Derek Stepan scored with 28 seconds left in regulation to force overtime, then got the winner late in the extra period in the New York Rangers’ 4-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday.
With their fourth straight win, the Rangers improved to a league-best 109 points. With three games remaining, the Rangers are two points ahead of Anaheim for the Presidents’ Trophy.
The Rangers have won the Presidents’ Trophy once in their 88-year history, in the 1993-1994 season — the last time the club won the Stanley Cup.
Photo: AFP
Columbus, the NHL’s hottest team, have won nine in a row, but will not make the playoffs.
SABRES 4, HURRICANES 3
In Buffalo, New York, Tyler Ennis scored his 20th goal and the Sabres avoided clinching a last-place overall finish in the NHL this season — at least for another game.
Mikhail Grigorenko, Brian Gionta and Johan Larsson also scored for Buffalo, who entered the game a loss away from guaranteeing the best odds at the first pick in June’s NHL draft. The Sabres have 54 points, two points behind Edmonton.
Anders Lindback made 49 saves.
Alexander Semin, Eric Staal and Patrick Dwyer scored for Carolina, which nearly erased a four-goal deficit in the defeat. Carolina out shot Buffalo in every period en route to a 52-25 advantage for the game.
JETS 2, WILD 0
In St Paul, Minnesota, Blake Wheeler and Drew Stafford scored and Ondrej Pavelec made 32 saves as Winnipeg gave their playoff push a big boost and prevented Minnesota from clinching a wild-card spot.
The Wild stayed stuck on 96 points after their first loss by more than one goal in 34 games since Jan. 19. They must finish the regular season on the road, where they have won 10 straight games to set a club record, with visits to Central Division rivals Chicago, Nashville and St Louis.
The Jets reached 94 points, keeping the pressure on not only the Wild, but the Pacific Division teams that have not secured one of the three playoff berths on the other side of the tough Western Conference.
STARS 5, SHARKS 1
In San Jose, California, Jamie Benn scored twice and Colton Sceviour scored in the first 30 seconds as Dallas beat San Jose on a night when both teams were eliminated from the playoff race.
Patrick Eaves and Ryan Garbutt also scored for the Stars, who have won seven of their last eight road games and seven of 10 overall.
Joe Thornton scored for the Sharks, who failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2002-2003.
Jhonas Enroth stopped 23 of 24 shots to improve to 3-0 in four career appearances against the Sharks. Alex Stalock made 20 saves.
CANUCKS 2, KINGS 1, SO
In Vancouver, Chris Higgins scored in the shootout and Eddie Lack made 36 saves to lead Vancouver.
Daniel Sedin scored in regulation as the Canucks solidified second place in the Pacific Division with 97 points, four ahead of Calgary and the Kings.
Dwight King scored for the defending Stanley Cup champion Kings, who moved into a third-place tie at 93 points with Calgary. However, the Flames own a tiebreaker with more regulation and overtime wins.
Los Angeles also dropped one point behind Winnipeg for the second wild card in the Western Conference.
Taiwan’s Lee Hao-yu on Friday went 0-for-3 in his MLB debut for the Detroit Tigers against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, becoming the 19th Taiwan-born player to reach the big leagues. The Tigers ultimately lost 1-0 in 10 innings, ending their six-game winning streak. The 23-year-old started at third base and batted eighth for Detroit. He was promoted from Triple-A Toledo ahead of the four-game series against the Red Sox at the latter’s home stadium, replacing injured utility player Zach McKinstry. “Being right-handed, and given our schedule, I think six of the next 12 games are going to
Matheus Cunha on Saturday fired Manchester United toward the UEFA Champions League with a 1-0 win at Chelsea, while Tottenham Hotspur remain in the relegation zone after twice blowing the lead to draw with Brighton & Hove Albion. Chelsea failed to take advantage of a United defense ravaged by injury and suspension as a fourth straight league defeat for the Blues left their Champions League hopes in ruins. United have missed out on the riches of Europe’s elite competition for the past two seasons, but are closing in on a return thanks to an upturn in fortunes under interim manager
Italian soccer is at its lowest ebb in nearly 40 years after a wholesale European exodus at club level followed the nation’s failure for the third successive time to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, and compounded a leadership and structural crisis. The exits suffered by Bologna and ACF Fiorentina on Thursday in the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League respectively meant no Italian teams are left in European competition this season. Italy’s last remaining UEFA Champions League contenders, Atalanta BC, went out in the round of 16 last month. It is the first time since the 1986-1987 campaign that Italian clubs
The Detroit Tigers’ Lee Hao-yu on Monday collected his first and second MLB hits in their 8-6 loss to the Boston Red Sox. The Tigers’ No. 6 prospect, who batted eighth, had an RBI single and a double in four at-bats at Fenway Park, raising his batting average to .182. “He was super thrilled to get his first hit,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said after the game. “There’s only one first, you know, and for him, it’s been a couple of games where he’s really been wanting to do it. I’m glad he did it here.” “Young guys settle in when they start
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