The Philadelphia Flyers are on their way to the Stanley Cup playoffs, and maybe a division title as well.

"It's a good day to be a Philadelphia Flyer," coach Terry Murray said following a 2-1 victory Thursday night over the New York Islanders. "The players have done a tremendous job, right from the first day."The Flyers have been more noticeable recently, winning eight straight to advance to the playoffs for the first time since 1989. The Atlantic-leading Flyers can clinch their first division championship since 1987 with a victory on Saturday over the New Jersey Devils, 1-0 losers to Florida.

"It's done," Flyers captain Eric Lindros said. "(Making the playoffs) was our goal at the start of the season, but it's been refocused. We've got to keep improving."

Mikael Renberg scored with 8:29 left in the third period to lift the Flyers over the visiting Islanders.

New York, which had won its two previous meetings against Philadelphia this season, took a 1-0 lead at 15:46 of the first period on Kirk Muller's short-handed goal. Lindros, the NHL scoring leader, then tied the game with a power-play goal 59 seconds into the second period.

Before the latest playoff drought, the Flyers had advanced to the playoffs every season starting in 1973.

Islanders goaltender Tommy Salo faced 27 shots in the opening two periods alone and 38 total.

"He had to rush to make some big saves," New York coach Lorne Henning said. "They have a real strong team."

Panthers 1, Devils 0

Jesse Belanger's third-period power-play goal lifted Florida over New Jersey, the Panthers' first victory over the Devils.

Florida had been 0-2 against New Jersey this season and was 0-3-2 last year.

Panthers backup goaltender Mark Fitzpatrick had 17 saves to record his second shutout of the season. It was Fitzpatrick's first victory since he beat the Ottawa Senators 4-1 on Feb. 25.

Rangers 3, Whalers 2

Sergei Zubov scored the tying goal and assisted on Petr Nedved's game-winner as New York came from behind to beat visiting Hartford.

The win put the Rangers, Whalers and Washington Capitals in a three-way tie for sixth place in the Eastern Conference with 41 points apiece. The Rangers would get sixth place with more victories . The Capitals have a game in hand on the other two clubs.

The Rangers scored the game-winner at 10:59 of the third, as Steve Larmer's pass from the corner deflected off Nedved's skate past goaltender Sean Burke.

Lightning 5, Nordiques 2

Rookie Jason Wiemer scored his first NHL goal and set up another as Tampa Bay stayed in the Eastern Conference playoff race with a victory over Quebec.

Peter Forsberg scored both Quebec goals, adding to his lead among rookie scoring leaders (14 goals, 46 points). Five of the game's seven goals were scored by rookies.

The Lightning won for the fourth time in six games and improved their record to 37 points (17-22-3).

Bruins 6, Senators 5

Ray Bourque had the game-winner as visiting Boston scored four times in the third period to overcome a four-goal deficit.

The Senators, attempting to end a five-game losing streak, took a 4-0 lead against former teammate Craig Billington in the Boston net.

But the NHL's worst team was unable to put away the Bruins, who came back with a tremendous third-period rally capped by Bourque's game-winner.

Flames 2, Canucks 2

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At Vancouver, Trevor Linden scored goals 21 seconds apart in the second period to give the Canucks a tie with Calgary.

The Flames took a 2-0 lead in the first on goals by Robert Reichel at 5:20 and Sandy McCarthy at 9:39. But Linden quickly went to work in the second, scoring 11 seconds into the period and then again at the 32-second mark to give him 15 goals for the season.

Calgary goaltender Trevor Kidd made 28 saves and Vancouver's Kirk McLean 26 as the Canucks outshot the Flames 30-28.

With the tie, the first-place Flames maintained their nine-point lead over Vancouver in the Pacific Division.

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