Players of the Night:
Devan Dubnyk and Zach Parise, Minnesota Wild: Two goals by Parise and 22 saves by Dubnyk helped the Wild to a 3-0 shutout win against the Edmonton Oilers. The win was huge for the Wild, with both the St. Louis Blues and Colorado Avalanche losing. Minnesota is now five points clear of the Avalanche and six clear of the Blues in the race for third place in the Central Division.
William Nylander and Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs: Both Nylander and Matthews recorded three-point nights -- each had two goals and an assist -- as the Leafs trounced the Buffalo Sabres 5-2.
Matt Duchene and Thomas Chabot, Ottawa Senators: The Senators lost 6-5 in a goal-fest against the Winnipeg Jets. Like Nylander and Matthews for Toronto, both Senators listed here had two goals and an assist each. Duchene’s two markers brought him to the 200-goal milestone for his career.
Highlights of the Night:
This is unfair:
Andre Burakovsky with a disgusting move to beat Vince Dunn then Jake Allen. pic.twitter.com/4xZYlNjgz1
— Cristiano Simonetta (@CMS_74_) April 3, 2018
Even with no fans to witness it, this was a great goal:
Every point is beyond crucial for the @FlaPanthers.
— NHL (@NHL) April 3, 2018
This @Barkovsasha95 ➡️ Dadonov connection helps their chances. #CARvsFLA https://t.co/8jTRem0HPc
Luongo knows:
I was lucky enough to have had a chance to play with Hank and Danny for 8 seasons. Two of the greatest players of all time. The best of teammates I’ve ever had and the nicest people you’ll ever meet! They truly were great ambassadors for the game.
— Strombone (@strombone1) April 3, 2018
What could it mean?
Grabbing the puck after the game. 🤔 pic.twitter.com/gc9Cx4OI8V
— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) April 3, 2018
The face you make when you snap a 19-game goal-scoring drought:
Sometimes you gotta take matters into your own hands. pic.twitter.com/iHlXG29gmV
— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) April 3, 2018
Factoids of the Night:
Connor Hellebuyck of the @NHLJets earned his 42nd win of 2017-18, tied for the second-most in a season by a U.S.-born goaltender. #NHLStats #WPGvsOTT pic.twitter.com/F7whFvvtfg
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 3, 2018
The @MapleLeafs matched their single-season franchise record for points, a mark set in 2003-04 (45-24-13, 103 points). #NHLStats #BUFvsTOR pic.twitter.com/js2iBfHyvC
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 3, 2018
Erik Karlsson of the @Senators reached the 60-point mark for the fifth consecutive season, the longest such run among active NHL defensemen. #NHLStats #WPGvsOTT pic.twitter.com/QOqe8gKVKi
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 3, 2018
The #Canucks were wise to make a flurry of moves to grab both Henrik & Daniel Sedin in the 1st round of the 1999 Draft. pic.twitter.com/0Hw7LeYGOl
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) April 3, 2018
#NHLJets score their NHL-best 38th short-handed goal since the start of the 2014-15 season
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) April 3, 2018
Scores:
Maple Leafs 5, Sabres 2
Jets 6, Senators 5
Panthers 3, Hurricanes 2
Capitals 4, Blues 2
Wild 3, Oilers 0
Kings 3, Avalanche 1
Scott Billeck is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @scottbilleck