Fil-Am brothers in NHL playoffs

Fil-Am brothers to play in NHL playoffs

Story by Aric John Sy Cua
Manila Times
07 April 2024

FOR the first time in their careers, the National Hockey League (NHL) will see two Filipino American brothers participating in this year's playoffs.

The teams of brothers Jason and Nicholas Robertson, the Dallas Stars and the Toronto Maple Leafs, have clinched their playoff spots on days they did not even play.

Jason's Stars clinched their playoff berth first on Maundy Thursday, March 29, being the first team in the Western Conference to do so after beating the Vancouver Canucks the day before.

As of this writing, Jason has 27 goals and 50 assists for 77 points in 76 regular season games.

Meanwhile, on Friday (Saturday in Manila), the Leafs, where Jason's brother Nicholas "Nick" Robertson is playing, had also clinched their playoff berth.

Despite losing 4-1 to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday, the Leafs got their playoff tickets following a 4-2 Carolina Hurricanes victory over the Washington Capitals, a 4-2 Buffalo Sabres win over the Philadelphia Flyers, and a 4-3 New York Rangers win over the Detroit Red Wings.

The younger Robertson, in 51 regular season games with the Leafs as of this writing, has 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points.

Last season, Nick missed the rest of the season and playoffs following a shoulder injury.

For the Leafs, it is their eighth straight NHL playoff appearance, having made the playoffs during the era of forward Auston Matthews, who currently has 63 goals and 36 assists for 99 points in 74 games this regular season.

Meanwhile, a third NHL player of Filipino descent, defenseman Matt Dumba, a Filipino Canadian, will also join the playoffs as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who also had the same clinching scenario with the Leafs.

Dumba was acquired by the Lightning from the Arizona Coyotes during the NHL trade deadline. This season, in 70 games with the Coyotes and Lightning, he has 4 goals and 7 assists for 11 points.

The NHL playoffs begin on April 20.