NHL Central

The Winnipeg Jets are heading back to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the fourth straight season after clinching their spot Wednesday with a 4-0 victory over the Calgary Flames.

𝐖𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐈𝐍. 𝐖𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐏𝐆!#GoJetsGo | #WeAreWPG pic.twitter.com/BMOE04JtFj

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) May 6, 2021

Here's a look at the current NHL playoff picture.

        

Central Division

*Carolina Hurricanes: 79 points (36-10-7)

*Tampa Bay Lightning: 75 points (36-14-3)

*Florida Panthers: 75 points (35-14-5)

Nashville Predators: 60 points (29-23-2)

Dallas Stars: 56 points (21-18-14)

      

West Division

*Vegas Golden Knights: 76 points (37-13-2)

*Colorado Avalanche: 72 points (34-12-4)

*Minnesota Wild: 71 points (33-14-5)

St. Louis Blues: 56 points (24-19-8)

Arizona Coyotes: 50 points (22-25-6)

        

North Division

*Toronto Maple Leafs: 72 points (33-13-6)

*Edmonton Oilers: 66 points (32-17-2)

*Winnipeg Jets: 59 points (28-21-3)

Montreal Canadiens: 57 points (24-19-9)

     

East Division

*Washington Capitals: 73 points (34-14-5)

*Pittsburgh Penguins: 73 points (35-16-3)

*Boston Bruins: 69 points (31-14-7)

*New York Islanders: 68 points (31-16-6)

        

Standings via NHL.com.

* = already clinched postseason berth

       

Winnipeg becomes the third team in the North Division to reach the playoffs alongside the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers. The NHL realigned the conferences for the 2020-21 season to better accommodate restrictions at the border between the U.S. and Canada in line with coronavirus guidelines.

In the postseason, the Jets will face another North team in the first round—and the second round, should they make it—before the division sends its winner to face a team in the United States for the first time this season.

It's quite an accomplishment for Winnipeg after the club dealt elite goal-scorer Patrik Laine with Jack Roslovic to the Columbus Blue Jackets in late January for center Pierre-Luc Dubois and a 2022 third-round pick.

Instead, it's center Mark Scheifele who leads the Jets on the scoresheet with 56 points (19 goals, 37 assists) while left wing Nikolaj Ehlers has added 21 goals and 25 assists as four Winnipeg players have netted at least 15 goals. Much of that damage came on the power play, where the Jets excelled this season with a 24 percent success rate, good for fourth-best in the NHL entering Wednesday.

That helped cover up for a middling defense that allowed 2.80 goals-against average despite a .912 save percentage from starting goalie Connor Hellebuyck.

The Jets will look to get Hellebuyck on a hot streak heading into the playoffs as they try to bring the Stanley Cup to Winnipeg for the first time in franchise history.

Chicago Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw announced his retirement from the NHL on Monday after suffering several concussions during his career.

"I want people to know that I'm OK," Shaw told ESPN's Emily Kaplan. "I'm in a good place. But I'm going to miss it; I'm going to miss it like crazy still."

Shaw, 29, spent seven seasons with the Blackhawks and three with the Montreal Canadiens after being taken No. 139 overall in the 2011 NHL draft. He recorded 247 points (116 goals, 131 assists) during his career but regularly missed stretches of time because of concussions.

A concussion suffered during the 2019-20 season cost him more than a year of action. His latest concussion came in February during a game against the Dallas Stars. 

"I know I only played 14 games [this season], but to work your way back, when people are telling you that you should be done, and people are doubting you could make it back, it was worth it," Shaw said. "I took my time, I made sure I was feeling 100 percent. And then to score a few goals at the UC [United Center] again, it was worth it. I wouldn't change it at all."

Advances in sports medicine have increased the knowledge among athletes regarding the long-term impact of concussions. Several hockey players have been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease that researchers have linked to repetitive long-term brain injuries. Players with repeated history of concussions are known to be at a greater risk of developing CTE. 

Shaw said that, despite wanting to continue his career, he knows the best move for his long-term health is to walk away. 

The NHL announced Monday's game between the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues has been postponed after the fatal police shooting of Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota:

Tonight’s game between the @mnwild and @StLouisBlues has been postponed. https://t.co/o5GteRQtYZ pic.twitter.com/2A8HKJQJLx

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) April 12, 2021

A police officer shot and killed Wright, a Black man, during a traffic stop in the Minneapolis suburb Sunday afternoon, via CNN. The police said he was initially pulled over due to an expired tag but they later learned of an outstanding warrant. He was shot while attempting to return to his vehicle.

Protests have taken place outside of the Brooklyn Center Police Department Monday and the state has mobilized the National Guard.

The fatal shooting took place about 10 miles away from the ongoing trial of Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer charged in the killing of George Floyd, who died in May 2020. Video showed Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck for over nine minutes despite Floyd pleading that he could not breathe.

The Wild-Blues matchup was set to take place at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The game will now take place on May 12, which will, as of now, serve as the final game of the regular season for both teams. Minnesota has an off day Tuesday but the team is scheduled to host the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday.

The Minnesota Twins announced they would postpone their game against the Boston Red Sox Monday. The NBA game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Brooklyn Nets was also postponed.

Dallas Stars head coach Rick Bowness was cleared to rejoin the team Wednesday after registered a false-positive COVID-19 test.

According to ESPN, Bowness was pulled from the bench after the second period of Sunday's 1-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes because of an apparent positive test. Stars general manager Jim Nill later said it was likely a false positive since Bowness was fully vaccinated.

That proved to be the case, meaning Bowness will be eligible to coach the Stars on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks.

The 66-year-old, the oldest head coach in the NHL, is in the midst of his second season as head coach of the Stars and 11th overall after previous stints with the Winnipeg Jets, Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, New York Islanders and Phoenix Coyotes.

Last season, the Stars went 20-13-5 in 38 regular-season games and made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final, where they fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games.

This season, the Stars are just 13-14-10, giving them 36 points through 37 games. The top four teams in each division qualify for the playoffs, and Dallas is currently seven points behind the fourth-place Nashville Predators in the Central Division with three games in hand.

It has been a trying season for the Stars, as they got off to a late start after 17 members of the team tested positive for COVID-19 during training camp.

Per ESPN, Nill noted that almost everyone who travels with the team currently is either vaccinated or has had COVID-19 already.

Every game is of the utmost importance this season since they are all against divisional opponents, but the upcoming stretch is especially big for the Stars since they have games in hand on some of the teams they are trailing and a chance to make up some ground.

It will start Thursday against Chicago, followed by back-to-back games on Saturday and Sunday against the Florida Panthers and Predators.

Longtime NHL defenseman Bobby Plager died after a car crash in St. Louis at the age of 78 on Wednesday.

Plager spent 14 years in the NHL—11 of them with the St. Louis Blues and another three with the New York Rangers.

In a statement remembering Plager, the Blues once again shared the love for the man whose No. 5 was retired in 2017:

"It is unimaginable to imagine the St. Louis Blues without Bobby Plager.

"He was an original 1967 member of the St. Louis Blues, but also an original in every sense of the word. Bobby's influence at all levels of the Blues organization was profound and everlasting, and his loss to our city will be deep.

"Bobby liked to say he was No. 5 in our program, but No. 1 in our hearts. Today, our hearts are broken, but one day they will be warmed again by memories of his character, humor and strong love for his family, our community, the St. Louis Blues and generations of fans who will miss him dearly.

"The St. Louis Blues send all of our love and support to his family, and we hope everyone will find strength knowing that Bobby got his parade."

Tributes to Plager began flooding social media as news of his death became public.

Doug Armstrong shared a statement on the passing of Bobby Plager. https://t.co/eFVcQygsQS #stlblues pic.twitter.com/VAB4Uggipc

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) March 24, 2021

❤️5️⃣😭

— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) March 24, 2021

A sad day for St. Louis as we mourn the passing of a true hockey legend. I join thousands of fans in sending my condolences to the family and friends of the great Bobby Plager and the entire @StLouisBlues organization.

Thank you Bobby for years of memories on and off the ice. #5

— Lyda Krewson (@LydaKrewson) March 24, 2021

Bobby Plager.
Rest In Peace.

He was the toughest, nastiest Blue and the nicest, sweetest man.

He was a part of the St. Louis Blues’ culture from the very first year. He’ll be part of the Blues’ culture forever. https://t.co/T9ysRp5Lrh

— Benjamin Hochman (@hochman) March 24, 2021

Awful news out of St. Louis today that Blues legend Bobby Plager has died in a car accident.

Obviously touched a lot of lives in hockey and beyond. There are many connections between #CBJ and @StLouisBlues.

Deep sympathy and condolences to all who were lucky to call him friend. https://t.co/xAbJ238hx2

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) March 24, 2021

Heartbroken to hear the passing of the great Bobby Plager. So lucky to have met this genuine, kind-hearted legend. #RIPBobby pic.twitter.com/NrNr88LNaJ

— Michelle Bogowith (@MBogowith) March 24, 2021

Triste nouvelle..RIP Bob Plager! 🙏 https://t.co/jChI6NYzvP

— Chantal Machabee (@ChantalMachabee) March 24, 2021

The Missouri House just took a moment of silence in memory of Blues legend Bobby Plager who died in a car accident earlier today in STL. #moleg #mogov #stlblues pic.twitter.com/qoTmP0eFvp

— Emily Manley (@EmilyManleyTV) March 24, 2021

After retiring in 1978, Plager became a member of the Blues' front office, where he helped advance the scouting department before making a short transition to coaching—first with the St. Louis affiliate Peoria Rivermen and later 11 games with the Blues—but he chose to resign and returned to the role of vice president of player development.

Plager was one of the original Blues players on the inaugural team and had a chance to skate in St. Louis alongside his brothers Bill and Barclay. For his NHL playing career, he recorded 20 goals, 121 assists and 141 points over 616 games while earning 760 penalty minutes.

An investigation into the crash remains ongoing.

Goaltender Jordan Binnington led the St. Louis Blues to a Stanley Cup title in 2019, and now the team is rewarding him with a new contract. 

On Thursday, the Blues announced they inked the goaltender to a six-year contract extension worth $36 million. He was previously playing on the final season of his contract.

The 27-year-old has made 19 starts this season with a 2.69 goals against average, .908 save percentage and 9-6-3 record. The Blues' announcement noted Binnington is second in the league in wins, fourth in shutouts and eighth in goals against average since he made his first career start on Jan. 7, 2019.

Yet it was his playoff run in 2019 that stood out the most.

He finished with a 16-10-4 record as the first rookie goaltender in NHL history to notch 16 postseason wins in a single season. He posted a 2.46 goals against average and .914 save percentage during that run and helped lead the Blues to a victory over the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Final.

Another chance at a Stanley Cup could be in Binnington's future.

St. Louis has 32 points at 14-8-4 this season, which is good enough for second place in the West Division. It is just one point behind the Vegas Golden Knights and appears primed to challenge in the playoffs.

Binnington is still in the early stages of his career, but he already has plenty of postseason experience and figures to add more in the coming years following this contract.

The game between the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars that was scheduled for Monday at American Airlines Center was postponed because of extreme weather conditions in Dallas.

The NHL announced the news, noting the weather has "caused significant power outages in the Dallas area" and that the decision to postpone was made "upon the advice of Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson."

Dallas already defeated Nashville twice this season, one of which was a 7-0 blowout.

The two teams are playing in the Central Division in 2020-21 after rearrangements were made in an effort to limit travel because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Stars have 14 points in 12 games, while the Predators have 12 points in 15 games.

The Tampa Bay Lightning lead the division with 21 points in 13 games.

As for the weather, Jesus Jimenez and Tom Steele of the Dallas Morning News reported temperatures in the area dropped to 4 degrees Monday and that wind chill would make it feel like minus-15 Tuesday. As a result, the Dallas-Fort Worth area was under a wind chill warning for the first time in its history.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott deployed the National Guard to help those in need across the state.

More snow is expected Tuesday, and many are without power in a state that is not accustomed to dealing with such winter weather.

The Stars and Predators are scheduled to play each other in Dallas on Tuesday, as well.

The NHL announced the postponement of all Colorado Avalanche games through Feb. 11 due to the league's health and safety protocols. 

NHL officials will use the hiatus to further analyze COVID-19 test results from the organization. The team's training facilities will also remain closed until further notice, the league announced Thursday. 

Schedule Update: @Avalanche games postponed through February 11. https://t.co/o42HHY0569 pic.twitter.com/5YfU4QP8Ky

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) February 5, 2021

The Avs were previously scheduled to face the St. Louis Blues and Arizona Coyotes twice each between Thursday and Feb. 11. 

The news out of Colorado follows the announcement of Buffalo Sabres head coach Ralph Krueger testing positive early on Thursday. The Sabres have seen their games postponed through Monday with the league closing team facilities as well. 

The Minnesota Wild, Chicago Blackhawks, Dallas Stars, Los Angeles Kings, New Jersey Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vegas Golden Knights, Washington Capitols and Winnipeg Jets each have players who are currently in COVID-19 protocol. 

The Wild and Devils have also been placed on hiatus by the league. 

Additionally, the NHL announced a series of updates to its coronavirus guidelines, including the limitation of time at the game arena, physical distancing in team spaces and a requirement of teams to deploy air filtration and cleaning equipment. 

The Minnesota Wild will not play until at least Feb. 11 as they deal with issues related to COVID-19.

According to an NHL release, the Wild's games have been postponed through Tuesday, and the team's facilities are closed until further notice because of the addition of five players to the league's COVID Protocol Related Absence List.

Minnesota's next scheduled game is Feb. 11 against the St. Louis Blues.

According to The Athletic, Nick Bjugstad, Marcus Johansson, Joel Eriksson Ek, Jared Spurgeon and Nick Bonino were moved to the list Wednesday after Marcus Foligno was added Sunday.

The additions to the list further deplete a Minnesota roster that was already missing Matt Dumba, Mats Zuccarello and Alex Stalock.

The Wild aren't the only team that has been affected by COVID-19 this season. On Tuesday, the Buffalo Sabres' fixtures were postponed through Feb. 8. The New Jersey Devils have postponed games through Saturday, and they had 17 players on the league's COVID-19 Protocol List as of Wednesday, per Shanna McCarriston of CBS Sports.

Earlier this season, the Dallas Stars were forced to delay the start of their campaign when 17 players tested positive for COVID-19 in training camp. The Carolina Hurricanes missed four games in January, and the Vegas Golden Knights returned to practice Wednesday after nearly a week out of action.

According to an analysis from TSN's Travis Yost, the many postponements have put the league's goal of completing a full season by the beginning of May in jeopardy since six teams already needed to play more than every other day to complete their schedules before the Wild's postponements.