The idle Devils clinched a berth into the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs and locked in a First Round matchup against the Hurricanes after Tyson Foerster’s hat trick propelled the Flyers past the Rangers.* Joel Eriksson Ek scored four goals and Macklin Celebrini netted his first career hat trick and five-point outing in a 15-goal thriller between the Wild and Sharks. The 2024-25 season became the fifth in the past 30 years to feature multiple games with dueling hat tricks (also April 5) following 2023-24 (2x), 2006-07 (2x), 2000-01(2x) and 1995-96 (2x).
* Twenty-two-year-old Matthew Knies joined rare Maple Leafs company in the NHL’s expansion era with two hat tricks in a single season and lifted Toronto past Tampa Bay in overtime during a crucial Atlantic Division clash.
* Wednesday was the NHL’s first day to feature four players score a hat trick since Feb. 19, 2024. The last day with more was April 1, 2023 (5).* Thursday features 10 of the regular season’s final 64 games, with the storyline-stacked slate highlighted by the return of NHL Coast to Coast on Prime Video Canada and the Capitals celebrating Alex Ovechkin during the opener of a doubleheader on ESPN+.
DEVILS CLINCH, LOCK IN FIRST ROUND SERIES AGAINST HURRICANES
The idle Devils, who have held a top-three position in the Metropolitan Division for all but one day this season, became the seventh Eastern Conference team to clinch a playoff spot and did so by virtue of a Rangers loss to the Flyers. New Jersey’s berth also locked in a First Round series against Carolina.
* The Hurricanes and Devils will contest their sixth postseason series and fourth during the opening round (also 2009 CQF, 2002 CQF & 2001 CQF). The Hurricanes hold a 4-1 record in their five previous series against the Devils, including wins in each of the past four. New Jersey’s only series win against Carolina came during the 2001 Conference Quarterfinals en route to reaching the Stanley Cup Final.
* In three of the previous five matchups, the team that advanced, made it to the Stanley Cup Final (NJD in 2001, CAR in 2002 & 2006). The 2006 Hurricanes are the only instance that produced a Stanley Cup champion.
ERIKSSON EK SCORES FOUR, CELEBRINI POTS FIVE POINTS IN 15-GOAL THRILLER
Joel Eriksson Ek (4-0—4) accounted for half of Minnesota’s eight tallies in his first game since Feb. 22 and Macklin Celebrini (3-2—5) netted his first NHL hat trick as the Sharks nearly overcame a three-goal, third-period deficit, but Kirill Kaprizov (2-1—3) scored 1:01 into overtime as the two clubs combined for 15 goals and matched the highest single-game total this season (also LAK at OTT on Oct. 14). Minnesota (43-29-7, 93 points) leapfrogged St. Louis (43-30-7, 93 points) for the first Wild Card spot in the West by virtue of fewer games played.
* Eriksson Ek became the second player in Wild history to score at least four goals in a game, following Marian Gaborik (5 on Dec. 20, 2007). He also notched his third career hat trick and tied Matt Boldy as well as Zach Parise for the third most in franchise history.
* Celebrini, who established and matched single-season franchise records for points and multi-goal games, became the first 18-year-old in Sharks history to score a hat trick and just the NHL’s third to do so in the past eight years following Leo Carlsson (Nov. 10, 2023) and Cole Sillinger (March 13, 2022).
* Will Smith (1-3—4) scored the tying goal with just 52 seconds remaining in regulation and joined Celebrini as the second Sharks rookie to notch four points in the contest. The Sharks became the first team since the 1988-89 Rangers to feature two rookies with four points in the same game (Brian Leetch: 2-2—4 & Tony Granato: 4-0—4 on Oct. 30, 1988).
ICYMI: Marc-Andre Fleury’s three children joined him on the ice prior for introductions and the national anthemahead of Wednesday’s contest. He concluded the contest with his 70th career overtime win and passed Martin Brodeur for the most in NHL history.
KNIES COMPLETES HAT TRICK IN OT AS MAPLE LEAFS PAD LEAD ATOP ATLANTIC
Mitch Marner (1-2—3) and Auston Matthews (0-3—3) each posted three-point games, but it was 22-year-old Matthew Knies who completed his second hat trick of the season in overtime to lift the Maple Leafs (48-26-4, 100 points) to a fourth straight 100-point season and a three-point edge on the Lightning (45-26-7, 97 points) atop the Atlantic Division.
* Knies became the seventh player in Maple Leafs history to complete a hat trick with an overtime goal and first since Mats Sundin on Oct. 14, 2006. With every hat trick this season, AstraZeneca will donate $3,000 to the Hockey Fights Cancer Fund of the V Foundation up to $300,000.
* Toronto’s four consecutive 100-point seasons are tied with Colorado for the NHL’s longest active run. Prior to the Avalanche, the last set of teams to post at least four consecutive 100-point seasons were the Capitals (5 from 2014-15 – 2018-19) and Penguins (4 from 2015-16 – 2018-19).
McDAVID POTS THREE ASSISTS FOR THE OILERS IN RETURN TO THE LINEUP
Connor McDavid (0-3—3) assisted on three of four Oilers goals, including a primary assist on Connor Brown’s go-ahead tally with 21 seconds remaining in regulation as Edmonton (45-28-5, 95 points) moved within two points of idle Los Angeles (44-24-9, 97 points) for second place in the Pacific Division standings; the Kings own a game in hand (LAK: 77 GP; EDM: 78 GP).
* Wednesday marked the 53rd time McDavid – who eclipsed 65 helpers in a single season for the fifth straight season (26-67—93 in 64 GP) – has collected three assists in a game, tying Doug Gilmour for 16th on the NHL’s all-time list.
QUICK CLICKS
* Budweiser sends special cans to goalies who Alex Ovechkin never scored against
* Gabriel Landeskog loaned to AHL on conditioning assignment by Avalanche
* Matthews DiMarsico credits Penguins Elite for helping him lead Penn State to Frozen Four
* Zeev Buium chasing 2nd straight national championship at Frozen Four
THE HUNT FOR LORD STANLEY BEGINS WHEN REGULAR SEASON ENDS IN ONE WEEK
The 64 games remaining in the regular season are set to determine four playoff spots (three in the West, one in the East), seven First Round matchups, the Presidents’ Trophy winner, the No. 1 seed in both conferences, the No. 1 seed in three divisions, home ice in the First Round for five clubs, and winners of three NHL awards.
* Four Playoff Spots Up for Grabs: The Canadiens (39-30-9, 87 points) can clinch the final berth in the Eastern Conference, while the Oilers (45-28-5, 95 points), Blues (43-30-7, 93 points) and Wild (43-29-7, 93 points) look to lock up the Western Conference’s last three spots. Minnesota (April 11 at CGY & April 12 at VAN) plays a pair of pivotal contests against intraconference teams looking to keep their postseason hopes alive, while Montreal carries a six-game winning streak into its final four outings.
* Seven First Round Matchups to Be Decided: Some matchups have been trending for a while, but only one has been locked in (CAR vs. NJD). The list of potential series includes: the Battle of Ontario (TOR vs. OTT), Battle of Florida (TBL vs. FLA), a Tkachuk brothers showdown (FLA vs. OTT), a Presidents’ Trophy contender against the reigning Stanley Cup champions (WSH vs. FLA), the League’s No. 1 team against one of the League’s hottest teams (WPG vs. STL) and Mikko Rantanen against his former club (DAL vs. COL).
* The Presidents’ Trophy Race: Four teams can clinch first place in the NHL including the Jets (53-21-4, 110 points) and Capitals (49-19-9, 107 points), with either Winnipeg or Washington occupying the top spot through 135 of 170 gamedays this season (WPG: 99; WSH: 36) including each one since Jan. 14. The Jets can pocket their first Presidents’ Trophy in franchise history, while the Capitals can clinch the club’s fourth to tie the Bruins and Rangers for the second most since the award was first presented in 1985-86 (DET: 6). Last year, New York became the fourth team to clinch first place in an 82-game season during its final contest of the campaign following the 2011-12 Canucks, 2008-09 Sharks and 1997-98 Stars.
* Top Spot in Each Conference: The Jets (135 of 170) and Capitals (108 of 170) have occupied first place in their conference for the majority of gamedays this season and can clinch the No. 1 seed for the first and fifth time in franchise history, respectively. Winnipeg and Washington combined for just one playoff win last year but enjoyed noteworthy turnarounds and look to log lengthy playoff runs beginning with a First Round matchup against teams occupying Wild Card 2 spots.
* Three Division Titles on the Table: Washington is the only team to have secured a division title (its sixth since 2014-15). In the Western Conference, Vegas tops the Pacific Division as it aims to secure its fourth in eight NHL seasons and Winnipeg leads the Central Division as it inches closer to its first No. 1 finish in a division since relocation (ATL topped the Southeast in 2006-07) – holding the top spot through 148 gamedays so far in 2024-25. The Atlantic Division remains wide open as Toronto vies for its third division title in the past 25 years, Tampa Bay seeks its fifth division title and Florida tries to stay in the hunt to become the first repeat winners of the Atlantic since the Lightning(2017-18 to 2018-19).
* Scoring Trophy Races Could Go Down to Final Day of Season: The Art Ross and Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy races can both come down to the wire. Nikita Kucherov (34-82—116 in 74 GP) has trailed Nathan MacKinnon (32-84—116 in 79 GP) in points for the majority of 2024-25 but could become the fourth player in the last 30 years to overtake the lead in points during the final day of the regular season when the Lightning play on April 17 (also Jamie Benn in 2014-15, Peter Forsberg in 2002-03 & Jaromir Jagr in 1994-95). That day will also see William Nylander (44-38—82 in 78 GP) and Tage Thompson (44-27—71 in 71 GP) in action as they continue to chase Leon Draisaitl (52-54—106 in 71 GP), who has led the League in goals since Dec. 5 (outright or tied) but missed seven of Edmonton’s past 10 games, for their first Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy.
* William M. Jennings Trophy Could Be a Repeat: The Jets have the fewest goals against in the NHL, and only Connor Hellebuyck is in contention to claim the award if they finish that way (min. 25 GP). He can become the first goaltender to be the lone Jennings Trophy winner in consecutive seasons (Martin Brodeur, Patrick Roy and BrianHayward all won in consecutive campaigns while sharing it with a teammate or with a netminder from another team). Hellebuyck could become the fifth goaltender on record to pace the NHL in wins, shutouts, save percentage and goals-against average at the end of a season – he currently leads all four categories, and is guaranteed to finish with the most wins.
CAPITALS TO CELEBRATE MASTERTON NOMINEE OVECHKIN COMPLETING THE GR8 CHASE
Washington will celebrate Alex Ovechkin recently scoring his 895th career goal and passing Wayne Gretzky (894) for the most in NHL history during a pre-game ceremony before clashing with Carolina at Capital One Arena. Ovechkin, who achieved the feat once believed to be unreachable after missing 16 games due to a fractured left fibula, was named the Capitals’ Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy nominee Wednesday.
* Ovechkin owns a five-game goal streak and needs five tallies over Washington’s final five games to become the first player in League history with 900 in his career. Ovechkin and Monumental Sports & Entertainment will continue to donate to pediatric cancer research for each goal he scores, with THE GR8 CHASE for Victory Over Cancer campaign having already raised over $120,000.
