Today’s clinching scenario:
* The Bruins (idle), Panthers, Hurricanes, Stars, Canucks and Avalanche all can clinch a playoff berth. Click here for details.
* Up to six teams can clinch a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs today, which would match the highest total on one day since 2005-06. The only time that has happened during that span is March 27, 2007 (DAL, MIN, VAN, NJD, PIT & SJS). The only other date in that span with at least five teams clinching is April 5, 2012 (FLA, ARI, WSH, SJS, LAK).
***
Pre-game
* Brock Nelson (29-31—60 in 71 GP) can become the 10th player in Islanders history to record three consecutive 30-goal seasons and the first to do so since Matt Moulson from 2009-10 to 2011-12.
* With a win tonight the Panthers (46-21-5,97) can clinch a playoff spot for the fifth straight postseason and 10th time in franchise history. Two points would also move Florida past idle Boston (42-17-15, 99 points) for top spot in the Atlantic; the former holds two games in hand entering Thursday (FLA: 72 GP, BOS: 74 GP).
* Sam Reinhart (27 PPG & 5 SHG) enters play with 32 special teams goal in 2023-24. Only six players have recorded as many in a single season since the League began tracking the stat in 1933-34: Mario Lemieux (3x; 44 in 1988-89, 39 in 1995-96 & 32 in 1987-88), Joe Nieuwendyk (34 in 1987-88), Tim Kerr (34 in 1985-86), Leon Draisaitl (33 in 2022-23), Dave Andreychuk (32 in 1992-93) and Wayne Gretzky (32 in 1983-84).
***
Pre-game
* Tyson Foerster (19-13—32 in 68 GP) is one goal away from becoming the fourth Flyers rookies in the past 20 years to record 20 goals in a single season. He can join: Matt Read (24 in 2011-12), Jeff Carter (23 in 2005-06) and R.J. Umberger (20 in 2005-06).
* The Flyers (36-27-10, 82 points) are one point ahead of the Capitals (36-26-9, 81 points), also in play today, and look to maintain third place in the Metropolitan Division for the 64th consecutive day dating back to Jan. 24th.
* Juraj Slafkovsky looks to extend his point streak to a career-high nine games. His current streak matched his eight-game run from Jan. 25 to Feb. 17 for the longest by a teenager in franchise history. The last teenager to record a point streak of nine-plus games was Andrei Svechnikov in 2019-20 (11 GP and 9 GP).
***
Pre-game
* Connor Bedard (21-35—56 in 58 GP) currently leads his team in goals, assists and points can become the fifth active player to lead their team in all three categories as a rookie at the end of a season. The others: Elias Pettersson (2018-19 w/ VAN), Clayton Keller (2017-18 w/ ARI), Alex Ovechkin (2005-06 w/ WSH) and Sidney Crosby (2005-06 w/ PIT).
* Brady Tkachuk has recorded multiple points in each of his past two games and can extend his mutli-point streak to three games for the second time in 2023-24. The longest such run of his career is four games in 2022-23.
***
Pre-game
* Sidney Crosby’s six game-winning goals against Columbus are tied for the fourth most all-time against the franchise, the only players with more are David Legwand (8), Henrik Zetterberg (7) and Patrick Marleau (7).
* The Blue Jackets rookies have combined for a total of 30 goals in 2023-24, tied with the Blackhawks for the most among all teams. Dmitri Voronkov’s 17 goals ared tied with Rick Nash for the third most in a single season by a Blue Jackets rookie. The list is topped by Kirill Marchenko (21 in 2022-23) and Pierre-Luc Dubois (20 in 2017-18).
***
Pre-game
* A Capitals win and a Flyers loss of any kind would move Washington (36-26-9, 81 points) past Philadelphia (36-27-10, 82 points) and into the third seed in the Metropolitan Division – a position the club last held through games played Dec. 10, 2023.
* Auston Matthews (59-34—93 in 70 GP) needs one goal to become the ninth player in NHL history with multiple 60-goal seasons. If Matthews hits the mark tonight, he would become the 11th different player in League history to record 60 goals in a season in 71 games or fewer and first since Mario Lemieux did so 28 years ago with the Penguins. Click here for more #NHLStats on Matthews’ pursuit of another 60-goal season.
* Alex Ovechkin has goals in each of his past two games against Toronto. His 44 goals against the club are tied for his fifth most against one franchise and behind the Jets/Thrashers (55), Lightning (50), Hurricanes (48) and Flyers (48).
***
Pre-game
* Detroit (36-29-7, 79 points) trails Washington (36-26-9, 81 points) by two points for the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Capitals own one game in hand.
* Patrick Kane owns 468 career goals and needs one to pass Pat LaFontaine (468) for sixth place among U.S.-born players in NHL history.
* Andrei Svechnikov is within one contest of 400 in his career (129-181—310 in 399 GP). Among players to skate in as many contests with the Hurricanes, Svechnikov can be the fourth with 130 or more goals with the team (Sebastian Aho: 162 in 400 GP, Eric Staal: 158 in 400 GP & Jeff Skinner: 137 in 400 GP).
***
Pre-game
* The Wild (34-28-9, 77 points) own a game in hand on the Blues (38-30-4, 80 points) – also in action today – as the clubs continue to clash for the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.
* Mikael Granlund (10-38—48 in 58 GP) is two points shy from becoming the first Sharks player with at least 50 points in their first season with the franchise since Dany Heatley (39-43—82 in 82 GP in 2009-10).
* Kirill Kaprizov (36-43—79 in 64 GP) is one point away from becoming the first player in franchise history with multiple 80-point seasons.
***
Pre-game
* The Blues (38-30-4, 80 points) look to close the gap on the Golden Knights (39-25-8, 86 points) – also in action today – for the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. St. Louis last held a Wild Card spot on Feb. 23.
* Yegor Sharangovich (28-23—51 in 71 GP) is one multi-goal game away from becoming the sixth player in franchise history to record 30 goals in their first season with the franchise. He can join Michael Cammalleri (39 in 2008-09), Hakan Loob (30 in 1983-84), Lanny McDonald (34 in 1981-82), Kent Nilsson (40 in 1979-80), and Bob MacMillan (31 in 1977-78).
* Pavel Buchnevich (80-119—199 in 206 GP) is one point shy from 200 with the Blues and can require the fewest games to reach the benchmark since Keith Tkachuk (204 GP from 2000-01 to 2003-04).
***
Pre-game
* The Golden Knights (39-25-8, 86 points) look to extend its winning streak against the Jets to six games dating to Oct. 20, 2022 as they continue to chase down the Predators (43-25-4, 90) – who are also in action today – for the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.
* The Jets (44-22-6, 94) look to close the gap on the Avalanche (46-21-5, 97), who are also in play today, for second in the Central division.
* Kyle Connor (30-19—49 in 56 GP) is one point shy from recording his seventh consecutive 50-point season with the Jets. The only players with as many are Mark Scheifele (9 from 2015-16 – 2023-24), Ilya Kovalchuk (8 from 2001-02 – 2009-10) and Blake Wheeler (7 from 2013-14 – 2019-20).
* Jonathan Marchessault (39-23—62 in 72 GP) is one goal shy from joining William Karlsson (43 in 2017-18) as the second player in franchise history to record 40 goals in a single season.
***
Pre-game
* The Rangers can become the 10th team in NHL history to register three consecutive multi-goal comeback wins and first since the Blackhawks strung together three straight in 2022-23 (3 GP from Oct. 15-23, 2023). The longest stretch in NHL history is held by the 2005-06 Hurricanes (4 GP from Oct. 24-29, 2005).
* The Avalanche (46-21-5, 97 points) enter Thursday trailing the Stars (45-19-9, 99 points) by two points for top spot in the Central Division. A Colorado win of any kind and a Dallas regulation loss would move Nathan MacKinnon’s club atop the division.
* Nathan MacKinnon (13-25—38 in 19 GP) can join Patrick Kane (26 GP in 2015-16 & 20 GP in 2018-19), Sidney Crosby (25 GP in 2010-11) and Mitch Marner (23 GP in 2022-23) as the fourth active player with a point streak of at least 20 contests.
***
Pre-game
* The Oilers (43-23-4, 90 points) and Kings (38-22-11, 87 points) continue to clash for seeding in the Pacific Division, sitting in second and third place respectively.
* Connor McDavid (26-93—119 in 68 GP), with the most assists in a single season since Joe Thornton (96 in 2005-06), can collect multiple helpers in five straight games for the third time in his career (6 GP from Feb. 19-28, 2024 & 5 GP from May 1-8, 2021). Wayne Gretzky (7x; longest: 8 GP in 1984-85) is the only Oilers skater to achieve the feat three times.
* Anze Kopitar (4-5—9 in 4 GP) can be the first Kings player with multiple points in five straight games in since Alex Frolov (5 GP in 2006-07). Meanwhile, Bob Nevin (6 GP in 1974-75) is the only player, age 36 or older, to accomplish the feat in franchise history.
***
Pre-game
* The Predators (43-25-4, 90 points) continue to chase down the third-place Jets (44-22-6, 94 points) in the Central Division. Nashville can become the 15th team in NHL history with a point streak of 19+ games and the sixth in the past 30 years (CHI: 24 GP in 2012-13, SJS: 20 GP in 2007-08, DET: 20 GP in 2005-06, COL: 19 GP in 2021-22 & BOS: 19 GP in 2018-19).
* Josh Doan can become the third player in Coyotes/Jets history to score in each of his first two career NHL games. He would join Jan Jenik (2 GP in 2020-21) and Christian Fischer (2 GP in 2016-17).
***
Pre-game
* Pavel Mintyukov (4-24—28) can become the fifth rookie defenseman in Ducks history to record 30 points in a season. He would join Cam Fowler (40 in 2010-11), Francois Beauchemin (34 in 2005-06), Jamie Drysdale (32 in 2021-22) and Hampus Lindholm (30 in 2013-14).
* Jordan Eberle has 13 career power-play goals with the Kraken, tied with Oliver Bjorkstrand and Jaden Schwartz for the second most with the franchise. Jared McCann (24) is the only skater with more.
***
Pre-game
* Fresh of a three-point outing in his last outing, Wyatt Johnston sits two points shy of 100 in his career (52-46—98 in 155 GP). He can join Brian Bellows (102-108—210 in 234 GP) and Mike Modano (57-82—139 in 159 GP) as the third player, age 20 or younger, in franchise history with at least 100 points.
* Quinn Hughes (13-68—81 in 72 GP) sits one point shy of becoming the fifth different U.S.-born defenseman in NHL history with an 82-point campaign and first since Brian Leetch (15-70—85 in 1995-96).
* Both division leaders, Dallas (45-19-9, 99 points) and Vancouver (45-19-8, 98 points), are looking for a victory and their 100th point of 2023-24. The Stars (73 GP) can reach the mark in 74 or fewer games for the third time (70 GP in 1998-99 & 72 GP in 2005-06), while the Canucks (72 GP) can require 73 or fewer contests for the second time (71 GP in 2010-11).
