Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Heiskanen, Stars handle Kraken, take Central title
Defenseman Miro Heiskanen had a goal and two assists as host Dallas beat Seattle 3-1 on Saturday to clinch the Central Division title for the first time in eight years.
Jason Robertson had a goal and an assist as the Stars, led by former Golden Knights coach Pete Deboer, stayed in contention for the Western Conference’s top seed and the Presidents’ Trophy.
Heiskanen scored Dallas’ final goal on a wrap-around with 7:37 left for his fourth game of at least three points this season.
“It’s great to win (the division), but we’re far from done,” Heiskanen said. “It’s just the first step.”
Deboer agreed but added, “You definitely can’t minimize the work put in to doing that … in a really good division.”
The Stars’ other goals came late in periods — Craig Smith with 2.5 seconds left in the first on a tip-in redirection and Robertson with 35.9 to go in the second on a 5-on-3 power play.
Three Kraken shots struck either the crossbar or a post.
Jake Oettinger stopped 26 shots. Kailer Yamamoto spoiled Oettinger’s bid to shut out Seattle for a second time in two weeks by scoring with 5:49 left. Philipp Grubauer had 28 saves for the Kraken.
■ Jets 7, Avalanche 0: At Denver, Josh Morrissey and Adam Lowry scored 10 seconds apart in a four-goal first period that chased Colorado goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, Connor Hellebuyck stopped 30 shots in his 37th shutout and fifth this season, and Winnipeg moved into the driver’s seat for the Central Division’s second seed. The Jets won their sixth straight and finished 3-0 — with a 17-4 scoring edge — against the Avs this season.
■ Bruins 6, Penguins 4: At Pittsburgh, Brad Marchand scored short-handed to cap Boston’s four-goal second period, and the Bruins won for the fifth time in six games to regain the top spot in the Atlantic Division. Michael Buntin scored twice for Pittsburgh, which had been 7-0-3 in its previous 10 games.
■ Rangers 3, Islanders 2, SO: At New York, Artemi Panarin scored the tying goal with 4:17 left in regulation and notched the shootout winner as the host Rangers halted the Islanders’ six-game win streak and notched their franchise-record 54th win this season.
■ Flyers 1, Devils 0: At Philadelphia, Travis Konecny scored his Nhl-best sixth short-handed goal this season on a second-period breakaway, and Samuel Ersson stopped 20 shots in his fifth shutout and fourth this season as Philadelphia kept alive its playoff hopes.
■ Red Wings 5, Maple Leafs 4, OT: At Toronto, Dylan Larkin scored on a power play 41 seconds into overtime, and Detroit overcame Auston Matthews’ 69th goal of the season. Alex Debrincat had two goals for the Red Wings, who led 4-1 after one period.
■ Senators 5, Canadiens 4, SO: At Ottawa, Ontario, Brady Tkachuk had two goals and an assist for Ottawa, and Drake Batherson scored the lone shootout goal in the Senators’ ninth straight win over Montreal. The Canadiens were outshot 44-25.
■ Panthers 3, Sabres 2, OT: At Sunrise, Fla., Sam Reinhart scored his 55th goal this season with 1:02 left in overtime, and Florida clinched home ice for at least the first round of the playoffs.
■ Capitals 4, Lightning 2: At Washington, Sonny Milano scored twice for Washington, which won for the second time in nine games and kept alive its playoff hopes.
■ Predators 6, Blue Jackets 4: At Nashville, Tenn., Roman Josi had two goals and two assists for Nashville, which dealt Columbus its fourth straight loss.