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Morning Skate: The Stars and Capitals are set for a weekend showdown
And hat tricks were just the opening act.
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Lace ‘em up. Time for the Morning Skate.
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THE FINAL EXAM IS NEXT
Interesting how similarly the Dallas Stars and Washington Capitals won on Thursday ahead of their big matchup this weekend.
Both relied on hat tricks; the Capitals got one from Alex Ovechkin while Patrick Eaves scored three times in the first period for Dallas. And both needed huge nights from their goalies; Braden Holtby and Kari Lehtonen were both spectacular when their teams needed them to be.
All signs point to a fantastic throwdown between two of the NHL’s best teams on Saturday.
WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT:
- Connor McDavid went absolutely nuts again last night, factoring in all of Edmonton's five goals. That's 21 points in 19 games this year for McDavid. He's good.
- If you think you've seen Joel Quenneville mad before, think again.
- Columbus may have played its best game of the season on Thursday.
- Colorado's power play looked as dangerous as ever in a win over the Senators.
- The tank continued in earnest in Winnipeg with a 6-2 mauling by the Bruins.
- Flyers defenseman Mark Streit managed to take a penalty while still in the penalty box!
TRADE RUMORS
- It sounds like the Senators are the new front-runner in the Jonathan Drouin sweepstakes.
- Loui Eriksson should be on the Predators' radar as the deadline approaches.
- The Blackhawks might want Andrew Ladd, but who do they really have to offer in return?
- With Jason Garrison injured, the need for a defenseman is even greater for Tampa Bay.
NEWS & NOTES
- Columbus signed Ryan Murray to a two-year extension. He and Seth Jones will play together for a long time.
- McDavid is making Jordan Eberle look so good that the Oilers should keep them together, pump up Eberle's trade value and then dump him at the deadline.
- Trade deadline day is a pivotal moment for the Jets franchise.
- Finally, Matt Bartkowski's mom is simply the best.
- McDavid isn't Wayne Gretzky, and that's just fine.
- What's behind Sidney Crosby's resurgence?
- Patrice Bergeron might be injured.
- The NHL's new website is terrible and everyone knows it.
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