Hockey roundup: Grand Rapids cruises to 8-0 win; Crosby back in the playoffs

The Grand Rapids Griffins blanked the Milwaukee Admirals, 8-0, on Friday at Panther Arena in Milwaukee to claim their franchise-best 27th road victory of the season. Michal Postava’s fourth shutout set a franchise record for most in a season by a rookie, improving to 17-6-0 after making 24 saves. Dominik Shine made his first appearance since Feb.

25 after being recalled from the Detroit Red Wings and recorded an assist, and Jackson's Carter Mazur made his return from recall and extended his point streak to three with an assist. Jakub Rychlovskyhad his first two-goal game in the AHL, Wojciech Stachowiakadded three assists, and Eduards Tralmaksscored the game-winner and an assist. Crosby-led Pens bring rivalry back to playoffs For the first time in eight seasons and the eighth time overall, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers will meet in the Stanley Cup playoffs, with the opening game of their first-round series taking place Saturday night in Pittsburgh.

The latest chapter of the Battle of Pennsylvania features a couple teams ending lengthy postseason droughts. The Penguins last made the playoffs in 2022, but beyond that, the franchise's last series win came in 2018 against the Flyers. Philadelphia last made the playoffs in 2020.

However, Travis Konecny, Sean Couturier and Travis Sanheim are the only players remaining from that squad. This Flyers team surprised some by reaching the postseason, but they earned their spot thanks to their strong play down the stretch. Coach Rick Tocchet's club went 18-7-1 after the Olympics, going from sixth in the Metropolitan – eight points back of the then-third-place New York Islanders – to leapfrogging the Washington Capitals, Columbus Blue Jackets and Islanders for the division's final playoff spot.