Finnish hockey is at an all-time high.

When Vegas Golden Knights forward Erik Haula scored a goal Friday against the Minnesota Wild, he became the seventh Finnish player to reach the 50-point plateau this season - the highest number in the country's history, per Reddit user Tazavoo.

(Stats courtesy: Hockey Reference)

It's hard to argue this isn't the best-ever crop of Finnish players in the NHL. Given that the country has always had a stable of elite netminders, the Finns likely would've been a force to be reckoned with had the NHL participated in the PyeongChang 2018 Olympics.

However, the average age of the seven players is just 22.3, so it's safe to say Finland will be in good shape for the next international best-on-best tournament, whenever that may be.

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Get your catfish ready because the Nashville Predators are heading back to the playoffs.

The Predators became the first team to clinch a playoff spot this season with a 4-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Friday night.

This will be the Predators' fourth consecutive playoff appearance and the 11th in their 19-year history.

Nashville now sits comfortably with a four-point cushion in the Presidents' Trophy race at 104, and is just six points away from matching the franchise record of 110 set during the 2006-07 campaign.

Last season, the Predators came within two wins of capturing the franchise's first-ever Stanley Cup, ultimately falling short in Game 6 of the final against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

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Evander Kane got himself a rooster trick.

The San Jose Sharks forward tipped home his fourth goal of the game against the Calgary Flames early in the third period Friday night.

Here's a look at his first three of the evening:

Surprisingly, it was the first hat trick of Kane's NHL career.

The dynamic winger now has five goals in eight games with the Sharks since being acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres on deadline day.

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Evgeny Kuznetsov was forced to exit Friday's game against the New York Islanders late in the second period.

The Washington Capitals forward was ruled out for the rest of the game and will be further examined Saturday after taking a slash and then crashing into the boards.

Islanders defenseman Thomas Hickey was assessed a slashing minor for his role in the play, which came with about six seconds left in the second stanza.

Kuznetsov picked up his 49th and 50th assists of the season on the Capitals' first two goals of the game. He has 71 points in 71 games and ranks second on the club in goals and points in 2017-18.

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Cross another name off the list of potential hires for the vacant general manager's position with the Carolina Hurricanes.

New Jersey Devils assistant general manager Tom Fitzgerald has pulled out of the race for the job, he told Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

"This is nothing against Tom Dundon," said Fitzgerald. "I am very happy in New Jersey and this is not the right time for me."

Fitzgerald joins Nashville Predators AGM Paul Fenton and Los Angeles Kings AGM Mike Futa as executives who were considered for the job but have since pulled their name out of the running.

Earlier in the day, Friedman reported that former Vancouver Canucks AGM Laurence Gilman, Buffalo Sabres AGM Steve Greely, and Hurricanes AGM Mike Vellucci were among the remaining candidates.

Fitzgerald has served as the Devils' AGM since July 24, 2015.

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Braden Holtby's break is over.

The Washington Capitals goaltender is starting Friday's game against the New York Islanders after sitting out for four contests.

Capitals head coach Barry Trotz implied he was giving Holtby "a little reset" last week.

The 2016 Vezina Trophy winner has a save percentage of .854 and only one win in his last eight games.

Washington went 3-1-0 in his absence, including a 7-3 victory over the Islanders on Thursday night.

"It was obviously good to clear (my) mind and step back, and it makes it a lot better that we had success while (I was sitting out)," Holtby told reporters before Friday's game. "(The break) is something I haven't had in quite a few years, so there's a positive in it for sure, mentally and physically, to just regroup a bit."

Philipp Grubauer posted a .940 save percentage in the four games Holtby sat out, and the backup netminder has been solid all season long, holding a .925 save percentage in 29 appearances.

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Scratch Paul Fenton's name off the list.

The Nashville Predators assistant general manager has withdrawn from consideration for the vacant Carolina Hurricanes GM position, TSN's Bob McKenzie reports.

Remaining candidates include New Jersey Devils AGM Tom Fitzgerald, former Vancouver Canucks AGM Laurence Gilman, Buffalo Sabres AGM Steve Greeley, and Hurricanes AGM Mike Vellucci. Some are expected to be interviewed in-person next week, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Fenton is in his 10th season in his current role with the Predators, and his 18th year with the franchise.

Greeley has already interviewed for the job, as McKenzie reported earlier this week. Kings AGM Mike Futa also withdrew from consideration, according to Friedman.

The Hurricanes' new owner, Tom Dundon, stripped Ron Francis of his GM duties and anointed him president of hockey operations last week. The new GM will report directly to Dundon.

Don Waddell, the Hurricanes president who oversees the business side of both the franchise and PNC Arena, is reportedly expected to represent the club at the upcoming GM meetings in Florida.

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After making an early exit in Thursday's win over the Buffalo Sabres with a lower-body injury, Toronto Maple Leafs forward Leo Komarov will have an MRI to see if there's any damage, reports TSN's Darren Dreger.

Komarov collided with teammate William Nylander and sat out the remainder of the contest, though head coach Mike Babcock said he appeared to be fine postgame.

In 71 games this season, Komarov has recorded seven goals and 12 assists.

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