NHL Morning Skate for March 26

* The Devils hit the 100-point mark in franchise record-setting pace after clinching their first Stanley Cup Playoffs berth since 2018.

* Boston defeated Tampa Bay to secure the No.1 seed in its division for the seventh time in the past 20 years - tied for the second most among all teams over that span.
* Patrick Kane registered his 15th career 20-goal season and climbed two elite lists of U.S.-born players in the process.
* Sunday's slate features five games, including a matchup between the NHL-leading Bruins and Metropolitan Division-leading Hurricanes.
DEVILS REACH CENTURY MARK, EARN FIRST PLAYOFF BERTH IN FIVE YEARS
After clinching a playoff berth for the first time since 2018 by virtue of a Panthers regulation loss to the Rangers, Jack Hughes (1-1-2) hit the 40-goal mark and Dougie Hamilton (1-0-1) netted the game winner to help the Devils earn their 24th comeback victory of 2022-23 - the most in a single season in franchise history - en route to becoming the
third team to reach the 100-point mark
.
* Hughes became the ninth different skater in franchise history to
record a 40-goal season
and the first since Zach Parise in 2008-09. Hughes (21 years, 315 days) also became the second-youngest player in franchise history at the time of their 40th goal behind Wilf Paiement (21 years, 166 days on March 31, 1977).
* Hamilton netted his seventh game-winning goal of 2022-23 and surpassed Scott Niedermayer (6 in 2001-02) for the most by a Devils defenseman in a single campaign. Additionally, Hamilton (19-49-68 in 73 GP) now sits one shy of becoming the
third blueliner in franchise history to score 20 goals in a season
- the others: Barry Beck (22 in 1977-78 w/ CLR) and Rob Ramage (20 in 1980-81 w/ CLR).
* The Devils, who recorded their first 100-point season since 2011-12, reached the century mark in a franchise-best 73 games. The previous mark of 76 contests was achieved three times (2002-03, 2000-01 & 1997-98), with New Jersey going on to win the Stanley Cup in the most recent instance.

PACE-SETTING BRUINS CLINCH ATLANTIC DIVISION TITLE
After becoming
the first team to clinch a postseason berth
on March 11 and the first team to 50 wins and 100 points in 2022-23, the Bruins (56-11-5, 117 points) continued to set the pace for the League by holding off the division-rival Lightning in a close game

. Boston is now on pace for 63 wins and 133 points - both would set NHL records for most
wins
and
points
by a team in a single season.
* Boston clinched the No. 1 seed in its division for the seventh time over the past 20 years (since 2002-03). The only teams with as many division titles over that span: Washington (10x), Detroit (7x) and Vancouver (7x).
KANE CLIMBS U.S-BORN POINTS LIST WITH 15th CAREER 20-GOAL SEASON
Patrick Kane scored one of his team's four goals and climbed two elite lists of U.S.-born players in the process as the Rangers earned their 21st comeback win of the season - tied with the Bruins for the third most in the NHL behind only the Devils (24) and Maple Leafs (22).
* Kane recorded his 15th career 20-goal season, which trails only Alex Ovechkin (18x) for the most among active players. He also became just the third U.S.-born player to reach the mark in 15 or more campaigns, joining Mike Modano (16x) and Keith Tkachuk (15x).

NOTES WERE APLENTY FROM THE 15-GAME SLATE IN #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
A total of 30 teams took the ice Saturday, with plenty of noteworthy performances from the 15-game slate being featured in the
latest edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates
including the following:
* Connor McDavid (0-1-1) recorded his 72nd home point of 2022-23 and tied Sidney Crosby (72 in 2009-10) for the most in a single season by an active player. The last skater with more in a campaign was Jaromir Jagr (74 in 1998-99).
* Rafael Harvey-Pinard (3-0-3 in P2) became the fifth rookie in franchise history to score three goals in a period (regular season & playoffs), joining Odie Cleghorn (Feb. 1, 1919 & Feb. 27, 1919), Dick Gamble (March 2, 1952), Joe Malone (Feb. 16, 1918) and Newsy Lalonde (Dec. 29, 1917), as the Canadiens scored eight goals in a game for the first time this season.
* Matty Beniers (20-30-50) padded his lead in points among rookies when he scored his 20th goal of the season and became the fourth
Kraken player to reach the mark in a campaign
as Seattle finished with seven-plus goals in a game for the fifth time in 2022-23, joining the Oilers (6x) and Sabres (5x) as the only other teams with as many.
* Erik Karlsson recorded two helpers to surpass Brent Burns (67 in 2018-19) for the most assists by a Sharks defenseman in a single season.
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GET SET FOR SUNDAY: RACE FOR 2023 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS CONTINUES
The race to the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs continues Sunday with a five-game slate that features 10 teams in action - two of which have already punched their ticket to the postseason and four teams within reach of clinching a playoff spot.
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