Stat Trick: Rangers 3, Isles 0

Ugly way to end the home season as the Rangers clinch a playoff spot at the Coliseum, sparking chants of "Season's Over" and the very offensive "Potvin Sxxx". On to the trick:

1. Jaromir Jagr had two first period power play goals, giving him 3 pp goals in the last two games after only 4 in the Rangers' first 78 games.

2. Henrik Lundqvist recorded his 10th shutout and finally won a road shutout. It's his 17th career shutout and 15 have been at MSG. The Rangers lost in a shootout in Lundqvist's only previous road shutout. It was Henrik's first shutout against the Isles, and the first by a Ranger at the Coliseum since January 21, 2003 (in Bryan Trottier's only game as Ranger coach at the Coliseum). The last Ranger shutout of the Isles was on March 17, 2003 at the Garden.

3. The Islanders have been shutout 7 times this season, including 4 times at the Coliseum. (The club record is 6 times at the Coliseum and 11 times overall, both in 1972-73). The Isles have been shutout 27 times in the last eight seasons at home after being blanked only 28 times at home in their first 27 seasons.

and some more...

4. The Isles finished 18-18-5 at home and scored only 89 goals (which includes one shootout goal). The 89 goals are the fewest at home in club history (not counting the lockout shortened campaign). They were 1-6-2 in the final nine games at home, beating only Pittsburgh.

5. I didn't see the final totals, but Richard Park was leading the team MVP voting on the scoreboard text poll. Good for Park, not necessarily good for the Isles. Assuming he and Trent Hunter play at MSG, they will be the only Isles to play all 82 games.

6. The Isles loss clinched the 5th seed in the draft lottery. St. Louis' loss later in the evening means that the Isles will be 5th unless the Blues get three points over the weekend against Columbus while the Isles get none vs the Rangers, or the Blues sweep Columbus and the Isles get no points or one point at MSG. The last time that the Isles had the 5th seed, they won the draft lottery and selected Rick DiPietro.

Around the League:
WHO CLINCHED TONIGHT?
EASTERN CONFERENCE

New York Rangers clinched an Eastern Conference playoff berth tonight:

WESTERN
CONFERENCE
#1 Detroit Red Wings clinched the Presidents' Trophy tonight:

#3 Minnesota Wild clinched the Northwest Division tonight:

(Games in progress with potential clinching)

#4 Anaheim Ducks (idle) can clinch the Western Conference's #4 seed tonight:
* If Dallas gets no points against Phoenix.

Calgary Flames can clinch a Western Conference playoff berth tonight: (L - Minnesota)
* If Vancouver gets one or no points against Edmonton.

Nashville Predators can clinch a Western Conference playoff berth tonight: (W - St. Louis)
* If Vancouver gets one or no points against Edmonton.

Buffalo and Chicago have been eliminated tonight.

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick. Eric has worked the Stanley Cup Finals four times, and celebrated his 26th anniversary as the statistician on Islander home telecasts on January 21, 2008.