Three to see
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
After getting off to a terrible start, the Washington Capitals have a chance to clinch yet another Southeast Division title.
The main reason for this resurgence has been the play of their captain, Alex Ovechkin. Ovechkin had five points this week on three goals and two assists, and now has 30 goals on the season, (good for first in the league) and for 51 points (fourth in the league).
This week Ovechkin and the Capitals take on the Winnipeg Jets, Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins.
James Reimer, Toronto Maple Leafs
For the first time in nine seasons, the Toronto Maple Leafs have clinched a playoff spot and the play of goaltender James Reimer is a big reason why.
Reimer won two of three games he started this week, stopped 114 of 120 shots and picked-up a shutout. On Saturday night, in his team’s post-season clinching win over the Ottawa Senators, Reimer was brilliant in making 49 saves.
This week Reimer and the Leafs will close out the season with games against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers and Montreal Canadiens.
Brad Richards, New York Rangers
Is New York Rangers’ nine-year man Brad Richards heating up at the right time of the year?
It appears that way, as Richards had four goals and an assist this past week. On Friday night in his team’s 8-4 win over the Buffalo Sabres, Richards scored his first career hat trick.
This week Richards and the Blueshirts will be looking to get into the postseason with games against the Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils.
Streak of the week
Despite being without the likes of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and James Neal, the Pittsburgh Penguins are on yet another winning streak.
The team has won six straight games and in those games has gotten solid performances out of some of their newcomers. In his last three games, Brendan Morrow has six points (four goals and two assists) while Jarome Iginla has three points (two goals and one assist) in his last two contests.
Heading into the last week of the season, the Penguins have already clinched the Atlantic Division as well as the top spot in the Eastern Conference. Next on their list is winning a Stanley Cup.
Biting sound
“It was pretty awesome hearing everybody sing [the national anthem] like that. And obviously the emotions were pretty high. We all knew that tonight was more than just another game. It meant a lot to people as another step [in the healing process] and it was no different for us on the ice trying to have some remembrance of the last couple days but also move on as well to getting back to business in this city.”
– Boston Bruins’ defenceman Andrew Ference after their shootout loss to the Buffalo Sabres, the first major sporting event in Boston since the tragedy on Monday.
Weekend rewind
This past week was a trying time in the United States, especially for those in Boston. After the Boston Marathon bombing on Apr. 15, Bostonians and the rest of the country came together to show pride, resiliency and that they would not let anyone ruin the United States.
This pride really came out at two Boston Bruins’ games this past week during the National Anthems.
Save the date
Tuesday, April 23, 2013: Winnipeg Jets vs. Washington Capitals
The Southeast Division title is not a guarantee for the Washington Capitals, due to the surprising play of the Winnipeg Jets.
While the Jets have not been the most consistent club this season, they have managed to stay in the thick of things in the Eastern Conference and currently find themselves in the ninth place, just three points behind the Capitals. For two teams that are both looking to sow up a playoff spot, it should be a great game at the Verizon Center on Tuesday night.
Rink roundup
– Should Montreal Canadiens’ fans be worried about their team? One would think so as their favourite team is 4-6 in their last 10 games and are not getting the goaltending they need from Carey Price.
– How about those Columbus Blue Jackets? The team is still in eighth place in the tight Western Conference and should they play well this week, have a chance to clinch a spot in the postseason for only the second time in franchise history.
– If you are in the Eastern Conference, the New York Islanders might be a team that you want to avoid in the first round. These Islanders have a lot of speed, know how to put the puck in net, get the goaltending they need from Evgeni Nabokov and, right now, are being led by the great play of John Tavares.
Put all those things together and it is one lethal combination come playoff hockey.
– For the second straight season, the Buffalo Sabres have missed the playoffs. Something needs to be done to this team in the upcoming offseason to get this club back on the right track because right now, the franchise is headed down a dark road.
