* The Bruins’ unforgettable season continues as the franchise set yet another NHL record, this time for most points, while Linus Ullmark established a new League mark for fewest games to 40 wins.
* The Panthers and Jets secured the 14th and 15th berth in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, meaning only one spot is up for grabs as the NHL moves into the final three days of the regular season.
* The NHL is officially headed Down Under! Melbourne, Australia will host two preseason contests between the Coyotes and Kings in the 2023 NHL Global Series – Melbourne from Sept. 23-24, which will mark the first-ever NHL games played in the Southern Hemisphere.
ULLMARK, BRUINS CARVE NAMES ATOP ANOTHER NHL RECORD
Two days after setting the League record for wins in a season, David Pastrnak (0-2—2) and Linus Ullmark (19 saves) helped the Bruins (64-12-5, 133 points) add another ribbon on their historic season by recording the most points by a team in a campaign, besting the 1976-77 Canadiens (132 points).
* David Pastrnak boosted his season totals to 60-51—111 (81 GP) and joined Connor McDavid (64-88—152 in 81 GP) as the second player this season to record 60 goals and 50 assists. Prior to 2022-23, the last campaign to feature a player reach those numbers was 1995-96: Mario Lemieux (69-92—161) and Jaromir Jagr (62-87—149).
* Ullmark (40-6-1) became the second goaltender in Bruins history with a 40-win season, joining Pete Peeters (40-12-9 in 1982-83).
JETS, IDLE PANTHERS CLINCH BERTHS IN 2023 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
The Jets (46-32-3, 95 points) earned a victory versus the Wild to clinch the Western Conference’s eighth and final berth in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, while the idle Panthers (42-31-8, 92 points) locked up the Eastern Conference’s seventh postseason spot by virtue of the Devils defeating the Sabres and the Blackhawks beating the Penguins in regulation.
* Connor Hellebuyck, who stopped 33 shots Tuesday including making a highlight-reel stick save on Mats Zuccarello late in the third period, is the only goaltender to have the decision for every playoff win by an active NHL franchise – two netminders did so for defunct clubs (Gary Smith: 3 w/ Oakland Seals/California Golden Seals/Cleveland Barons; Roy “Shrimp” Worters: 1 w/ Pittsburgh Pirates/Philadelphia Quakers). Click here to read more postseason #NHLStats on Hellebuyck and the Jets.
* The Panthers are headed to the postseason for a fourth straight year and ninth time in franchise history, marking the eighth consecutive season – and 33rd time in 36 campaigns since the trophy’s inception – that the reigning Presidents’ Trophy winners have qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Click here to read more postseason #NHLStats about Florida.
FOUR CLUBS CLINCH HOME-ICE ADVANTAGE FOR 2023 FIRST ROUND
The Hurricanes (51-21-9, 111 points) and Devils (51-22-8, 110 points) earned wins to clinch home-ice advantage in the 2023 First Round, while the Avalanche (49-24-7, 105 points) and idle Stars (45-21-14, 104 points) will also start the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs as hosts thanks to the Jets’ victory Tuesday.
* Antti Raanta recorded 20 saves to improve to 19-3-3 in 27 appearances this season (2.23 GAA, .910 SV%, 4 SO) and help Carolina maintain its one-point edge over New Jersey in the race for the Metropolitan Division title. Raanta’s winning percentage of .704 is the second highest among all goaltenders this season (min. 25 GP) behind Linus Ullmark (.816 W%).
* With his brother, Luke, making his NHL debut for the Devils, Jack Hughes wrote his name next to a franchise record with his 97th point of 2022-23 as New Jersey defeated Buffalo to improve to 51-22-8 (110 points). The Devils tied their franchise record for most wins in a season – set in 2008-09 – and moved within two points of their benchmark for most points in a campaign (111 points in 2000-01).
PETTERSSON POCKETING 100TH POINT FEATURED IN #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
Tuesday’s edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates featured more notes from the 10-game slate, including Elias Pettersson (38-63—101 in 79 GP) posting two assists to reach the 100-point mark for the first time in his career. Pettersson became the seventh first-time 100-point scorer this season (also David Pastrnak, Nathan MacKinnon, Jason Robertson, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Mikko Rantanen & Erik Karlsson), tied for the most in League history (w/ 1984-85 & 1992-93).
COYOTES, KINGS HEADED DOWN UNDER FOR 2023 NHL GLOBAL SERIES
The League and NHLPA announced Tuesday that the Coyotes and Kings will play the first-ever NHL games in the Southern Hemisphere during the 2023 NHL Global Series – Melbourne, with the preseason contests taking place at Rod Laver Arena from Sept. 23-24. Click here for more details on the historic announcement.
QUICK CLICKS
* McDavid Moments: 2022-23 Regular Season
* State Your Case: Who wins Maple Leafs-Lightning playoff series?
* Coaches count on video, scouting reports to prepare for playoffs
* NHL on ABC regular-season viewership concludes with double-digit increases
*Connor McDavid extends point streak to 15 games
ROBERTSON’S CAREER SEASON CONTINUES ON TNT DOUBLEHEADER
Jason Robertson (46-60—106 in 80 GP), with multiple points in each of his past three road games, will attempt to surpass Dino Ciccarelli (55-51—106 in 1981-82) for the second-most points in a single season in Stars/North Stars history when Dallas takes to the ice in the first of two nationally-broadcasted games on TNT.
* Robertson, who already stands as one of seven different U.S.-born players in NHL history with a 60-assist season before their 24th birthday (including Quinn Hughes: 66 in 2022-23 & 60 in 2021-22), is one of just three to record a 100-point campaign.
