Around the League notebook for Monday, March 30

EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF RACE (Click chart below to zoom)	WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF RACE (Click chart below to zoom)
Related information: "If the playoffs started today ..."  |  Current playoffs standings

MONDAY'S RESULTS

Home Team in Caps

Tampa Bay 5, MONTREAL 3

Vancouver 4, ST. LOUIS 1

CHICAGO 4, Los Angeles 1

Calgary 5, DALLAS 3

Edmonton 4, COLORADO 1

Buffalo 4, ARIZONA 1

LIGHTNING CLAIM POSTSEASON BERTH WITH WIN AGAINST CANADIENS

Vladislav Namestnikov (2-1—3) had his first three-point game in the NHL to help the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 5-3 victory against the Montreal Canadiens. With the win, the Lightning (47-23-7, 101 points) moved within a point of the Canadiens (47-22-8, 102 points) who lead the Atlantic Division and clinched a berth in the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Lightning reached the playoffs for the eighth time and for the second consecutive season.

* With 47 wins this season, the Lightning set a new franchise record for victories in a season. They eclipsed their previous best of 46 wins set during the 2013-14, 2010-11 and 2003-04 seasons.

* According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Lightning swept their season series versus the Canadiens (5-0-0) for the first time in history. Elias says that Tampa Bay is the first team to sweep a season series of at least five games versus Montreal since the Buffalo Sabres went 8-0-0 against the Canadiens during the 1983-84 season.

* Namestnikov scored twice and had his seventh assist of the season. Namestnikov's second marker was his third game-winning goal of the season.

* Anton Stralman (1-1—2) scored his ninth goal into an empty net and had his 29th assist for his 10th multi-point performance of the season. Ondrej Palat (0-2—2) posted his 12th multi-assist game of the season.

* Ben Bishop made 25 saves and is 37-13-4 with a 2.37 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage. Bishop is 10-1-2 in 13 career games against Montreal, which includes five straight victories this season. With 37 wins, Bishop has matched his career-high set during the 2013-14 season.

* Bishop recorded two assists in a span of 3:33 during the second period to record the first multi-assist game of his career. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Bishop became the first goaltender in Lightning history to have two assists in one game. Elias says it was the fastest time for a goaltender to get two assists in a game since Brian Hayward of the Winnipeg Jets did it in a span of 1:25 on March 23, 1985.

* Tampa Bay has earned points in nine of its past 10 games against Atlantic Division opponents (8-1-1).

VANCOUVER'S LACK CONTINUES DOMINANCE OF ST. LOUIS ...

Eddie Lack saved all but one of 24 shots he faced to help the Vancouver Canucks to a 4-1 victory against the St. Louis Blues. Vancouver, which ranks second in the Pacific Division standings, is 44-27-5 (93 points) and remained two points ahead of the Calgary Flames, who rank third in the Pacific Division standings with a record of 42-28-7 (91 points).

* Vancouver swept its season series versus St. Louis (3-0-0) and has won six consecutive games against the Blues (6-0-0).

* Lack made 23 saves and is 15-11-4 this season with a 2.44 GAA and a .920 save percentage. Lack is 5-0-0 in five career games against the Blues.

* Radim Vrbata (1-1—2) scored his 31st goal and had his 29th assist for his 16th multi-point game of the season. Vrbata has 11 points in his past six games (5-6—11).

* Christopher Tanev (0-2—2) posted his second consecutive multi-assist game and his fourth such performance of the season.

* Nick Bonino (1-0—1) scored his 15th goal of the season, which stood as his sixth game-winning goal.

... WHILE FLAMES KEEP PACE WITH VICTORY AGAINST STARS

Three different skaters for the Calgary Flames posted multi-point performances in their 5-3 victory against the Dallas Stars. The Flames are to 42-28-7 (91 points) and remain two points behind the Canucks.

* While skating in the 600th game of his NHL career, Jiri Hudler (1-1—2) scored his 29th goal and had his team-leading 42nd assist for his second consecutive multi-point game and his 22nd such performance of the season. Hudler leads the Flames in points this season (29-42—71) and shares the team-lead in goals.

* Johnny Gaudreau (1-1—2) scored his 22nd goal and had his 38th assist for his 13th multi-point game. The marker was his fourth game-winning goal. Gaudreau leads all rookies with 60 points (22-38—60).

* Dennis Wideman (1-1—2) scored his 14th goal on a power-play and had his 35th assist to post his 12th multi-point performance. The marker was Wideman's fifth power-play goal.

* Jonas Hiller made 33 saves and is 23-18-4 with a 2.44 GAA and a .914 save percentage.

BLACKHAWKS MAKE GROUND IN CENTRAL DIVISION STANDINGS WITH WIN AGAINST KINGS

Marian Hossa (1-1—2) had his 16th multi-point game of the season to propel the Chicago Blackhawks to a 4-1 victory against the Los Angeles Kings. The Blackhawks, who rank third in the Central Division standings, are 46-24-6 (98 points) and moved within a point of the St. Louis Blues, who rank second in the Central at 46-23-7 (99 points).

* Hossa scored his 22nd goal and had his 35th assist. Hossa ranks third on the Blackhawks in points (22-35—57).

* Duncan Keith (1-0—1) scored his ninth goal of the season on a power play. The marker was Keith's third power-play goal, which matched a career-high, and his second game-winner.

* Scott Darling saved all but one of 32 shots he faced and is 8-3-0 this season with a 1.77 GAA and a .941 save percentage.

* Niklas Hjalmarsson (1-0—1) and Andrew Shaw (0-1—1) each recorded the 100th point in the NHL.

MILLER LEADS EDMONTON TO THIRD STRAIGHT WIN IN VICTORY AGAINST COLORADO

Andrew Miller (0-3—3) had his first three-point performance in the NHL to help the Edmonton Oilers to a 4-1 victory against the Colorado Avalanche. The Oilers have won three consecutive games.

* The performance allowed Miller to extend his point streak to three games (1-5—6). All of Miller's six points in the NHL have come during his current streak.

* Anton Lander (0-2—2) recorded his third multi-assist game of the season.

* Justin Schultz (1-0—1) scored his sixth goal of the season, which stood as his first game-winner. Taylor Hall (1-0—1) scored his 13th goal into an empty net and extended his point streak to six games (2-4—6).

* Richard Bachman made 29 saves for the second straight game and is 2-2-0 with a 3.04 GAA and a .908 save percentage.

* Brandon Davidson (1-0—1) opened the scoring with his first NHL goal.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Oilers have had skaters score their first NHL goals in three consecutive games; in addition to Davidson, Miller scored his first on March 27 and Martin Marincin scored his on March 25.

* According to the Elias Sports Bureau, this was the second time in Oilers history when players have scored their first NHL goals in three consecutive games; seven players scored theirs in four consecutive games during the 1979-80 season, which was the Oilers' inaugural season. Dave Hunter and Kevin Lowe scored their first goals on Oct. 10, 1979, Blair MacDonald and Mark Messier scored theirs on Oct. 13, 1979, Risto Siltanen and Wayne Gretzky scored theirs on Oct. 14, 1979 and Brett Callighen scored his on Oct. 19, 1979.

MESZAROS LEADS SABRES AGAINST COYOTES

Andrej Meszaros (2-0—2) had his second consecutive two-goal game to help the Buffalo Sabres to a 4-1 win against the Arizona Coyotes. The Sabres have won five consecutive road games against the Coyotes dating to a 2-0 victory on Jan. 31, 2009.

* Meszaros scored a power-play goal and an even-strength goal. The first was a power-play goal and the second was the first game-winning goal of the season for Meszaros, who posted back-to-back two-goal games for the first time in the NHL.

* Rasmus Ristolainen (1-0—1) scored his eighth goal of the season into an empty net and extended his point streak to a career-high three games (3-1—4).

* Anders Lindback made 28 saves and is 4-13-2 with a 3.13 GAA and a .904 save percentage.

* The Sabres are 8-2-1 in their past 11 games against the Coyotes.

LOOSE PUCKS

Montreal forward David Desharnais (0-1—1) extended his point streak to four games (1-3—4). ... Defenseman Andrei Markov (0-1—1) extended his point streak to three games (1-2—3). ... Goaltender Carey Price made 39 saves. ... Chicago forward Brandon Saad (0-1—1) extended his point streak to four games (1-3—4), which matched a career-high. ... Forward Jonathan Toews (0-1—1) extended his point streak to three games (2-1—3). ... Calgary defenseman Raphael Diaz (1-0—1) scored while skating in his 200th NHL game. ... Defenseman T.J. Brodie (0-1—1) scored his 100th NHL point. ... Dallas forward Jason Spezza (1-1—2) had his 10th multi-point performance of the season. ... Forward Jamie Benn (0-2—2) had his sixth multi-assist game. ... Colorado forward Ryan O'Reilly (1-0—1) extended his point streak to a career-high eight games (5-8—13). ... Arizona forward Shane Doan skated in his 1,390th game in the NHL and tied Doug Mohns for 36th on the NHL's all-time games played list. ... Minnesota Wild goaltender Devan Dubnyk, Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Cam Atkinson and Colorado Avalanche center Ryan O'Reilly were named the NHL's "Three Stars" for the week ending March 29.