The San Jose Sharks clinched the best record in the National Hockey League on Saturday despite dropping their season finale against the Los Angeles Kings 4-3.
Wayne Simmonds had a goal and an assist and Jonathan Quick made 27 saves for the Kings, who didn’t qualify for the playoffs but closed out their season in style.
San Jose will finish with the best record in the league for the first time, after the Boston Bruins fell 6-1 at Buffalo on Saturday, the penultimate day of the regular season.
PHOTO: AP
Michal Handzus, Alexander Frolov and Peter Harrold also scored for the Kings.
Devin Setoguchi, Joe Pavelski and Patrick Marleau scored for San Jose, who will be the top seeds in the Western Conference playoffs.
“It feels good, that’s what we worked for all year,” Sharks forward Milan Michalek said.
But the Sharks aren’t heading into the playoffs on a high note.
They also lost 4-1 at home against Phoenix on Thursday and needed a shootout to beat last-place Colorado 1-0 on Tuesday.
PENGUINS 3, CANADIENS 1
At Montreal, Maxime Talbot and Kris Letang scored short-handed goals 55 seconds apart midway through the third period to lift Pittsburgh over Montreal.
Pittsburgh will play Philadelphia in the first round of the playoffs.
Montreal will be the No. 8 seed in the East and have to face the top-seeded Bruins in the playoffs.
In other games it was:
• Blackhawks 4, Red Wings 2
• Sabres 6, Bruins 1
• Devils 3, Hurricanes 2
• Panthers 7, Capitals 4
• Wild 6, Blue Jackets 3
• Coyotes 5, Ducks 4, SO
• Canucks 1, Avalanche 0, OT
• Maple Leafs 5, Senators 2
• Flyers 3, Islanders 2
• Flames 4, Oilers 1
• Thrashers 6, Lightning 2
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