New York. The status quo reigns in dash racing in the Ice Hockey Eastern Conference after the night’s round.
Florida, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh, and Buffalo each had two points, so no one held back and no one got stopped.
– It was a very important win for us now that everyone has won, the Penguins’ top scorer Rijkaard Raquel told Sportbaldet.
With one week left in the regular season, it looks like the battle for the last two Eastern Conference playoff games is going to be a real thrill.
The Florida Panthers, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabers are the four they made up for and they all won last night – Florida 7-2 vs. Ottawa, Islanders 6-1 vs. Tampa, Pittsburgh 4-1 vs. Minnesota and Buffalo 7-6 against Detroit after penalties.
Thus, the situation is basically the same as it was before Maundy Thursday: the Cats from Sunrise are in the first wild-card spot with 89 points, the Islands in the last Dayton with the same number of points and the Penguins below the line with 88 points. The Sabers have a lead of 83 points – but they’ve played two fewer games than the other three.
It was very important that we win tonight. Especially since everyone wins, says Ricard Raquel when we speak to him after the final whistle in Pittsburgh.
– But we also played well, we talked a lot about defending better in the middle of our area and we really did. Now it’s just a matter of continuing the same thing. We have three matches left and we need to get all the points.
He scored his goal 28
Rocket Ricky scored on a power play midway through the second half, bringing his total to 28 goals for the season—the best mark since his truly productive years with Anaheim in the mid-10s.
– I think it went well for me and I’m happy because I’m participating and helping the team in this way, and I want to score a lot of goals, especially when I’m playing in PP. It’s important to keep the puck on the ice, says Stockholmer, who also answered for an assist.
Gustav Forsling had the same result – a goal and an assist – in the Panthers victory. On Long Island, it was rookie Simon Holmstrom who scored and played Pierre Engvall up to one. Rasmus Dahlin also scored during Buffalo’s visit to Detroit. In that match, Red Wings winger Simon Edvinson scored his second goal, while Lucas Raymond had two assists and Jonathan Berggren for one.
However, the Red Wings were completely left out of the playoff discussion after tonight’s defeat – just like the Ottawa Senators.
The matchup between the Bruins and the Maple Leafs had no standings importance, but as it always is between classic rivals, it turned hot anyway. And evenly. The match was 1-1 at full time. Then David Pasternak decided in overtime – with the 57th goal of the season.
– If I’m thinking of turning sixty? Nah, not much. Hero says I am enjoying playing now.
Vladimir Tarasenko played eleven seasons in St. Louis. Lewis before he was traded to the New York Rangers at the end of February – and he’s been one of the big stars for most of his eleven seasons.
So when he returned to the Enterprise Center last night for the first time since moving in, he was greeted with a standing ovation and a video jumbotron.
Thanks, he said “Tank” and scored on his old teammates – played by Mika Zibanejad.
“It was very touching to come here and have such a reception,” says the star.
The Blues won the game until the last, 3-2, after an overtidsmål by Kasperi Kapanen.
New Jersey played Columbus at home in Newark and won 8-1.
Jack Hughes was the king of the evening with two goals and two assists, with Jesper Pratt and Bukvist each contributing an assist.
Washington was left out of all playoff discussion already earlier this week and, not unexpectedly, made a quirky impression in the night game against Montreal.
It ended with a 6-2 win for Habs.
The first five minutes were fine. Then we collapsed, Coach Peter Laviolette sighs.
Niklas Backstrom can console himself with a goal – his seventh since his comeback in January.
The Vegas Golden Knights looked eager to make a decision about the battle for first place in the Pacific Division in tonight’s home game against the Los Angeles Kings, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first six minutes and eventually winning 5-2.
Adrian Kempe provided an assist on one of the visitors’ consolation goals.