Leafs clinch berth; Caps hurt Bruins
Carolina’s Bickell to retire as he fights multiple sclerosis
TORONTO — Connor Brown broke a tie with 2:48 left as the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3 on Saturday night to wrap up their first playoff spot since 2013.
James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak, Kasperi Kapanen and Auston Matthews also scored for Toronto, and Curtis McElhinney stepped in for an injured Frederik Andersen with 12 saves.
Toronto will play the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the playoffs if the Maple Leafs pick up at least a point in their season finale against Columbus today. If the Leafs lose in regulation, they’ll drop to the second wild card and face first-seeded Washington in the East, with Boston getting to face Ottawa.
CAPITALS 3, BRUINS 1: In Boston, Kevin Shattenkirk scored the go-ahead goal 56 seconds after the Bruins tied it in the second period as NHLleading Washington sent Boston to a seasonending loss, setting up a potential first-round playoff matchup between the teams.
Backup Philipp Grubauer made 21 saves for the Capitals. Marcus Johansson and Justin Williams also scored to help Washington win for the 10th time in its last 11 games.
Washington has already clinched home ice throughout the playoffs. JETS 2, PREDATORS 1: In Winnipeg, Manitoba, Blake Wheeler scored a short-handed goal with 45 seconds left in regulation to lift Winnipeg to its franchise-record seventh straight victory.
Winnipeg was already eliminated from the playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons since relocating from Atlanta, but ended the season in record-breaking form for the Jets/Thrashers franchise. CANADIENS 3, RED WINGS 2 (OT): In Detroit, Alex Galchenyuk scored 1:42 into overtime, giving Montreal the victory over Detroit, which long ago was eliminated from playoff contention.
The Atlantic Division-champion Canadiens, with nothing at stake, rested many players in their final game of the regular season. Carey Price, Max Pacioretty and Alexander Radulov were among their healthy scratches. A few Montreal players, including Shea Weber, are allowing injuries to heal before facing the New York Rangers in the first round of the playoffs.
BLUES 5, HURRICANES 4 (SO): In Raleigh, N.C., Vladimir Tarasenko scored in the fourth round of the shootout as St. Louis beat Carolina.
Scottie Upshall scored a short-handed goal, Alexander Steen, Ryan Reaves and Ivan Barbashev
added goals and Alex Pietrangelo and Tarasenko had two assists apiece. The Blues clinched the No. 3 seed in the Central Division after earning at least a point for the 16th time in 18 games. PANTHERS 3, SABRES 0: In Sunrise, Fla., Jonathan Huberdeau scored twice and James Reimer made 30 saves to help Florida beat Buffalo.
Nick Bjugstad also scored, and Jaromir Jagr had two assists,
SENATORS 3, RANGERS 1: In Ottawa, the Senators beat New York to wrap up second place in the Atlantic Division and home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
Mike Hoffman, Derick Brassard and JeanGabriel Pageau scored for the Senators, and Craig Anderson made 18 saves.
ISLANDERS 4, DEVILS 2: In Newark, N.J., Jaroslav Halak made 37 saves and Anders Lee scored twice as New York beat New Jersey.
Adam Pelech and Jason Chimera also scored as the Islanders won their fifth straight game, but were eliminated from postseason contention when Toronto beat Pittsburgh later in the day.
KINGS 3, BLACKHAWKS 2 (OT): In Los Angeles, Drew Doughty scored 27 seconds into overtime, leading Los Angeles to a win over Chicago.
Dustin Brown scored with 55 seconds remaining to send it to overtime and Tyler Toffoli added a power-play goal for the Kings. Jonathan Quick made 25 saves. OILERS 3, CANUCKS 2: In Vancouver, British Columbia, Mark Letestu’s power-play goal at 3:04 of the third period broke a 1-1 tie and propelled Edmonton past Vancouver. FLYERS 4, BLUE JACKETS 2: In Philadelphia, Steve Mason made 20 saves to help Philadelphia beat reeling Columbus, which has lost six in a row. STARS 4, AVALANCHE 3 (SO): In Dallas, Tyler Seguin scored the only goal in the shootout as Dallas defeated Colorado.
WILD 3, COYOTES 1: In Phoenix, Darcy Kuemper stopped 20 shots and Martin Hanzal scored in his return to the desert as Minnesota set a franchise record with its 49th win by beating Arizona. SHARKS 3, FLAMES 1: In San Jose, Calif., Chris Tierney scored one goal and set up Mikkel Boedker for another in the second period to help San Jose beat Calgary.
HURRICANES: Carolina forward Bryan Bickell says he’s retiring after the season as he fights multiple sclerosis.
Bickell, 31, said before Saturday night’s game against St. Louis that he and his family decided these final two games would be his last. Carolina wraps up the season today at Philadelphia.