Eichel, Buffalo slow Toronto
Jack Eichel scored twice and set up another goal in the Sabres’ 5-2 win in Buffalo that slowed the youth-laden Toronto Maple Leafs’ late-season surge to clinch a playoff berth.
The Maple Leafs’ hold on third place in the Atlantic Division dwindled in having a three-game winning streak end and losing in regulation for just the second time in their past 10 games (7-2-1). With 85 points, Toronto has a one-point edge over the fourth-place Bruins.
Ryan O’Reilly and Dmitry Kulikov each had a goal and assist, and Evander Kane also scored in a game the Sabres took control of by scoring three straight times in the second period. Robin Lehner stopped 32 shots, and the Sabres continued their home dominance over their cross-border rivals by improving to 18-2-1 against Toronto in their last 21 games at Buffalo.
Auston Matthews scored his 34th to tie Toronto’s single-season rookie record set by Wendel Clark in 1985-86. Connor Brown also scored for the Maple Leafs.
Canadiens 3, Senators 1 —
Andrei Markov scored two goals and set up another and host Montreal beat Ottawa to retain first place in the Atlantic Division.
Shea Weber also scored for the Canadiens, who lead the Senators by three points. Carey Price stopped 31 shots for Montreal, which swept three games in an eight-day span from Ottawa and is 3-1-1 against its closest rival this season.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored for Ottawa. Craig Anderson had 21 saves.
Mark Stone returned to the Seantors lineup after missing seven games with a lower-body injury.
Capitals 4, Coyotes 1 —
Alex Ovechkin recorded his 30th goal of the season and Daniel Winnik scored twice, including the game-winner late in the third period, as Washington topped visiting Arizona to reach an NHL-leading 106 points.
Ovechkin became the third player in league history to score 30-plus goals in each of his first 12 seasons, joining Mike Gartner (15) and Wayne Gretzky (13).
Winnik broke a tie with 4:39 remaining. Justin Williams scored a short time later and Winnik sealed the win with an emptynetter. Braden Holtby made 28 saves.
Blue Jackets 1, Flyers 0 —
Sergei Bobrovsky made 36 saves in his seventh shutout of the season, leading host Columbus to the narrow victory against Philadelphia.
Bobrovsky was terrific in his NHL-leading 40th win, and Alexander Wennberg tipped in the game’s only goal in the second period.
Columbus is the lone team to avoid a three-game losing streak this season. The Flyers’ Michal Neuvirth had 20 saves.
Hurricanes 3, Devils 1 —
In Newark, N.J., Jeff Skinner scored the go-ahead goal on a breakaway with 10:26 left and surging Carolina stretched its point streak to 10 games with a win that eliminated New Jersey from playoff contention for the fifth straight year.
Sebastian Aho scored a pair of goals and Eddie Lack made 26 saves for the Hurricanes.
Panthers 7, Blackhawks 0 —
In Sunrise, Fla., Jonathan Marchessault recorded his first career hat trick, James Reimer stopped 25 shots for his first shutout of the season and Florida routed Chicago.
Canucks 4, Wild 2 —
In St. Paul, Minn., Reid Boucher scored twice in his team’s four-goal second period and Vancouver vanquished Minnesota, which has lost 7-of8 and is 3-10-0 in March.
Flames 3, Blues 2 —
Sean Monahan scored with three seconds left in overtime, lifting Calgary, which is 13-4 in OT, past host St. Louis.
Predators 7, Sharks 2 —
Colton Sissons and James Neal both scored twice and Nashville handed visiting San Jose a sixth straight loss.