NHL Saturday review: Boston Bruins breaking new ground on historic day

bet365 News Team Updated: 10 Apr 23 09:20 Published: 09 Apr 23 11:04

All 32 of the NHL's teams were in action on an historic Saturday, which was the busiest day and night in the league's 106-year history.

Among the headlines, the Presidents' Trophy-winning Boston Bruins tied the NHL record for most wins in a season (62), Connor McDavid reached 150 points for the season in a seventh straight win for the Edmonton Oilers and the Wild Card races will go right down to the wire in both Conferences.

Bruins tie wins record

With a 2-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils, the Bruins (62-12-5) tied the 1995/96 Detroit Red Wings and 2018/19 Tampa Bay Lightning for most wins in an NHL regular season.

Boston have won five games in a row and are 4/11 to beat the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday to set a new league benchmark.

With three games remaining and six points left to get, the Bruins' tally of 129 points is three short of the 1977/78 Montreal Canadiens for most in an NHL season.

By finishing top of the regular season standings, Boston have guaranteed home ice advantage throughout the playoffs, for which they are 3/1 to win for the first time since 2011.

The Bruins have won 33 games at home, the joint-most in their history and fifth most in the league's.

McDavid reaches 150

McDavid scored twice in a 6-1 win for the Oilers (48-23-9) over the San Jose Sharks to reach 150 points, the most by an NHL player in almost 30 years.

The Oilers' Captain has 64 goals and 87 assists in 80 games and is the first player to reach at least 150 points since Mario Lemieux had 161 for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1995/96.

McDavid is 27 points ahead of teammate Leon Draisaitl (124; 51 goals, 73 assists) for the NHL point-scoring lead.

He has led the NHL in scoring in each of the past two seasons and four times in the past six and is 9/1 to lead the Oilers to their first Stanley Cup since 1990 this season.

Edmonton are two points behind Vegas Golden Knights for top spot in the Pacific Division and, with two games remaining, are 12/5 to finish in first place.

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Crosby hits 1,500 as Penguins keep pace

Sidney Crosby became the 15th player in NHL history to reach 1,500 points as the Pittsburgh Penguins kept pace in the Eastern Conference Wild Card race with a 5-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings.

Captain Crosby has 550 goals and 950 assists in 1,189 games across 18 regular seasons with the Penguins and is the sixth fastest player in NHL history to reach the milestone.

With two games left, the Pittsburgh are one point back of the Florida Panthers and New York Islanders for the first Wild Card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference.

Florida defeated the Washington Capitals 4-2 and the Islanders beat the Flyers 4-0.

The Penguins end the regular season with games against the bottom two teams in the NHL standings, the Columbus Blue Jackets and Chicago Blackhawks, which sees them at 10/13 to earn a Wild Card position and make the playoffs for a record 17th consecutive season.

The Panthers, 5/13 to reach the post-season, have a far tougher challenge in their last two fixtures against the high-flying Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes, while the Islanders, 5/18 to make the playoffs, take on the Capitals and Montreal Canadiens.

Jets shut out Predators

The Winnipeg Jets (44-32-3) picked up a crucial 2-0 shut-out win against the Nashville Predators in the battle for a Wild Card in the Western Conference.

The victory puts the Jets one point ahead of the Calgary Flames and three in front of the Predators for the second Wild Card position.

Winnipeg end the season with a home game against the Vancouver Canucks and two on the road versus the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche and they are 10/39 to win the race and make the playoffs.

The Predators, 49/4 to make the post-season, also take on the Wild and Avalanche, but at home, and have one road game remaining against the Flames.

Calgary lost in overtime to the Canucks which, after beating the Jets on Wednesday, was a severe dent in their 18/5 chances of making the playoffs as they have also played one game more than both Winnipeg and Nashville.

The first Wild Card from the West is currently held by Seattle Kraken who are now assured of that at the very least.

Seattle still retain hope of catching the Los Angeles Kings, who are two points ahead having played a game more, for an automatic top-three position in the Pacific Division.