The defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins qualified for the playoffs with a victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday at Pittsburgh.
Sidney Crosby set up three goals as the Penguins beat the Flyers 4-1 in the final regular season game in Mellon Arena between the longtime rivals.
Pascal Dupuis, Chris Kunitz, Ruslan Fedotenko and Matt Cooke scored for the Penguins.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Scoring more than three goals for the first time in 10 games, the Stanley Cup champions ended a three-game losing streak and clinched a berth in the Eastern Conference playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.
The Flyers generated little offense and lost their fifth in a row and seventh in eight games.
The Penguins are tied with the New Jersey Devils for the Atlantic Division lead.
The New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres joined the Penguins in nailing down Eastern Conference playoff berths while the Phoenix Coyotes made the postseason for the first time since 2002 in the West.
The four teams join the Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks in the playoffs as the regular season enters its final two weeks.
Washington, the Southeast Division winner, could clinch the top seeding in the Eastern Conference by scoring at least a point against the Calgary Flames yesterday or if New Jersey lost to the Philadelphia Flyers.
DEVILS 4, CANADIENS 2
The New Jersey Devils made the postseason for the 13th successive year with a 4-2 triumph at Montreal. Patrik Elias and Jamie Langenbrunner both had power-play goals and Dainius Zubrus also scored for New Jersey, which clinched its 13th straight playoff berth.
Martin Brodeur made 25 saves for his 41st victory of the season and New Jersey’s 44th.
Brian Rolston recorded his 700th career point when he scored into an empty net at 19:50.
The Devils, who have won four straight in Montreal, moved into a share of first place with Pittsburgh in the Atlantic Division with 93 points. New Jersey, which snapped a four-game losing streak on the road, holds the edge for second place overall in the Eastern Conference with one more win than the Penguins.
SABRES 7, LIGHTNING 1
At Buffalo, the Northeast Division leader Buffalo Sabres, secured its first playoff spot since 2007 with a 7-1 rout of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Netminder Patrick Lalime had 22 saves for his 200th career win. Lalime is the 66th NHL goalie to reach the milestone.
Derek Roy posted his fourth career hat trick and added an assist for Buffalo. Paul Gaustad, Jochen Hecht, Jason Pominville, and Adam Mair also scored for the Sabres, who have won five of six.
COYOTES 6, AVALANCHE 2
At Glendale, Arizona, Phoenix used two goals by Lee Stempniak to beat Colorado 6-2 to grab a playoff spot. The Coyotes, second in the Pacific Division, also reached the 100-point mark for the first time in franchise history.
The Phoenix Coyotes, the surprise team of the NHL, celebrated their first playoff berth since 2002 with a big win over Colorado Avalanche.
The Coyotes, still owned by the league after going through protracted bankruptcy proceedings last summer, clinched the postseason spot earlier in the day when Calgary lost to Boston.
Four of Phoenix’s goals came from players who joined the team at the March 3 trade deadline — Lee Stempniak, Wojtek Wolski and Derek Morris.
Stempniak, with both scores in the third period, has 12 goals in 12 games since arriving from Toronto, including four two-goal games.
BRUINS 5, FLAMES 0
At Boston, Dennis Seidenberg, David Krejci and Zdeno Chara scored power-play goals, and Tim Thomas stopped 31 shots for the Bruins in his first shutout since Dec. 21.
Patrice Bergeron and Mark Recchi also scored for the Bruins, who won for just the third time in 15 home games and moved into a share of seventh in the East with Philadelphia.
In other NHL action, it was:
• Maple Leafs 3, Rangers 2, OT
• Thrashers 4, Hurricanes 0
• Senators 3, Panthers 2
• Islanders 4, Blue Jackets 3, OT
• Red Wings 1, Predators 0, SO
• Sharks 4, Canucks 2
• Stars 4, Kings 1
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