Newark, NJ (Sports Network) - Patrik Elias had a goal and an assist as the New
Jersey Devils topped the New York Islanders, 3-1, at Prudential Center. Travis
Zajac and Ilya Kovalchuk also scored for the Devils, who earned their fourth
straight win. Johan Hedberg made 19 saves in the victory for New Jersey, which
is currently the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. The Devils currently
have 98 points and sit three back of Philadelphia for the fifth spot and six
ahead of Ottawa for the seventh after both the Flyers and Senators lost on
Tuesday. Matt Moulson supplied the offense for the Islanders while Al Montoya
stopped 17-of-19 shots in New York's third straight loss.
Final Score: NY Rangers 5, Philadelphia 3
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Marian Gaborik and Ryan McDonagh totaled a
goal and assist each as the New York Rangers used a four-goal first period to
claim a 5-3 victory over Philadelphia on Tuesday, clinching both the Atlantic
Division crown and the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Brian Boyle, Ryan
Callahan and Artem Anisimov also tallied for the Rangers, who swept the six-
game season series from their rivals for the first time since going 6-0-0
against Philly during the 1971-72 season. Henrik Lundqvist made 37 saves to
record his career-best 39th win of the season, as New York finished atop a
division for the first time since winning the inaugural Atlantic title in
1994. Jakub Voracek, Wayne Simmonds and Scott Hartnell scored for the Flyers,
who had little in the tank following an emotional win Sunday in Pittsburgh.
Ilya Bryzgalov returned after a three-game absence due to a chip fracture in
his right foot, but was shelled for five goals on 24 shots in defeat.
Final Score: Buffalo 6, Toronto 5 (OT)
Buffalo, NY (Sports Network) - Derek Roy scored two goals, including the game-
winner at 3:29 of overtime as the Buffalo Sabres claimed two huge points and
kept their playoff hopes alive with a 6-5 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs
at First Niagara Center. Alexander Sulzer scored twice and added an assist
while Jordan Leopold and Tyler Ennis also found the back of the net for the
Sabres, who have won six of their last eight games. Ryan Miller posted 20
stops in the win. With the victory, the Sabres pulled even with the idle
Washington Capitals for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot
with just two games remaining in the regular season. Buffalo, though, still
sits in ninth place via a tiebreaker. Tyler Bozak finished with two goals and
an assist, Matt Frattin had a goal and an assist, while Clarke MacArthur and
Jake Gardiner also scored for the Leafs, who have lost four of five. Ben
Scrivens was touched for all six tallies on 45 shots.
Final Score: Carolina 2, Ottawa 1
Ottawa, ON (Sports Network) - Cam Ward came up with 38 saves, backstopping the
Carolina Hurricanes to a 2-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank
Place on Tuesday. Brandon Sutter and Tuomo Ruutu scored for the Hurricanes,
who had dropped four of their previous five coming in. Jason Spezza scored the
lone goal for the Senators, who had a four-game winning streak snapped, but
will be heading to the playoffs after a win over the New York Islanders on
Sunday. Craig Anderson gave up both tallies on 31 shots in defeat.
Final Score: Pittsburgh 5, Boston 3
Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Sidney Crosby had two goals and an assist as the
Pittsburgh Penguins downed the Boston Bruins, 5-3, at TD Garden. Paul Martin,
James Neal and Arron Asham also scored for the Penguins, who moved the three
points ahead of Philadelphia for the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference
after the Flyers lost earlier Tuesday. Brent Johnson made 26 saves in
Pittsburgh's second win in three games. Benoit Pouliot, Milan Lucic and Rich
Peverley lit the lamp, while Marty Turco stopped 22-of-27 shots for Boston.
Final Score: Winnipeg 5, Florida 4 (OT)
Sunrise, FL (Sports Network) - Andrew Ladd's second goal of the contest came
with 1:48 remaining in overtime, as Winnipeg rallied from a three-goal deficit
to beat Florida, 5-4. Zach Bogosian and Bryan Little posted a goal and assist
each for the Jets, who have won two of three. Ondrej Pavelec stopped 34 shots
for the victory. Kris Versteeg, Tomas Fleischmann and Tomas Kopecky tallied
for the Panthers, who could have wrapped up a playoff berth and division title
with a victory. Nonetheless, Florida remains on the verge of clinching with
the point beyond regulation, and extended its lead in the Southeast Division
over idle Washington to four points. Jose Theodore allowed five scores on 30
shots in defeat.
Final Score: Nashville 2, Minnesota 1 (SO)
Nashville, TN (Sports Network) - Alexander Radulov netted the lone goal in the
shootout, and Nashville moved into the fourth seed in the Western Conference
with a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild. Gabriel Bourque scored in the
second period for the Predators, who as of now are a point ahead of fifth-
place Detroit and two in front of Chicago. The Predators have two games
remaining -- at home against Dallas on Thursday and at Colorado Saturday.
Detroit has three contests left and Chicago two. Dany Heatley also scored in
the middle period for Minnesota, which had its three-game winning streak
stopped. Niklas Backstrom stopped 23 shots.
The Sports Network