2024–25 NHL Season Recap: First Games, Stats & Milestones
- Pre Game Sports
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Final Day Drama Despite Playoffs Set
The 2024–25 NHL regular season wrapped up on April 17, and while the playoff picture was already locked in, the final slate of games delivered memorable moments and future-facing excitement.
In Los Angeles, the Flames gave fans a glimpse of the next generation, debuting four rookies in their season finale against the Kings. Forwards Sam Morton and Aydar Suniev, and defensemen Hunter Brzustewicz and Zayne Parekh, suited up in their first NHL games. The night may not have had playoff stakes for the Flames, but it marked the beginning of some promising careers.
Elsewhere, Buffalo gave longtime head coach Lindy Ruff a historic gift, as the Sabres earned him his 900th career NHL coaching win in a 5–4 victory over the Flyers. Ruff becomes just the fifth coach in league history to reach that milestone.
Fun Facts & NHL Season Milestones
This season was full of incredible storylines, all culminating in a final night of fanfare and fireworks:
Five Canadian teams—Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Edmonton, and Winnipeg—made the postseason. This marks the first time since 2017 that over half the Canadian squads are in the dance. Could this finally be the year the Cup returns north of the border?
Sidney Crosby, the ageless wonder of the Pittsburgh Penguins, finished his 20th consecutive season averaging at least one point per game. At 37, he's still putting up numbers that most players dream of in their prime.
Alex Ovechkin made history yet again. With a goal in Washington’s final game, he ends the season with 897 career goals, after earlier surpassing Wayne Gretzky’s long-standing all-time record. The Great 8 now stands alone atop the scoring mountain, with no signs of stopping.
The Maple Leafs broke a barrier as well, clinching their first Atlantic Division title since the division was formed. Toronto’s title was the exclamation point on a dominant season, led by Auston Matthews, who notched goal No. 400, and Mitch Marner, who hit the 100-point mark for the first time in his career.
The Kings hit win No. 48, tying the franchise record for victories in a single season, matching their 2015–16 mark.
The Vegas Golden Knights fell just short of tying their franchise record for points, finishing with 110, with the franchise record being 111.
Pregame Bar Crawl: Playoff Edition
As the Stanley Cup Playoffs get underway, fans in Las Vegas can look forward to exclusive pregame pub crawls. These events will feature special drink offers at the top sports bars, creating the perfect atmosphere to support the Golden Knights or your own team's playoff journey.