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Daily Faceoff Morning Report — 04/20/22

Nick Szeman
Nick Szeman
Apr 20, 2022, 01:50 EDT
Daily Faceoff Morning Report — 04/20/22

The Daily Faceoff Morning Report will be released on weekdays, recapping the key news and events from the day before.

We will highlight injuries that will affect today’s games, hot streaks, cold streaks, and anything relevant for everyone from the casual hockey fan to the Fantasy Hockey grinder.

Shesterkin shines again; Jets fall further out of playoff race

Connor Hellebuyck (G) was supposed to start for the Winnipeg Jets but was ruled out just prior to the game because of a non-COVID-related illness, paving the way for Eric Comrie (G) to man the crease. Comrie was terrific, saving 31 of 33 shots, but it wasn’t enough as the Jets lost their third straight game in a 3-0 loss to the New York Rangers. The Jets are all but officially eliminated from the playoffs as they sit 10 points out of the final Wild Card spot with only five games remaining. Igor Shesterkin (G) saved all 31 shots he faced for the Rangers for his sixth shutout of the season, and second in consecutive games. The Rangers have three shutouts in their last three games, with one shutout belonging to Alexandar Georgiev (G). The Rangers are tied in points with the Carolina Hurricanes atop the Metropolitan Division and will be a tough out for any team as Shesterkin has three shutouts in his last five games (4-1-0) along with a dazzling .969 SV%. Adam Fox (D) scored his first goal and only fifth point (1G / 4A) in his last 13 games. Andrew Copp (C, LW, RW) recorded two assists in the victory against his former team and has been a terrific addition for the Rangers, scoring 15 points (5G / 10A) in 14 games.

Predators defeat Flames 3-2 (SO)

Of all the teams battling for a playoff spot in the Western Conference, the Nashville Predators unanimously have the most difficult remaining schedule but might have put the nail in the coffin with a big win. In a potential playoff preview on Tuesday, the Predators collected two massive points with a 3-2 win in the shootout over the Calgary Flames. The Predators are sitting in the top Wild Card position with five games remaining, six points ahead of the Vancouver Canucks and Vegas Golden Knights. Filip Forsberg (LW) scored two points (1G / 1A) to give him five points (1G / 4A) in his last three games. Matt Duchene (C, RW) scored a goal for the Predators, making him the first 40-goal scorer in Predators history. Andrew Mangiapane (LW, RW) scored both goals for the Flames to give him 34 goals on the season, only one less than the 35 scored in his previous two seasons combined (124 games).

Panthers win 11th straight

Aleksander Barkov (C) scored all three goals for the Florida Panthers to net his third career hat-trick in a 3-2 overtime win over the New York Islanders. Barkov now has 37 goals on the season, passing his previous career-high of 35 from 2018-19. Jonathan Huberdeau (LW) assisted on all three goals to give him 111 points (30G / 81A), the most in the league. Huberdeau has one point more than Connor McDavid (C) with the Panthers and Edmonton Oilers both having six games remaining. With the win, the Panthers tied the Colorado Avalanche for most points in the league with 116.

Wild win, Price gets no goal support again

Carey Price (G) saved 28 of 30 shots for the Montreal Canadiens in his second game of the season, a 2-0 loss to the Minnesota Wild. Price has a .918 SV% in two games (0-2-0), but he has received very little help from his teammates as the Canadiens have been shut out in both games. Kevin Fiala (LW, RW) continued his torrid pace with a two-point game (1G / 1A), leading the Wild to their fifth win in their last six games (5-0-1). Fiala has 14 points (7G / 7A) during a seven-game point streak. Cam Talbot (G) saved all 26 shots he faced for his third shutout of the season, the most he has recorded since his seven-shutout season in 2016-17 as a member of the Edmonton Oilers.

Bruins end Blues’ nine-game win streak

Charlie McAvoy (D) scored his ninth goal of the season early in overtime to give the Boston Bruins a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Blues. It was McAvoy’s first goal in his last 14 games (1G / 12A / 13PTS). Jeremy Swayman (G) saved 20 of 22 shots for his second straight win and seems to have rebounded after having posted a .855 SV% while losing four of five games (1-4-0). Vladimir Tarasenko (RW) recorded two assists in the loss to give him 17 points (8G / 9A) during a seven-game point streak and add to his career-best 78-point season (33G / 45A). Robert Thomas (C, RW) scored a goal for the Blues, extending his league-best point streak to 14 games (7G / 19A / 26PTS). Pavel Buchnevich (LW, RW) extended his point-streak to 11 games (7G / 13A / 20PTS) with a two-point night of his own (1G / 1A).

Red Wings defeat Lightning

Jakub Vrana (LW) scored two goals for the Detroit Red Wings, leading them to a 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Vrana has 17 points (12G / 5A) in 21 games this season. The Red Wings have only won twice in their last six games (2-3-1), but those wins have come against the Lightning and the Carolina Hurricanes. Tampa Bay has not looked playoff-ready of late as the loss was their sixth in their last nine games (3-4-2). Steven Stamkos (C, RW) recorded three assists in the loss to tie Martin St. Louis for most career points in franchise history with 953 (472G / 481A).

Playoffs look more promising for Kings

Jonathan Quick (G) got the start for the fourth straight game and saved 29 of 30 shots as the Los Angeles Kings held on to defeat the Anaheim Ducks 2-1. The Kings only have four games remaining but currently sit in third place in the Pacific Division, five points ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights and Vancouver Canucks, who both have one game in hand. Philip Danault (C) scored the game-winning goal early in the third period to give him 25 goals on the season and extend his season-best point streak to six games (4G / 3A / 7PTS). The Ducks lost for the 17th time in their last 20 games (3-12-5).

Senators snap Canucks’ six-game wining stream

The Vancouver Canucks let a valuable point slip away in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Ottawa Senators. Jaroslav Halak (G) was forced to leave the game in the first intermission with an undisclosed injury after saving all 14 shots he faced. Thatcher Demko (G) allowed three goals on 18 shots in relief. J.T Miller (C, LW) had two points (1G / 1A) to give him 93 points (30G / 63A) on the season. The Canucks have five games remaining and will need a little bit of luck on their side as they no longer control their own fate in their journey for a playoff spot.

Leafs win; Campbell reaches 30 wins

Jack Campbell (G) saved 37 of 39 shots for the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Campbell has a .901 SV% and 7-0-1 record in his last eight games. Jason Spezza (C, RW) scored his 11th goal of the season, and only third point in his last 21 games (1G / 2A).

William Nylander (LW, RW) had two points (1G / 1A) to give him 16 points (8G / 8A) in his last 10 games. Auston Matthews (C) was held out of the lineup for the second consecutive game as he continues to get some extra rest for a minor injury.

Other News and Notes

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