* It came down to the last 1:42 of the final game of the regular season for Nathan MacKinnon to complete his hat trick, propel the Avalanche to a third straight division title and lock in the remaining matchups for the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
* No one knows what the Stanley Cup Playoffs may hold, but the end of the regular season confirmed one thing: Connor McDavid has officially earned his third straight Art Ross Trophy as well as his first Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy.
* The highest-scoring NHL season in 29 years concluded with an average of 6.4 goals-per-game, along with single-season records for multi-goal comeback wins (143) and a total of 550 comeback victories of any nature – one shy of the League record set last year (551 in 2021-22).
* The final two games of 2022-23 both included a goal in the first 60 seconds of play, boosting the season count to 89 and tying 1992-93 for the most goals in the opening-minute of a contest in NHL history.
COMPLETE YOUR BRACKET… THE FIRST ROUND IS NEARLY HERE
Sixteen teams are set to begin their quest for the Stanley Cup on Monday after the last two First Round matchups were decided during the final two minutes of the regular season.
* While the players battle it out on the ice, fans can join the action too with the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket Challenge presented by GEICO.
Notes for all eight First Round matchups are available here, including the two confirmed Friday:
* Avalanche vs. Kraken: Colorado is Seattle’s first-ever postseason opponent as the two clubs have secured a 2023 First Round matchup. The clubs own identical all-time regular-season records against one another (3-2-1). This will be the 287th unique playoff series in NHL history.
* Stars vs. Wild: The two clubs will meet in the playoffs for the second time after facing off in the 2016 First Round, a series the Stars won in six contests. Three of six game-winning goals were scored by players who can compete in the 2023 First Round: Radek Faksa, Jamie Benn and Alex Goligoski, who clinched the series for Dallas in 2016 but will be across the ice with Minnesota this year.
THE FIRST ROUND SCHEDULE IS HERE
The NHL announced the schedule for the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, which will be broadcast nationally in Canada on Sportsnet and TVAS and by ESPN and TNT in the United States.
* The battle between a No. 1-ranked team and the previous Presidents’ Trophy winner will help begin ESPN’s coverage of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs when the Panthers visit the Bruins for Game 1, before the Art Ross and Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy-winner, Connor McDavid, and the Oilers open their rematch against the Kings.
* TNT, who will carry the Stanley Cup Final for the first time, will open their coverage of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Tuesday with the “Hudson River Rivalry” between the Rangers and Devils.
MCDAVID CLAIMS ART ROSS, “ROCKET” RICHARD
After an incredible season that saw Connor McDavid consistently take over headlines across the sporting world and produce the most points by an NHL player in 27 years, the Oilers captain officially captured both the Art Ross Trophy as the League’s scoring champion and the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the NHL’s goal-scoring leader after the conclusion of the 2022-23 regular season.
* McDavid (64-89—153 in 82 GP) registered 25 more points than the next-closest player (teammate Leon Draisaitl: 52-76—128 in 80 GP) – and the most by any NHL player since 1995-96 (Mario Lemieux: 69-92—161 in 70 GP) – to win his third straight Art Ross Trophy and fifth overall. He became the sixth player in League history to claim the Art Ross Trophy at least five times, joining Wayne Gretzky (10x), Gordie Howe (6x), Lemieux (6x), Phil Esposito (5x) and Jaromir Jagr (5x), and just the second to reach that number in his first eight seasons, after Gretzky (7x).
* McDavid’s 64 goals are the most by any player since 2007-08 (Alex Ovechkin: 65 G in 82 GP), lifting him to his first career Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy. McDavid became the first player in Oilers history to capture the award, which first was presented in 1998-99, and the third Edmonton player to top the League in goals, after Gretzky (5x, most recently in 1986-87) and Jari Kurri (1985-86).
* McDavid became the fifth player in NHL history to outright lead the NHL in goals, assists and points during a season and the first to do so since Gretzky in 1986-87 (62-121—183 in 79 GP).
* McDavid Moments by #NHLStats: Click here for a breakdown of the best NHL season in a generation.
AVALANCHE CLINCH CENTRAL IN FINAL TWO MINUTES OF 2022-23 REGULAR SEASON
A goal from Nathan MacKinnon (3-1—4) with 1:42 remaining in regulation of the final game of the 2022-23 allowed the reigning champion Avalanche to clinch the Central Division title and extend their franchise-record road winning streak to 11 games. MacKinnon secured his fourth career regular-season hat trick and 16th career four-point game. MacKinnon improved his season totals to 42-69—111 (71 GP), an average of 1.56 points-per-game (the highest in Colorado history) and the fourth-most points by a Colorado player since relocation in 1995-96.
* Colorado clinched its division for the 14th instance in franchise history and for the third straight year – the club achieved the feat after only sitting in the No. 1 seed in the Central for 10 days this season, which is tied for the fourth-fewest days at No. 1 by a division winner behind the 2002-03 Avalanche (2 days), 2005-06 Devils (7 days) and 1969-70 Blackhawks (8 days).
* The Avalanche became the second reigning Stanley Cup champion in the past decade to clinch a division title, joining the Capitals in 2018-19. Colorado sat 14 points behind the top-seeded Jets on Jan. 15 and rallied to tie for the 10th-largest point differential faced by a division winner in NHL history.
* Click here for an #NHLStats regular-season recap.
* The NHL record books were re-written by the Bruins this season.Click here for a full #NHLStats rundown of their accomplishments. Some highlights:
* Set the single season wins record
* Set the single season points record
* Were in first place in the Atlantic Division from start to finish
* Sixth team in the last 45 years from the NHL, NFL, MLB or NBA to set a league wins record
* Fifth team in League history to have a 60-goal scorer and the NHL wins leader in net (tied or outright)
GET SET FOR THE PLAYOFFS WITH #NHLSTATS PACKS FOR ALL 16 TEAMS
With the start of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs just two days away, don’t forget to re-visit the #NHLStats packs for all 16 teams, dedicated to each club’s respective postseason run, in preparation for all of the First Round matchups.
NHL ANNOUNCES ODDS FOR 2023 DRAFT LOTTERY PARTICIPANTS
The NHL announced today the odds for clubs participating in the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery, set for Monday, May 8, at NHL Network’s Secaucus, N.J., studio. The event will be broadcast live beginning at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN, Sportsnet and TVA Sports.
* Click herefor more information and visit Records.NHL.com for a history of the Draft Lottery.
QUICK CLICKS
* Andy Eide, NHL.com Kraken independent correspondent, dies
* NHL Mash-Up: Stanley Cup Puppies, Hughes Bros., more
* Rangers, Devils, Islanders qualify for playoffs for 1st time since 2007
* Golden Knights introduce new team goldfish in fun video
* Women in Hockey: Erika Ambrioso
WEEKLY PODCAST ROUNDUP
* The Chirp with Daren Millard (April 12): Ferraro joins; Playoff storylines, Oilers’s power play
* NHL Fantasy (April 14): Fantasy pool preview for 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs
* NHL Fantasy (April 14): Action Network Collab: Stanley Cup Playoffs Preview
* NHL @ The Rink (April 14): Olczyk joins; postseason, Penguins shakeup, Ducks coaching change
