A day removed from one of the busiest days of hockey in recent memory, the final day of the NHL regular season was a very quiet affair.
NHL scores 2016: So long and farewell to the 2015-16 regular season
After a quiet Sunday, the latest NHL regular season is in the books.
Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
You might not have known games were even happening on Sunday, since all 30 teams played on Saturday. The 16 playoff teams were finalized early in the weekend, as the Bruins were on the outside looking in once again. That left two games on the calendar for Sunday, and not much to play for outside of playoff positioning.
Even though the games had very little meaning to those playing them, they were well-needed breathers before the postseason. A Flyers team that had clinched a playoff berth just over 24 hours earlier probably played their loosest game of hockey since the start of the season. Then, a potential Stanley Cup Final preview between the Capitals and Ducks had almost 15 scratches between the pair of teams.
All in all, it felt like we had just time traveled back to the preseason in September. But now, we have 2,460 total games behind us instead of ahead. How fast the time flies, friends. We’ve cut through the clutter, the noise and the nonsense. We’ve slogged through 82 games to get to this moment, and you can sense the anticipation in the air now that the playoffs are here.
Use the next few days to rest up, hockey fans. The best part of the calendar is just around the corner.
Scores
Flyers 5, Islanders 2
Ducks 2, Capitals 0
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3 things we learned
1. The press boxes were just as full as the benches
The last games of the year are such a treat. You could definitely make a pair of starting lineups out of those non-injured scratches.
2. Philadelphia power play heating up
After going 0-for-13 in their last four games on the power play, the Flyers got two big goals on the man advantage against the Islanders on Sunday. Even with their B teams playing, a hot Flyers power play in the postseason is not something the Capitals want to run into in the first round.
3. Justin Williams hit game No. 1,000, and joined Twitter!
Capitals forward Justin Williams played in his 1,000th career game on Sunday, capping off the regular season with Washington. The 34-year-old has been with a handful of teams in his NHL career, but has been a solid addition to the Stanley Cup hopeful Capitals this season.
Not only did he play in his 1,000th game this weekend, he also joined Twitter in quite a memorable way.
I've avoided you long enough Twitter. Let's dance. #myfirstTweet pic.twitter.com/nrSZElLZMM
— Justin Williams (@JustinWilliams) April 10, 2016
That's a beauty of a first tweet right there.
Impact Moment
Last fight of the regular season! Get your last fight of the regular season right here!
Stat of the Night
Gostisbehere also passes Tim Kerr and ties Bobby Clarke for 16th-highest point total of any #Flyers rookie with 46 on that 1st period goal.
— David Strehle (@DStrehleTFP) April 11, 2016
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