April 7th

TKACHUK SCORES 500TH

St. Louis Blues forward Keith Tkachuk became the 41st player in NHL history, and 4th American, to score 500 goals.

Tkachuk, a 16-year veteran, scored his 27th of the season, a short-handed goal into an empty net, with 1:34 remaining, to help the Blues defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets Sunday.

"You're just rying to survive and make it in the NHL," said Tkachuk, drafted 19th overall by Winnipeg in the 1990 draft. "Sixteen years later, you look back at a number, a lot of hard work by your parents, and the people around you … and all the great players I played with, they're the reason why I'm in this situation."


NHL ANNOUNCES PLAYOFF CONFERENCE QUARTER-FINAL SCHEDULE

The National Hockey League today announced dates, times and national broadcast information for the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoff Conference Quarter-Final round, which begins Wednesday, April 9.

That night, an Atlantic Division rivalry continues as the New Jersey Devils host the New York Rangers. Also on Wednesday’s schedule, the Pittsburgh Penguins host the Ottawa Senators, the San Jose Sharks host the Calgary Flames and the Colorado Avalanche visit the Minnesota Wild.

Three other series open Thursday, when the defending Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks host the Dallas Stars, the Montreal Canadiens host the Boston Bruins and the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Detroit Red Wings host the Nashville Predators.

On Friday, the League’s top point- and goal-scorer Alex Ovechkin makes his NHL postseason debut as the Washington Capitals host the Philadelphia Flyers.

National network television coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs will be provided in the United States by NBC and VERSUS and in Canada by CBC, TSN and RDS. NHL Radio on Westwood One will distribute live coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs to radio stations across North America. Every game also can be heard on XM Satellite Radio.

VERSUS begins its coverage Wednesday with a doubleheader featuring the Ottawa at Pittsburgh (7 p.m., ET), followed by Calgary at San Jose (10 p.m., ET).

NBC Sports will start its playoff coverage Saturday, April 12, featuring Nashville at Detroit (2 p.m., ET), and will continue coverage Sunday when Philadelphia plays the Capitals in Washington (2 p.m., ET). NBC will continue weekend afternoon coverage throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs in addition to prime-time coverage of the Stanley Cup Final.


NHL SETS ATTENDANCE RECORD, EXCEEDING 21 MILLION

A season of suspenseful races and outstanding performances on the ice was accompanied by historic levels of attendance at National Hockey League arenas in 2007-08. Total attendance of 21,236,255 and the per-game average of 17,265 set records in each category and marked the third consecutive season of growth.

"Our ans have outdone themselves, and everyone at the National Hockey League is extremely appreciative,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “This unprecedented support is only the latest affirmation that our fans are the best fans anywhere.”

NHL teams played to 93.6% of capacity over the 1,230 games in outdoing the 2006-07 season figures of 20,861,787 and 16,961 per-game, or 91.7% of capacity. In 2005-06, the figures were 20,854,169 and 16,955. NHL games have attracted 20 million or more in each of the past seven seasons.

In 2007-08, the six Canada-based teams once again sold every possible ticket. With sellout crowds of 21,273 at Bell Centre for each of their 41 home games, the Montreal Canadiens again led in per-game average. The Pittsburgh Penguins sold out their season for the first time in franchise history and were joined by the Philadelphia Flyers (19,556), the Minnesota Wild (318 consecutive sellouts of 18,500-plus since they entered the League), the New York Rangers (18,200) and the Anaheim Ducks (17,193). Several other clubs, including the Buffalo Sabres and San Jose Sharks, were virtually sold out.

The St. Louis Blues, (up 41% to 17,610 per game), the Chicago Blackhawks (up 32% to 16,814), the Washington Capitals (up 11% to 15,473) and the New Jersey Devils (up 10% to 15,564 at their new home, Prudential Center) all enjoyed significant increases.

The aggregate and per-game average figures included sellouts of 17,426 for each of the season-opening games at between the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks at O2 Arena in London. For the purposes of calculation, the Buffalo Sabres were credited with a normal regular-season sellout (18,690) for the Winter Classic against the Pittsburgh Penguins on New Year’s Day at Ralph Wilson Stadium; including the full Winter Classic attendance of 71,217, the aggregate NHL attendance increases to 21,288,782, and the per-game increases to 17,302.