Monday's hockey: Plymouth's Simms finds 'fuel' for next year's title run at Wisconsin

Plymouth's Kirsten Simms said she's found "fuel" for next year after Wisconsin suffered a 1-0 setback against Ohio State in the NCAA Women's Frozen Four final on Sunday in Durham, New Hampshire.

"I think it's going to hurt for a little bit," Simms told the Kenosha News. "When we see them next, we're going to be ready to go. Obviously, we've got a long time from now. It sucks right now and it's going to suck for a little bit but I think it will help fuel us for next year."

The line of sophomore Simms and seniors Casey O'Brien and Laila Edwards combined for seven of the Badgers' 26 shots but failed to score on Buckeyes goalie Raygan Kirk. Milford's Amanda Thiele was Ohio State's backup netminder and defenseman Riley Brengman (China Township, Mich.) had one shot for the Buckeyes.

More:Plymouth's Kirsten Simms one step from top honor in NCAA women's hockey

O'Brien and Simms were two of the three finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, given to the top player in women's Div. 1 hockey.

The award went to Cornell senior forward Izzy Daniel, who had 21 goals and 38 assists in leading the Big Red to a 25-8-1 record. Simms led the nation in scoring with 33 goals and 42 assists for 75 points in 39 games.

Monday's NHL games

Vegas 2, (at) St. Louis 1 (OT): Jonathan Marchessault scored 49 seconds into overtime and Logan Thompson stopped 30 shots to help Vegas win for the sixth time in its last eight games.

The Golden Knights moved five points ahead of the Blues for the final Western Conference wild card.

Brandon Saad scored and Jordan Binnington finished with 32 saves for St. Louis, which had won two straight games and five of its last seven.

The Blues' Pavel Buchnevich was awarded a penalty shot 30 seconds into overtime after Noah Hanifin tripped him on breakaway. Thompson denied him with a glove save to keep the game deadlocked at 1-1.

Just 19 seconds later, Marchessault picked up a loose puck behind the Blues' net while William Karlsson fended off two players along the end boards, brought it out on the left side and settled it before firing his 39th goal of the season past Binnington.

L.A. Kings 3, (at) Vancouver 2: Anze Kopitar had a goal and an assist to help Los Angeles Kings beat the Vancouver for their fourth straight win.

Blake Lizotte and Kevin Fiala also scored for the Kings, and Cam Talbot finished with 21 saves.

Brock Boeser and Sam Lafferty had goals for Vancouver, which snapped a three-game win streak. Casey DeSmith had 16 saves.

Playoff tracker

Atlantic

▶ Panthers (97)

▶ Bruins (97)

▶ Maple Leafs (89)

Metropolitan

▶ Rangers (98)

▶ Hurricanes (97)

▶ Flyers (81)

Wild card

▶ Lightning (85)

▶ Capitals (79)

(Top two wild-card teams make the playoffs)

▶ Red Wings (78)

▶ Islanders (75)

▶ Devils (74)

▶ Sabres (73)

▶ Penguins (70)

If playoffs started Tuesday

Eastern Conference playoff matchups

▶ (1M) Rangers vs. Capitals (WC2)

▶ (1A) Panthers vs. Lightning (WC1)

▶ (2A) Bruins vs. Leafs (3A)

▶ (2M) Hurricanes vs. (3M) Flyers

Remaining games in wild-card race

Capitals (79 points)

▶ Home (6): Red Wings, Bruins, Penguins, Senators, Lightning, Bruins

▶ Away (6): Leafs, Sabres, Hurricanes, Wings, Sabres, Flyers

Red Wings (78)

▶ Home (4): Rangers, Sabres, Capitals, Canadiens

▶ Away (7): Capitals, Hurricanes, Panthers, Lightning, Penguins, Leafs, Canadiens

Islanders (75)

▶ Home (5): Blackhawks, Predators, Rangers, Canadiens, Penguins

▶ Away (6): Panthers, Lightning, Flyers, Blue Jackets, Rangers, Devils

Leafs' Matthews on record-breaking pace

Max Domi lined up for a faceoff in Washington, looked over at Alex Ovechkin and thought, "Wow, that's going to be the greatest goal-scorer of all time."

Then he looked over at Auston Matthews and realized his Toronto teammate could be in that discussion too.

That came in the middle of another two-goal game by Matthews, who has scored an NHL-leading 58 this season. Scoring 70 would require a goal-a-game tear down the stretch, which isn't out of the realm of possibility by any means, but the U.S.-born center is on pace for 67, which would be the most in the NHL in nearly 30 years.

“We’ve got more stuff to worry about in our locker room as far as trying to build our game toward the end of the season and stuff,” Matthews said. "The individual stuff, obviously you want to accomplish stuff. You want to push yourself to be as great as you can. That’s what I try to do every night. I’m just going to continue to push and try to elevate my game towards the stretch and do what I can to help the team win.”

Ovechkin owns the single-season record for goals in the salary cap era, which began in 2005, when he scored 65 in 2007-08. That was after rule changes opened up the game, increased power plays and showcased a generation of talent led by the Capitals winger and Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby.

Matthews, Edmonton's Connor McDavid and Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon have succeeded Ovechkin and Crosby in those starring roles. Matthews (two seasons ago) and McDavid (three times) have already won the Hart Trophy as MVP, and MacKinnon is among the leading candidates for it this year.

Ovechkin, who at 848 goals is 47 away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's career record, is rooting for Matthews to surpass his single-season mark.

“I’m cheering for him,” Ovechkin said last week. “Happy for him. I hope he gets it. Maybe 70, you never know. He’s a special player. It’s fun to watch.”

Not so fun to defend. Washington coach Spencer Carbery said after his team's loss to Toronto, “We had zero answer for No. 34 tonight,” referring to Matthews' jersey number that has become as associated with him as 8 for Ovechkin, 87 for Crosby, 97 for McDavid and 29 for MacKinnon.

Matthews has scored 60 in a season once and, given the Maple Leafs' propensity for offense, it would be foolish to rule out a run that gets him to 70 before the playoffs begin.

“Just the way that he plays off the puck, plays to get pucks back, he’s always there in support,” teammate Bobby McMann said. "It’s easy to play with him, and there’s a reason he’s scoring so many.”

Jagr bobbleheads recovered

The case of the missing Jaromir Jagr bobbleheads has been resolved.

The Pittsburgh Penguins said Monday they have secured the shipment of bobbleheads honoring the NHL's second-leading career scorer and will begin to distribute them during their home game against Tampa Bay on April 6.

The team had originally planned to hand the trinkets out as part of a promotion on March 14. The shipment carrying the bobbleheads was reported stolen and the giveaway was postponed.

The Penguins said they were notified recently that a special cargo recovery team had negotiated the return of the bobbleheads to a secure warehouse in Ontario, California.

The team said the bobbleheads arrived in Pittsburgh on Monday and will be transported to PPG Paints Arena sometime this week.

Fans who were supposed to receive the bobbleheads during the March 14 game received a voucher and are attending the April 6 game will be able to collect their bobbleheads that day. The team will also offer a drive-through pickup option at the arena on April 7 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

The team retired Jagr’s No. 68 during a pregame ceremony last month. The 52-year-old Jagr remains an active player on the team he owns in his native Czech Republic.

Habs' St. Louis returns to team

Montreal coach Martin St. Louis is back with the Canadiens after he left the team to be with his family.

Montreal announced on Monday that St. Louis will be behind the bench again for Tuesday night's game at Colorado. The Canadiens went 1-2-1 while St. Louis was on leave.

St. Louis had been with his family to help with his son, Mason, 16, after he got hurt during a youth hockey game, and then suffered complications from the injury and was hospitalized. The Canadiens said Mason is now recovering at the family home in Connecticut.

“Everyone within the Canadiens organization has been very supportive of my wife, Heather, and me as we fully focused on our son Mason and his recovery from a hockey injury," St. Louis said in the team release. "As parents, nothing is more important to us than our three sons, Ryan, Lucas, and Mason.”

Assistant coach Trevor Letowski directed the team during St. Louis’ absence.

The 48-year-old St. Louis was hired as interim coach after the Canadiens fired Dominique Ducharme in February 2022. He signed a three-year contract extension in June 2022.

Before coaching, St. Louis enjoyed a stellar playing career, totaling 1,033 points (391 goals, 642 assists) in 1,134 regular-season games with the Flames, Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers. He won the Stanley Cup and the Hart Trophy as the league MVP with the Lightning in 2004 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018.

Coyotes sign son of Shane Doan

The Coyotes have recalled forward Josh Doan, son of former longtime Arizona captain Shane Doan.

The 22-year-old from Scottsdale was recalled from the Tucson Roadrunners on Monday and is expected to make his NHL debut against Columbus on Tuesday.

Josh Doan grew up in the Phoenix area, where his dad spent 21 seasons with the Coyotes – most of those as captain. Shane Doan is currently serving as special advisor to Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving.

Josh Doan leads Tucson with 26 goals and 20 assists in 62 games. The Coyotes selected him with the 37th overall pick of the 2021 NHL draft out of Arizona State. He also played 98 games in the USHL.

Michigan-area hockey this week

Tuesday

▶ Red Wings at Washington, 7 p.m. (BSD/97.1)

Wednesday

▶ Cleveland at Grand Rapids, 7 p.m. (AHL/106.9/1300)

Thursday

▶ Red Wings at Carolina, 7 p.m. (BSD/97.1)

▶ Madison at NTDP U17s, 7 p.m.

Friday

▶ Grand Rapids at Chicago, 8 p.m. (AHL/106.9/97.1)

▶ Michigan State vs. Western Michigan, 5 p.m. (ESPNU/ESPN+)

▶ Michigan vs. North Dakota, 8:30 p.m. (ESPNU)

▶ NTDP U18s at Dubuque, 8 p.m.

Saturday

▶ Red Wings at Florida, 12:30 p.m. (NHL/BSD Extra/97.1)

▶ Grand Rapids at Milwaukee, 7 p.m. (AHL/106.9/1300)

▶ NTDP U18s at Dubuque, 8 p.m.

Sunday

▶ Frozen Four regional final, 6:30 p.m. (ESPNU)