Today’s clinching scenarios:

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

Tampa Bay will clinch the No. 3 seed in the Atlantic Division (and an A2-A3 First Round matchup vs. Toronto) and Boston will clinch the Wild Card 1 seed (and an M1-WC1 First Round matchup vs. Carolina):

* If Tampa Bay defeats NY Islanders in any fashion

OR

* If Tampa Bay gets one point vs. NY Islanders AND Toronto defeats Boston in any fashion

OR

* If Toronto defeats Boston in regulation.

Boston will clinch the No. 3 seed in the Atlantic Division (and an A2-A3 First Round matchup vs. Toronto) and Tampa Bay will clinch the Wild Card 1 seed (and an M1-WC1 First Round matchup vs. Carolina):

* If Boston defeats Toronto in any fashion AND NY Islanders defeat Tampa Bay in any fashion

OR

* If Boston gets one point vs. Toronto AND NY Islanders defeat Tampa Bay in regulation.

Pittsburgh will clinch the No. 3 seed in the Metropolitan Division (and an M2-M3 First Round matchup vs. NY Rangers) and Washington will clinch the Wild Card 2 seed (and an A1-WC2 First Round matchup vs. Florida):

* If Pittsburgh gets at least one point vs. Columbus

OR

* If NY Rangers defeat Washington in any fashion.

Washington will clinch the No. 3 seed in the Metropolitan Division (and an M2-M3 First Round matchup vs. NY Rangers) and Pittsburgh will clinch the Wild Card 2 seed (and an A1-WC2 First Round matchup vs. Florida):

* If Washington defeats NY Rangers in any fashion AND Columbus defeats Pittsburgh in regulation.

WESTERN CONFERENCE:

Minnesota will clinch the No. 2 seed in the Central Division (and home-ice advantage in the C2-C3 First Round matchup vs. St. Louis):

* If Minnesota gets at least one point vs. Colorado

OR

* If Vegas defeats St. Louis in any fashion.

St. Louis will clinch the No. 2 seed in the Central Division (and home-ice advantage in the C2-C3 First Round matchup vs. Minnesota):

* If St. Louis defeats Vegas in any fashion AND Colorado defeats Minnesota in regulation.

Nashville will clinch the Wild Card 1 seed (and a P1-WC1 First Round matchup vs. Calgary) and Dallas will clinch the Wild Card 2 seed (and a C1-WC2 First Round matchup vs. Colorado):

* If Nashville gets at least one point vs. Arizona

OR

* If Anaheim defeats Dallas in any fashion.

Dallas will clinch the Wild Card 1 seed (and a P1-WC1 First Round matchup vs. Calgary) and Nashville will clinch the Wild Card 2 seed (and a C1-WC2 First Round matchup vs. Colorado):

* If Dallas defeats Anaheim in any fashion AND Arizona defeats Nashville in regulation.
 

* * *

* The Panthers (58-17-6, 122 points) eye their 59th win of the season – a mark only three different franchises in NHL history have reached: the Red Wings (62 in 1995-96), Lightning (62 in 2018-19) and Canadiens (60 in 1976-77 & 59 in 1977-78).

* Formerly Southeast Division rivals, the Panthers and Capitals will meet in the postseason for the first time ever when they take the ice in their First Round matchup. Florida looks to win its fourth playoff series in franchise history and first since the 1996 Conference Finals (4-3 vs. PIT).

* While Washington looks to defeat the Presidents’ Trophy winner in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time, Florida looks to become the third consecutive winner of the award to advance past the First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs (also COL: 2021 & BOS: 2020). The last winner of the Presidents’ Trophy to win multiple playoff rounds were the 2014-15 Rangers (4-3 L in CF).

* Jordan Harris, Mike Hoffman, Cole Caufield and Brendan Gallagher each scored in the first period to mark the most goals the Canadiens have tallied in the opening frame this season.

* Cole Caufield (2-0—2) scored his 21st and 22nd goals of the season. The only Montreal rookies with more in a campaign in the past 30 years are Michael Ryder (25 in 2003-04) and Chris Higgins (23 in 2005-06).
 

* Cole Caufield (3-0—3) became the third Canadiens rookie in nearly 30 years to score a hat trick, joining Ryan Poehling (3-0—3 on April 6, 2019) and P.K. Subban (3-1—4 on March 20, 2011). Like Caufield, Poehling also recorded his hat trick in the final game of the season. 
 
* The Canadiens’ 10-2 win Friday was the NHL’s 42nd unique final score this season, marking the most in a single campaign since 2003-04 (also 42).

* Friday marked the ninth instance in NHL history of a team scoring 10 or more goals in their regular season finale and first since April 6, 1974, when Los Angeles vanquished Vancouver by an 11-1 margin. The other times were on March 10, 1920 (QBD 10, SEN 4), March 13, 1920 (TSP 11, MTL 4), March 7, 1921 (SEN 12, HAM 5), March 16, 1943 (BOS 11, NYR 5), March 18, 1944 (TOR 10, BOS 2), March 17, 1946 (TOR 11, DET 7) and April 5, 1970 (CHI 10, MTL 2).

* * *

* Evgeni Malkin put the Penguins up 1-0 and became the NHL’s 136th 20-goal scorer in 2021-22, eclipsing 1980-81 (135) for the most in a single season in League history.

* Evgeni Malkin reached the 20-goal mark for the 13th time in his NHL career.  The only active players with more 20-goal seasons are Alex Ovechkin (17), Patrick Kane (14) and Malkin’s longtime teammate Sidney Crosby (14).

* Kris Letang (10-58—68 in 78 GP) scored a second-period goal to reach 68 points on the campaign and establish a new single-season career high. He became the first Penguins defenseman with 68 or more points in a season since Larry Murphy in 1993-94 (17-56—73 in 84 GP).

* The Penguins and Rangers are set to meet in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the eighth time and first since a string of three straight head-to-head series from 2014 to 2016. Three of the last four series between the Penguins and the Rangers have resulted in the winner going on to reach the Stanley Cup Final (2008 CSF, 2014 R2 & 2016 R1). 
 
* Pittsburgh, which opens its First Round series on the road, is 12-5 in 17 all-time playoff games at Madison Square Garden. The Penguins’ postseason winning percentage of .706 at “The World’s Most Famous Arena” marks the highest such total by a franchise in NHL history (min. 5 GP).

* * *

* The Rangers and Penguins are set to meet in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the eighth time and first since a string of three straight head-to-head series from 2014 to 2016. Three of the last four series between the Rangers and Penguins have resulted in the winner going on to reach the Stanley Cup Final (2008 CSF, 2014 R2 & 2016 R1).

* Formerly Southeast Division rivals, the Panthers and Capitals will meet in the postseason for the first time ever when they take the ice in their First Round matchup. Florida looks to win its fourth playoff series in franchise history and first since the 1996 Conference Finals (4-3 vs. PIT).

* While Washington looks to defeat the Presidents’ Trophy winner in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time, Florida looks to become the third consecutive winner of the award to advance past the First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs (also COL: 2021 & BOS: 2020). The last winner of the Presidents’ Trophy to win multiple playoff rounds were the 2014-15 Rangers (4-3 L in CF).

* * *

* Trent Frederic scored 1:10 into the first period, marking the eighth goal Boston has scored within the opening 90 seconds of a game this season – the most among all teams. Frederic has scored three of those eight goals. 

* The 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs is the seventh all-time postseason meeting between Boston and Carolina, with Boston holding a 5-1 series edge in the previous six matchups. The two clubs last squared off during the 2020 First Round, when the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Bruins ousted the Hurricanes in five games.  
  

* Nicholas Abruzzese scored his first NHL goal while skating in his 9th game. In 2021-22, he captained Harvard University and finished the season second in team scoring with 9-24—33 (28 GP). 

* The 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs marks the first-ever meeting between the Maple Leafs and Lightning in the postseason. Outside of the NHL’s inaugural season, Toronto owns an all-time record of 11-12 (.478) in series when facing an opponent for the first time. Tampa Bay is 10-6 (.625) in that scenario

* The Maple Leafs, looking for their first series victory since the 2004 Conference Quarterfinals, have defeated the defending Stanley Cup champions in a best-of-seven series four times in franchise history (1967 SCF vs MTL, 1962 SCF vs CHI, 1947 SCF vs MTL & 1945 SF vs MTL) and have gone on to win the Cup in each of those years. 

* * *

* Steven Stamkos reached the 40-goal mark for the sixth time in his career and first since 2018-19 (45 in 82 GP). He became the 17th player to score 40 goals in 2021-22 – only three seasons in the past 30 years have had more (1992-93: 25, 1993-94: 23 & 1995-96: 18).

* Steven Stamkos boosted his April totals to 10-21—31 (16 GP), the most in a single calendar month by a Lightning skater. Only two players since 1995-96 have posted more points in a single calendar month: Mario Lemieux (34 in Dec. 1995 & 32 in Nov. 1995) and Jaromir Jagr (32 in Dec. 1995 & 31 in March 2001).

* Steven Stamkos (3-0—3) became the first player in Lightning history to register nine consecutive multi-point games, moving past Vincent Lecavalier (8 GP in 2007-08). Only three players in the past 30 years have posted a streak of at least that length: Jaromir Jagr (10 GP in 1995-96), Mario Lemieux (12 GP & 10 GP in 1992-93) and Alexander Mogilny (9 GP in 1992-93).  

* The 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs marks the first-ever meeting between the Maple Leafs and Lightning in the postseason. Outside of the NHL’s inaugural season, Toronto owns an all-time record of 11-12 (.478) in series when facing an opponent for the first time. Tampa Bay is 10-6 (.625) in that scenario

* * *

* Moritz Seider scored Detroit’s second goal of the game to become the fifth rookie defenseman in the last 32 years to record 50 points in a season, joining Quinn Hughes (53 in 2019-20), Cale Makar (50 in 2019-20), Vladimir Malakhov (52 in 1992-93) and Nicklas Lidstrom (60 in 1991-92).

* * *

* Josh Norris scored his team-leading 35th goal of 2021-22 (35-20—55 in 66 GP) – the most in by a Senators player in a single season since Milan Michalek netted 35 a decade ago (35-25—60 in 77 GP).

* Brady Tkachuk scored to join teammate Josh Norris (35) in the 30-goal club. It marked the first season to feature multiple Senators players with 30 goals since 2011-12, when Jason Spezza (34) and Milan Michalek (35) each hit the mark.

* * *

* J.T. Miller (31-67—98 in 79 GP) needs two points to become the sixth different player in franchise history to record a triple-digit total in a season with the Canucks and first since Daniel Sedin in 2010-11 (41-63—104 in 82 GP).

* * *

* Ryan O’Reilly became the ninth Blues skater to score 20 goals this season, one behind the most in a single campaign in franchise history (10 in 1980-81) and two shy of the most in NHL history (11: Boston in 1977-78 and Montreal in 1974-75).

* * *

* Kirill Kaprizovrecorded his 45th career multi-point game. Among active players, only Sidney Crosby (67), Alex Ovechkin (58) and Evgeni Malkin (51) have more through their first two seasons.
 

* The Wild (53-22-7, 113 points) clinched the No. 2 seed in the Central Division and will have home ice advantage for the 2022 First Round series against the Blues. Minnesota will look to seek revenge – the last series the Wild held home ice advantage in was the 2017 First Round against St. Louis, a series they lost 4-1.  
 
* Jared Spurgeon (8-16—24) leads all Wild defensemen in points in the postseason with more than half of his career playoff points coming on home ice (5-18—13).

* * *

* The 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs is the seventh all-time postseason meeting between Boston and Carolina, with Boston holding a 5-1 series edge in the previous six matchups. The two clubs last squared off during the 2020 First Round, when the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Bruins ousted the Hurricanes in five games.  

* Carolina, which captured a Game 7 win against Boston during the 2009 Conference Semifinals, looks for multiple series wins against just its third opponent. The others: New Jersey (3-1) and Montreal (2-5).

* * *

* Colton Sissons scored 25 seconds into the contest, the fastest game-opening goal for the Predators since Nov. 23, 2019 (Filip Forsberg in 0:20).

COURTESY NHLmedia.com