#NHLPeachy @NHL Morning Skate – April 8, 2023 @ABC @ESPNPlus
* Saturday will feature the first-ever 16-game day in NHL history – all 32 teams will be in action with the first puck drop set for 12:30 p.m. ET when the Hurricanes visit the Sabres, kicking off what will end up being over 12 hours of hockey played over the course of the day.
* A tripleheader broadcast nationally on ABC and ESPN+ will be home to three crucial games on the final Saturday of the regular season with the Penguins aiming to regain a Wild Card position, the Golden Knights vying for their third Pacific Division title and the Bruins with the opportunity to make NHL history.
* The battle for Wild Card positioning wages on: with only three spots in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs remaining, six teams all within one point of each other – three from each conference – will take to the ice in the hunt for weighty points.
GOING ALL IN FOR A 16-GAME SATURDAY
For the first time ever, the NHL will see a 16-game day contested as all 32 teams take to the ice Saturday. With Saturday officially marking the final week of the 2022-23 regular season, there are a number of major storylines on display with the Rush to the Playoffs in full speed and division titles on the line.
ABC TRIPLEHEADER FEATURES THREE CRUCIAL GAMES ON FINAL SATURDAY OF 2022-23
A tripleheader on ABC and ESPN+ features three crucial games, starting with the Penguins who are in the fight for one of the Eastern Conference Wild Card spots, followed by the Golden Knights with the ability to clinch the Pacific Division title and concluding with the League-leading Bruins who have the opportunity to tie an NHL record for most wins in a season.
* The Penguins (39-30-10, 88 points), who currently sit one point outside of a Wild Card spot, will visit the Red Wings (35-33-10, 80 points) for their third and final game of their season series (PIT: 0-1-1; DET: 2-0-0). Sidney Crosby (31-57-88 in 79 GP) enters two points shy of the 90-point mark, a plateau he has achieved six times in his career – only two players in franchise history have done so as many times: Mario Lemieux (11) and Jaromir Jagr (8).
* The Golden Knights (49-22-8, 106 points) visit the Stars (43-21-14, 100 points) and can capture the franchise’s third Pacific Division title should they defeat Dallas in any fashion and Edmonton lose to San Jose in regulation. Vegas, which captured its first division title during the franchise’s inaugural season (2017-18) and its second in 2019-20, can become the second franchise to win at least three division titles in its first six seasons (since 1974-75 when division titles were introduced). The only other team to do so was Edmonton (4; 1981-82, 1982-83, 1983-84 & 1984-85).
* The Bruins (61-12-5, 127 points) will have the opportunity to tie the 2018-19 Lightning and the 1995-96 Red Wings for the most wins by a team in a single season in NHL history when they welcome the Devils (50-21-8, 108 points) to TD Garden. Boston owns a 32-4-3 record on home ice in 2022-23 and has two such contests remaining – should the club win both, they would be one of four teams in NHL history with 34-plus victories at home in a campaign. To date, the only teams to achieve the feat are the 1995-96 Red Wings (36), 1975-76 Flyers (36) and 2021-22 Panthers (34).
WILD CARD RACES CONTINUE WITH THE RUSH TO THE PLAYOFFS
With only three positions in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs remaining, a crucial Wild Card race continues – both seeds are still available in the East and three of the teams battling for the positions are within one point of each other, while in the West three clubs are also within one point with a single spot left.
* All three teams in the race for the Eastern Conference Wild Card spots are coming off wins Thursday, including the Panthers who defeated the Senators with the help of a 56-save performance by goaltender Alex Lyon. Lyon enters Saturday having won each of his previous five outings – he can become the first Florida goaltender to record a win streak of six games in his first season with the club.
* Ilya Sorokin (29-21-7) can reach the 30-win mark when the Islanders host the Flyers at UBS Arena as they aim to either capture the first Wild Card position in the East or maintain their edge over the final spot. Sorokin can become the fifth goaltender in Islanders history to hit 30 wins in a season – a feat only Rick DiPietro (32 in 2006-07 & 30 in 2005-06), Jaroslav Halak (38 in 2014-15), Billy Smith (32 in 1981-82) and Chris Osgood (32 in 2001-02) have accomplished to date.
* Kyle Connor and the Jets are set to take on the Predators – who enter Saturday one point back of Winnipeg – in a pivotal contest that sees the final Wild Card spot up for grabs. Connor (31-48—79 in 78 GP), who has a goal in three consecutive games, is one point shy of becoming the fifth player in Jets/Thrashers history to record multiple 80-point seasons – he would join Ilya Kovalchuk (4x) Marian Hossa (2x), Blake Wheeler (2x) and Mark Scheifele (2x).
* Across the rink, Nashville forward Tommy Novak has found the score sheet in each of his first three career games against Winnipeg (0-5—5) and enters Saturday with the most points by a Predators player since the calendar turned to 2023 with 15-22—37 (41 GP). The next closest player is Roman Josi (10-21—31 in 32 GP).
* The Flames – who are tied with the Jets in terms of standing points – will look to pick up a win against the Canucks when they visit Rogers Arena. Tyler Toffoli, who scored twice in Calgary’s previous matchup against Vancouver on March 31, has the most goals and points against the Canucks among all current Flames players with 23-15—38 (43 GP).
ACROSS THE LEAGUE: TRENDS TO WATCH OUT FOR
* There have been five days in NHL history that have featured 100-plus goals scored (including shootout-deciding goals): 104 on April 29, 2022, 103 on Jan. 23, 1993, 102 on April 16, 2022, 102 on Nov. 16, 2019 and 100 on Oct. 15, 2022.
* The most hat tricks scored on a single day is seven (Jan. 18, 1984) and there have been six days in NHL history to feature five-plus (6 on Dec. 22, 1917; 5 on April 1, 2023, March 18, 1989, Jan. 18, 1922 & Jan. 10, 1920).
* Brayden Point (48-42—90 in 79 GP) enters two goals shy of his first 50-goal season and can become the fifth player in 2022-23 to reach the plateau – he would join Connor McDavid (62), David Pastrnak (57), Mikko Rantanen (52) and Leon Draisaitl (51). There have been four seasons in the past 30 years to feature five-plus 50-goal scorers: 1992-93 (14), 1993-94 (9), 1995-96 (8) and 2005-06 (5).
* Three players enter Saturday two points shy of the 100-point mark: Elias Pettersson (37-61—98 in 76 GP), Rantanen (52-46—98 in 77 GP) and Erik Karlsson (23-75—98 in 78 GP). With eight players already having reached the plateau this season, the trio would bring 2022-23's total to 11 – there have been 10 campaigns in NHL history to feature as many 100-point scorers and just four in the past 35 years: 1992-93 (21), 1989-90 (13), 1995-96 (12) and 1987-88 (12).
FULL TUNE-IN INFORMATION FOR SATURDAY’S SLATE
The full tune-in information for Saturday’s busy slate – which will feature 16 games played over the course of more than 12 hours – can be found below. More storylines, including multiple teams with the opportunity to secure home ice in the 2023 First Round can be found in Saturday’s edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates.
NHL PODCAST WEEKLY ROUNDUP
* NHL Fantasy (April 3): Top pickups for fantasy championship weeks
* NHL @ The Rink (April 5): Robitaille joins; Wild Card races, Oilers support, Wild goalie dilemma
* The Chirp with Daren Millard (April 6): Stoll joins; Kopitar for Selke, Eichel poised, Playoff races
* NHL Fantasy (April 6): Early keeper / dynasty league preview for 2023-24
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