One other week within the NHL has come and gone. The playoff race is absolutely starting to warmth up, however do not fret as we have you coated with the weekly NHL Rewind.

On Saturday, the New York Rangers continued to remain atop the Jap Convention after defeating the Arizona Coyotes. Ahead Alexis Lafreniere tallied his first profession hat trick and five-point efficiency in an 8-5 victory.

As well as, the Vegas Golden Knights continued to excel late within the common season with a slim 2-1 win towards the Minnesota Wild in a sport the place the Wild made a vital mistake.

Let’s check out a few of the largest tales and highlights from the final week across the NHL.

Aim of the week: Dakota Joshua nets a between-the-legs magnificence

Vancouver Canucks ahead Dakota Joshua had fairly a powerful efficiency in a 2-0 win towards the Anaheim Geese on Sunday. 

Joshua registered two objectives within the win, however one was fairly sensational. Halfway by way of the second interval, teammate Pius Suter dumped the puck down low to Joshua in entrance of the web, and Joshua ended up scoring a between-the-legs purpose in shut in one of many craziest performs you will ever see.

It marks a scorching stretch for Joshua as he is tallied 5 factors (three objectives & two assists) in his final three video games.

Theft of the week: Ilya Samsonov leaves Sabres scratching their heads

Goaltender Ilya Samsonov was a dominant drive in internet when the Toronto Maple Leafs confronted off towards the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. 

Within the third interval, Samsonov made a couple of key saves, together with one which was actually mind-boggling. The Maple Leafs goaltender had Sabres ahead Jeff Skinner coming in on their lonesome after Skinner received out of the penalty field, however Samsonov was capable of flip Skinner’s try apart. Following Skinner’s preliminary shot, Sabres ahead Dylan Cozens had a wide-open rebound try, however Samsonov made a ridiculous glove save to maintain the Sabres off of the scoreboard.

Samsonov ended up stopping all 34 photographs that he confronted in a 3-0 Maple Leafs victory.

Alexis Lafreniere leads Rangers previous Coyotes

The New York Rangers proceed to remain atop the Jap Convention following an 8-5 win towards the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday. One of many largest causes for the success in that contest was the play of Rangers ahead Alexis Lafreniere.

Lafreniere registered his first-career hat trick alongside together with his first-career five-point efficiency when he tallied three objectives and two assists towards Arizona.

Lafreniere’s five-point efficiency additionally allowed him to high the 50-point mark for the primary time in his skilled profession. His earlier career-high got here through the 2022-23 season when Lafreniere tallied 39 factors (16 objectives & 23 assists) in 81 video games.

Lafreniere clinched the hat trick with an empty-net purpose with simply 14 seconds remaining within the third interval of Saturday’s contest.

The Rangers and Coyotes have been tied at 3-3 within the third interval earlier than Chris Kreider, Zac Jones, and Barclay Goodrow scored three unanswered objectives to offer New York a commanding 6-3 benefit. The Coyotes did lower the deficit to 6-5 with below six minutes to go in regulation, however Artemi Panarin and Lafreniere tallied empty-net objectives to ice the sport.

The Rangers at present lead the Jap Convention with 104 factors and have gained 5 of their final six video games. As well as, the Rangers are 20-5-1 for the reason that starting of February and are taking part in a few of their greatest hockey as of late.

Late sport blunder prices Wild

Minnesota Wild head coach John Hynes made a gutsy choice when dealing with the Vegas Golden Knights in additional time on Saturday.

The Wild had taken a 1-0 lead late within the second interval when winger Kirill Kaprizov scored. Late within the third interval, the Golden Knights have been capable of tie the sport on the 13:43 mark of the body when ahead Chandler Stephenson dropped a move off for teammate Michael Amadio. Amadio was capable of snap a shot previous Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson to tie the sport.

The 2 groups then went to additional time in a sport the place each groups have been determined to safe two factors at this stage of the common season. Nevertheless, the Wild selected to drag Gustavsson in favor of an additional skater once they had the puck within the offensive zone.

After a Mats Zuccarello shot was stopped by Logan Thompson, Golden Knights star ahead Jonathan Marchessault was capable of safe the puck, and rip a shot into the empty internet for the game-winning purpose.

The Wild discover themselves out of the Western Convention Wild Card race, and thought they’d attempt to receive a bonus with the additional skater. Clearly, if Minnesota scored the game-winner on that possession, it will’ve been labeled a powerful gamble. Nevertheless, contemplating that Vegas ended up victorious, it’s fairly appreciable once they may’ve probably gained in a shootout if the sport received to that time.

Avalanche defeat Predators in high-scoring affair

The Colorado Avalanche have showcased themselves as arguably probably the most harmful offensive workforce that the NHL has to supply. They definitely confirmed why once they defeated the Nashville Predators 7-4 on Saturday night.

The Predators have been capable of soar throughout goaltender Alexandar Georgiev as they scored 4 objectives within the opening 20:57 of the sport. Predators ahead Gustav Nyquist scored his twenty second purpose of the 12 months to make it a 4-2 sport early within the second interval, however then it was like a lightweight bulb went off for the Avalanche.

Colorado rallied to attain 5 unanswered objectives and got here away with a 7-4 win towards the Predators.

The Avalanche actually took benefit of a pair of power-play alternatives as ahead Artturi Lehkonen and defenseman Cale Makar every discovered the again of the web. These objectives tied up the competition, and commerce deadline acquisition Yakov Trenin added a purpose late within the second interval to offer the Avalanche their first lead of the sport at 5-4.

Trenin was capable of deposit the free puck into the web to attain the purpose towards his former workforce. 

Following Trenin’s tally, Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon put a bow on this contest. First, MacKinnon scored on the 3:38 mark of the ultimate interval to increase the result in 6-4. If that wasn’t spectacular sufficient, MacKinnon added an empty-net purpose to carry his grand complete to 47 objectives on the season.

The Avalanche now have formally clinched a playoff spot, and are solely three factors behind the Dallas Stars for the highest spot within the Central Division. 

Appointment viewing this week

Bruins at Predators | Tuesday, April 2: The Bruins have had their justifiable share of ups and downs currently, however want to remain targeted coming down the house stretch of the common season. In the meantime, the Predators are trying to safe the highest Wild Card spot within the West, and have been one of many hotter groups throughout the league in latest weeks. This can be a sport that neither workforce can overlook.

Canucks at Golden Knights | Tuesday, April 2: Vegas has been victorious in 5 of its final six video games, and has climbed into the No. 3 spot within the Pacific Division race. Whereas Vancouver nonetheless holds a large lead for the highest spot, this definitely might be a playoff preview.

Oilers at Stars | Wednesday, April 3: The Stars are on fireplace as of late, and have leaped into the highest spot within the Central Division race. Nonetheless, the Avalanche are inside hanging distance, so that they’ll have to maintain their foot on the fuel. As for the Oilers, the Golden Knights are trying to offer them a run for his or her cash for the No. 2 spot, which makes this sport essential.

Panthers at Bruins | Saturday, April 6: This might be one of many extra necessary matchups down the stretch. The Bruins are clinging to a two-point lead over the Panthers, however each groups will wish to safe home-ice benefit within the opening spherical on the very least. This one may really feel like a playoff environment.

Stars at Avalanche | Sunday, April 7: With so few factors separating these two Central Division foes, this can be a matchup that might be a possible deciding issue through which workforce takes the crown. This can be a large likelihood for the Avalanche to maintain the strain on the Stars as they try to win the division for the fourth consecutive marketing campaign.