The time is finally here! It’s the last week of the regular season, the playoffs start on Saturday!
In other HUGE news, the Arizona Coyotes are set to be moving to Salt Lake City, Utah, as soon as next season. Drop what you think their new team name will be in the comments below!
Game of the Week
This one was a back-and-forth barn burner with MASSIVE playoff implications! Pittsburgh got off to a hot start, taking a 1-0 lead just short of 3 minutes into the game, but Lucas Raymond answered quickly for the Wings, tying the game at 1-1 just under a minute later on a rebound goal. Kris Letang ripped a five-hole shot to give the Pens a 2-1 lead, but yet again Lucas Raymond answered the bell, tying the game on a backhand beauty with just 14 seconds left to play in the first period. The second period saw a surge from Pittsburgh to give them a 2-goal lead at 4-2, with tallies from Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust. The Red Wings refused to waiver though, cutting the lead in half at 4-3 with a Jeff Petry blast with under a minute to play in the second period. Once again, the Penguins extended their lead in the third to 5-3 on a Jeff Carter snipe, but once again, Detroit was up to the task. A goal from captain Dylan Larkin made the score 5-4, and then Lucas Raymond was back for more, netting the tying goal with 5 minutes left to complete his hat trick and a four-point game. We headed to overtime, and with both teams on the cusp of the playoffs, the extra point in overtime was absolutely crucial. In the end, the Penguins got the extra point and the win on a rocket of a shot from Erik Karlsson set up by Sidney Crosby. 6-5 Penguins, Final/OT.
Trivia Question of the Week
What NHL player holds the record for most Stanley Cups won? How many did he win?
Stump Stars of the Week
1st Star - Nazem Kadri, Calgary Flames, 4 Games, 4 Goals, 4 Assists
2nd Star - Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers, 2 Wins, .966 Save %, 1 Shutout
3rd Star - Lucas Raymond, Detroit Red Wings, 3 Games, 3 Goals, 3 Assists
Goals of the Week
Michigan goal, lacrosse goal, whatever you want to call it, Andrei Svechnikov is the king of them! In Tuesday’s contest in Boston, Svechnikov circled the net, scooped the puck up on his stick, and swung it home above the shoulder of Jeremy Swayman. The goal was so swiftly in and out of the net that the referees never saw it, but after further review, it was correctly deemed to be a good goal, and a beauty.
An impressive display from the Jets’ Gabe Villardi on this goal. He received a quick pass out in front of the net, and in a flash, brought the puck between his legs and lofted a perfectly placed shot into the top right corner, beating goaltender Jusse Saros. This one’s worth the watch, give it a look above!
The Sabres’ Jack Quinn rounds out our top three this week with his tally in the third period. Getting the puck on the right-wing blue line, Quinn moved in with space, keeping his options open. At the last second while attacking his defender, he made a sweet toe drag into the middle of the ice, which gave him room to rip a wrist shot top left.
Playoff Race Check-in
Eastern Conference
We’re due for a great last week in the east, as with just a couple games left to play, there are still five teams fighting for two playoff spots. The Islanders control their own destiny as they hold the final Metro division spot with 90 points and two games remaining. As far as the last wild card spot, the Capitals, Red Wings, and Flyers all have 87 points, and the Penguins are close behind with 86. The Capitals hold the spot currently based on tie-breakers. Washington and Philadelphia will meet this week, so keep an eye on that game as it could have major playoff implications.
The top of the east is much of the same - a logjam. The Rangers are in the driver’s seat, they can clinch the best record in the east with a Monday win against Ottawa. The Hurricanes are just one point behind them, and the Bruins 3 points, but the Bruins have two games remaining while the Canes and Rangers have just one.
Western Conference
The wild card race in the west has concluded! The Predators have punched their ticket to the playoffs, and the other spot will go to the Kings or the Golden Knights, one getting a wild card spot and the other securing the last Pacific divisional spot.
While the teams are locked up, there’s still lots to watch for to determine matchups. It’s undetermined which of the Knights and Kings will play either the Stars or Canucks, and while Winnipeg and Colorado are sure to clash in the playoffs, the team with home ice is still yet to be determined. At the top of the conference, the Stars have clinched the top seed in the west.
Matchups to Watch
Tuesday - Capitals @ Flyers
Two playoff hopefuls in a pivotal game that is sure to have an impact on what the playoffs will look like. Watch for this game to be like a playoff game itself!
Tuesday - Maple Leafs @ Panthers
This is nearly certainly a preview of a first-round matchup, so this game will definitely be dicey. Another playoff atmosphere that will set the tone for the quest for the cup.
Wednesday - Penguins @ Islanders
Another HUGE game between two teams looking to secure a playoff spot. This is the final Eastern Conference matchup of the regular season, and it could mean the Penguins fighting for their playoff lives. Keep an eye on this one.
Trivia Answer
Henri Richard, Canadiens legend himself and brother of Canadiens legend Maurice “Rocket” Richard, Henri has won the most cups as a player with 11 Stanley Cup Championships!
Thanks for tuning in for another week in review! I’ll keep the series going throughout the playoffs to keep you all in the loop, and let me know what sort of content you’d like to see in the summer during the off-season. Have a great week!
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