NHL Horoscopes Week 16: A Scorpio full moon, and it’s pink

By Apr 27, 2021, 12:00 PM EDT
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Monday night featured a full — PINK! — moon in Scorpio. That’s some sort of an omen just a couple of weeks before the playoffs.

There’s also now a Cancer Mars in play for a fun little emotional combo, as a treat. Combined with the Taurus sun season, the stars project a lot of feelings for these next few weeks.

Stat Leaders

Connor McDavid: 81 points, 53 assists (Capricorn)
Auston Matthews: 34 goals (Virgo)
Max Domi 69 PIM (Pisces)
Andrei Vasilevskiy: .928 Save % (Cancer)

EAST DIVISION

• Boston Bruins: Highest concentration in Taurus

Scorpio Taylor Hall has continued to impress in his Bruins stint.

Horoscope: The Bruins lost their first two games since the trade deadline. The full moon is supposed to indicate change for the fixed signs, but just what kind of a change will it be?

Do: Offense Don’t: Overthink goalies

• Buffalo Sabres: Highest concentration in Sagittarius

Aries Rasmus Dahlin has had a nice finish.

Horoscope: The Sabres were the first NHL team to be mathematically eliminated.

Do: Actual momentum? Don’t: Slide to finish the season.

• Washington Capitals: Highest concentration in Taurus/Virgo

Virgo Anthony Mantha has contributed since being added at the trade deadline.

Horoscope: The Capitals continue to win the games they’re supposed to and even have a game in hand. Taurus season can end well for them.

Do: Goaltending Don’t: Fall into fourth

[NHL Power Rankings: Golden Knights on top; Playoff races to watch]

• New York Rangers: Highest concentration in Aquarius

Aquarius Adam Fox continues to impress.

Horoscope: Well, they are only four points behind a playoff spot.

Do: Adam Fox Norris run Don’t: Falling flat

• New York Islanders: Highest concentration in Aquarius

The Isles offense has come around a bit.

Horoscope: Pittsburgh surging isn’t the Islanders fault, but the Aquarius Isles haven’t helped themselves much lately, either.

Do: Offense Don’t: Finish with a lower seed

• New Jersey Devils: Highest concentration in Scorpio/Sagittarius

It’s not good.

Horoscope: The Scorpio moon hasn’t been ideal for Scorpios so far so maybe that’s why they’ve lost nine in a row.

Do: Any wins Don’t: This

• Philadelphia Flyers: Highest concentration in Taurus

Leo goalie Carter Hart needs to finish strong.

Horoscope: Taurus season has not been a big help.

Do: Finish with good vibes Don’t: Bad taste into offseason

• Pittsburgh Penguins: Highest concentration in Leo/Taurus

Taurus goalie Tristan Jarry returning to the lineup has been huge for the rising Penguins.

Horoscope: Fixed signs are going to have a strong reaction to this Scorpio full moon, so that’s great news or terrible for the Penguins.

Do: Defense Don’t: Struggle on the road

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CENTRAL DIVISION

• Detroit Red Wings: Highest concentration in Aquarius

Pisces Jakub Vrana has had a nice turnaround in Detroit.

Horoscope: They aren’t the worst team in the league, who can ask for more?

Do: Develop the power play Don’t: Undo the work in the offseason

[Your 2020-21 NHL on NBC TV schedule]

• Tampa Bay Lightning: Highest concentration in Gemini

Gemini Nikita Kucherov still looms large.

Horoscope: They’re going to get everyone back for the playoffs, just like any two-faced Gemini.

Do: Take advantage Don’t: Top players slump

• Florida Panthers: Highest concentration in Virgo

Taurus goalie Spencer Knight got off to a good start.

Horoscope: At some point, the Panthers performance isn’t a surprise anymore. This is who they are, regardless of anything else.

Do: Playoff surge Don’t: Defensive issues

• Carolina Hurricanes: Highest concentration in Cancer/Aries

Capricorn goalie Alex Nedeljkovic seems like the real deal.

Horoscope: The Hurricanes have gotten even stronger since adding an Aries concentration.

Do: Depth Don’t: Overthink

• Nashville Predators: Highest concentration in Gemini

They’re still in a good playoff position.

Horoscope: It’s not their fault the Stars have games in hand, but the will-they-won’t-they element of the Preds season is big Gemini vibes as it is.

Do: Control what you can control Don’t: Collapse

• Dallas Stars: Highest concentration in Gemini and Cancer

What a season for Cancer Joe Pavelski.

Horoscope: The Stars have been the clear frontrunner to take that fourth seed in the Central for a bit now since they’ve taken their destiny into their own hands.

Do: Good vibes Don’t: Falter

• Chicago Blackhawks: Heaviest concentration in Aries

There are some positives to take from this season for Chicago.

Horoscope: No one expected them to make a playoff run anyways, so good on the fiery Aries Blackhawks making it a race.

Do: Good energy for the offseason Don’t: Fret

• Columbus Blue Jackets: Heaviest concentration in Cancer

Counting the days for this season to be over in Ohio.

Horoscope: Only a few games left!

Do: Idk Don’t: Keep this bad energy next year

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WEST DIVISION

• Minnesota Wild: Highest concentration in Virgo and Cancer

Taurus Kirill Kaprizov is the favorite for the Calder still.

Horoscope: The Wild clinched a playoff seed this week, which is wild.

Do: Compete with top teams Don’t: Stress

• St. Louis Blues: Highest concentration in Cancer and Aries

The Blues are lucky to have their games in hand.

Horoscope: Since Arizona has lost eight of their last 10, the Blues have gotten exceptionally lucky to be here at all.

Do: Luck Don’t: Neglect scoring issues

• Arizona Coyotes: Highest concentration in Leo

Certainly not the time to lose five games in a row.

Horoscope: This moon could have a major effect on Leos, so the Coyotes better hope its one that doesn’t give them a massive slump out of a playoff spot.

Do: Win some games in a row Don’t: Throw away a playoff chance x2

• San Jose Sharks: Highest concentration in Aries

Virgo Patrick Marleau earned the league’s first star this week.

Horoscope: San Jose is just five points out of a playoff spot but it still feels like too much.

Do: Competitive finish Don’t: Blow up any good energy

• Vegas Golden Knights: Highest concentration in Leo

Sagittarius goalie Marc-Andre Fleury keeps playing elite hockey.

Horoscope: This Scorpio moon would impact the Leo Golden Knights but they truly seem all set.

Do: Elite play Don’t: Too hot too soon

• Anaheim Ducks: Heaviest concentration in Aquarius

They’ve lost five in a row.

Horoscope: Not a good season all around for the Ducks but luckily it’s over soon.

Do: See what you have in young talent Don’t: Limp to the finish

• Los Angeles Kings: Highest concentration in Libra

Virgo Anze Kopitar has been one positive.

Horoscope: Games in hand might help them but it’s likely too late for these Libras.

Do: Goal differential Don’t: Road struggles

• Colorado Avalanche: Highest concentration in Scorpio 

Scorpio Mikko Rantanen is still missing from the lineup.

Horoscope: The idea of the Avalanche getting any extra help from something like a full moon is downright scary.

Do: Defensive pace Don’t: Lose winnable games

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NORTH DIVISION

• Vancouver Canucks: Heaviest concentration in Cancer and Libra

Vancouver has been pretty sharp in its return.

Horoscope: They played pretty well against the Leafs especially given they have to play out this Covid season.

Do: Be safe Don’t: Too much

• Calgary Flames: Heaviest concentration in Pisces

Montreal’s inability to close things out has kept the Flames alive.

Horoscope: Calgary is 5-5 in its last 10 and hasn’t done much to gain ground. This full moon doesn’t project to help them either.

Do: Think ahead Don’t: Lose winnable games

• Edmonton Oilers: Heaviest concentration in Cancer and Libra

Capricorn Connor McDavid keeps leading the way.

Horoscope: Edmonton has kept pace ahead of Winnipeg thanks to big outings like what McDavid did on Monday night.

Do: Stay ahead Don’t: Big slump

• Winnipeg Jets: Heaviest concentration in Aries

Taurus goalie Connor Hellebuyck needs to lead the way.

Horoscope: The big week for the Jets did not go well. They lost two to the Leafs and blown out by the Oilers. Not what they need right now.

Do: Get on track Don’t: Defensive woes x2

• Ottawa Senators: Heaviest concentration in Pisces

Four teams have a worst record than Ottawa. That’s rather surprising.

Horoscope: Playing spoiler in a big playoff race is the most fun a Pisces team can have, probably.

Do: Create mayhem Don’t: Goalie issues

• Montreal Canadiens: Heaviest concentration in Leo and Taurus

Capricorn Cole Caufield made his NHL debut this week.

Horoscope: Montreal has continued to tread water. Maybe the moon this week gives them the spark to pull away in the playoff race.

Do: Health Don’t: Falter to a weak Calgary team

• Toronto Maple Leafs: Heaviest concentration in Gemini

Virgo Auston Matthews has kept pace with the most goals in the league.

Horoscope: Have to give them credit, they keep taking care of the business they have to.

Do: Keep beating lower teams Don’t: Think too far ahead

More NHL news

Teravainen scores late, Hurricanes rally to beat Rangers 3-2
ullmark game 2
Ullmark’s 40 saves carries Bruins past Senators, 2-1
Boldy’s goal with 1.3 left in OT lifts Wild over Devils

—

Marisa Ingemi is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop her a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow her on Twitter @Marisa_Ingemi.

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    Teravainen scores late, Hurricanes rally to beat Rangers 3-2

    Associated PressMar 21, 2023, 11:34 PM EDT
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    NEW YORK – Teuvo Teravainen scored the tiebreaking goal late in the third period, Frederik Andersen stopped 29 shots and the Carolina Hurricanes rallied to beat the New York Rangers 3-2.

    Jalen Chatfield and Stefan Noesen also scored for the Metropolitan Division-leading Hurricanes, who won for the third time in four games.

    With the comeback win, the Hurricanes became the second team – following Boston – to reach the 100-point mark this season as Carolina increased its Metropolitan Division-lead over second-place New Jersey to two points and the third-place Rangers to eight.

    “That was a great effort. All 20 guys contributed and we got what we deserved,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “If we play like that, we’ll be in good shape. This time of year it gets tougher and tougher.”

    Tyler Motte and Kaapo Kakko scored for the Rangers, who had won four straight were 6-0-1 in their last seven. Igor Shesterkin finished with 36 saves as the Rangers played their third game in four nights – the previous two shutout wins at home.

    “Igor kept us in there as long as he could and we just didn’t have enough in the tank,” Rangers captain Jacob Trouba said. ”They won more battles and played a hard game.”

    Teravainen scored his 11th goal with 2:33 left on a pass from defenseman Brent Burns, redirecting the puck past Shesterkin. The Hurricanes, who trailed 1-0 and 2-1.

    “Somehow they left me open in the back side, great pass by him,” Teravainen said of the winning-goal pass to him in the slot. “We knew this would be a tough night. They have a good team. We knew we had to battle to win this game.”

    The Rangers led 1-0 entering the third and were vying for their third-straight shutout before Chatfield tied the score at 9:49 – the first goal the Rangers allowed in more than eight periods. New York was coming off a 6-0 win over Pittsburgh on Saturday night with Shesterkin in goal and a 7-0 triumph over Nashville behind Jaroslav Halak on Sunday.

    Kakko then put New York back ahead 31 seconds later with his 13th goal, only to have Noesen answer right back 18 seconds later to tie it 2-2.

    Motte opened the scoring at the 17-minute mark of the first, knocking the puck past Andersen for his third goal in four games and sixth of the season overall.

    The Rangers hadn’t lost in regulation since a 4-2 defeat on March 4 at Boston.

    “Tonight we didn’t play near well enough to beat that team,” Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said. ”Honestly, the whole game they outplayed us. They were a lot quicker. They managed the puck real well … We didn’t play our game.”

    MILESTONE

    Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal played his 729th game with Carolina on Tuesday, tying defenseman Glen Wesley for the second-most games played in franchise history since relocation from Hartford in 1997. Staal, 34, trails only his brother Eric, who played 909 games for the Hurricanes from 2003-16.

    UP NEXT

    Hurricanes: Host the Rangers on Thursday night to finish the home-and-home set in the opener of a four-game homestand.

    Rangers: At Carolina on Thursday night to open a two-game trip.

    Ullmark’s 40 saves carries Bruins past Senators, 2-1

    Associated PressMar 21, 2023, 11:31 PM EDT
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    BOSTON – Linus Ullmark made 40 saves, Jake DeBrusk had the go-ahead goal and the NHL-best Boston Bruins continued their pursuit of the league’s record for regular-season victories with a 2-1 win over the Ottawa Senators.

    “I thought he was outstanding and he needed to be,” Boston coach Jim Montgomery said of Ullmark. “Unfortunately we gave up a lot of good looks, a lot of odd-man rushes because of our puck management and he bailed us out like he has all year.”

    David Krejci added a power-play goal for Boston, which won its fourth straight.

    Dylan Gambrell scored for the Senators and Mads Sogaard made 33 stops.

    “We had a shooters’ mentality for two periods,” Ottawa coach D.J. Smith said. “The third period, they’ve won 54 games now, they’re not going to give you an odd-man rush, they’re not going to give you anything. You’re going to have to earn it.”

    The Bruins posted their 54th win and with 12 games left are on pace to break the mark of 62, set by the Detroit Red Wings in 1995-96 and matched by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2018-19.

    Chasing the Eastern Conference’s eighth and final playoff spot, Ottawa has lost six of seven following a season-high, five-game winning streak.

    Coming off a 3-2 road trip where they won the last three games by a combined score of 15-2 that included two shutouts by backup Jeremy Swayman, the Bruins converted on a two-man, power-play advantage to tie the game at 1 midway into the opening period when Krejci poked in a rebound from the edge of the crease.

    DeBrusk completed a nifty play with Brad Marchand when he collected a pass cutting down the slot at full speed, shifted and tucked a rebound past Sogaard at 15:52 of the first period for his 23rd goal.

    “It was ‘all world.’ I saw him and he fed it through a lot of guys for a breakaway,” DeBrusk said of the pass. “It was one of those passes where I didn’t know what to do. I was going to point at him (after) but I was going too fast.”

    Gambrell’s wraparound score gave Ottawa a 1-0 edge.

    “I thought I played a good game today,” Sogaard said. “I just battled and stayed with it the entire way. … These ones are tough because we were so close.”

    HEAVY WORKLOAD

    Ullmark stopped 22 shots in the second period with at least a dozen of them high-quality chances. During an Ottawa PP, he jumped from a crouch to make a right-shoulder stop on Alex DeBrincat’s bid from in close.

    “We talked about it,” defenseman Hampus Lindholm said of the second period. “We know we’re a good team in the third and wanted to tighten it up for him. … They got a lot of chances that were our own fault in the second.”

    WOMEN IN SPORTS NIGHT

    The Bruins highlighted women who work and compete in the sports community, having Olympic gold medalist and Boston Pride defender Kali Flanagan accompany Bruins players during pregame walk-ins along with local high school scholastic award winners. In addition, in-arena host Michaela Johnson handled the PA for the night and they also left yellow roses at the seats of female reporters.

    NOTES: The Senators entered the game as the only team holding an advantage in their series against the Bruins this season, winning twice in three games. … Montgomery said after the morning skate that defenseman Derek Forbort would likely be sidelined with a lower-body injury at least through the rest of the regular season. … DeBrusk, playing on the top line most of the season, is four off his career-high goal total, set in 2018-19.

    UP NEXT

    Senators: Host Tampa Bay on Thursday.

    Bruins: Host longtime rival Montreal in an Original Six matchup Thursday.

    Boldy’s goal with 1.3 left in OT lifts Wild over Devils

    Associated PressMar 21, 2023, 11:24 PM EDT
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    NEWARK, N.J. – Matt Boldy scored with 1.3 seconds left in overtime and Filip Gustavsson made a career-high 47 saves to give the Minnesota Wild a 2-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils.

    The game was a chippy, defensive struggle. After two scoreless periods, the Devils were outshooting the Wild 22-19.

    Minnesota finally broke through 6:41 into the third when Mason Shaw scored his seventh goal of the season on a wraparound.

    Timo Meier answered for the Devils five minutes later with his 35th goal of the season on a wraparound of his own.

    New Jersey was unable to convert on a late power play, and the teams went to overtime.

    It was a back-and-forth five minutes of extra hockey, with both goaltenders making good saves. After Jack Hughes hit the post for the Devils, the puck caromed off a post to Boldy and he beat the buzzer with his 23rd goal of the season.

    Vitek Vanecek stopped 27 shots for New Jersey.

    NOTES: The Devils are 10-4 in overtime, while the Wild improved to 4-5.

    UP NEXT

    Wild: Play at Philadelphia on Thursday night.

    Devils: Play at Buffalo on Friday night.

    Avalanche coach Jared Bednar signs extension through 2026-27

    Associated PressMar 21, 2023, 11:22 PM EDT
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    DENVER — Colorado Avalanche coach Jared Bednar has signed a three-year extension that will keep him in charge of the reigning Stanley Cup champions through the 2026-27 season.

    The new deal for the winningest head coach in club history kicks in once the current contract runs out after the 2023-24 season.

    Bednar, 51, is the only person to win championships in the ECHL, AHL and NHL as head coach. He directed the Avalanche to their third Stanley Cup title in team history last season by beating Tampa Bay, the two-time defending champions.

    This season, the Avalanche have dealt with an array of injuries, which include missing captain Gabriel Landeskog all year after he underwent knee surgery in October. But they’re starting to creep closer to being healthy – and working their way up the standings. Colorado is riding a six-game winning streak to remain in a tight race with Dallas and Minnesota for the Central Division crown. The top spot in the Western Conference is in play, too.

    “Jared has done a tremendous job behind the bench and certainly deserves this extension and to continue as the leader of our team,” Joe Sakic, the team’s president of hockey operations, said in a statement.

    It wasn’t the prettiest of starts for Bednar in his inaugural season for Colorado. In 2016-17, his team amassed only 48 points (22-56-4) to finish last in the league. Since then, it’s been full steam ahead for Bednar and the Avalanche. They became the first NHL squad to go from worst to first in a span of four seasons or less since the 1970-71 Bruins, according to research by the team.

    In addition, Bednar has led the Avalanche to five straight playoff appearances – and is closing in on a sixth – to become the first Avalanche coach to accomplish the feat. His 40 postseason wins are the second-most in team history, trailing only Bob Hartley (49).

    “His strength as a communicator, his relationship with the players, the way he prepares each and every day is a huge reason our team has been so successful,” general manager Chris MacFarland said. “He is an exceptional leader.”

    Bednar is currently the third-longest tenured coach in the league, behind only Tampa Bay’s Jon Cooper (March 2013) and Pittsburgh’s Mike Sullivan (December 2015).

    “Being able to lead this team over the last seven years has been a privilege,” said Bednar, whose team faces the Penguins on Wednesday. “I am grateful and excited to have the opportunity to continue building on what we’ve accomplished so far.”

    Bednar captured a Kelly Cup (ECHL) with the South Carolina Stingrays in 2009, along with a Calder Cup (AHL) with the Lake Erie Monsters in 2016.