Associated Press
The NHL roundup …RALEIGH ó Anton Babchuk scored at 1:11 of overtime and the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 on Saturday night to clinch their first playoff berth since 2006.
Cam Ward stopped 33 shots and matched a club record with his 38th victory of the season, helping the Hurricanes extend their franchise-record home winning streak to 11.
Their eight-game overall winning streak is their longest since they won nine in a row during 2005-06 ó when they made their most recent playoff appearance and went on to win the Stanley Cup.
Chad LaRose and Eric Staal both scored for the second straight game, and Ray Whitney added two assists for Carolina.
Bruins 1, Rangers 0
BOSTON ó Tim Thomas helped the Boston Bruins wrap up the Eastern Conference regular-season title, making 31 saves for his fifth shutout of the season in a 1-0 victory over the New York Rangers on Saturday.
One day after signing a four-year, $20 million contract extension and 51/2 minutes after being hit in the back of his helmet by Sean Avery, Thomas backstopped the Bruins to their sixth straight victory.
Blake Wheeler scored his 21st goal at 9:04 of the first period.
Devils 3, Sabres 2
BUFFALO, N.Y. ó Martin Brodeur stopped 35 shots ó including 21 in the third period alone ó and Jamie Langenbrunner had a goal and assist for New Jersey.
Zach Parise and David Clarkson also scored to help the Devils snap a six-game road skid (0-5-1).
Stars 5, Blues 4, OT
DALLAS ó Defenseman Trevor Daley scored 16 seconds into overtime to give the Dallas Stars a 5-4 victory
Canadiens 6, Maple Leafs 2
TORONTO ó Jaroslav Halak made 34 saves, and Alex Kovalev had a goal and three assists to help Montreal close in on a playoff spot.
After dropping a 5-2 decision to Toronto two weeks ago in Montreal, the Canadiens have gone 5-0-1 to move five points clear of ninth-place Florida in the race for one of the eight Eastern Conference playoff spots.
Senators 4, Flyers 3, SO
OTTAWA ó Mike Fisher scored on Ottawa’s fifth shootout attempt to lift the Senators past Philadelphia.
Jason Spezza scored his 31st goal 3:47 into the third to draw Ottawa even at 3.
Islanders 3, Lightning 1
UNIONDALE, N.Y. ó Yann Danis made 29 saves, and Richard Park, Radek Martinek and Josh Bailey scored to help New York snap a three-game losing streak.