Crosby scores in OT to lift Penguins
Stars stifle Colo.; Blues edge ’Hawks
WASHINGTON — Sidney Crosby scored in overtime and the streaking Pittsburgh Penguins rebounded after blowing a three-goal lead to beat the Washington Capitals 4-3 on Thursday night to clinch home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
The Penguins have won eight games in a row and 14 of their past 15 to vault into second place in the Metropolitan Division. The Presidents’ Trophy-winning Capitals have lost three consecutive games for the first time all season and have dropped four of their past five.
STARS 4, AVALANCHE 2: In Dallas, Jason Dickinson scored in his first NHL game, and Dallas beat Colorado to move closer to the Central Division and Western Conference titles.
With one game remaining for each team, the Stars and St. Louis are tied with 107 points, but Dallas holds the tiebreaker. Dallas hosts Nashville, and St. Louis hosts Washington, both on Saturday night.
BLUES 2, BLACKHAWKS 1 (OT): In Chicago, Vladimir Tarasenko scored his second goal of the game at 3:37 of overtime, and St. Louis cooled off Chicago in a possible playoff preview.
Tarasenko also tied it with 1:16 left in regulation with a laser from the left circle on a rebound attempt off a shot from Kevin Shattenkirk.
BRUINS 5, RED WINGS 2: In Boston, Torey Krug had a goal and two assists, Brad Marchand and Loui Eriksson each added a goal and assist, and Boston beat Detroit to keep its playoff hopes alive.
MAPLE LEAFS 4, FLYERS 3 (OT): In Philadelphia, Jake Gardiner scored a power-play goal at 2:51 of overtime to lift Toronto past Philadelphia.
The Flyers fell a point behind Boston and Detroit for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. But Philadelphia would secure a playoff berth by winning its last two games.
LIGHTNING 4, DEVILS 2: In Newark, N.J., Jonathan Drouin scored the winning goal in his second-chance return to the NHL and Tampa Bay beat New Jersey to clinch home-ice advantage for the first round of the playoffs.
ISLANDERS 4, RANGERS 1: In New York, John Tavares had a goal and an assist, and Thomas Greiss made 36 saves as the New York Islanders earned their first regularseason sweep of the New York Rangers.
The Islanders moved into a tie for third with the Rangers with 99 points in the Metropolitan Division.
PREDATORS 3, COYOTES 2 (OT): In Nashville, Tenn., Roman Josi scored 20 seconds into overtime, and Nashville rallied in the third period to beat Arizona in its home finale.
Filip Forsberg tied the franchise-record with his 33rd goal with 18.3 seconds left to force overtime. The puck had barely dropped when Josi scored quickly with a wrister.
CANADIENS 4, HURRICANES 2: In Raleigh, Max Pacioretty had a goal and an assist in Montreal’s victory over Carolina.
Charlie Lindgren had 26 saves in his first NHL appearance and Darren Dietz scored his first NHL goal late in the first period for Montreal.
SENATORS 3, PANTHERS 1: In Ottawa, Buddy Robinson scored his first NHL goal to help Ottawa beat Florida.
Craig Anderson made 32 saves in his 60th start of the season for Ottawa.
FLAMES 7, CANUCKS 3: In Calgary, Alberta, Mikael Backlund scored on a power play, at even strength and short-handed for his first NHL hat trick to help Calgary beat Vancouver.
RANGERS: Henrik Lundqvist has been voted the Rangers’ most valuable player for this season, a franchiserecord eighth time he has won the award.
The goaltender has a 35-20-7 record, along with a 2.46 goalsagainst average, a .921 save percentage and four shutouts in 64 appearances this season.