Month: April 2025

Winnipeg Jets are the 2024-25 Presidents’ Trophy winner

Oilers 4 – Jets 1 They lost the battle but won the war, the Winnipeg Jets were beaten for the first time this season by fellow Western Conference playoff bound Oilers at The Peg, but the Jets mathematically earned the “Presidents’ Trophy” for the NHL 2024-25 regular season.

With 114 points and one game remaining the Jets are also the number one Canadian team in the NHL for the 2024-25 regular season earning them the resurrected “O’Brien Cup” presented unofficially from Buffalo Winter.

Lightning 7 – Sabres 4 Buffalo scored twice in 15 seconds during the last 23 seconds of the first period to take the 2-1 lead, Captain Dahlin earned two (50, 51) assists for the game, and defenseman Clifton scored his first goal of the 2024-25 NHL regular season.

Buffalo plays their last two games of the 2024-25 NHL regular season this coming Tuesday (Toronto Maple Leafs 7pm) and Thursday (Philadelphia Flyers 7pm) nights at home and the Sabres will sport their Brawny Black & Red sweaters during the last game of the season.

Game Two Quarter Finals

Sabres 3 – Islanders 2 (OT) Buffalo was under siege as New York was penalized for Elbowing, Charging, Roughing, Fighting, and high sticking as well as the usual holding, hooking and tripping for 10 penalties.

Buffalo earned eight penalties for their fair share of some high sticking, holding, hooking, and tripping, with the one fight featuring Sabres Captain Jim Schoenfeld and Islanders Bob Nystrom.

Sabres RW Danny Gare scored the overtime winner with his 3rd goal of the playoffs and earned 2 assists, Center Don Luce also scored his 3rd goal with 1 assist, with the game’s first goal coming from LW Brian “Spinner” Spencer.

Buffalo’s solid effort earned them the 2-0 Quarter Finals lead early in the week heading into the Easter weekend, I was a freshman in high school elated by the victory and upcoming break from school.

Ottawa, Edmonton, Calgary, Pittsburgh & Detroit

Red Wings 4 – Lightning 3 (OT) Detroit played to earn a playoff seeding and playoff bound Tampa Bay disappointed their fans at home as the Red Wings win and split the four game season series with the Lightning.

Penguins 4 – Devils 2 (en) New Jersey scored first only 15 seconds into the game and took the dreaded 2-0 lead and then lost it as the already eliminated Penguins scored four straight goals for the win versus the playoff bound Devils.

Senators 5 – Canadiens 2 In their fourth attempt this season the Senators were able to beat the Canadiens and Ottawa remains the top wild card in the Eastern Conference.

Oilers 4 – Sharks 2 (en) Edmonton had no problems holding off San Jose after the Sharks tied the game scoring the only goal in the second period and beat them for the third time as Center McDavid notched four assists.

Flames 4 – Wild 2 Calgary gains ice on Minnesota in their Western Conference wild card race as they beat them for the third time this season sweeping their regular season series.

Late power play sinks Sabres perfect April record

Blue Jackets 3 – Sabres 2 Captain Dahlin scored his 16th goal and 48th assist of the season as Buffalo took and lost the dreaded 2-0 lead before Columbus tied the game and then a third period power play provided the opportunity the Blue Jackets required to win at home.

Rangers 9 – Islanders 2 December 2nd, 1995, goaltender Roy is shelled and has nine goals scored on him by Detroit before his head coach pulled him…goaltender Roy was so upset he demanded to be traded after that. Curios that Islanders Head Coach Roy in a de ja vu moment did not relive his goaltender until eight goals were scored on his netminder…will New York goaltender Hogberg similarly be upset with HC Roy and demand to be traded?

Blackhawks 5 – Bruins 2 (en) Chicago took only four shots on goal during the third period and scored on every one of them with the last goal being scored shorthanded into the empty net.

Panthers 4 – Red Wings 1 Florida finally beats Detroit in their third attempt this season as the defending Cup Champions get another goal from newly acquired Bruins Center Marchand.

Capitals 5 – Hurricanes 4 (SO) Washington had another celebratory event for Captain Ovechkin before the game, alas he did not score but his team clinches first place in the Eastern Conference with the win.

Jets 4 – Stars 0 Winnipeg played a physical game and goaltender Hellebuyck was perfect stopping all 25 shots Dallas put on net in a divisional game between playoff seeded teams.

Canucks 4 – Avalanche 1 (en) The playoff eliminated Canucks sweep the three game regular season series with the playoff bound Avalanche contributing to Vancouver’s strong road record.

Predators 4 – Hockey Club 3 (SO) Utah is 5-3-2 in their last 10 games, their regular season record is (36-30-13) six games over 500%, and they win as many on the road as they do at home, but still not good enough to get invited to the playoffs as Nashville scored the only goal in the shootout.

Knights 2 – Kraken 1 Nevada wins the rubber match and the three game regular season series 2-1…barely, as Seattle out hit, out blocked, and outshot the Knights in the third period but could not get the equalizer.

Kings 6 – Ducks 1 Roast duck was on the menu last night in Los Angeles as the Kings easily dispose of the playoff eliminated Ducks and win three of the four meetings this season between these California competitors.

Three games all 4-3, two other games with winners scoring eight goals

Wild 8 – Sharks 7 (OT) Not a game for Minnesota fans who are faint of heart, Rookie Macklin Celebrini scored his first Hat Trick and now owns the San Jose record for points (24 G & 38 A, and counting) by a rookie. Not to be outdone, Minnesota’s Center Eriksson Ek scored four goals in this barnburner that ended in the Wild’s favor.

Flyers 8 – Rangers 5 (en x2) New York is fading fast, lost their last three, had two empty net goals scored against them and are no closer to the last wild card seeding in the Eastern Conference.

Maple Leafs 4 – Lightning 3 (OT) Toronto has swept the regular season four game series with Tampa Bay and never were behind last night as the Lightning used the power play to force overtime, but it was Maple Leafs standouts Center Matthews, RW Marner, and LW Knies who carried the day.

Ducks 4 – Flames 3 (OT) Playoff eliminated Anaheim beat Calgary for the first time this season and it could not have come at a worse time for the Flames who have two games in hand on the last wild card team in the Western Conference but are five points out.

Oilers 4 – Blues 3 St Louis did everything they could, won over 60% of faceoffs, out hit, out blocked, and had less penalty minutes, but the red-hot Blues were snuffed out by none other than the returning Center McDavid whose three assists help propel the Oilers over the Blues.

How Could This Happen Department

Two nights ago, Vancouver beat Dallas 6-5 in overtime, it was the only time I ever seen a team score an empty net goal and lose the game, incredibly the Stars were up 5-2 after scoring the empty net goal with just 2:21 minutes remaining in the game.