Golden Knights win, secure playoff berth
William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault each scored to help the Vegas Golden Knights clinch a playoff spot with a 4-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Monday night.
The Golden Knights became the first team to reach the playoffs in its inaugural season since the league expanded for the 1967-68 season.
It was also the 200th career victory for coach Gerard Gallant.
Alex Tuch and Shea Theodore also scored for Vegas, and Marc-Andre Fleury improved to 28-11-4 after stopping 28 shots.
The Golden Knights host San Jose on Saturday and are six points in front of the Sharks in the Pacific Division.
Erik Johnson scored for the Avalanche and Semyon Varlamov made 26 saves.
The Avalanche are fourth in the Central Division but hold the top wild card in the Western Conference, just in front of St. Louis.
KINGS 3, FLAMES 0 >> Anze Kopitar tied a career high with his 34th goal, Jonathan Quick made 23 saves and L.A. moved back into playoff position by moving into a tie with Anaheim for third place in the Pacific Division at 91 points. They also passed Colorado (90 points) and St. Louis (89) in the Western Conference wild-card race.
Mike Smith stopped 26 shots for the Flames, who were eliminated from playoff contention. Calgary has been outscored 28-7 during a six-game losing streak. COYOTES 4, LIGHTNING 1 >> Clayton Keller had a goal and an assist to lead Arizona over Tampa Bay, which played without captain Steven Stamkos because of a lower-body injury and lost consecutive games for the second time in 10 days. CAPITALS 4, RANGERS 2 >> Alex Ovechkin scored his NHL-leading 45th goal to help Washington extend its winning streak to four games with a victory over New York.
T.J. Oshie, Matt Niskanen and Evgeny Kuznetsov also scored for Washington.
Lias Andersson scored in his NHL debut and Mats Zuccarello added a goal for the Rangers.
PANTHERS 3, ISLANDERS 0 >> Evgenii Dadonov had a goal and an assist, and James Reimer stopped 32 shots for his fourth shutout of the season in Florida’s victory over New York.
Reimer, who has 21 career shutouts, won his fifth straight start with his second shutout during that stretch.
SABRES 3, MAPLE LEAFS 2 >> Jack Eichel scored his second goal of the game midway through the third period to lift Buffalo over Toronto end the Maple Leafs’ club-record home winning streak at 13 games.
Patrick Marleau had a goal and an assist, and Nazem Kadri also scored for Toronto.
HURRICANES 4, SENATORS 1 >> Warren Foegele had a goal and an assist in his NHL debut to help Carolina get its third victory in a row. CANADIENS 4, RED WINGS 2 >> Brendan Gallagher scored twice, including his 30th goal of the season, to lead Montreal past Detroit. DUCKS SIGN FORWARD >> Right wing Troy Terry, who played on the U.S. Olympic team, has agreed to a threeyear entry-level contract with the Anaheim Ducks. WILD SIGNS PROSPECT >> The Minnesota Wild signed Olympic player and left wing Jordan Greenway to a three-year, entry-level contract.
SABRES’ PROSPECT LEAVES SCHOOL >> The Buffalo Sabres’ top prospect, center Casey Mittelstadt, is leaving Minnesota following his freshman season after agreeing to a three-year, entry-level contract.