Daily Faceoff Morning Report — 04/28/22
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.
How the West was set
In the most unspectacular of fashion, the Dallas Stars clinched the final remaining playoff spot in the Western Conference as the Vegas Golden Knights were officially eliminated. The Stars, who are still battling for the top Wild Card position, blew a three-goal lead in the third period to Arizona Coyotes but secured the one point they needed to clinch a playoff berth. Miro Heiskanen (D) scored his fifth goal of the season for the Stars, snapping a 40-game goalless drought. Joe Pavelski (C, RW) extended his point streak to 10 games (1G / 10 A / 11PTS) with a two-assist game. At age 37, Pavelski set a new career-high in points with 81 (27G / 54A). After allowing two weak goals on the first four shots, Harri Sateri (G) saved the next 22 of 23 shots for the Coyotes to record his first win this season (1-2-1).
DOWN 3-0 IN THE THIRD? NO PROBLEM 🐺
The @ArizonaCoyotes score three in the third plus the OT winner to come all the way back — see the @GuaranteedRate Replay for yourself! pic.twitter.com/rQsktEz7Yg
The point the Stars gained in the standings ended up making the result of the Golden Knights game moot, but even so, the Golden Knights failed to defeat the Chicago Blackhawks as they lost 4-3, their third consecutive shootout loss. The Golden Knights have failed to score on 17 consecutive shootout attempts during their three-game skid (0-0-3) and will miss the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Taylor Raddysh (RW) scored two goals for the Blackhawks, to give him 10 points (6G / 4A) in 20 games since joining the Blackhawks, compared to the 12 points (5G / 7A) he recorded in the previous 53 games as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Lucky 7 #HawksWin… better luck next season Vegas! pic.twitter.com/38N6btYHkk
— Blackhawks Talk (@NBCSBlackhawks) April 28, 2022The Stars now own the top Wild Card position, one point ahead of the Nashville Predators, who play tomorrow night against the first-place Colorado Avalanche. The Predators will also be without starting goalie Juuse Saros (G), who suffered an injury on Monday night.
Comrie records first career shutout
Eric Comrie (G) saved all 35 shots he faced in a 4-0 win for the Winnipeg Jets over the Philadelphia Flyers, the first shutout of his career. Comrie has been very good in a limited role with the Jets this season, posting a .921 SV% in 18 appearances (9-5-1). Kyle Connor (LW) had a three-point game (1G / 2A) for the Jets, potting his 46th goal and setting a new franchise record with 92 points (46G / 46A) this season. Nikolaj Ehlers (LW, RW) had a two-point game (1G / 1A) to give him 54 points (28G / 26A), the second-highest point-per-game pace of his career (0.90).
Canadiens top talent-thin Rangers
The New York Rangers were without Artemi Panarin (LW) and Andrew Copp (C, LW, RW), who were both banged up in their last game and received what is believed to be precautionary rest days heading into the playoffs. The Rangers were also without Mika Zibanejad (C), Chris Kreider (LW, RW), Adam Fox (D), and Jacob Trouba (D), who all received rest days. Jeff Petry (D) scored with 31 seconds remaining in regulation for the Montreal Canadiens to snap a nine-game losing skid (0-9-0) with a 4-3 win over the Rangers. Petry finished the game with two goals, extending his point streak to a season-best six games (2G / 6A / 8PTS). Thanks to the Arizona Coyotes’ victory later in the evening, the Canadiens clinch the lowest point total in the league and will have the best draft lottery chances heading into the offseason.
Jeff Petry called game! 🥶
His second of the night stands as the game winner for the @CanadiensMTL. pic.twitter.com/4sJ6uk114e