Every day from Monday to Saturday, The Ice Sheet will take a look at the biggest stories in the league that happened on the ice and elsewhere the night before.
Only two games last night: One between two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, the other... not so much.
With a week to go in the regular season, it's all over but the lottery draft for 10-12 teams in the NHL, depending on how optimistic you are. Which means we've got more than a few meaningless games to play down the stretch.
Atlanta and Tampa Bay battled to a stalemate much of last night, with neither team scoring until 5:06 left in the third period when Ilya Kovalchuk finally potted the winner. It was almost as though no one wanted to win this one.
That's not to suggest that there's a tank job in effect among the players; it's only stating the obvious. From an organizational point of view, it pays to lose this game, with both teams neck-and-neck for last place in the league.
Realistically, with the Thrashers' win, only Tampa Bay and Los Angeles can take that spot at this point.
Only two games last night: One between two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, the other... not so much.
With a week to go in the regular season, it's all over but the lottery draft for 10-12 teams in the NHL, depending on how optimistic you are. Which means we've got more than a few meaningless games to play down the stretch.
Atlanta and Tampa Bay battled to a stalemate much of last night, with neither team scoring until 5:06 left in the third period when Ilya Kovalchuk finally potted the winner. It was almost as though no one wanted to win this one.
That's not to suggest that there's a tank job in effect among the players; it's only stating the obvious. From an organizational point of view, it pays to lose this game, with both teams neck-and-neck for last place in the league.
Realistically, with the Thrashers' win, only Tampa Bay and Los Angeles can take that spot at this point.
The Battle for the No. 1 Pick
30. Los Angeles, 69 points, 3 GR (@SJ, SJ, ANH)
29. Tampa Bay, 71 points, 3 GR (@Car, @Was, @Atl)
28. Atlanta, 74 points, 2 GR (Fla, TB)
27. St. Louis, 74 points, 4 GR (Nsh, @Nsh, Cls)
26. NY Islanders, 76 points, 3 GR (NJ, NYR, @NYR)
The Kings max out at 75 points if they win every game, something that rates pretty low in the realm of possibility department. They've got by far the hardest schedule remaining and will be keen to have something to show after one of the worst seasons in franchise history.
Things aren't easy for the Lightning, either, and a potential tie in points between themselves and Los Angeles would likely result in Tampa taking over the 30th spot given the teams' win totals.
Elsewhere yesterday:
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