The National Hockey League season has drawn to a close, marked by a series of decisive matches across various divisions. A highlight was Alex Ovechkin's contribution with an assist in what potentially could be his final appearance, as the Washington Capitals secured a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Concurrently, the Boston Bruins demonstrated their prowess by clinching a playoff spot with an impressive 4-0 shutout win against the New Jersey Devils. The final games saw other teams battling for positioning, with outcomes shaping the upcoming postseason.
In the Washington Capitals versus Columbus Blue Jackets encounter, Jakob Chychrun netted the decisive goal during a power play late in the game, securing a 2-1 win for the Capitals. Ovechkin, the league's all-time leading goal scorer, provided a secondary assist, concluding his 21st NHL season and a five-year contract. The 40-year-old winger, with a remarkable 929 regular-season goals, has deferred any decision regarding his future until the offseason. Anthony Beauvillier also contributed a goal for Washington, while Clay Stevenson made 27 saves. Boone Jenner scored for the Blue Jackets, and Jet Greaves stopped 19 shots.
The Boston Bruins celebrated a significant win, defeating the New Jersey Devils 4-0. Mark Kastelic was a standout, scoring two goals in the first period, propelling the Bruins to secure the first Eastern Conference wild-card spot. Jeremy Swayman of Boston achieved 21 saves in this final regular-season game for both teams. Morgan Geekie and Viktor Arvidsson also found the net for the Bruins. Sean Kuraly provided two assists, and David Pastrnak recorded one, marking his fourth consecutive season with 100 points. Nico Daws, starting his second consecutive game for the Devils, stopped 22 shots.
Further action saw the Utah Mammoth triumph over the Winnipeg Jets with a 5-3 score, with Nick Schmaltz scoring twice, helping Utah secure the first Western Conference wild-card position. Logan Cooley and Alex Kerfoot also scored for the Mammoth, and Karel Vejmelka made 21 saves. For the Jets, Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor each had a goal and an assist, but their team's season ended on a three-game losing streak. The Philadelphia Flyers beat the Montreal Canadiens 4-2, with Matvei Michkov leading the charge with a goal and two assists. In his NHL debut, Oliver Bonk also scored, contributing to the Flyers' third-place finish in the Metropolitan Division.
Other notable results included the Minnesota Wild's 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks, where Hunter Haight scored his inaugural NHL goal. The Carolina Hurricanes secured a 2-1 win against the New York Islanders, with Mark Jankowski scoring the tie-breaking goal, solidifying Carolina's position as the top seed in the Eastern Conference. The Colorado Avalanche defeated Calgary 3-1, with Gabriel Landeskog scoring the winning goal and Martin Necas reaching 100 points for the first time in his career. In an overtime thriller, the Vancouver Canucks edged the Los Angeles Kings 4-3, thanks to Jake DeBrusk's two goals, including the overtime winner. Finally, the St. Louis Blues staged a remarkable comeback, overcoming a three-goal deficit to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 7-5, with Jimmy Snuggerud contributing two goals and two assists.
These outcomes reflect a dynamic end to the NHL regular season, with several teams securing their playoff spots and others closing their campaigns with memorable performances. The stage is now set for an exciting postseason as teams prepare for the Stanley Cup playoffs.
