Morning Skate: Bidding a fond farewell to NHL folk hero John Scott

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Lace 'em up. Time for the Morning Skate.

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ADIEU, JOHN SCOTT

We bid a fond farewell to two parties on Tuesday. One was the underdog story of the season, coming out of nowhere to take down the establishment and win the hearts of a nation at the same time.

The other one was the Colorado Avalanche.

But back to them in a second. They, like most of the league, took a backseat on Tuesday to the return of John Scott. You might remember him as the Hero of the All-Star Game and the bane of NHL online voting everywhere. We haven't heard much from Scott since the Canadiens sent him down to the AHL (you know, aside from that whole Hollywood thing), but he made his latest NHL appearance on Tuesday.

Montreal essentially called him up as a gesture of goodwill for the drama he went through this season. And now that his one-game stint is over, it sounds like he might be calling it a career.

Go back four years ago and tell Scott this is the season he'd end his career on. At that time he wouldn't have believed you (who would?) but he'd gladly take it.

There are obviously those who still harbor ill will towards Scott for his various questionable hits over the years. That's understandable. But rarely do reviled public figures (especially in sports) get the chance to redeem their image like Scott did.

The whole All-Star Game saga was random, heart-warming and fun. All the things the NHL lacks so often. Who would've thought it would take John Scott to show them that?

WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT

• Colorado watched their fading playoff hopes finally melt away, leaving plenty of questions to face in the offseason. Questions like, was trading for Mikkel Boedker worth it? Is it time to blow up the core of the team? And will they finally listen to the advanced stats doomsday forecasters?
• Also, HOW DID FILIP FORSBERG SCORE THAT AWESOME GOAL?
• You know who else had an awful night? The Bruins, who dropped a devastating point to the Carolina Hurricanes.
• A handful of teams finally clinched playoff berths on Tuesday. The most impressive clinch belonged to the Islanders, who mounted a terrific comeback against the Capitals.
• Florida capped off their best regular season in franchise history by winning the Atlantic Division.
• Tampa Bay also clinched, but still blew a two-goal lead in a loss to the Rangers.
• And one of their wingers was shaken up by a very late Tanner Glass hit.
  
• Minnesota also clinched the hard way, getting shutout by the Sharks and squeezing into the playoffs thanks to Colorado's loss. So, we'll look at the playoff picture after the shameless plug.



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PLAYOFF PICTURE:

• The Western Conference playoff berths are filled. Dallas, Chicago, St. Louis, Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Jose, Nashville and Minnesota all qualify. All that's left to settle over the next week are the playoff matchups.
• Washington, Pittsburgh, Florida, Tampa Bay and both New York teams have clinched in the Eastern Conference. The Capitals will finish with the top seed.
• Two spots are unclaimed in the Eastern Conference, and one of Philadelphia. Detroit and Boston are going to get it. The odds are stacked against the Bruins, who have just two games left while Detroit has three and Philadelphia has four.

NEWS & NOTES:

• The Red Wings and Flyers square off tonight in a massive game. Boston has to hope it doesn't go to overtime.
• Braden Holtby will have to wait to match the all-time goalie regular season win record.
• Making the case for Jamie Benn winning the Hart Trophy.