The Boston Bruins clinched an NHL playoff spot with a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday.
Brad Marchand scored a power-play goal with 3:43 left in regulation, and Nathan Horton also scored to help the Northeast Division leaders.
Tim Thomas made 27 saves for the Bruins, allowing only Kris Versteeg’s early goal.
Eastern Conference-leading Philadelphia were unbeaten in regulation in their previous nine games. They are two points ahead of Washington and Pittsburgh for the top spot.
CANUCKS 4, BLUE JACKETS 1
In Columbus, Ohio, Vancouver reached 50 wins in a season for the first time in their 40-year NHL history, beating Columbus.
Chris Higgins had two goals and an assist as the NHL-leading Canucks extended their road winning streak to eight, matching the franchise record set in early 2004.
Christian Ehrhoff and Henrik Sedin also scored for Vancouver, who have won 10 of 11 overall and seven in a row against Columbus.
R.J. Umberger scored a consolation for the Blue Jackets with just under 10 minutes remaining.
THRASHERS 5, SENATORS 4, SO
In Atlanta, Georgia, the home team got past Ottawa in a shootout, moving nine points behind Buffalo, who hold the last place in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Andrew Ladd scored the deciding shootout goal, Blake Wheeler and Ben Maxwell each had a goal and an assist, while Bryan Little and Mark Stuart also scored for the Thrashers.
Marek Svatos had two goals and Chris Neil and Erik Condra also scored for the Senators.
PENGUINS 2, PANTHERS 1, SO
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the hosts won their fourth consecutive shootout, edging Florida.
Alex Kovalev and James Neal scored in the shootout, Ben Lovejoy scored in regulation and Marc-Andre Fleury had 37 saves for the Penguins, who moved two points behind Philadelphia in the race for the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference leads.
Pittsburgh, tied with Washington for second in the conference with 98 points, have won six of seven.
Fleury set a team record for time elapsed between goals allowed (150 minutes, 14 seconds) and made two stops in the shootout.
Ryan Carter scored for the Panthers, who have lost five straight.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
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Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
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