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Benn’s Strong Finish not Enough for Stars

National Hockey League

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Apr 10, 2018

Benn’s Strong Finish not Enough for Stars

Mar 14, 2018; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn (14) skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Dallas in an overtime shoot out. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn, Florida Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo and Philadelphia Flyers center Claude Giroux have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending April 8.

FIRST STAR – JAMIE BENN, LW, DALLAS STARS

Benn led the NHL with seven goals, including a pair of hat tricks, and eight points in three games to power theStars (42-32-8, 92 points) to a 2-1-0 week. He registered his third career hat trick, including the winning goal, in a 4-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks April 3. Benn then posted 1-1—2 in a 5-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks April 6. He closed the season with another hat trick, as well as the winning goal, in a 4-2 triumph over the Los Angeles Kings April 7. In doing so, Benn became the seventh player in Stars/North Stars history to record two hat tricks within a span of three team games and the first to accomplish the feat since Bill Guerin from Oct. 29 – Nov. 2, 2003. The 28-year-old Victoria, B.C., native paced Dallas with 36-43—79 in 2017-18 (82 GP), including 8-2—10 during a season-ending, five-game point streak.

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SECOND STAR – ROBERTO LUONGO, G, FLORIDA PANTHERS

Luongo went 3-0-0 with a 1.59 goals-against average and .955 save percentage in four appearances to help the Panthers (44-30-8, 96 points) become the 13th team in NHL history to earn five wins in seven days. He made 27 saves in a 3-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes April 2 and matched a season high with 45 stops in a 2-1 triumph against the Nashville Predators April 3. Luongo then played in his 1,000th NHL game April 5 – becoming the third goaltender in League history to reach the milestone – and turned aside 26 shots for a 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins. He added eight saves in a relief effort as part of a 4-2 victory against the Bruins April 8. The 39-year-old Montreal native went 18-11-2 in 35 outings in 2017-18 (2.47 GAA, .929 SV%, 3 SO), climbing to fourth in NHL history with 471 career wins.

THIRD STAR – CLAUDE GIROUX, C, PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

Giroux ranked second in the NHL with 5-2—7 in three games to propel the Flyers (42-26-14, 98 points) to their eighth playoff berth in the past 11 seasons. He collected 1‑1—2 in each of his first two contests, a 5-4 loss to the New York Islanders April 3 and a 4-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes April 5. Giroux then helped Philadelphia clinch its playoff berth with his first career regular-season hat trick (738 GP) in a 5-0 triumph against the New York Rangers April 7. The 30-year-old Hearst, Ont., native finished second in the NHL with 34-68—102 in 2017-18 (82 GP), becoming the first member of the Flyers to reach the 100-point milestone since Eric Lindros in 1995-96 (47-68—115).

* Information provided via NHL Press Release

McDavid, Ovechkin, and Quick Earn Regular Season Awards

National Hockey League

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Apr 10, 2018

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McDavid, Ovechkin, and Quick Earn Regular Season Awards

The 2017-18 National Hockey League regular season concluded Sunday with Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid capturing his second consecutive Art Ross Trophy as the League’s scoring champion, Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin claiming his seventh career Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the NHL’s goal-scoring leader and Jonathan Quick of the Los Angeles Kings winning his second career William M. Jennings Trophy as the goaltender who plays at least 25 games for the club allowing the fewest goals.

McDavid finished the season with a League-leading 108 points (41-67—108) in 82 games, besting Philadelphia Flyers center Claude Giroux (34-68—102 in 82 GP) and Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov(39-61—100 in 80 GP) for his second straight Art Ross Trophy. McDavid collected at least one point in 58 of his 82 appearances (70.7%), pacing the NHL with 32 multi-point performances and 14 three-point efforts. He also led the League with 84 even-strength points, 18 more than the next-closest player and the most by any NHLer since 1995-96. McDavid, who topped the League with 30-70—100 in 2016-17, became the first repeat winner of the Art Ross Trophy since Jaromir Jagr won four in a row from 1997-98 through 2000-01 (w/ PIT). At 21 years, 85 days, he also became the second player in NHL history to win multiple scoring titles prior to his 22nd birthday, joining Wayne Gretzky (3x, also w/ EDM).

Ovechkin scored a League-high 49 goals in 82 games, finishing ahead of Winnipeg Jets right wing Patrik Laine (44 in 82 GP) and Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson (43 in 82 GP) for his seventh career Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy (also 2007-08, 2008-09, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16). He became the second player in NHL history to finish atop the League’s goal-scoring race seven times, joiningBobby Hull (also 7x, all w/ CHI). At 32 years, 203 days, Ovechkin also became the oldest player to win the NHL’s goal-scoring title since Phil Esposito in 1974-75 (33 years, 45 days w/ BOS). Ovechkin recorded his 600th NHL goal March 12, requiring the fourth-fewest games to reach the milestone (990). His career average of 0.61 goals per game (607 in 1,003 GP) ranks fourth in League history (minimum 400 GP), behind only Mike Bossy (0.76), Mario Lemieux (0.75) and Pavel Bure (0.62).

Quick saw the most action on a Kings team that allowed a League-low 203 goals, eight fewer than the Nashville Predators (211) and 11 clear of the Boston Bruins (214). He earned his second career William M. Jennings Trophy as well as the second in franchise history, adding to the one he claimed with Los Angeles in 2013‑14 en route to winning the Stanley Cup. Quick appeared in 64 games, ranking in the top 10 among goaltenders in wins (9th; 33), goals-against average (10th; 2.40) and shutouts (t-4th; 5). The Milford, Conn., native finished the season seven victories shy of becoming the fifth U.S.-born goaltender to reach 300 NHL wins (293-195-56 in 556 GP).

* Information provided via NHL Press Release

“Stanley”

Inside Edge Hockey Media Group

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Apr 5, 2018

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The 2017-2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are just around the corner. This video will create excitement and pump you guys up for the greatest and most exciting part of the entire season. It is POST SEASON HOCKEY! It is time to play for the Stanley Cup!

* Video by Mazek Productions via YouTube

Karlsson the King of Sin City

National Hockey League

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Apr 2, 2018

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Feb 26, 2018; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings left wing Tanner Pearson (70) chases down Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson (71) into the bench in the first period at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson, Arizona Coyotes goaltender Antti Raanta and Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending April 1.

FIRST STAR – WILLIAM KARLSSON, C, VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

Karlsson led the NHL with 3-6—9, including a pair of shorthanded goals, in four games as the Pacific Division champion Golden Knights (50-22-7, 107 points) became the first modern-era expansion team from any of the four North American professional sports leagues to start from scratch and finish first in its division (excluding mergers and all-expansion divisions). He posted 1-2—3 in a 4-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche March 26, becoming the eighth player in NHL history to reach the 40-goal milestone for a club in its inaugural season (and first since Brian Bradley in 1992-93 w/ TBL). Karlsson added one assist in a 3-2 loss to the ArizonaCoyotes March 28 before again collecting 1-2—3, including a helper on the overtime winner, in a 4-3 triumph over the St. Louis Blues March 30. He capped the week with 1-1—2, including a highlight-reel game-winning goal (while shorthanded), in a 3‑2 division-clinching victory against the San Jose Sharks March 31. The 25-year-old Marsta, Sweden, native shares third place in the League with 42 goals in 79 contests this season (42-33—75) after scoring 18 times in his first 183 career NHL games prior to 2017-18 (18-32—50).

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SECOND STAR – ANTTI RAANTA, G, ARIZONA COYOTES

Raanta went 3-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average, .964 save percentage and one shutout as the Coyotes(28-40-11, 67 points) won three of their four games for the week to improve to 16-8-2 dating to Feb. 8. He made 19 saves in a 4-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning March 26, followed by 27 stops in a 3-2 triumph against the Vegas Golden Knights March 28. Raanta then denied all 34 shots he faced to earn his 11th career shutout (and third of 2017-18) in a 6-0 win over the St. Louis Blues March 31. The 28-year-old Rauma, Finland, native has appeared in 45 contests this season, going 20‑16-6 while ranking third in the NHL with a 2.27 goals-against average and fourth with a .929 save percentage. That includes a League-best 1.87 goals-against average and .940 save percentage in 25 outings since Jan. 1 (minimum 15 GP).

THIRD STAR – JACK EICHEL, C, BUFFALO SABRES

Eichel placed second in the NHL with 3-5—8 in three games to help the Sabres (25-41-12, 62 points) pick up a pair of victories. He scored twice, including the winning goal, in a 3-2 triumph over the Toronto Maple Leafs March 26 before adding another goal in a 6-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings March 29. Eichel then collected five assists in a 7-4 victory against the Nashville Predators March 31. In doing so, he became the first Sabresplayer to register five points in a game since Jan. 31, 2013 (Thomas Vanek) and the first with five assists in a game since Feb. 10, 1993 (Pat LaFontaine). The 21-year-old North Chelmsford, Mass., native paces Buffalo with 25-37—62 this season (63 GP) despite missing 15 games due to injury.

* Information provided via NHL Press Release