Rangers rally to end season with win
Despite 5-4 loss, Bruins can still finish 3rd in East
Mika Zibanejad scored two of New York’s four third-period goals, and the Rangers ended their season with a 5-4 victory over the Boston Bruins on Saturday to halt a fivegame losing streak.
Alexis Lafreniere and Vitali Kravtsov also scored in a wild third when the Rangers turned a 2-1 deficit to a 4-2 edge. K’andre Miller added a goal for the Rangers, and Keith Kinkaid made 28 saves before leaving with an injury midway into the third. Ignor Shesterkin finished up in net with seven saves.
New York, which was eliminated from the playoffs, will finish in fifth in the NHL’S East division.
David Pastrnak scored his 200th career goal, Brad Marchand had his teamleading 28th, and Patrice Bergeron and Nick Ritchie also scored for the Bruins, who had earned at least a point in their previous six games (5-0-1). Tuukka Rask stopped 18 shots.
Boston can clinch third in the East by collecting two points in its final two games.
Zibanejad tied it 2-2 with a wrister from the slot 5:01 after Pastrnak scored on a one-timer from the right circle 21 seconds into the third.
Lafreniere cut in alone and slipped a backhander over Rask at 7:26. Kravtsov then one-timed a shot to score at 9:36.
Marchand’s power-play goal sliced it to 4-3 with 5:52 left in the third, but Zibanejad’s second of the game and 200th of his career made it 5-3.
Islanders 5, Devils 1: Brock Nelson scored twice in the second period as the Islanders played their final regular season game at Nassau Coliseum.
Penguins 1, Sabres 0: Jeff Carter scored, and Maxime Lagace stopped 29 shots for his first career shutout. Lagace, making his first start in more than two years, got his seventh career win and helped Pittsburgh clinch home-ice advantage in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Capitals 2, Flyers 1 (OT):
Lars Eller tied it with 39.8 seconds left in regulation, Conor Sheary scored the overtime winner and short-handed Washington guaranteed it will open the playoffs at home.
Panthers 5, Lightning 1: Alex Wennberg scored three goals to keep alive Florida’s hopes of earning home-ice advantage in the upcoming first-round playoff series between the intrastate rivals. The Panthers moved two points ahead of the Lightning and into second place in the Central Division.
Maple Leafs 3, Canadiens 2:
Mitch Marner scored his 20th goal of the season and the Toronto Maple Leafs wrapped up the North Division title.
Blue Jackets 5, Red Wings 4 (OT):
Max Domi scored 4:39 into overtime to lift Columbus in the season finale for both teams.
Wild 4, Ducks 3 (OT): Victor Rask scored 2:46 into overtime for Minnesota, which began the day a point behind Colorado for second in the West Division.
Senators 4, Jets 2: Rookie Tim Stutzle had his first NHL hat trick to help Ottawa beat Winnipeg for its third consecutive win.
Predators 3, Hurricanes 1:
Luke Kunin scored twice and Nashville beat Carolina to secure the Central Division’s fourth and final playoff berth.