Flames win, gain on Sharks
Calgary’s Sean Monahan scored his team-leading 26th goal and added three assists as the host Flames inched closer to clinching a playoff spot with a 4-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Monday night.
With six games remaining, Calgary can clinch a playoff spot for the second time in eight seasons with a regulation win over Los Angeles on Wednesday night.
The Flames remain fourth in the Pacific Division but are just one point back of both the Sharks and Oilers.
Micheal Ferland, Troy Brouwer and Johnny Gaudreau, with an empty-netter, also scored for Calgary, which has won nine of its past 10 home games.
Sven Andrighetto scored both goals for Colorado, which has lost six games in a row overall and nine straight on the road.
Lightning 5, Blackhawks 4:
Yanni Gourde scored on a breakaway 4:25 into overtime to complete host Tampa Bay’s comeback from a three-goal, second-period deficit. The Lightning moved one point behind the Bruins for the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card berth.
Predators 3, Islanders 1:
Jusse Saros stopped 24 shots as Nashville won its fourth in a row to remain one point ahead of fourth-place St. Louis in the Central Division. New York has dropped five in a row at home.
Blues 4, Coyotes 1:
Jaden Schwartz scored twice as host St. Louis beat Arizona for the 10th consecutive time. The Blues have won 10 of their past 12 overall. Coyotes center Alexander Burmistrov returned to the lineup after missing 13 games with an upper-body injury.
Red Wings 4, Hurricanes 3:
Andreas Athanasiou scored the winner in overtime before crashing into goalie Eddie Lack as visiting Detroit won. Lack left the ice on a stretcher, but a Carolina spokesman said Lack has full feeling in his extremities. Detroit center Luke Glendening did not return after suffering a lower-body injury.
Sabres 4, Panthers 2:
Brian Gionta, playing his 1,000th career game, scored to help host Buffalo prevail.