THE STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS BEGIN APRIL 19
* The Capitals can clinch a berth into the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Thursday. . .
- If they defeat the Flyers in regulation AND any result in the Islanders-Canadiens game other than an Islanders regulation win; OR
- If they defeat the Flyers in overtime or shootout AND the Islanders lose to the Canadiens in any fashion; OR
- If they lose to the Flyers in overtime or shootout AND the Blue Jackets lose to the Panthers in any fashion AND the Islanders lose to the Canadiens in regulation.
* Teams to clinch a playoff spot in fewer than 70 games played in an 82-game season.
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Pre-game
* Jake Sanderson (7-39—46 in 66 GP) can become the fifth Senators defenseman with 40 assists in a single season, joining Erik Karlsson (6x, most: 66 in 2015-16), Norm MacIver (46 in 1992-93), Thomas Chabot (41 in 2018-19) and Wade Redden (40 in 2005-06).
* Cale Makar (25-54—79 in 69 GP) can record 80 points in 70 games or fewer for the third time in his career (also 69 GP in 2023-24 & 2021-22). Makar can join Paul Coffey (9x; fewest: 51 GP in 1985-86), Bobby Orr (6x; fewest: 44 GP in 1974-75), Ray Bourque (5x; fewest: 65 GP in 1993-94) and Denis Potvin (3x; fewest 58 GP in 1978-79) as the fifth defenseman in NHL history to achieve the feat at least three times.
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Pre-game
* Nico Hischier (28-25—53 in 63 GP) can join Timo Meier (3x) as the second Swiss-born player in NHL history with multiple 30-goal seasons.
* Nazem Kadri (296-397—693 in 970 GP) sits three assists shy of 400 in his career. He has posted 9-11—20 in 32 career games against the Devils to date.
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Pre-game
* Adam Fox (58-299—357 in 418 GP) can tie Ray Bourque (419 GP) for the seventh-fewest games to 300 career assists by a defenseman in NHL history. The only blueliners to reach the mark faster are Bobby Orr (346 GP), Brian Leetch (368 GP), Quinn Hughes (376 GP), Paul Coffey (377 GP), Cale Makar (378 GP) and Gary Suter (400 GP).
* Auston Matthews, with goals in three straight games, sits two points shy of becoming the fourth player in Maple Leafs history with at least 350 career road points for the franchise (178-170—348 in 313 GP).
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Pre-game
* Matvei Michkov (20-27—47 in 67 GP) is three assists shy of becoming the eighth Flyers rookie with 20 goals and 30 assists in a single season and first since Mikael Renberg (38-44—82 in 1993-94).
* Aliaksei Protas (29-32—61 in 68 GP) needs one goal to join Alex Ovechkin (34) and Tom Wilson (30) as the third Capitals player with 30 goals this season. It would mark the 10th season in franchise history the team has had three 30-goal scorers and first since 2009-10 (3).
* Alex Ovechkin (51-31—82 in 77 GP) sits eight goals away from passing Wayne Gretzky (894) for the most in NHL history and aims to continue The Gr8 Chase against continues against the Flyers (51-31—82 in 77 GP) – one of four franchises he has 50 career goals against (also: 56 vs. WPG, 51 vs. CAR and 51 vs. TBL).
* Less than a year ago, the Capitals clinched the last berth in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs during a chaotic 15-minute sequence on the day they played their last game (which was against the Flyers). Since 1979-80, no team has gone from being the last team to clinch a playoff spot in one season to the first team to do so the next season. The Capitals can do that in 2024-25.
* If the Capitals secure a playoff spot tonight (69 GP), it would mark the second fewest games the club has required to clinch a playoff spot in an 82-game season. The only instances in which they required fewer than 70 contests were 2009-10 (67 GP) and 2015-16 (69 GP).
* Washington has been the first team to clinch a playoff spot three times: 2009-10, 2015-16 and 2016-17.
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Pre-game
* Aleksander Barkov (18-44—62 in 58 GP) is one multi-goal game away from becoming the third Finnish-born player with 10 consecutive 20-goal seasons. He would join Teemu Selanne (11 from 1992-93 – 2002-03) and Jari Kurri (10 from 1980-81 – 1989-90).
* Zach Werenski (20-49—69 in 66 GP) can require the fewest games to 50 assists and the second-fewest games 70 points in a season by a Blue Jackets player, trailing only Artemi Panarin (60 GP in 2018-19).
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Pre-game
* Lane Hutson (5-50—55 in 69 GP) can match Brian Leetch (51 in 1987-88 – 1988-89) for the fourth-most assists through 70 career games by a defenseman in NHL history. The list is topped by Larry Murphy, Mark Howe and Stefan Persson (all w/ 54).
* Anders Lee (285-214—499 in 826 GP) needs one point to become the 13th player to record 500 with the Islanders. Among those players, his 285 goals are already the most at the time of the milestone.
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Pre-game
* Quinn Hughes (16-49—65 in 54 GP) is one assist away from his fourth consecutive season with 50 helpers and can join Henrik Sedin (7 from 2005-06 – 2011-12) as the second player in Canucks history with a run of that length.
* Jordan Kyrou (5-3—8 in 3 GP) can record multi-points in four straight games for the first time in his career and can join Robert Thomas (4 GP in 2023-24) and Justin Faulk (4 GP in 2022-23) as the only Blues players to do so in the past five years.
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Pre-game
* Troy Terry (18-32—50 in 63 GP) needs two goals to become the sixth Ducks player with four consecutive 20-goal seasons.
* Filip Forsberg (167-188—355 in 384 GP) needs one assist to tie David Legwand (189) for the second-most assists at home by a Predators player. Roman Josi tops the list with 274.
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Pre-game
* Nikita Kucherov (29-66—95 in 63 GP) can join Jake Guentzel (33-31—64 in 66 GP), Brayden Point (32-34—66 in 62 GP) and Brandon Hagel (31-42—73 in 67 GP) as the fourth Lightning player with 30 or more goals this season. The only other campaign they had as many players reach the mark was 2022-23.
* Wyatt Johnston carries a 15-game home point streak into tonight and can tie Mike Modano (16 GP in 1999-00) for the second-longest run in Stars/North Stars history behind Neal Broten (18 GP in 1989-90). The 21-year-old will also look to extend his home goal streak to seven games and join Evgeni Malkin (7 GP in 2007-08) as just the second active player with a run of that length before age 22.
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Pre-game
* Adrian Kempe (28-27—55 in 66 GP) can become sixth active Swedish player with three 30-goal seasons. The others are William Nylander (5x) Filip Forsberg (4x), Elias Pettersson (3x), Rickard Rakell (3x) and Mika Zibanejad (3x).
* The Blackhawks can sweep the season series (min. 3 GP) against the Kings for fourth time in franchise history after doing so in 1981-82 (3-0-0), 2010-11 (4-0-0) and in 2013-14 (3-0-0).
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Pre-game
* Connor Hellebuyck can post his second 40-win season after recording 44 in 2017-18. The only U.S.-born goaltender with multiple 40-win campaigns is Ryan Miller (41 in 2009-10 & 40 in 2006-07).
* Connor McDavid, who enters with the NHL’s longest active point streak – 12 games since Feb. 23 – d has recorded 12-44—56 in 33 career games against the Jets. It is the most points by a player against the club since 2011-12, when the franchise moved to Winnipeg.
* Connor McDavid (198-372—570 in 351 GP) needs two goals to become the fifth Oilers player with 200 goals on home ice and can require the third-fewest games to reach the mark, trailing only Wayne Gretzky (211 GP) and Jari Kurri (281 GP).
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Pre-game
* Utah can win both games against Buffalo after previously beating them on Dec. 7 (5-2 W). The only teams they have swept in a season series this year so far are the Canucks (3-0-0) and the Flyers (2-0-0).
* JJ Peterka (19-32—51 in 61 GP) can become the eighth German-born player in NHL history with multiple 20-goal seasons.
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Pre-game
* David Pastrnak (34-49—83 in 69 GP) can record his third consecutive season with 50 or more assists and can join Marc Savard (3 from 2006-07 – 2008-09) and Brad Marchand (3 from 2017-18 – 2019-20) as the only Bruins players in the past 30 years to do so.
* The Golden Knights (39-20-8, 86 points) can record their seventh 40-win season since making their debut in 2017-18, which is the most by any franchise through the first eight campaigns. The next closest franchise is the Oilers with six from 1979-80 to 1986-87.
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Pre-game
* Rod Brind’Amour can record his fifth winning streak of eight or more games since taking making his head coaching debut in 2018-19. The only coach with as many streaks during that span is Jon Cooper (5x)
* Brent Burns will be skating in his 911th consecutive game dating back to Nov. 21, 2013 and will pass Sharks legend, Patrick Marleau (910 GP) for sole possession of the fifth longest ‘Ironman’ streak in NHL history.
* Macklin Celebrini (21-29—50 in 56 GP) can become the fastest player in Sharks history to 30 career assists. He would eclipse the mark set by Marcus Ragnarsson (63 GP in 1995-96).
