Brian Gionta scored a power-play goal 28 seconds into overtime and the New Jersey Devils wrapped up a playoff spot in their 4-3 road victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night.
Martin Brodeur made 37 saves to help New Jersey stretch its winning streak to eight games and become the first NHL goalie to win 40 games in five seasons. He's 40-23-7.
Gionta's power-play goal — his 45th goal of the season — capped a wild ending, with both teams scoring in the final 5 minutes of regulation and New Jersey locking up its ninth straight playoff spot when the game went to overtime.
ISLANDERS 3, RANGERS 2: At New York, Miroslav Satan scored his 32nd and 33rd goals and the Islanders slowed the rival Rangers' drive to the Atlantic Division title.
FLYERS 4, PENGUINS 3: At Philadelphia, Jeff Carter's power-play goal with 6:32 left helped the Flyers move within three points of the Atlantic Division-leading New York Ranger. Simon Gagne scored his 45th goal and Joni Pitkanen and Brian Savage also scored for the Flyers, who were without star center Peter Forsberg for the third straight game because of a groin injury. Michel Ouellet, Ryan Whitney and Sidney Crosby scored for Pittsburgh, which already secured the worst record in the conference.
RED WINGS 2, OILERS 0: At Detroit, Manny Legace made 29 saves and Kris Draper and Donald MacLean scored goals to help the Red Wings clinch the best record in the NHL. The Presidents' Trophy-winning Red Wings, with 118 points, will have home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs. Edmonton is eighth in the Western Conference standings — two points ahead of idle Vancouver — for the final playoff spot.
Legace has seven shutouts this season and 13 in his career.
THRASHERS 6, LIGHTNING 2: At Tampa, Andy Sutton and Bobby Holik each scored twice and Mike Dunham stopped 32 shots to help Atlanta tighten the race for the last two positions in the Eastern Conference.
SENATORS 4, BRUINS 3, OT: At Ottawa, Zdeno Chara scored twice in his return to Ottawa's lineup from a hand injury, including the winner 40 seconds into overtime, and the Senators regained the Eastern Conference lead from Carolina. Chara swept behind the Bruins' net and put a backhand shot over goalie Tim Thomas for his 16th of the season to end Ottawa's four-game losing streak. Chris Kelly and Antoine Vermette also scored for the Senators, and Michael Morrison made 19 saves to win in his first start for Ottawa. Brad Stuart, Travis Green and Patrice Bergeron scored for Boston.
MAPLE LEAFS 6, PANTHERS 5, OT: At Toronto, Mats Sundin had four goals and two assists and Tomas Kaberle scored with 11 seconds left in overtime for the Maple Leafs.
Sundin was one short of his career high of five goals, set March 4, 1992, against Hartford while he played for Quebec.
PREDATORS 2, BLUES 0: At St. Louis, Chris Mason made 27 saves for his third career shutout and Nashville reached 100 points for the first time in franchise history.
WILD 2, BLACKHAWKS 0: At St. Paul, Minn., Josh Harding made 27 saves in his second NHL start and Stephane Veilleux scored the deciding goal on a third-period breakaway for Minnesota.
AVALANCHE 6, COYOTES 4: At Denver, Jose Theodore won in his first start for Colorado, and Alex Tanguay scored on his first shift after coming off the injured list.
STARS 3, BLUE JACKETS 2: At Dallas, Jason Arnott had an early power-play goal and Janne Niinimaa and Jaroslav Svoboda added rare goals for the Stars in their franchise-record 52nd win.
FLAMES 3, MIGHTY DUCKS 0: At Calgary, Alberta, Miikka Kiprusoff made 32 saves for his NHL-leading ninth shutout of the season and the Flames beat the Ducks to move a step closer to their first division title since 1994-95.