PASTRNAK KEEPS BRUINS’ HOPES FOR TOP SEED ALIVE

BOSTON» David Pastrnak and Tommy Wingels scored 51 seconds apart in the second period, and Boston beat the Ottawa Senators 5-2 on Saturday night, preserving the Bruins’ chances for the No. 1 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.

Danton Heinen also scored for Boston, which added late goals by Noel Acciari and David Backes in the final two minutes to put away the Senators and complete the season sweep.

Anton Khudobin stopped 26 shots for the Bruins, who host Florida on Sunday night in a game postponed from Jan. 4.

SATURDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS

Elias Lindholm scored 49 seconds into overtime, and the Hurricanes prevented Tampa Bay from clinching the top spot in the Eastern Conference by beating the Lightning 3-2. … Filip Forsberg scored three goals, and the

Predators finished off the best regular season in franchise history by beating the Blue Jackets 4-2. … Zach Hyman scored the winner early in the third period, Frederik Andersen made 31 saves to set a franchise mark with his 38th win of the season, and the

Maple Leafs closed out their schedule with a 4-2 victory over the Canadiens. … Claude Giroux earned his first career hat trick in the regular season and the Flyers clinched a playoff berth in their final regular-season game with a 5-0 victory over the Rangers. New York fired coah Alain Vigneault after missing the playoff for the first time since 2009-10. … Andrew Copp scored twice and Connor Hellebuyck set an NHL record for most wins in a season by an American goaltender and the Jets beat the Blackhawks 4-1. … Alex Ovechkin scored twice to make it an Nhl-leading 49 goals as the Capitals beat the Devils 5-3. … The Panthers were eliminated from playoff contention, even after Vincent Trocheck scored late in the third period to help hold off the Sabres 4-3. … Rickard Rakell had a goal and assist, and Ryan Miller made 31 saves to lead the Ducks to a 3-0 win over the Coyotes. … John Tavares scored 3:16 into overtime as the Islanders rallied for a 4-3 victory over the Red Wings.

FOOTNOTES Red Wings GM gets new deal.

Red Wings executive vice president and general manager Ken Holland signed a new two-year deal. … Antti Raanta earned him a three-year contract that makes him the Coyotes’ franchise goalie for the foreseeable future. Raanta is scheduled to earn $12.75 million over the life of the deal that keeps him under contract through the 2020-21 season.