LDN - Sports

NHL roundup: Flames jolt Sharks, clinch playoff berth

[April 01, 2017] The Sports Xchange

CALGARY, Alberta -- The Calgary Flames scored three goals in the second period en route to clinching their first playoff berth in three seasons with a 5-2 win over the San Jose Sharks at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Friday night.

After Johnny Gaudreau opened the scoring in the first period, Sean Monahan, Matt Stajan and Alex Chiasson added goals in the second to send the Flames on their way.

Sam Bennett added an empty-net goal, while goalie Brian Elliott made 36 saves for the Flames, who moved to within one point of the Sharks for third place in the Pacific Division.

Bennett and Chiasson finished with a goal and an assist each, while Kris Versteeg and T.J. Brodie each had two assists.

Avalanche 2, Blues 1

DENVER -- Calvin Pickard had 27 saves through overtime and two in the shootout as Colorado beat St. Louis.

J.T. Compher scored in regulation and Matt Duchene and Nathan MacKinnon had shootout goals to help the Avalanche end a seven-game losing streak.

Jake Allen stopped 31 shots and Ryan Reaves had a goal the Blues, who clinched a playoff spot despite the loss.

Islanders 2, Devils 1

NEW YORK -- New York kept its slim playoff hopes alive with a victory over New Jersey at Barclays Center, however captain John Tavares had to be helped off the ice with 3:14 remaining in regulation after getting tangled up with the back of the net and a Devils player.

Though Islanders coach Doug Weight termed the injury "lower body," Tavares was clutching the back of his left leg in the hamstring area.

The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Islanders, and moved them within four points of the idle Boston Bruins for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with five games to play.

Penguins 4, Rangers 3 (SO)

NEW YORK -- Phil Kessel and Sidney Crosby scored in a shootout as Pittsburgh slipped past New York at Madison Square Garden to move within one point of the Columbus Blue Jackets for second place in the Metropolitan.

When Bryan Rust scored to make it 3-1 with 11:10 left in the game, the Penguins looked well on their way to a convincing win. But Rick Nash cut the lead in half two minutes later and Chris Kreider tied the score at 3 with 11.6 seconds left and goaltender Henrik Lundqvist on the bench for an extra skater.

The Rangers had a golden opportunity to win the game in overtime when Kevin Klein and Michael Grabner led a three-on-none charge, but Penguins goaltender Matt Murray, who stopped 32 shots, pushed across to rob Grabner after Klein made a late pass to the right side.

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Blackhawks 3, Blue Jackets 1

CHICAGO -- Artemi Panarin scored two goals and Patrick Kane had three assists as Chicago cruised to a win over Columbus.

Marian Hossa also scored as Chicago secured its second 50-win regular season in franchise history. Four games remain as the Blackhawks chase the franchise record of 52 wins (2009-10).

Captain Nick Foligno scored the lone goal for the Blue Jackets, who have tallied only nine goals in their past six games. Columbus finished the month with a 10-4-2 record.

Kings 2, Canucks 0

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Jarome Iginla scored his 625th career goal and Jonathan Quick stopped 35 shots for the shutout as Los Angeles kept its slim playoff hopes alive.

Tyler Toffoli also scored for the Kings, who trail Nashville by eight points for the final wild-card playoff spot in the Western Conference. Each team has five games remaining.

Iginla's goal tied him with Joe Sakic for 15th all time. It also was the 101st game-winning goal of his career.

Quick, who missed 59 games this season with a groin injury, recorded his second shutout of the season and 44th of his career.

Coyotes 6, Capitals 3

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Louis Domingue made a career-high 45 saves to win for the fourth time in five March starts to help Arizona end Washington's six-game winning streak.

Christian Dvorak and Alex Burmistrov each had two goals and Josh Jooris and Peter Holland added goals as the Coyotes snapped a four-game losing streak.

Nicklas Backstrom, Daniel Winnik and Justin Williams scored for the Capitals, but Braden Holtby allowed six goals on 24 shots. Holtby had been 3-0-0 in three previous starts against Arizona with a 1.31 GAA and a .950 save pct.

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