The Colorado Avalanche flirted with playoff contention so long that they finally got burned on Tuesday. The Bruins will follow close behind if they're not careful.
NHL scores 2016: Four teams clinch playoff tickets while Avalanche melt away
The Western Conference playoff field is filled.
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
The Western Conference playoff field is set. Though seedings and matchups are still very much up in the air, eight teams will be participating in the postseason for certain. And now we know that the Avalanche didn’t have what it took to advance.
Oh, they tried. However ...
So after giving up a 3rd round pick, 4th round pick, three prospects, and Alex Tanguay for rentals, the Avalanche will now miss the playoffs
— Draglikepull (@draglikepull) April 6, 2016
... it was costly. Not only did the Avalanche fail to keep pace when competitors like the Nashville Predators heated up, but they failed to heat up themselves when the Minnesota Wild endured a four-game losing streak over the past week. A playoff spot was there for the taking, but the Avalanche weren’t up to the task. Now, it’s fair to wonder whether the front office will make drastic changes to a core that looked like the future when it made the playoffs just two years ago.
Which is somewhat amusing when you consider Edmonton has missed the playoffs for 10 straight years and still hasn’t jettisoned its core yet.
Scores
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3 things we learned
1. The Red Wings owe the Hurricanes a beer or something
Carolina's bend-but-don't-break performance in Beantown on Tuesday was exactly what the Red Wings needed to stay alive in the Wild Card hunt. The Bruins threw everything at the Hurricanes, but Cam Ward had a superb night with 35 saves. It's hard to understate how important that lost point was for the Bruins, who now have two games left to potentially gain four points while praying that the Red Wings and Flyers don't gain as many in their combined seven remaining games.
2. Filip Forsberg will haunt the Capitals
We already knew this, but he continues to remind his old fans what they gave up:
3. So many teams clinched
A massive rally in the late stages means the Islanders are going back to the playoffs. Minnesota managed to clinch with a loss, and so did the Lightning. And the Panthers clinched their first 100-point season and Atlantic Division title. It’s been a sensational year for that franchise, and unless you’re in the Eastern Conference opposing them, they’ll be hard to root against.
Impact Moment
One player you'll find it easy to root against when he returns from suspension is New York Rangers forward Tanner Glass, who threw this hit on Lightning forward Vladislav Namestnikov:
5 min major & misconduct to Glass for interference for this hit on Namestnikov pic.twitter.com/ipiXfj4DdX
— Stephanie (@myregularface) April 6, 2016
Stat of the Night
With 6 shots on goal, Burns will join Bobby Orr (5 times) and Ray Bourque (2x) as only defensemen on record with 350+ SOG in season
— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) April 5, 2016
Spoiler alert: he only had three shots. But still. That’s heady company. And might I even say: Norris Trophy wort--
[Drew Doughty Norris truthers kidnap Pat]
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