Current:Home > reviewsRangers clinch NHL's top record, Islanders get berth, last playoff spot still up for grabs -TradeCove
Rangers clinch NHL's top record, Islanders get berth, last playoff spot still up for grabs
View
Date:2025-04-19 18:23:21
The New York Rangers set a franchise record, won the Eastern Conference title and also a Presidents’ Trophy that comes with mixed blessings.
Igor Shesterkin made 26 saves to beat the Ottawa Senators 4-0 in New York's season finale and give the Rangers a 55-23-4 record and franchise-best 114 points.
The Rangers clinched their fourth Presidents' Trophy (top regular-season record) in franchise history, which guarantees them home-ice advantage through the playoffs. But it also comes with a postseason jinx.
The last Presidents' Trophy winner to also win a Stanley Cup title was the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks. Last season's winner, the record-setting Boston Bruins, were upset in the first round by the Florida Panthers.
Only eight teams have won the regular-season title and Stanley Cup in the same year. The Rangers did it in 1994 after having a league-best 112 points. They lost in the conference finals during their 113-point season of 2014-15, the record that the current team broke on Monday night.
Islanders clinch playoff spot
The New York Islanders downed the New Jersey Devils 4-1 to clinch both a playoff spot and the third seed in the Metropolitan Division. They’ll face the No. 2 Carolina Hurricanes in the first round.
Coach Patrick Roy, who returned to the NHL after a long absence as a midseason replacement for fired Lane Lambert, made the playoffs for the first time since 2013-14 with the Colorado Avalanche. The Hall of Fame goaltender won four Stanley Cup titles as a player.
Roy has gone 19-12-5 and the Islanders are on a 7-0-1 run.
"We played some very good hockey down the stretch and they were resilient," Roy told reporters. "They worked together. I think we learned how to win."
Capitals, Red Wings, Penguins all win: What that means
The Detroit Red Wings' 5-4 overtime win was the most dramatic because they trailed the Montreal Canadiens 4-2 in the third period. Detroit's Lucas Raymond tied the game with 1:17 left and scored at 4:35 of overtime.
The Capitals beat the Boston Bruins 2-0 and the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Nashville Predators 4-2.
All three teams are still alive in the battle for the final playoff berth, the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. So are the idle Philadelphia Flyers.
The Capitals will clinch the berth if they beat the Flyers in Philadelphia on Tuesday.
The Red Wings clinch if they win in Montreal on Tuesday and the Flyers beat the Capitals.
The Flyers clinch if they beat the Capitals in regulation, the Red Wings lose in regulation and the Penguins lose to the Islanders in regulation on Wednesday.
The Penguins will clinch if they beat the Islanders and the Capitals and Red Wings lose in regulation.
Connor McDavid hits rare milestone as Oilers stay alive in division race
Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid became just the fourth player in NHL history to record 100 assists in a season. He joined Wayne Gretzky (11 times) and Mario Lemieux and Bobby Orr (once each) when he set up Zach Hyman's goal in the 9-2 victory.
The win kept alive the Oilers' long-shot chance of winning the Pacific Division. The Vancouver Canucks hold a three-point lead and each team has two games left.
Bruins miss chance to clinch Atlantic Division title
The loss to the Capitals kept them one point ahead of the Florida Panthers. The Bruins have another chance Tuesday against the Senators. If they lose and the Panthers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida clinches the title.
Kings lose: What that means
The Kings are at 97 points after falling to the Minnesota Wild and have one game left, against the Chicago Blackhawks. That means the Vegas Golden Knights (96) can move up to the third spot in the Pacific Division if they win their final games against the Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks.
veryGood! (694)
Related
- Scoot flight from Singapore to Wuhan turns back after 'technical issue' detected
- Supreme Court seems ready to deny trademark for 'Trump Too Small' T-shirts
- College student is fatally shot in Salem as revelers take part in Halloween celebration
- Panama’s Assembly looks to revoke contract for Canadian mining company after public outcry
- What polling shows about Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris’ new running mate
- 1 man dead in Kentucky building collapse that trapped 2, governor says
- Ottawa Senators GM Pierre Dorion is out after team is docked first-round pick
- Wind industry deals with blowback from Orsted scrapping 2 wind power projects in New Jersey
- Your Wedding Guests Will Thank You if You Get Married at These All-Inclusive Resorts
- Israel criticizes South American countries after they cut diplomatic ties and recall ambassadors
Ranking
- Blake Lively’s Inner Circle Shares Rare Insight on Her Life as a Mom to 4 Kids
- Brazil to militarize key airports, ports and international borders in crackdown on organized crime
- Pennsylvania court permanently blocks effort to make power plants pay for greenhouse gas emissions
- Ohio State is No. 1, committee ignores Michigan scandal lead College Football Fix podcast
- Boy who wandered away from his 5th birthday party found dead in canal, police say
- Eminem's Daughter Hailie Jade Shares Rare Insight Into Bond With Sibling Stevie
- ESPN's Stephen A. Smith had a chance to stand up to the NFL. Instead, he capitulated.
- Falcons to start QB Taylor Heinicke, bench Desmond Ridder against Vikings
Recommendation
DoorDash steps up driver ID checks after traffic safety complaints
2 flight attendants sue United Airlines for discrimination on Dodgers charter flights
Cornell University student Patrick Dai arrested for posting antisemitic threats online
Some Republicans still press for changes to further protect Georgia voting system amid criticism
Giants, Lions fined $200K for fights in training camp joint practices
Dozens of birds to be renamed in effort to shun racism and make science more diverse
Louisiana was open to Cancer Alley concessions. Then EPA dropped its investigation
Ohio State is No. 1, committee ignores Michigan scandal lead College Football Fix podcast