Rick Nash looked like his often dominant self again Thursday when he harnessed his lethal combination of speed and power to score a tremendous go-ahead marker versus the Carolina Hurricanes.
That's 15 goals on the season - and three in the past five games - for the New York Rangers' 42-goal man from a season ago.
And that's Brett Pesce he dropped like a backpack.
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Vintage Kessel Snipe. Two tonight, 25 on the season. #NSHvsPIThttps://t.co/RcIhaXXBMv
— NHL (@NHL) April 1, 2016
Phil Kessel is heating up at the right time.
The Pittsburgh Penguins winger scored his 25th of the season Thursday on a patented rush down the wing and snipe into the top corner past Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators.
The goal was Kessel's second of the night and fourth in as many games.
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New York Islanders defenseman Travis Hamonic has been lost for the rest of Thursday's game versus the Columbus Blue Jackets with a lower-body injury suffered in a collision with Scott Hartnell.
It appeared as though Hamonic took the blunt force of Hartnell's knee to the side of his right knee or lower thigh. That the team ruled him out almost immediately after the collision suggests the injury might be more severe than a simple contusion or Charley horse, though he was able to battle through the rest of his shift.
Hamonic has anchored the Islanders' blue line, averaging more than 24 minutes in 71 appearances.
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Take another look at tonight's #ThankYouEric tribute:https://t.co/2mGQSokXUT
— Carolina Hurricanes (@NHLCanes) April 1, 2016
The Carolina Hurricanes and their fans will not soon forget Eric Staal.
The former captain made his return to PNC Arena for the first time since being traded to the New York Rangers earlier this season, and was greeted with a tribute video and a lengthy, emotional ovation.
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This young, still impressionable New York Islanders fan was either finally broken by the commute to Brooklyn or is truly horrified at the sight of Cal Clutterbuck.
Cheer up, it's game time. pic.twitter.com/CmH6l16Ysu
— NHL (@NHL) March 31, 2016
That's an "L," Cal, and one on record even before the Isles winger could snap on his chin strap.
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Unbelievable front row video of Byfuglien's hit on Mark Stone. Now in slow motion. #NHLJets (via @pegcityjay) pic.twitter.com/XPIEXUBe0o
— M Remis (@mremis) March 31, 2016
A Winnipeg Jets fan caught an up-close and personal view of Dustin Byfuglien's hit on Mark Stone in Wednesday night's game, and from this perspective, it's not hard to see why the Ottawa Senators forward has been ruled out of at least the next two games.
Not for the faint of heart.
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Eric Staal looks over the #ThankYouEric #Canes fan photo wall on his way in to the rink this morning. #NYRvsCAR pic.twitter.com/SkxV7iSAhH
— Carolina Hurricanes (@NHLCanes) March 31, 2016
Eric Staal made the familiar trip into PNC Arena on Thursday, but walked to the visitors' locker room for the first time in his NHL career.
The former Hurricanes captain, set to make his first appearance in Carolina as a member of the New York Rangers, was welcomed back by the club and its fans with a "Thank You Eric" photo wall.
Staal played the first 909 games of his career with the Hurricanes and helped bring the Stanley Cup to Carolina back in 2006.
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Washington Capitals forward Jason Chimera has been fined $5,000 for butt-ending Philadelphia's Shayne Gostisbehere, the NHL's Department of Player safety announced Thursday.
The incident happened behind the play during Wednesday's shootout win for the Flyers. No penalty was called at the time.
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