NHL scores 2016: Flyers, Red Wings end Bruins’ season with a thud
Boston came up just short of the playoffs for the second straight season.
Not exactly the most thrilling end, but we’ll take it.
So will the two surviving teams. The clinch on Saturday was validation for two teams that had scratched, clawed and dragged themselves into (and, in Detroit's case, to stay into) the playoff race. Both teams deserved and earned their spot in the dance, even though Philadelphia's bout might be short-lived against the Washington Capitals.
And if the Bruins deserved the same fate at one point this season, they certainly earned their way out of it. They lost nine out of their last 14 games, driving themselves headlong onto the precipice of the playoffs that the Red Wings and Flyers previously solely occupied. And the kicker? That's the exact same thing they did last season.
The poor finish, combined with a defense worse than the Oilers or Leafs this season and punctuated by that crushing 6-1 loss to the Senators on Saturday makes you wonder if the Bruins make an ill-advised change behind the bench. At the very least, it makes you wonder where the team is headed.
Scores
Senators 6, Bruins 1
Rangers 3, Red Wings 2
Flyers 3, Penguins 1
Panthers 5, Hurricanes 2
Devils 5, Leafs 1
Blue Jackets 5, Blackhawks 4 (OT)
Capitals 5, Blues 1
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3 things we learned
1. The Red Wings’ amazing streak stays alive
Detroit has now reached the playoffs in each of the past 25 years. I have not existed that long, and neither have 12 of their own players! When the Red Wings last missed the playoffs, O.J. Simpson was a free man and Donald Trump was probably still wearing a hair piece. In fact, the list of things that have changed since Detroit missed the playoffs was so good we made it for you.
2. The Lightning continue to get beaten up
The best news for Detroit is that they'll face Tampa Bay in the first round, because there's no way the Bolts will be at full strength. Steven Stamkos is out for months, and Tyler Johnson was knocked out of the game on Saturday. When healthy, the Lightning are one of the top five teams in the league. This is certainly not that team.
3. Erik Karlsson just completed a historic season on a terrible team
In the post-1994 era, here are the defencemen with PPG seasons with at least 80 games played. Karlsson has 82 in 82. pic.twitter.com/RXPDgnkNH2
— Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) April 9, 2016
Give him the Norris already.
Impact Moment
Alex Ovechkin reached 50 goals the only way he could: with a hat trick.
Stat of the Night
Spoiler: the Capitals are historically great.
Most 50-goal seasons, NHL history:
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 10, 2016
9 – Mike Bossy
9 – Wayne Gretzky
7 – @ovi8 (@washcaps)
(via @EliasSports) pic.twitter.com/OdinNC3VBV
Now officIal: #Caps are first team since the 1976-77 #Habs to go an entire regular season without suffering consecutive regulation losses
— Ben Raby (@BenRaby31) April 10, 2016
