Kessel scores twice as surging Penguins topple Predators 5-2

Panthers edge Devils to reclaim Atlantic Division top spot

PITTSBURGH, April 1, (AP): Phil Kessel scored twice and the surging Pittsburgh Penguins moved within striking distance of a 10th straight playoff berth with a 5-2 win over the Nashville Predators on Thursday night.

Kris Letang, Patric Hornqvist and Nick Bonino also scored for Pittsburgh, which improved to 10-1 in its last 11 games. The Penguins will clinch a spot in the postseason if Detroit loses in regulation on Friday against Minnesota. Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 22 shots to reach the 35-win plateau for the seventh time in his career.

James Neal and Ryan Johansen each had a goal and an assist for the Predators, who failed for a third straight game to wrap up a playoff bid. Pekka Rinne stopped 25 shots before sitting out the third period in favor of backup Carter Hutton.

Kessel

Panthers 3, Devils 2 In Sunrise, Florida, Jonathan Huberdeau scored twice to move Florida back into first place in the Atlantic Division with a 3-2 win over New Jersey.

Jaromir Jagr had a pair of assists and

New York Yankees’ Masahiro Tanaka of Japan, pitches to the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning of a spring training baseball game, on March 29,

in Clearwater, Fla. (AP)

best starting pitching rotation with Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Syndergaard, Steven Matz and Zack Wheeler. Roman Josi #59 of the Nashville Predators reaches for the puck in front of the goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins at

Consol Energy Center on March 31 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (AFP)

Count on perennial National League contenders San Francisco and St Louis to be in the hunt again.