NHL scores 2017: Flames book postseason berth as Sharks start sweating

Welcome, Glen Gulutzan to the Jack Adams discussion.

Months ago, the coach’s Calgary Flames looked like a young team with promise but nowhere near playoff contention. On Friday, they locked up a playoff berth against the defending Western Conference champions. And a Pacific Division crown is well within sight.

It’s been a season full of surprises (see: the Blue Jackets, Maple Leafs, and Oilers). But Calgary’s ascendance might be the most unpredictable of them all.

Coyotes 6, Capitals 3

Flames 5, Sharks 2

Kings 2, Canucks 0

Avalanche 2, Blues 1 (SO)

Penguins 4, Rangers 3 (SO)

Islanders 2, Devils 1

Blackhawks 3, Blue Jackets 1

1. The Islanders are done

New York faced an uphill battle anyway, four points behind Boston and the wild card with five games left. But now that its captain might be done for a while, the team’s playoffs hopes are, too.

John Tavares got his leg tangled in a puck battle behind the net late against the Devils on Friday. He needed help leaving the ice. Whether it’s long term or not, the loss is a morale sapper for a team with the slimmest of slim playoff hopes.

2. Sidney Crosby is driving the Penguins up the Metro

The Pittsburgh captain dazzled again on Friday, scoring a ridiculous goal in-game and a nifty shootout winner to separate the Penguins further from the Rangers and bring them one point away from the Blue Jackets for second in the division.

3. Arizona is capable of surprises

While the Penguins continued their Metro climb, the Metro leaders laid an egg in the desert. Arizona blitzed the Capitals for six goals, proving you can’t count out lottery teams as playoff seed upsetters this late in the game.

Avalanche prospect Tyson Jost hit warm-ups for the first time in his career, and his granddad was overcome: