NHL Saturday: Penguins clinch playoff berth, eliminate Bruins

The 2014-15 NHL regular season is over, and the results are far from what anyone could have reasonably expected.

Here is a look at the final divisional standings of 2014-15 (X = made playoffs):

And yet, none this was enough to derail their postseason hopes.

“It’s unfortunate,” said Boston head coach Claude Julien. “We probably could have used a lot more [passion] as we were battling for playoffs.”

With nine seconds left in Dallas’ finale against Nashville, Benn notched his fourth point of the night -- an assist on Cody Eakin’s 19th goal of 2014-15 -- to win this year’s Art Ross Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL player who leads the league in scoring.

Prior to that trophy-clinching helper, Benn scored a hat trick that allowed Dallas to end a tumultuous season on a high note. It also sent Nashville to the playoffs on a six-game losing streak.

The Providence College Friars won their first hockey National Championship in program history. Thanks to a gift from Boston University goalie Matt O’Connor and a late tally from Brandon Tanev, PC earned a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over the Terriers, who had previously been 19-0-0 on the season when leading after two periods.

This is the third consecutive year that a first-time champion has won the NCAA men’s hockey title.

Boston University netminder Matt O’Connor has made several egregious errors throughout the NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament, and with the National Championship on the line, he surrendered yet another indefensible tally.

More than mid-way through the third period, Providence College’s Kyle McKenzie fired a seemingly harmless shot at O’Connor from center ice, one that fluttered slowly to the crease. O’Connor caught the puck with his glove, but he wasn’t sure if he actually made the grab. His confusion led to one of the most cringe-worthy goals you’ll ever see -- and a tie game.

Ferraro, 23, is the son of former NHLer Ray Ferraro, who is quite proud of his boy.

That’s a rough hit, but it doesn’t appear as if McQuaid, who received a two-minute minor, targeted the head. Namestnikov’s left knee may have been damaged, as well.

Update: Namestnikov returned to the bench in the second period, according to Matt Baker of the Tampa Bay Times. Fantastic news.