The effort by Gostisbehere, the finish by Giroux.
— Comcast SportsNet (@CSNPhilly) March 29, 2016
A huge two points for Philadelphia. #FlyersTalk pic.twitter.com/60hRKynhXq
The Philadelphia Flyers were once again in danger of leaving a massive point on the table, but Shayne Gostisbehere and Claude Giroux ensured the orange and white will go to bed with two large points in the standings.
Gostisbehere's diving poke check with 15 seconds left put Giroux alone in the slot, and he went glove side, off Ondrej Pavelec, and in. The goal is Giroux's seventh regular-season overtime winner, most in Flyers history.
The Flyers blew a 2-0 lead to get to overtime, but all's well that ends well. Philadelphia will wake up Tuesday a playoff team, holding the second wild-card spot in the East.
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As disappointed as he is, David Poile isn't giving up.
That was the message pushed by the Nashville Predators general manager after a report came out Monday night that top prospect Jimmy Vesey would not be signing his entry-level contract with the team, choosing instead to become a free agent as of Aug. 15.
"I clearly believe that Jimmy has received bad advice and bad counsel," Poile told reporters.
"(It's) very disappointing news for us, our fans and team," he added. "On Wednesday we received a call that Vesey was thinking about (free agency). That was the first time we ever heard something like that. We went to Harvard's game on Friday, we asked for a meeting with Jimmy (and) we never were allowed to get together for a meeting."
Poile also said Vesey would have been put in a position to succeed immediately in Nashville.
Poile: "Allow me to confirm that we offered Jimmy a spot in our top 6, playoff time and the chance to burn a year on his ELC." #Preds
— Thomas Willis (@TomAWillis) March 29, 2016
Finally, Poile made it clear nothing is yet set in stone, from his point of view at least.
"I'm not going to announce we haven't signed him, because I'm not giving up."
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Tony Granato's going back to school.
The former NHLer and current Detroit Red Wings assistant coach will be named the next head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers, according to various reports. Contract details are being worked out, according to ESPN's John Buccigross, and an announcement could come Wednesday.
Granato's contract will be approved by the university's Board of Regents during a teleconference Tuesday, writes the Wisconsin State Journal's Dennis Punzel.
After playing four seasons of college hockey at Wisconsin, and accumulating 492 points in 773 career NHL games, Granato's pro career spanned 13 years. He will be the fifth head coach in modern Badgers history, and take over for Mike Reaves.
Granato will have his work cut out for him. The Badgers went 8-19-8 this season, after winning only four games in 2014-15.
"We're very aware of the fact Tony and Wisconsin are talking," Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill said, according to WKOW.com's Lance Veeser. "There's nothing official at this point. Until something becomes official, we'll have no comment on it.
"Tony is committed to being a Red Wings assistant coach throughout the rest of the regular season and in to the playoffs as long as we play."
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The Washington Capitals are officially the best NHL team of the 2015-16 regular season.
All Locked Up. 🔒 #CapsClinch #PresidentsTrophy #RockTheRed pic.twitter.com/nqOK9cJCnd
— Washington Capitals (@washcaps) March 29, 2016
That distinction was set in stone with a win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday, whereby the Capitals clinched both the Presidents' Trophy as the team with the best overall record and home-ice advantage in all four rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs, should they indeed make it that far.
The win gives Washington 113 points with seven games remaining on the schedule. To date, no other team has eclipsed the 100-point mark this season.
Incredibly, the Caps have clinched the Presidents’ Trophy before any other team in the East has clinched a PLAYOFF SPOT. Incredible.
— John Walton (@WaltonCaps) March 29, 2016
The first-place finish comes with a caveat, however, as only eight Presidents' Trophy winners have gone on to win the Cup since the award was introduced in 1986.
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If the NHL returns to Quebec City, it won't be via Raleigh, North Carolina.
On Monday, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly put to bed rumors that the Carolina Hurricanes are a relocation candidate for Quebec City, according to Mario Roy, who's one of many involved in bringing the Nordiques back.
"Yes, I will confirm that there is no chance that the Hurricanes will be relocating to Quebec City," Daly wrote in an email to Roy, the latter tweeted.
The NHL is deciding on expansion applications from Las Vegas and Quebec City. A decision is expected before June's entry draft.
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The Nashville Predators appear set to lose one of their top prospects.
Forward Jimmy Vesey has reportedly informed the Predators that he will not sign his entry-level deal with the club, choosing instead to become an unrestricted free agent as of Aug. 15, according to Bob McKenzie of TSN.
The 22-year-old was drafted 66th overall by Nashville in 2012, and spent the past four seasons at Harvard University. In 128 games for the Crimson, Vesey scored 80 goals and added 64 assists.
As recently as March 18, Predators general manager David Poile stated he was "cautiously optimistic" that he would be able to get Vesey signed once Harvard's season had come to an end.
Now, Vesey, a Massachusetts native whose father works for the Toronto Maple Leafs, will have his pick of suitors later this summer.
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Three days before his 88th birthday, the Detroit Red Wings invited Gordie Howe to the rink to celebrate.
There's a birthday celebration going on for Gordie Howe tonight. Have a great one Mr. Hockey! #HBGordie pic.twitter.com/o4BUSGqi1q
— NHL (@NHL) March 28, 2016
All fans in attendance Monday against Buffalo were given a sign with which to extend their warm wishes to "Mr. Hockey:"
The #RedWings are celebrating Gordie Howe's 88th birthday tonight (on the 31st). Mr. Hockey is in the house. pic.twitter.com/cSzr6CDDOi
— Stefan Kubus (@StefanKubus) March 28, 2016
His birthday cake was also something to behold:
Finally, the raucous crowd serenaded Howe with "Happy Birthday" during a commercial break:
Howe appeared in 1,687 games for the Red Wings between 1946-1971, amassing 1,809 of his 1,850 career points.
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