Predators capture Presidents’ Trophy
NASHVILLE 4 WASHINGTON 3
WASHINGTON — Craig Smith scored twice and Ryan Johansen had the go-ahead goal late in the third period to help the Nashville Predators beat the Washington Capitals 4-3 Thursday night to clinch first place in the Central Division, the top seed in the Western Conference and the best record in the National Hockey League.
Even though it’ll be Pekka Rinne in net for the Predators when they open the playoffs next week, backup Juuse Saros stopped 28 of the 31 shots and captain Roman Josi scored on the power play to give them their first division title in 19 seasons of existence.
Nashville has a franchiserecord 52 victories and will open the playoffs against the second wild card in the West as it tries to return to the Stanley Cup Final. The Predators clinched the Presidents’ Trophy for the league’s top record when Boston lost to Florida 3-2 later Thursday.
Devils 2, Toronto 1
NEWARK, New Jersey — The New Jersey Devils are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2012.
Patrick Maroon set up secondperiod goals by Pavel Zacha and Miles Wood and the Devils ended a five-year post-season drought with the victory over Toronto.
Keith Kinkaid, the mainstay in goal since the end of January, made 31 saves as the Devils won their fourth straight and extended their points streak to eight games (7-0-1).
New Jersey is 10-2-1 in its last 13, in going from the worst team in the Eastern Conference a year ago to one that will get a chance to start playing for the Stanley Cup next week.
Panthers 3, Bruins 2
SUNRISE, Florida — Jared McCann scored with 5:37 left and Roberto Luongo got the win in his 1,000th career game, helping Florida beat Boston to stay in playoff contention.
The Panthers trail Philadelphia by four points for the final Eastern Conference wild card and have two games remaining.
Former Canuck star Luongo, 39, became the third goalie to reach the 1,000-game mark, joining Hall of Famers Martin Brodeur (1,266) and Patrick Roy (1,029). He stopped 26 shots Thursday.
Jets 2, Flames 1
WINNIPEG — Connor Hellebuyck made 31 saves to tie the record for victories in a season by an American goalie and Winnipeg beat Calgary for its fourth straight victory.
Hellebuyck has 43 victories to match the mark set by former Pittsburgh star Tom Barrasso in 1992-93. Blake Wheeler scored his 23rd goal for his 90th point of the season, and Paul Stastny added a goal to help Winnipeg improve to 51-20-10 on the season.