Saturday, April 30 …” – the day a collective groan goes up from coast to coast o coast (except in a certain part of Alberta) and the audible “not AGAIN!”
Fingers crossed! That’s step one of our impossible and ill-conceived pipe dream to land Ekman Larson.