Lightning Round: The Lightning-Leafs matchup is set for the first round
Alex Barre-Boulet set a new record for goals scored for the Syracuse Crunch organization.

On Saturday night, the Tampa Bay Lightning posted their third consecutive win and therefore secured their spot for the upcoming postseason, guaranteeing themselves at least third place in the Atlantic division. For the Lightning it will be the sixth straight playoff presence.
SIGNED. SEALED. DELIVERED. ⚡️
— x - Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) April 2, 2023
WE'RE GOING BACK TO THE #STANLEYCUP PLAYOFFS!!!!! pic.twitter.com/06UyqG6Rry
With the Lightning clinching their playoff berth, we also know the first opening-round series: for the second year in a row the Bolts will face the Toronto Maple Leafs. Last year the Lightning defeated Toronto 4-3 on their way for the third consecutive Stanley Cup final.
Our first opening-round series is officially locked in. 🔒
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 2, 2023
The @TBLightning clinching a berth in the 2023 #StanleyCup Playoffs also confirmed that they’ll face the @MapleLeafs in the First Round for the second time in as many years. #NHLStats: https://t.co/6VIKjhp9UT pic.twitter.com/bjw1gSR4hK
There's still a small amount of intrigue ahead of this first-round series as both teams need to settle which one will get home-ice advantage. With both teams winning their games last night, the status quo between them remains the same: the Leafs are currently leading the Lightning by four points with two games in hand. The two teams will also play each other on April 11 for their final matchup of the regular season.
In their two games this season, the Lightning have a 1-1-0 record against the Leafs. On December 3, the Lightning defeated Toronto 4-3 in overtime at Amalie Arena with Alex Killorn scoring a game-winning goal. In their second game, the Leafs got revenge, beating the Bolts 4-1 in Toronto.
Lightning Links
The Lightning defeated the New York Islanders 5-0, extending their winning streak to three games and posting their second shutout in a week. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 38 saves on that night, while Brayden Point scored his 48th goal of the season [Raw Charge]
Alex Killorn recorded an assist in his 8ooth career game in the NHL while Darren Raddysh recorded his first two career points, both assists. Mikhail Sergachev, Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, and Brayden Point (who had a three-point night) recorded the other four goals. Ilya Sorokin was pulled from the Islanders' net after allowing 4 goals on 21 shots. Semyon Varlamov relieved him and stopped 10 of 11.
Darren Raddysh recorded his first NHL points last night, assisting on Mikhail Sergachev and Steven Stamkos.
Obligatory first point pic 🤗 pic.twitter.com/s3rs7ZR8N1
— x - Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) April 2, 2023
Tanner Jeannot scored his first goal for the Lightning.
Tanner Jeannot with his first goal with the @TBLightning! #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/ASSHpgdi8n
— Bally Sports Sun: Lightning (@BallyLightning) April 2, 2023
Sergachev left the game in the third period, the Lightning didn't provide any update on his status so far.
This was where Sergachev got banged up in the third period. No update from Cooper following the game. pic.twitter.com/CDIWwMJW04
— Chris Krenn (@Chris_Krenn) April 2, 2023
The Syracuse Crunch defeated the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 4-3 in overtime on Saturday night.
You could say that was big.
— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) April 2, 2023
📝: https://t.co/5pG28L1cgk pic.twitter.com/jzq2geN2yR
With two goals last night, Alex Barre-Boulet now has the most goals scored in Syracuse Crunch history.
A NEW FRANCHISE RECORD!
— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) April 2, 2023
No one has scored more goals in a Crunch jersey than Alex Barré-Boulet! pic.twitter.com/fTOJ5EkFCb
The Orlando Solar Bears lost their second consecutive game to the Jacksonville Iceman this weekend.
Join us for Fan Appreciation Night on April 14th, our final regular season home game!
— Orlando Solar Bears (@OrlandoHockey) April 2, 2023
🎟️ https://t.co/0VlzCCmESM pic.twitter.com/ReoGOgvaTA
Hockey News
The results of one of the last Saturday nights of this regular season.
Saturday's 13-game slate featured five hat tricks – only two days in NHL history had more: Jan. 18, 1984 (7) and Dec. 22, 1917 (6). 🎩 #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/MZHzevYY0n
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 2, 2023
The Edmonton Oilers also clinched their playoff berth last night.
ARE YOU READY, EDMONTON?! 🟠🔵
— NHL (@NHL) April 2, 2023
The @EdmontonOilers have secured their spot in the #StanleyCup Playoffs! 👏 pic.twitter.com/hu7JBA1vhO
With a hat-trick against the Anaheim Ducks, Leon Draisaitl recorded his third 50-goal season. He also became the first player since Mario Lemieux in 1995-96 to score 30 power-play goals in a single season.
Leon Draisaitl became the first @EdmontonOilers skater to score 30 power-play goals in a season and the fifth player in NHL history to achieve the feat.#NHLStats: https://t.co/B8lYyaHDrf pic.twitter.com/Yn4BjXLN4n
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 2, 2023
David Pastrnak became the fifth player this season to hit the 100-point mark.
ONE HUNDRED HELPINGS 🍝 pic.twitter.com/u910K3DYP3
— p - Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 1, 2023
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