Bruins deny Red Wings, pass Flyers in wild-card race

BRUINS RECLAIM PLAYOFF SPOT, PREVENT RED WINGS FROM CLINCHING
Torey Krug (1-2--3) matched a career high with three points, including the game-winning goal, to lift the Bruins back into a playoff position and prevent the rival Red Wings from clinching a berth.
* At 42-30-9 (93 points), the Bruins leapfrogged the Flyers (39-27-14, 92 points), who lost in overtime, into the second wild card in the Eastern Conference. Boston is tied with Detroit (41-29-11, 93 points) in points, but the Red Wings have played one less game.

* Loui Eriksson (1-1--2) became the third member of the Bruins to reach the 30-goal milestone this season, joining Brad Marchand (37) and Patrice Bergeron (32). The Bruins, the second team with three 30-goal scorers in 2015-16< (also DAL), last had three players with at least 30 goals in a season in 2002-03, when Glen Murray (44), Joe Thornton (36) and Mike Knuble (30) all reached the milestone.

* Marchand (1-1--2) extended his career high with his 37th goal of the season, the most by a Bruins player since Murray.
STARS, BLUES KEEP PACE IN BID FOR DIVISION, CONFERENCE CROWNS
The Stars and Blues each won to improve to 49-23-9 (107 points) this season and maintain their tie - in terms of points - atop the Central Division and Western Conference standings. Dallas owns the ROW tiebreaker (DAL: 47, STL: 44) as each heads into its final regular-season game Saturday; the Stars host Nashville while the Blues welcome Washington.
* The Stars raced to a 3-0 lead on the way to their fifth consecutive win at American Airlines Center and fifth victory in their past six games. At 27-11-2 (56 points), the Stars rank second in the League in home wins and home points (tied w/ NYR, PIT, ANA and CHI) behind the Capitals (29-7-4, 62 points). Kari Lehtonen (17 saves) improved to 25-10-2 this season (2.76 goals-against average, .906 save percentage, 2 shutouts), including three straight wins and is 9-2-1 in his past 12 outings dating to March 4.
* Vladimir Tarasenko (2-0--2) scored at 18:44 of the third period and added his fourth career overtime goal at 3:37 to rally the Blues past the Blackhawks for their third straight win. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Tarasenko became the second player in franchise history to score both the tying goal in the final two minutes of regulation and the overtime winner in the same game (March 10, 1984: Rob Ramage vs. NJD). Tarasenko (39-34--73), who stretched his point streak to seven games (5-5--10), established and matched career highs for goals and points in a season, respectively (2013-14: 37-36-73).

MILESTONE NIGHTS POWER KINGS, PREDATORS
The Kings and Predators each saw individual single-season franchises records established or matched:
* Jonathan Quick (19 saves) established a franchise record with his 40th victory of the season, second in the League behind Braden Holtby (47), and the Kings scored 93 seconds apart early in the second period to defeat the Ducks and improve to 11-2-1 in their past 14 games at Staples Center. Via Elias, Quick became the fifth different U.S.-born goaltender to record at least 40 wins in a season. The others: Tom Barrasso (1992-93 w/ PIT), Mike Richter (1993-94 w/ NYR), Ryan Miller (2006-07 and 2009-10 w/ BUF) and Ben Bishop (2014-15 w/ TBL). At 48-28-5 (101 points), the Kings leapfrogged the Ducks (44-24-11, 99 points) into first place in the Pacific Division. Anaheim, however, holds a game in hand and posted a 3-2-0 record in the head-to-head season series (LAK: 2-3-0).
* Filip Forsberg (1-1--2) tied the game with 18.3 seconds remaining in regulation and Roman Josi (1-1--2) scored 20 seconds into overtime to help the Predators overcome a multi-goal, third-period deficit and finish with a 9-1-4 record in their final 14 home games of the season. Forsberg scored his 33rd goal of 2015-16 to equal the single-season franchise record established by Jason Arnott in 2008-09. Shea Weber tallied his 14th power-play goal of 2015-16 to match the single-season franchise record set in 2002-03 by Andy Delmore and equaled in 2005-06 by Paul Kariya. Weber also reached the 20-goal milestone for the third time (2008-09 and 2013-14) He scored 23 goals in each of those seasons.

HOME ICE SET FOR OPENING ROUND IN WEST . . .
Though the Central Division and Pacific Division titles have yet to be claimed, the four Western Conference teams with home ice in the First Round have been confirmed: the Stars, Blues, Kings and Ducks. The Blackhawks and Sharks secured the No. 3 seed in their respective divisions after yielding late goals in losses.
Chicago will visit either St. Louis or Dallas to start their First Round series, while San Jose will open in either Anaheim or Los Angeles.
PENGUINS, LIGHTNING CLAIM HOME ICE IN EAST
The Penguins (48-25-8, 104 points) and Lightning (46-30-5, 97 points) won to clinch the No. 2 seeds in the Metropolitan and Atlantic Divisions, respectively. Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay locked in home ice for the opening round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs, joining Eastern Conference division leaders Washington and Florida.

* After the Penguins had their three-goal lead erased, Sidney Crosby scored with a minute remaining in overtime to lift Pittsburgh to its eighth consecutive victory, as well as their eighth straight road win. Crosby, who has spent his entire career with the Penguins, scored his ninth career overtime goal, second this season, to move into a tie for second place in franchise history, behind Mario Lemieux (11). Crosby, who has collected at least one point in 20 of his past 21 outings (11-18 -- 29), also extended his point streak to eight games (5-4--9).
* Playing in his first NHL game since Dec. 30, Jonathan Drouin (1-0--1) scored the game-winning goal to lift the Lightning to their second win against the Devils in the past five days (also April 2: 3-1 W). Drouin, who has 7-34--41 in his career, tallied his first game-winning goal. Tampa Bay improved to 21-17-2 (44 points) as visitors in 2015-16, one victory shy of matching the franchise record for road wins in a season (achieved in 2003-04 and 2006-07); they close their season Saturday in Montreal.
ISLANDERS SWEEP RANGERS, MOVE AHEAD IN METROPOLITAN
John Tavares posted 1-1--2 to lead the Islanders to their seventh victory in their past nine games, as well as a sweep of their season series with the Rangers, a first in franchise history (NYI: 4-0-0, NYR: 0-3-1).
* At 45-26-9 (99 points), the Islanders moved past the Rangers (45-27-9, 99 points) into third place in the Metropolitan Division. Though the teams are tied in terms of points, the Islanders hold one game in hand.
* Tavares registered his third straight multi-point game - following back-to-back three-point efforts earlier this week - and fourth in his past five outings (5-5--10).
STILL STREAKING
* Jets forward Blake Wheeler (1-1--2) extended his career-high point streak to 10 games (7-7--14), one shy of matching they Jets/Thrashers record set from Feb. 17 to March 12, 2007 (Marian Hossa : 7-11--18 in 11 games). Teammate Mark Scheifele (2-1--3) extended his point streak to a career-high nine games (6-8--14).
* Panthers forward Aleksander Barkov (5-7--12) and Penguins defenseman Kris Letang (2-10--12) extended their point streaks to eight games, career highs for each player.
* Sharks forward Thornton (2-7--9) and Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews (3-5--8) each extended his point streak to six games.
* Blues goaltender Brian Elliott (24 saves) extended his personal point streak to 13 games, dating to Feb. 6 (12-0-1), including wins in his past 11 decisions. He also stretched his road win streak to seven games.
MILESTONES & BENCHMARKS
* Sharks' Thornton (377-963--1,340) had two points to move past Denis Savard (473-865--1,338) and Dave Andreychuk (640-698--1,338) for sole possession of 28th place on the NHL's all-time points list.
* Ottawa's Erik Karlsson (0-1--1) recorded his 81st point of the season (16-65-81), the most by a defenseman from any team since 1995-96 (Brian Leetch: 15-70-85 and Ray Bourque: 20-62-82). Via Sportsnet, he also established a single-season record for points by a Swedish-born defenseman.

* Canadiens goalie Charlie Lindgren turned aside 26 shots to earn a victory in his League debut.
* Forward Buddy Robinson(1-0--1) scored the game-winning goal for the Senators, the first tally of his career (two games). Stars forward Jason Dickinson(1-0--1), Canadiens defenseman Darren Dietz (1-1--2) and Canucks defenseman Nikita Tryamkin (1-0--1) also scored their first career goals.
NHL ANNOUNCES 2016 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
The NHL and Thurgood Marshall College Fund announced the recipients of the 2016 NHL/Thurgood Marshall College Fund academic scholarship at the Congressional Hockey Caucus in Washington, D.C. They are: Akeem Adesiji from the Columbus Ice Hockey Club; Prasanthan Aruchunan from Toronto's Hockey Education Reaching Out Society (HEROS); Katherine Baker from the Fort Dupont Ice Hockey club; and Ava Olsen from the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation.
Each recipient is from one of the League's Hockey Is for Everyone nonprofit organizations, which provide programming and support to local youth hockey organizations across North America.
Click here
for complete details.

LOOSE PUCKS
Forward William Nylander (1-2--3) matched a career high with three points, capped by an assist in overtime, to help the Maple Leafs put a dent in the Flyers' playoff hopes . . . Defenseman Dustin Byfuglien (1-3--4) matched career highs for assists and points in a game, and tallied the tiebreaking goal with 9.9 seconds remaining in regulation to lead the Jets past the Sharks for their third straight win . . . Forward Mikael Backlund (3-0--3) registered his first career hat trick to lead the Flames past the Canucks and eclipse the 20-goal mark for the first time (21-25--46) . . . Panthers forward Jaromir Jagr (1-0--1) scored his 749th career goal. He has picked up at least one point in 18 of 24 games since celebrating his 44th birthday on Feb. 15 (10-15--25) . . . Forwards Milan Lucic (LAK), Frans Nielsen (NYI), Mika Zibanejad (OTT) all reached the 20-goal milestone . . . Penguins goaltender Matt Murray made 27 saves to extend his personal winning streak to seven games and improved to 9-2-1 to start his career (2.05 GAA, 0.927 save percentage, 1 SO) . . . Flames forwards Joe Colborne (1-2--3) and Matt Stajan (0-3--3) also collected three points apiece.