The New York Islanders beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1 Tuesday night, with all of the Islanders scores coming in the third period.
Cliff Ronning had two assists for the Islanders, who have a six-point lead over Buffalo for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff berth.
"At this time of year, it's such a grind to get points because it's a dogfight," Islanders coach Steve Stirling said. "We're not trying to look over our shoulders, but every time Buffalo inches up you can't help it. Anytime you can get two points, it takes a little pressure off."
Fredrik Modin had the Tampa Bay goal.
"I think it's disappointing that we end up losing the game," Lightning captain Dave Andreychuk said. "It was a pretty even game."
The Lightning lead Philadelphia by one point for the best record in the East, but have lost two straight, their only two defeats in regulation since Feb. 3.
Canadiens 4, Avalanche 2
In Montreal, Saku Koivu scored a power-play goal 4:18 into the third period and Jose Theodore made 29 saves to lead Montreal over Colorado.
Koivu also assisted on Yanic Perreault's first-period goal to extend his point streak to six games.
Rookie forward Michael Ryder and Mike Ribeiro also scored for the Canadiens, who won their second straight. Montreal has lost just once in regulation in 12 games (10-1-0-1).
Colorado had a season-high, four-game unbeaten streak snapped, losing for the first time since March 7.
Rob Blake and Chris Gratton scored for the Avalanche on assists from Steve Konowalchuk.
Bruins 2, Maple Leafs 1
In Toronto, Travis Green scored twice against his former team, and Boston clinched a playoff spot by beating Toronto.
Green, waived by the Maple Leafs in October, scored the go-ahead goal with 7:29 left in the third. He had two power-play goals for the Bruins, who have won fourth straight.
Boston, unbeaten in six games (5-0-1), moved three points ahead of Toronto for first place in the Northeast Division.
Joe Nieuwendyk scored for the Maple Leafs, who have lost four of six.
Flames 4, Red Wings 1
In Detroit, Miikka Kiprusoff made 25 saves, and Calgary got goals from four players in a win over Detroit that stretched the Flames' unbeaten streak to six games.
The Flames have also beaten two of the NHL's other top teams, Ottawa and Colorado, in their 4-0-2 stretch. Stephane Yelle, Steve Montador, Matthew Lombardi and Craig Conroy were Calgary's scorers.
Kirk Maltby had a goal for Detroit, which had its eight-game unbeaten streak (7-0-1) snapped. The Red Wings lead Colorado by three points in the race for the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
Penguins 4, Capitals 1
In Pittsburgh, Landon Wilson had two power-play goals, and Matt Hussey scored in his first NHL game to help Pittsburgh push its unbeaten streak to six games.
Mike Eastwood also scored for the last-place Penguins, 5-0-1 in their last six games and 7-2-2 in their last 11. Pittsburgh, unbeaten in four home games (3-0-1) after enduring a 16-game home winless streak, climbed within five points of Washington in the overall standings.
Wild 5, Senators 2
In St. Paul, Minnesota, Marian Gaborik scored three goals and assisted on two others, and Dwayne Roloson made 36 saves to help Minnesota beat Ottawa.
Gaborik scored in the first minute of the second and third periods, completing his hat trick with two minutes remaining.
Marc Chouinard and Rickard Wallin also scored for the Wild, which netted three power-play goals in four chances .
Marian Hossa and Bryan Smolinski scored for Ottawa.
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