The Japanese Convention Wild Card race is shaping as much as be one other down-to-the-wire battle for the second time in as many seasons, with the Canadiens, Rangers and Senators every doing their half by amassing essential factors on a six-game Monday.
* Spencer Knight had a debut to recollect for the Blackhawks by turning apart 41 of 42 photographs and backstopping Chicago to its first regulation win towards Los Angeles since Oct. 27, 2019.
* The Stars and Devils are set to conflict on ESPN+, Disney+ and Hulu, with Dallas having scored 5 or extra objectives in every of its previous 4 dwelling video games and Roope Hintz eying a 3rd consecutive four-point outing.
RANGERS, CANADIENS EARN CRUCIAL WINS IN EASTERN CONFERENCE WILD CARD RACE
After a thrilling finish in 2023-24 – when the final playoff spot was secured throughout a chaotic 15-minute span throughout many golf equipment’ season finale – one other down-to-the-wire battle is brewing within the Japanese Convention this season because the Rangers and Canadiens skated to essential victories Monday, whereas the Senators rallied to salvage some extent in Washington.
* The three groups which have occupied a Wild Card spot over the previous month (since Feb. 6) all are in search of their first journey to the Stanley Cup Playoffs since no less than 2019-20, and have mixed for 4 journeys previously eight seasons: Columbus (4 seasons with out), Detroit (8 seasons with out) and Ottawa (7 seasons with out).
* The Canadiens fended off a three-goal comeback from the Sabres en path to an additional time win thanks largely to multi-point efforts from captain Nick Suzuki (1-3—4) and Lane Hutson (0-2—2). Suzuki, who has factored on six of seven additional time objectives for Montreal this season, turned the fourth Canadiens participant previously decade with multiple four-point outings in a single season following Jonathan Drouin (2 in 2018-19), Alex Galchenyuk (2 in 2017-18) and Max Pacioretty (2 in 2016-17).
* Hutson boosted his NHL totals to 4-46—50 (63 GP) and overtook Chris Chelios (66 GP) because the quickest defenseman to file 50 profession factors in franchise historical past. He additionally turned the third-fastest U.S.-born rookie defenseman in NHL historical past to achieve the milestone, following Brian Leetch (51 GP) and Phil Housley (60 GP).
* Igor Shesterkin (21 saves) helped New York notch its second shutout win in as many days whereas J.T. Miller (1-1—2) continued his sizzling begin with the Rangers since being acquired from the Canucks. Miller has 7-7—14 (11 GP) since his first recreation with the Rangers on Feb. 1, trailing solely teammate Mika Zibanejad (4-11—15 in 11 GP) and Ryan Donato (7-9—16 in 10 GP) for the League lead over that span.
* Tim Stützle (0-2—2) assisted on certainly one of three objectives that helped the Senators draw even after falling behind 3-0 and once more on Brady Tkachuk’s game-tying objective with 1:08 remaining in regulation. Stützle established the longest assist streak in franchise history (3-14—17 in 11 GP) and have become the fourth totally different participant in Senators historical past with a point streak of 12 or more games – and first since Drake Batherson (13 GP in 2022-23).
A “KNIGHT” TO REMEMBER IN #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
Simply two days after being acquired by Chicago from Florida, Spencer Knight stopped 41 of 42 photographs and lifted the Blackhawks to their first regulation win towards the Kings since Oct. 27, 2019. Discover extra notes from Monday’s six-game slate within the latest edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates.
DYK? Two different goaltenders have made their debut with a franchise towards the Kings, and made 40-plus saves in these contests: Richard Bachman (47 saves on Oct. 27, 2013 w/ EDM) and Marc-Andre Fleury (46 saves on Oct. 10, 2003 w/ PIT).
QUICK CLICKS
* Andrei Vasilevskiy, Roope Hintz, Nick Suzuki “Three Stars” of the Week
* Charlie Lindgren signs three-year extension with Capitals
* Aleksander Barkov, Panthers end Lightning eight-game winning streak in Seth Jones’ debut
* Stars may add more before Trade Deadline after acquiring Mikael Granlund, Cody Ceci
* Spencer Knight set for new chapter with Blackhawks after trade from Panthers
ANOTHER HIGH-SCORING OUTING AT HOME WRITTEN IN THE STARS FOR DALLAS?
In a contest broadcast on ESPN+, Disney+ and Hulu, the Stars (39-19-2, 80 factors) welcome the Devils (33-23-6, 72 factors) to American Airways Middle – a venue during which Dallas has captured 5 consecutive wins whereas scoring least 5 objectives in every of their previous 4 outings. The franchise final had a stretch of 5 straight dwelling video games with 5 or extra objectives in 1983-84, when the North Stars completed the feat from Feb. 25 to March 7, 1984.
* Roope Hintz has been pivotal to Dallas’ offensive outburst as of late, with a pair of back-to-back four-point video games (0-4—4 on Feb. 28 & 1-3—4 on March 2). Hintz can change into the primary participant in franchise historical past with three consecutive four-point video games and the NHL’s fifth previously 40 years, following Steve Yzerman (3 GP in 1992-93), Brett Hull (3 GP in 1990-91), Mario Lemieux (3 GP in 1988-89) and Wayne Gretzky (3 GP in 1988-89 & 1984-85).
* Jacob Markstrom (21-10-5, .912 SV%, 2.19 GAA, 3 SO) returned to New Jersey’s lineup Sunday and will get the nod and alternative to decelerate one of many Western Convention’s two 80-point groups. Markstrom is already certainly one of two goaltenders to register no less than 20 wins of their first season with the franchise (Vitek Vanecek: 33 in 2022-23) and might change into the primary with 4 shutouts.
EASTERN CONFERENCE’S WILD CARD RACE GETS RIGHT BACK AT IT
The Blue Jackets (30-22-8, 68 factors), Crimson Wings (30-24-6, 66 factors) and Bruins (28-26-8, 64 factors) are proper within the combine for a Wild Card spot within the Japanese Convention and can every take to the ice throughout a 10-game Tuesday with a possibility to bolster their postseason hopes.
* The Blue Jackets return to motion contemporary off a victory on the 2025 Navy Federal Credit score Union NHL Stadium Sequence and occupy the East’s first Wild Card place because of 4 straight wins. Zach Werenski (18-46—64 in 59 GP) collected an help within the victory and might now set up essentially the most by a Columbus skater by way of their first 60 video games of a season – a mark he at the moment shares with Artemi Panarin (25-46—71 in 2018-19).
* Alex DeBrincat (29-24—53 in 60 GP) is inside hanging distance of his first 30-goal marketing campaign with the Crimson Wings and has completed so thanks partly to an lively nine-game level streak courting to Feb. 1 (8-6—14 in 9 GP). Detroit sits within the second Wild Card spot within the Japanese Convention and has hopes of bringing the Stanley Cup Playoffs again to ‘Hockeytown’ for the first time since 2015-16.
* David Pastrnak (32-43—75 in 62 GP) has spearheaded a Bruins postseason push – a franchise that has certified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of the past eight campaigns – and has completed so with an NHL-leading 19 objectives since the turn of the calendar (19-19—38 in 23 GP). Pastrnak can change into the primary Bruins participant with 40 or extra factors by way of a span of 24 video games since he (24-17—41) and Brad Marchand (17-25—42) every did so from Oct. 8 to Nov. 29, 2019. Cam Neely (27-14—41 from Jan. 1 – March 10, 1994) was the final to perform the feat earlier than the present Bruins teammates.
