Rangers are the First Team to Clinch an NHL Playoff Berth

The New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers had a wild seven goal third period in their game at Madison Square Garden on March 26th, and in the end, New York emerged as the winner when Adam Fox scored 36 seconds into overtime for a 6-5 victory. The Rangers also emerged from the game as the first team to clinch a post season berth in the NHL this season, and the first to reach 100 points as they improved to 48-20-4.

The Boston Bruins have the next best record in the Eastern Conference with 99 points (42-16-15) after beating the Florida Panthers. The Panthers have 97, as do the Carolina Hurricanes, so the race in the East is tight as we head into the home stretch of the season.

In the West, Dallas leads with 99 points, Vancouver has 98, and Colorado has 97. Though it would seem that winning the President’s Trophy, awarded to the team with the best regular season record, would give the winner an advantage as it means home ice advantage through out the Stanley Cup playoffs, that has not been the case in recent years. The last President’s Trophy winner to win the Stanley Cup was the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks. Last year’s winner was the Boston Bruins with a record 135 points. The Bruins lost in the first round to the Florida Panthers.