The most productive player
The top pair of forwards for the New York Rangers, who collected seven points in four games (all wins). Alexis Lafreniere scored five goals, had two assists and two of his shots were game-winners. Rookie Gabe Perreault also scored two goals and assisted five. And the game is decided.
Lafreniére shone the brightest against Calgary, scoring his second career hat trick in a 4-0 win. It's just unfortunate for the Rangers that they are coming into the playoffs from last place in the conference in mid-March...
Goaltender of the Week
Dallas has now scored in 15 straight games, tying a club record. Team leader Jake Oettinger has also helped the team to its last three wins, with the Olympic gold medalist picking off Vegas, Edmonton and Detroit in succession. He stopped a total of 78 shots in the three battles and cashed in on only five occasions, pulling in a 94 percent save percentage. He is third best in the NHL with 28 wins.
Highlight of the week
The King of Kings - a nickname that may be slowly being adopted by Slovenian star forward Anze Kopitar of Los Angeles, who is playing his final NHL season. For more than 45 years, the legendary Marcel Dionne was the Kings' most productive player, but as of Saturday, the table has a new leader.
Against New Jersey, Kopitar first tied the mark with one goal and then surpassed it with his second shot - point No. 1308. He didn't have an easy time, but he comes from a country that also supplied three players to the NHL. All together, they have played 1,552 games, and 1,505 of them have been played by the longtime Los Angeles captain.
"I would have felt a lot better if we would have won here," the experienced Kopitar told NHL.com after the 4-6 loss to the Devils, but his teammates felt a little differently. "I think everyone on our team will always remember this moment," said defenseman Brandt Clarke, who had assists on both of Kopitar's goals.
The Jesenice native has had an incredible career. He's won the Stanley Cup twice, the Selke Trophy for best defensive forward three times, the Lady Byng Trophy for most improved player twice and is also the recipient of the Mark Messier Leadership Award.
Stat of the Week
In his twenty-second season in the NHL, defenseman Brent Burns achieved a respectable historical record. The veteran hasn't missed a game in the Colorado ranks since the 2013-14 season and jumped into his 990th straight game during Saturday's 1-3 loss to Winnipeg. That ranks him second all-time. How far will he go?
From social media
Claude Giroux and his Ottawa team played an early game against Anaheim on Saturday, and it seems the 38-year-old Canadian wily isn't used to such early games. As his wife, Ryanne, showed, the former Philadelphia captain not only left his gear at home, but that of teammate Tim Stutzle as well.
Photo of the week
Fighting major in the NHL forward Connor Bedard has not yet, but the Chicago star can be decent. He even interacted with a fan after the winning goal in Utah's net.
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