Around the League notebook for Saturday, March 28

SATURDAY'S RESULTS

Home Team in Caps

Nashville 4, WASHINGTON 3

Boston 4, NY Rangers 2

Anaheim 3, NY ISLANDERS 2

San Jose 3, PHILADELPHIA 2 (SO)

PITTSBURGH 3, Arizona 2

DETROIT 4, Tampa Bay 0

TORONTO 4, Ottawa 3 (OT)

MONTREAL 3, Florida 2 (OT)

CAROLINA 3, New Jersey 1

Columbus 4, ST. LOUIS 2

MINNESOTA 4, Los Angeles 1

COLORADO 5, Buffalo 3

Dallas 4, VANCOUVER 3 (OT)

DUCKS, PREDATORS CLAIM POSTSEASON BERTHS IN WEST

* Frederik Andersen made 29 saves and Andrew Cogliano's second period goal stood as the game-winner for the Anaheim Ducks, who clinched a playoff berth with a 3-2 win against the New York Islanders. The League-leading Ducks (48-22-7, 103 points) reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the 11th time in franchise history and third consecutive season.

* Andersen improved to 33-11-5 with a 2.40 goals-against average and .914 save percentage, and has won three of his past four starts.

* Rickard Rakell and Kyle Palmieri also scored for the Ducks. Palmieri's goal was his 14th of the season, matching his career-high set last season.

* Anaheim leads the NHL in wins (31-1-7) and winning percentage (.794) in one-goal games this season.

* The Nashville Predators jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period before holding on to a 4-3 win against the Washington Capitals for their fourth consecutive victory to clinch a berth in Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Predators (47-21-8, 102 points) reach the playoffs for the eighth time in franchise history and first since 2011-12. Their 102 points are the fourth most in franchise history (110 points in 2006-07, 106 in 2005-06, 104 in 2011-12).

* Filip Forsberg (1-2—3) matched a career-high with three points and is tied for the Predators lead with 59 points (23-36—59) this season. Forsberg also passed Calgary Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau (21-37—58) for the rookie scoring lead.

* Mike Ribeiro (1-1—2), who scored the game-winning goal, tied Forsberg's team-leading 59 points (15-44—59). Gabriel Bourque (0-2—2) also pitched in with a multi-point effort.

* Pekka Rinne made 25 saves to win his fourth consecutive game and League-leading (tied) 41st victory of the season, two shy of his own franchise record of 43 set in 2011-12. Rinne is 41-15-4 with a 2.10 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage.

CANADIENS PUNCH TICKET TO POSTSEASON IN OT

Max Pacioretty scored a power-play goal with 2:01 remaining in overtime to lead the Montreal Canadiens to a 3-2 win against the Florida Panthers. With the win, the Canadiens (47-21-8, 102 points) passed the New York Rangers (47-20-7, 101 points) for first place in the Eastern Conference and clinched a playoff berth. The Canadiens reach the postseason for the 82nd time in history (since 1917-18) and third consecutive season.

* Pacioretty's goal in the extra frame was his 10th game-winner of the season (second in overtime). His 10 game-winning goals lead the Canadiens and are second-most in the League (Alex Ovechkin – 11). He leads the team and is tied for fourth in the NHL with 36 goals this season.

* Alex Galchenyuk scored to reach 20 goals in a season for the first time in his NHL career (20-23—43).

* Carey Price made 21 saves for his 41st win of this season. He leads the League in wins (tied), goals-against average (1.88), save percentage (.937) and shutouts (9; tied).

WILD WIN FIFTH STRAIGHT, CLIMB CENTRAL STANDINGS

Mikko Koivu (2-1—3) and Nino Niederreiter (2-0—2) each scored twice, and Devan Dubnyk made 31 saves, to help the Minnesota Wild to their fifth consecutive victory. With the win, the Wild are 44-25-7 (95 points) and leapfrogged the idle Chicago Blackhawks for third place in the Central Division.

* Koivu matched a season-high with three points and set a new franchise record for most multi-point games in Wild history (115), passing Marian Gaborik (114).

* Niederreiter (24-13—37) has set career-highs in goals and points, surpassing his previous high in each category set last season (14-22—36).

* Dubnyk has made 35 straight starts (including one with the Arizona Coyotes). According to the Elias Sports Bureau that is the most in the League since Dwayne Roloson made 36 straight for the Edmonton Oilers (Jan. 18-Apr. 7, 2009). Dubnyk has gone 26-6-1 with a 1.70 goals-against average, .939 save percentage and five shutouts in a franchise-record 34 consecutive starts since joining the Wild on Jan. 15.

* Chris Stewart (0-2—2) earned his second multi-point game since debuting with the Wild on March 3. He has three goals and nine points in 14 games with Minnesota.

PENGUINS JUMP ISLANDERS IN METROPOLITAN DIVISION

Trailing 1-0 in the third period, the Pittsburgh Penguins scored three unanswered goals, with Sidney Crosby (1-2—3) factoring in on all of them including Steve Downie's game-winner, to defeat the Coyotes, improve to 41-23-11 (93 points) and leapfrog the Islanders (44-27-5, 93 points) – who lost in regulation to the Ducks – for second in the Metropolitan Division.

* Crosby pushed his League-leading point total to 25-53—78. He's earned three (or more) points in a game on 12 occasions this season and sits one shy of 300 career NHL goals (299).

* Evgeni Malkin added a pair of assists in his first game back after missing six with an injury.

* Daniel Winnik scored his ninth goal of the season (second as a Penguin) to set a new career-high for points in a season with 9-22—31 (previously 6-24—30 with Anaheim in 2013-14).

* The Penguins are 17-6-4 against the Western Conference this season, the second-most such wins in the Eastern Conference (Detroit Red Wings – 18).

BRUINS LEAPFROG SENATORS IN WILD CARD RACE

Milan Lucic scored twice in the first period and the Boston Bruins jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second frame before holding on to a 4-2 win against the Rangers. Carl Soderberg (1-1—2) also pitched in with a multi-point effort.

* With the win, the Bruins (37-25-13, 87 points) passed the Ottawa Senators (37-25-12, 86 points) – who lost in overtime – and sit four points ahead of the Panthers (34-26-15, 83 points) – who lost in overtime - for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Tuukka Rask made 14 saves to record his 30th win of the season despite exiting the game 10 seconds into the second period with suspected dehydration. Niklas Svedberg made 16 saves in relief to help solidify the victory.

RED WINGS HOLD STEADY IN ATLANTIC

Petr Mrazek made 23 saves for his second shutout of the season and the Red Wings erupted for three goals in 3:54 of the second period en route to a 4-0 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Red Wings are 40-22-12 with 92 points, five ahead of the Bruins (37-25-13, 87 points) for third place in the Atlantic Division.

* Mrazek is 15-7-1 with a 2.40 goals-against average, .917 save percentage and two shutouts.

* Gustav Nyquist (1-1—2) and Kyle Quincy (0-2—2) led the Red Wings charge with multi-point efforts. Nyquist sits fourth on Detroit with 51 points (24-27—51).

* Justin Abdelkader scored for the fourth consecutive game (4-2—6) and is tied for third on the Red Wings with a career-high 23 goals.

* Detroit defeated their division rivals for the first time this season, after the Lightning won the first three head-to-head games.

STARS, SHARKS, AVALANCHE CONTINUE WEST PLAYOFF PUSH

* John Klingberg scored his first career overtime winner to lead the Dallas Stars past the Vancouver Canucks in a back-and-forth game that saw three lead changes. The Stars (37-29-10, 84 points) pulled within six points of the Winnipeg Jets (39-24-12, 90 points) for the final wild-card position in the Western Conference. Klingberg leads all rookie defensemen in goals (11, tied), assists (27) and points (38). Tyler Seguin (1-1—2), Cody Eakin (0-2—2) and Trevor Daley (0-2—2) each had multi-point games.

* The San Jose Sharks outshot the Philadelphia Flyers 44-18 but needed five shootout rounds to earn the win. Sharks forward Joe Pavelski scored his 36th goal, his 19th on the power play. Only Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin (21) has more power-play markers than Pavelski this season. The Sharks are 37-30-8 (82 points) and six points back of the Los Angeles Kings (37-24-14, 88 points) for third in the Pacific Division and eight points shy of the Jets for the final wild-card position in the West.

* The Colorado Avalanche jumped out to a 4-0 lead early in the second period and hung on for a 5-3 win against the Buffalo Sabres. Matt Duchene (1-2—3) and Jarome Iginla (0-3—3) led the offense with three points apiece. Iginla (1,220 career points) passed Jean Beliveau (1,219) for sole possession of 40th on the NHL's all-time points list. Ryan O'Reilly (0-1—1) extended his point streak to seven games (4-8—12). The Avalanche are 35-28-12 (82 points) sit eight points back of the Jets for the final wild-card position in the West.

AROUND THE RINKS

A look at other highlights from around the NHL on Saturday…

* The Columbus Blue Jackets received multi-point efforts from Boone Jenner (1-1—2, including the game-winner) and Cam Atkinson (1-1—2) to earn their sixth consecutive victory and a franchise-best eight straight road wins. They have set a franchise record with 22 road wins this season. Sergei Bobrovsky made 29 saves for his 25th win (2.74 GAA, .917 SV%).

* Trailing 3-1 midway through the second period, the Toronto Maple Leafs scored three unanswered goals, including Eric Brewer's first as a Maple Leaf in overtime, to earn a victory against the Senators. Tyler Bozak led the offense with a career-high four points (3-1—4), including his first career hat trick and the game-tying goal with 1:24 remaining in regulation. He was also 16-1 in the face-off circle. Linemates James van Riemsdyk (0-3—3) and Phil Kessel (0-3—3) each had three-point nights.

* After trailing 1-0 in the first period, the Carolina Hurricanes scored three unanswered goals to defeat the New Jersey Devils. Chris Terry, Eric Staal and Justin Faulk scored for the Hurricanes while Victor Rask picked up an assist to extended his point streak to four games (1-3—4). Cam Ward made 21 saves to earn his 20th win of the season, his sixth with at least 20 victories.

LOOSE PUCKS

Rangers forward Rick Nash scored his 40th goal of the season, reaching the mark for the third time in his NHL career (first time with NYR)…Flyers forward Claude Giroux scored for the fourth consecutive game (5-0—5) while teammate Jakub Voracek extended his assist/point streak to four games (0-7—7)…Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist played his first game since Feb. 2, making 26 saves in a losing effort…Capitals forward Troy Brouwer scored twice, including one shorthanded, to reach 20 goals in a season for the third time in his career and second consecutive season…Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen (0-1—1) has six assists in his past five games…The Panthers line of Aleksander Barkov (2-0—2), Jonathan Huberdeau (0-2—2) and Jaromir Jagr (0-1—1) combined for five points (2-3—5). Barkov has two goals and five points in his past three games, Huberdeau also has two goals and five points in his past three and Jagr has three assists…Senators forward Mark Stone (1-0—1) scored his 19th goal to sit third in the rookie points race with 19 goals and 52 points…Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon (0-1—1) earn his 100th career NHL point (26-74—100)…Appearing in his 200th NHL game, Blues forward Jaden Schwartz (0-1—1) matched his career-high with 56 points (24-32—56)…Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk played 21:34 in his first game since Feb. 1…Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie (1-0—1) earned his 100th career NHL point (27-73—100)…Sabres defensemen Andrej Meszaros (2-0—2) and Rasmus Ristolainen (1-1—2) had multi-point games. It was Ristolainen's first career multi-point game…Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo reached behind his back to make a desperation goal line save …Canucks forward Radim Vrbata (1-1—2) reached the 30-goal mark for the second time in his NHL career (35 in 2011-12)…Defenseman Mark Alt made his NHL debut with the Flyers…Devils forward Jordin Tootoo (600), Capitals forward Curtis Glencross (500) and Maple Leafs forward James van Riemsdyk (400) skated in milestone games...The NHL's Department of Player Safety announced that Rangers forward Tanner Glass has been fined for butt-ending Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid…ICYMI: The Maple Leafs signed 11-year old Garrett Gamble, who was diagnosed with Morquio Syndrome, to a one-day contract. A player profile was created on the Maple Leafs website and Wendel Clark helped him skate a lap around the ice before dropping the ceremonial first puck.