Facts and Figures: Sharks headed to playoffs for 21st time in 27 seasons

The San Jose Sharks are headed to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fourth straight season and 21st time in 27 seasons since joining the NHL in 1991-92, becoming the second team in the Western Conference to clinch a berth after the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Minnesota Wild 3-1 at Xcel Energy Center on Tuesday.

San Jose is the seventh team in NHL history and fourth non-Original Six team to make the postseason in at least 21 of its first 27 seasons (St. Louis Blues, 24 times; Montreal Canadiens, 21; Boston Bruins, 21; Detroit Red Wings, 21; Buffalo Sabres, 21; Calgary/Atlanta Flames, 21). It will be the Sharks' 14th playoff appearance in 15 seasons since 2003-04. They've made four trips to the Western Conference Final (2004, 2010, 2011, 2016) and advanced to the Stanley Cup Final in 2016, when they lost in six games to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Sharks (43-22-8), trying to win the Pacific Division for the first time since 2010-11, trail the Flames by three points with nine games left in the regular season and likely will earn home-ice advantage in the Western Conference First Round for the first time since 2014, when they lost in seven games to the Los Angeles Kings after holding a 3-0 lead in the best-of-7 series.

Capitals take back first in Metropolitan

The Washington Capitals (43-23-7) reclaimed first place in the Metropolitan Division with a 4-1 win against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center, coupled with the New York Islanders' 5-0 loss to the Boston Bruins at Nassau Coliseum. The defending Stanley Cup champions are 9-2-0 in their past 11 games and three points ahead of the Islanders (42-24-7) with nine games remaining.
Forward Brett Connolly had two points (one goal, one assist) for the Capitals to set NHL career highs in goals (20), assists (22) and points (42). He's the fifth Washington player to score 20 goals this season, joining forwards Alex Ovechkin (48), Tom Wilson (21), Jakub Vrana (21) and T.J. Oshie (21). Center Nicklas Backstrom also had an assist to reach 50 for the sixth consecutive season and ninth time in his NHL career.

Bruins strengthen position in Atlantic

The Bruins (44-20-9) hold a six-point lead for second in the Atlantic Division and home-ice advantage in the first round with their win, coupled with the Toronto Maple Leafs (43-25-5) losing 3-0 to the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena.
Tuukka Rask made 13 saves for Boston, 8-0-0 in its past eight road games against the Islanders and outscoring them 35-13 since Jan. 27, 2014.

Hurricanes surge to 40 wins

Forward Justin Williams' game-tying goal with 1:56 left in the third period and defenseman Dougie Hamilton's decisive goal in the shootout gave the Carolina Hurricanes a 3-2 victory against the Penguins at PNC Arena and helped them reach 40 wins for the eighth time in Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers history and first since 2010-11.
The Hurricanes (40-25-7) hold the first wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference, three points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets and two behind the Penguins for third in the Metropolitan Division. Carolina needed 72 games to get to 40 wins, the second-fewest in their history; they needed 58 in 2005-06 on the way to winning the Stanley Cup.

Stars get breathing room in Western wild-card race

The Dallas Stars (38-29-6) increased their lead over the idle Arizona Coyotes (36-31-6) to four points for the first wild card from the West with a 4-2 win against the Florida Panthers at American Airlines Center.
Center Tyler Seguin had four assists, forward Jamie Benn had three points (one goal, two assists) and goalie Ben Bishop made 20 saves for the Stars, who are 7-2-1 in their past 10 games and two points behind the St. Louis Blues (38-27-8) for third place in the Central Division. Bishop's Stars/Minnesota North Stars record shutout streak ended at 233:04 when he allowed center Aleksander Barkov's goal at 2:11 of the first period.

Canadiens, Avalanche inch closer to playoff spots

The Canadiens (38-28-7) moved within one point of the Blue Jackets (40-29-4) for the second wild card from the East with a 3-1 win against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center. The Blue Jackets lost 4-2 to the Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome.
Forward Max Domi had two points (one goal, one assist) and is the first player to score at least 25 goals in his first season with the Canadiens since Erik Cole scored 35 in 2011-12.
The Avalanche (32-29-12) are two points behind the Coyotes after their victory against the Wild. Tyson Barrie scored the 71st regular-season goal of his NHL career and is one from tying Sandis Ozolinsh (72) for most by a defenseman in Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques history.