SPORTS N STUFF

CBSSports.com wire reports
April 15, 2012

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This time, they pulled out a win to head back to the Windy City with home-ice advantage.

Bryan Bickell had his second goal 10:36 into overtime and the Blackhawks beat the Phoenix Coyotes 4-3 on Saturday night.

“I dont think Ive ever seen that before, back to back games forcing overtime,” Chicago forward Patrick Kane said. “But I was thankful we seized the opportunity and won this one.”

Phoenix took the opener 3-2 in overtime after giving up a goal to Brent Seabrook with 14 seconds left in regulation. Patrick Sharp did it to the Coyotes with even less time in Game 2, redirecting a shot by Kane with 5.5 seconds left.

Bickell, like Phoenixs Martin Hanzal the game before, became the hero when he beat Mike Smith from between the circles after Viktor Stalberg kept a pass by Phoenixs Rostislav Klesla in the Coyotes zone.

Brandon Bollig also scored for Chicago, which tied the series at 1-1 as it heads back to Chicago for Game 3 on Tuesday night.

“It was exciting to get the goal to give the team the win, but you know what? It should be exciting to go back to Chicago now,” Bickell said.

The Coyotes had their chances.

Overcoming a second straight shaky start, they fought back and were leading 3-2 after Antoine Vermette scored two goals and Raffi Torres added another.

Smith was steady after nearly being knocked out by Chicagos Andrew Shaw in the second period, making some big saves down the stretch and in overtime.

Phoenix just couldnt put it all together, missing on a couple chances at an empty net at the end of regulation and Smith missing the two shots that mattered the most.

The combination prevented the Coyotes from taking a 2-0 lead in eight straight playoff series since moving to the desert since 1996 and leaves them needing to win in Chicago to regain home-ice advantage.

“We have confidence in our team on the road, we know how to play the game,” Coyotes captain Shane Doan said. “As ugly and as painful as it looks, we all recognize that its one game. Its going to be a long series.”

Phoenix won the opener by dictating the pace at just the right time, scoring two goals in the second period and the winner in overtime by keeping the Blackhawks in their zone for lung-burningly-long shifts.

Chicago had the early jump in Game 1, getting a goal from Jonathan Toews in his return from a concussion, and tied it late to force overtime. But for a puck-control team, the Blackhawks had a hard time holding onto it, bothered by Phoenixs forechecking and aggressiveness in the neutral zone.

Chicago again started fast, getting a power play 1:08 into the game and outshooting Phoenix 9-1. Bickell scored at the end of the man advantage with a waist-high whack on a rebound off Dave Bollands shot, giving Chicago its first goal with a man advantage in its last 15 chances.

Just like Game 1, Phoenix fought back.

Torres tied it midway through the first period with a wrister out front after Doan fought off a defender from behind the net to get the pass off.

Vermette put the Coyotes up 2-1, camping out in front of Chicago goalie Corey Crawford before redirecting a shot by Keith Yandle for his third of the playoffs.

The power-play goal came after Kane was sent to the penalty box for goalie interference, a call that infuriated the Blackhawks because he took the brunt of the collision with Smith.

A bigger crash in following an initial scare.

After Bollig tied it with a wrister that beat Smith glove side, Phoenixs goalie provided his team and the crowd with a bit of is-he-really-staying-in-the-game inspiration.

Playing a puck behind his goal, Smith was broadsided by Shaw, who charged in from the right side. Smith threw his head back after being struck by Shaws shoulder and went to the ice, where he lay on his back as four members of Phoenix medical team hovered over him.

Smith groggily sat up after a few minutes, prompting a chant of “Smitty! Smitty!” from the home crowd, then caused a roar as he gingerly skated toward his net. Smith squirted water from a bottle over his head, strapped his helmet back on and parked himself back in the crease.

Shaw, who was surprised by the call, was sent off with a 5-minute charging penalty and a game misconduct.

“The league will look at that,” Phoenix coach Dave Tippett said. “Obviously, thats contact to the head. Doesnt matter if its a goaltender or a player, thats blindside contact to the head and Im sure the league will look at it.”

With Smith back, the adrenaline-infused Coyotes didnt long to score on the ensuing power play, Vermette putting them up 3-2 with a wrister from the left circle.

Smith was sturdy after nearly being cold cocked, stopping two power plays to end the second period and making several tough saves in the third.

But, just like the opener, he couldnt stop Chicago in the closing seconds.

With Crawford off for an extra attacker, the Blackhawks peppered Smith with a flurry of shots in the closing seconds. Smith turned back most of them, but couldnt react in time when Sharp, positioned right in front of him, ticked Kanes shot from the point to send the game to overtime.

Unlike the opener, the Blackhawks got the win this time, thanks to a gritty play by Stalberg and a big shot by Bickell.

“A fortunate bounce, but at the same time we did some good things as the game went on,” Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. “It was a competitive game, one of those games where it was on the line throughout, but today we got the bounce.”

Notes

Coyotes C Martin Hanzal left in the first period with an undisclosed injury and didnt return. LW Lauri Korpikoski also went out in the third period. Phoenix had killed off 30 straight penalties before Bickells goal in the first period. Chicagos Duncan Keith had an assist on Bolligs goal and leads Blackhawks defensemen with 30 points in 47 career playoff games.

CBSSports.com wire reports
April 13, 2012

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Who needs the first period anyway? Not the Flyers, who keep finding increasingly inventive ways to stun the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Claude Giroux had three goals and three assists to set a franchise record for points in a playoff game, rookie Sean Couturier had a hat trick of his own and Philadelphia rallied for a wild 8-5 victory Friday night in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.

Two nights after turning an early three-goal deficit into a 4-3 overtime win, the Flyers were even more impressive while taking a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

The Penguins had leads of 2-0, 3-1, 4-3 and 5-4 at home and still couldnt fend off Philadelphia, which did a little bit of everything.

The Flyers scored a pair of short-handed goals, added one on the power play and threw in an empty-netter to push a Pittsburgh team considered a Stanley Cup favorite to the brink.

“I dont know how many times well be able to do comebacks like that,” Giroux said. “Weve got to have a better start.”

At this point, why bother?

Philadelphia scored seven goals in the games final 35 minutes, responding every time it appeared the Penguins were finally r also scored for the Flyers, who host Game 3 on Sunday.

“This team can always score goals,” said Jagr, who gave Philadelphia its first lead in regulation in the series midway through the third period. “Weve got a lot of guys who can score goals.”

Including the 19-year-old Couturier. Assigned to slow down Pittsburghs Evgeni Malkin, Couturier outscored the Russian instead for the first hat trick by a Philadelphia rookie since Andy Delmore in 2000.

Couturier admitted to feeling some jitters before the series opener. Funny, he hardly looked nervous when his third goal of the night sewed it up with 1:49 remaining before Girouxs empty- netter completed the scoring.

“Hes 19, but he plays like hes 28,” Giroux said.

Ilya Bryzgalov overcame another shaky start to stop 23 shots for the Flyers, who never blinked after getting down by multiple goals for the ninth time in their last 14 games.

“You have a choice to win the game or give up,” Bryzgalov said.

Chris Kunitz had two goals for Pittsburgh, and Sidney Crosby and Tyler Kennedy scored for the second straight game, but the Penguins again failed to close out the Flyers.

The Penguins tried to downplay their collapse in the opener, insisting there was plenty of hockey to play.

Perhaps, but there might not be much left after another stirring comeback by the Flyers. Philadelphia is 17-0 when it wins the first two games of a series.

“Weve got to find a way to be better with the lead,” Crosby said. “We know theyre going to keep coming.”

The Flyers proved it in the third period after Kennedys goal put the Penguins up 5-4.

It took Philadelphia just 17 seconds to respond, as Couturier created a turnover and broke in alone on Marc-Andre Fleury. The score seemed to suck all the energy out of the Consol Energy Center and what little remained disappeared when Jagr put the Flyers in front for the first time with less than 11 minutes to go.

“We need to limit our mistakes, thats really what it comes down to,” Crosby said. “The mistakes weve made have ended up in our net.”

The ending was in stark contrast to another electric start by the Penguins.

Crosby needed all of 15 seconds to give Pittsburgh the lead, working a give-and-go off the opening faceoff with Steve Sullivan and ripping a one-timer by Bryzgalov. The goal tied Pittsburghs franchise mark for fastest goal to start a playoff game, set by Greg Malone against St. Louis in 1981. It also was the quickest allowed by Philadelphia opponent in playoff history, breaking the mark of 21 seconds set by Chicagos Jim Pappin in 1971.

The lead grew to 3-1 by the end of t whe it wasnt nearly enough.

The Flyers rallied to tie it at 3 behind Giroux, who scored on the power play then beat Fleury with a wrist shot for Philadelphias second short-handed goal of the night.

The tie lasted all of 6 seconds, or as long as it took Kunitz to pounce on a rebound and slide the puck into the open net.

Still, the Flyers wouldnt back down. Couturier tied it at 4 just before the second intermission horn, erasing all of Pittsburghs momentum and setting the stage for another victory by the NHLs most resilient team.

“When youre able to come back in a game like that again it speaks volumes about character in the room,” Philadelphia coach Peter Laviolette said. “Fighting back like that is not easy.”

Notes

Philadelphia defenseman Marc-Andre Bourdon was scratched after sustaining an upper-body injury in Game 1. The Penguins scratched defenseman Matt Niskanen because of an upper-body injury. Viewership for the first two days of the playoffs is up 22 percent over 2011, according to the NHL. Crosbys goal was the 32nd playoff tally of his career, tying him with Ron Francis for fourth on Pittsburghs list. Bylsma has coached in 46 playoff games, tying Eddie Johnston for most postseason games in franchise history.

CBSSports.com wire reports
April 8, 2012

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Sedin provided the only goal Vancouver would need and the Canucks clinched first place overall in the NHL with a 3-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night.

“Its been a long 82 games for sure,” Sedin said. “Even though its gone by fast, its been tough to go through it. But we knew coming in the regular season was not what people would be talking about. Being there last year we knew it was going to be tough to get back to – but now were here again and its going to be enjoyable.”

The Canucks won the Presidents Trophy with 111 points and a 51-22-9 record. They caught a break earlier Saturday when the New York Rangers lost to the Washington Capitals, opening the door for Vancouver to take top spot overall. New York held the advantage on tiebreakers.

“It means weve had a good year,” said coach Alain Vigneault. “This group has played some real solid hockey, and been consistent, and for us to win the Presidents Trophy again says a lot about the group of people and the equality of the people we have.”

The Canucks assured themselves of home-ice advantage throughout the Weste if they get that far.

They will play the Los Angeles Kings in the first round next week, starting on a date to be announced. As a result of Vancouvers win, the St. Louis Blues were relegated to second place in the West.

Edmonton, eliminated from the playoffs weeks ago, finished 32-40-10.

Sedin finally opened the scoring on a power play with 4:13 to go in the second. Burrows passed a rebound to him after Ryan Kesler deflected Alex Edlers point shot into Dubnyk. It was Sedins first goal in 23 games. His last also came against the Oilers in Edmonton on Feb. 19.

Sammy Pahlsson, with his first goal in 14 games, and David Booth, with his first in 11, also scored for the Canucks. Roberto Luongo made 17 saves for his fifth shutout of the season as the Canucks outshot the Oilers 42-17.

The loss spoiled an outstanding effort from Edmonton goaltender Devan Dubnyk.

“I really wanted to win tonight,” Dubnyk said. “I think everybody did. I just wanted to continue to work on the things that have been working for me and make sure I felt good going into the offseason.”

The Canucks needed to get at least a point after St. Louis beat Dallas earlier Saturday, but the outcome remained in doubt until the last 27 minutes.

Luongo, known to struggle when facing few shots, had little activity most of the night, but he still made timely key saves to preserve the win.

With about 2 1/2 minutes left in the second, Luongo denied Ryan Jones on a breakaway, kicking out his left pad.

“The boys played the system to perfection tonight,” said Luongo, who stopped Ryan Jones on a breakaway late in the second. “Barely any scoring chances. We had a ton of shots, great way to finish off the regular season. Now its time to move on to the most exciting time of year.”

Pahlsson put the Canucks ahead 2-0 early in the third period, beating Dubnyk with a low slapshot. Booth increased Vancouvers lead to 3-0 on a power play midway through the third as he broke in alone and deked Dubnyk.

Booth, acquired in October in a trade from Florida, had never reached the playoffs before.

“Im really excited,” he said. “Now, its finally here. My first postseason. Im really looking forward to it.”

By going pointless, Nugent-Hopkins finished in a tie for top rookie scoring honors with Colorados Gabriel Landeskog, who was also blanked Saturday. Landeskog finished with four more goals, but Nugent-Hopkins played 20 fewer games due to injury.

Notes

Vancouver F Daniel Sedin missed his ninth game with a concussion. Canucks F Zack Kassian remained out with an undisclosed upper-body injury. Canucks F Mason Raymond missed the game to be with his wife as she delivered their first child. Nugent-Hopkins would like to play for Canada at the upcoming world championships, if he gets an invitation. Unlike in past seasons, Dubnyk is not sure if hell go, because his contract is up for renewal and he is getting married this summer. Manny Malhotra returned to the Vancouver lineup after being scratched against Calgary on Thursday.

CBSSports.com wire reports
April 7, 2012

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The Panthers clinched the first division title in franchise history, getting first-period goals from Marcel Goc and John Madden and 34 saves from Scott Clemmensen to beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 and wrap up the Southeast crown on Saturday night.

With the victory, the Panthers could celebrate their entry into the playoffs on a winning note, and at the end they embraced in front of their net and raised their sticks. This time, it wasnt to wave goodbye to their long-suffering fans, who have waited since 2000 for the Panthers to make the playoffs.

More on the Florida Panthers Analysis Adam Gretz
The Panthers are division champs. That is a sentence we have never said before. Related links Playoff Picture: Panthers-Devils in Round 1 Capitals beat Rang whos headed to the playoffs for the first time after ma also scored for Florida, which clinched the No. 3 seed and will play sixth-seeded New Jersey in the opening round.

“Pretty awesome,” said a tired but elated Weiss, sporting a Southeast Division championship shirt and hat. “Its a surreal feeling, it hasnt been easy all year and it wasnt easy tonight. That team pushed hard but we found a way to win and win the division, which is what we wanted.”

Mikael Samuelsson added an empty-net goal with 1:24 left.

Joni Pitkanen scored and Brian Boucher made 22 saves for Carolina, which finished 12th in the Eastern Conference with 82 points.

The Panthers needed to get a point to wrap up the division after Washington beat the New York Rangers earlier Saturday. By the time the Capitals game went final, Florida already had a 3-0 lead.

And unlike Tuesday against Winnipeg, this one stayed safe.

The Panthers came in on a season-high five-game losing streak, but jumped out quickly to take con brought in to give connected for his third of the season at 6:43 of the opening period.

“For us to score two goals right off the bat, it gives you the margin of error that youre looking for, especially for this big game for us here,” Clemmensen said.

Weiss scored a power-play goal at 10:06 of the second to make it 3-0. Mikael Samuelsson fired a shot from the point that was blocked but Weiss put in the rebound on Bou the fourth 20-goal season for Weiss and third in a row.

“Its a great feeling to be in the playoffs and to finish it off tonight at home, with our last home game not going the way we wanted against Winnipeg, that was tough to swallow, but this was in front of our home fans,” Weiss said. “They deserve it. Theyve been great throughout the year and over the last 10 years sticking with us. Im happy for them.”

The Hurricanes made it 3-1 on Pitkanens power-play goal at 8:26 of the third. The Hurricanes won the faceoff and Pitkanens slap shot from the point got past Clemmensen.

For Florida, its about winning now, with the first playoff games for the franchise since 2000 now looming.

“It wasnt given, thats for sure. Thats been an earned title,” Panthers coach Kevin Dineen said.

For Carolina, Saturday was about a glimpse of the future.

“Weve got some guys unhappy we didnt make the playoffs so thats good, that hunger is there,” Hurricanes coach Kirk Muller said. “They played hard and weve got a good core of guys here weve got to keep building on.”

Highly touted Carolina forward Jeremy Welsh made his NHL debut. Welsh was signed not long after his college season ended Thursday night when Union lost to Ferris State in the Frozen Four semifinals in Tampa. The Hurricanes presented him with a contract shortly after that game, and Welsh signed it in time to make the 4-hour drive across the state and join his new NHL club for its finale.

“I just tried to stay calm. I wasnt letting everything creep in, a lifetime of work to get here,” Welsh said. “When I board the plane and head home it will probably hit me.”

The Panthers will open at home against New Jersey. Dineen indicated the game will probably be Thursday.

“Playoffs are up and down and whoever can stay level throughout the series is going to have a great chance of winning,” said Panthers defenseman Brian Campbell, who was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks before this season and has made the playoffs seven straight years. “Nice to get to this spot again. Its a long season and this is where the fun starts. Were looking forward to getting this place rockin come game one.”

Notes

The NHL plans to release the full playoff schedule Sunday. Carolina missed the playoffs for a third consecutive season.

CBSSports.com wire reports
April 5, 2012

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Marc-Andre Fleury made 35 saves to tie the Pittsburgh franchise record for wins and the Penguins clinched home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs with a 5-2 victory over the New York Rangers on Thursday night.

Pittsburgh earned the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference for the fourth consecutive season and will play the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round. It was in the aftermath of a 6-4 loss to Philadelphia on Sunday that Flyers coach Peter Laviolette called Penguins counterpart Dan Bylsma “gutless” and Philadelphia forward Danny Briere said Joe Vitale was “trying to hurt me” after a late-game check.

After Thursdays game, Rangers coach John Tortorella was even more scathing, calling the Penguins “one of the most arrogant organizations in the league” during a profanity-laden tirade following Pittsburgh defenseman Brooks Orpik knee-to-knee hit on New York center Derek Stepan.

“Its a cheap, dirty hit,” Tortorella said. “I wonder what would happen if we did it to their two whining stars over there. I wonder what would happen. So Im anxious to see what happens with the league with this. Just not respect amongst players. None. Its sickening.”

Orpik was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct on the play.

“They whine about this stuff all of the time, and look what happens?” Tortorella said. “Its ridiculous. But theyll whine about something else over there, wont they?”

One of those stars Tortorella was referring to, Evgeni Malkin, had his 49th goal Thursday. He added an assist to give him 107 points and extend his lead on Steven Stamkos in the scoring race to 11 points with one game to play.

Chris Kunitz and Kris Letang also each had a goal and an assist for Pittsburgh.

Brandon Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov scored for the Rangers, who were playing for the first time since clinching the top seed in the conference. New York entered the day tied with the Vancouver Canucks with the most points in the NHL (109).

New York rested Henrik Lundqvist for the first time in 11 games after he sustained a swollen right forearm during Tuesdays victory against Philadelphia. Lundqvist said after the morning skate that if the game was crucial that he would have played.

The Rangers gave no update on the condition of Stepan, who remained on the bench but did not play after the hit from Orpik.

Bylsma compared the hit to one Letang received from Dallas Eric Nystrom last month. Nystrom was not fined or suspended by the league.

“You see here where [Stepan] jumps out of the way and Brooks is on his track and looking to hit the guy at an angle, and he trying to get out of the way creates that scenario,” Bylsma said.

Orpik was not available to reporters after the game.

Almost lost in the postgame insults was Fleury tying Tom Barrasso with his 226th victory for the Penguins. Fleurys 42nd win of the season is one behind the Nashville Predators Pekka Rinne for the league lead.

“A great honor for me to catch up to a guy like that whos been on top and won a couple Stanley Cups,” Fleury said.

Kunitz picked up his 200th assist on Malkins 49th goal with 10:54 left that elicited chants of “M-V-P” from the Penguins 250th consecutive sellout crowd. Pascal Dupuis assisted on Richard Parks second-period goal to his point streak to 16 games, longest in the NHL this season.

Tyler Kennedy also scored for the Penguins (50-25-6), who reached 50 wins for the second time in franchise history.

But the Rangers had little to play for other than possibly winning their first Presidents Trophy since 1993-94 or to make runs over their final two games at breaking team records for wins and points established during that Stanley Cup season.

New York was clearly not pleased at perhaps losing their fourth-leading goal-scorer in Stepan in what was a virtually meaningless game.

“It was pretty gutless and dirty, and [Orpik] is known for sticking his knee out and his elbow out,” Rangers goalie Martin Biron said. “I dont really care what he says in defense of what he did, it was dirty.

“It was what [Orpiks] done all his career, and hes going to continue to do that unless somebody just gets him either with a suspension or whatever. Those are hits that arent going to be in the game much longer because its very dangerous.”

Kunitzs career-high 25th goal came at 1:11 of the first. Dubinsky tied it 3:12 later when he slammed home a rebound of a Ruslan Fedotenko shot, his 10th, but Kennedy gave Pittsburgh the lead for good 8:27 into the game with his 11th of the sea in the lineup only because wingers James Neal and Steve made it 3-1 with his seventh at 5:11 of the second.

Anisimovs goal came during a five-minute power play with 2:14 left, but Letang answered with an empty-netter at 19:11.

The Penguins beat the Rangers for the fourth consecutive time this season and won for the third time in their past four games.

“Both teams played pretty hard to make sure theyre playing good playoff hockey going into the playoffs,” Crosby said.

Notes

The game was the 500th of Birons career. Hes won only 13 of 35 career decisions against Pittsburgh. The Penguins announced their season team awards throughout the game during stoppages. Malkin was selected most valuable player. The announced crowd of 18,585 set a with one game remaining. The Rangers had won their previous four on the road and five of their previous six in Pittsburgh. When leading after two periods, the Penguins are 31-0-3 this season. Pittsburgh D Matt Niskanen (upper-body injury) did not play.

CBSSports.com wire reports
April 4, 2012

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Johan Franzen scored on consecutive shots in a span of 2:15 in the third period to end Brian Elliotts shutout streak after more than 3½ games, and Todd Bertuzzi netted the lone goal in a shootout as the Red Wings rallied for a 3-2 victory on Wednesday night.

“Weve been having trouble all year with coming back,” Franzen said. “Its usually the team that gets the first goal that wins. Coming back late like this gives the team confidence.”

The Red Wings took the season series 4-2. Both of the Blues wins came at home, and they have beaten Detroit three times at home since the 1997-98 season.

“I think we got a little bit too comfortable with a 2-0 lead, and they poured it on us,” defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo said. “Thats uncharacteristic of us. Usually, when we get a goal lead or a couple goal lead we finish the job.”

Although they have the NHLs best record at home at 30-5-5 and have set a franchise record there with 65 points, the Blues have lost two straight for the first time. They will finish the home schedule on Friday against the Phoenix Coyotes.

Blues coach Ken Hitchcock blamed himself for having “the wrong people on the ice” for the tying goal, with St. Louis third line opposing the Red Wings top line.

“For the most part, it was my fault,” Hitchcock said. “I got caught on a line change, and it ended up in our net.”

Pavel Datsyuk and Bertuzzi earned assists on both regulation goals for the Red Wings, who moved a point ahead of Nashville for fourth in the Western Conference with 101 points. Both teams have two games remaining.

The rally came after the Red Wings recovered from allowing two goals in three minutes, the first an unassisted short-handed breakaway by David Perron during a five-minute power play.

“Thats always sucking the life out of you,” Franzen said. “I think that was pretty big for the team to get a win late like that and coming back.”

Detroit, over 100 points for the 12th consecutive season, is 9-2 in shootouts. The Blues are two points behind Vancouver and the New York Rangers, who are tied atop the NHL standings.

Andy McDonald also scored for St. Louis, which has 107 points for second place in the West behind Vancouver.

The Red Wings Jimmy Howard made 27 saves, then stopped T.J. Oshie, McDonald and Perron in the shootout.

Elliott, who had a franchise-record shutout streak of 241 minutes, 33 seconds snapped, made 26 saves through overtime. He entered the game leading the NHL with a 1.48 goals-against average and .943 save percentage.

The Blues found some offense while killing off a boarding major against Ryan Reaves in the third period when Perron scored. Perron stripped Valtteri Filppula in the neutral zone and steamed in on Howard, beating him with a backhander at 7:19.

Three minutes later, McDonald also scored unassisted to make it 2-0.

Though it worked out for the Blues, Hitchcock was visibly upset on the bench about the penalty. The Red Wings Brad Stuart banged his helmet on the glass, but after the hit.

“Ive got to see it closer, but what I saw on the replay and what I was told, I didnt like the call,” Hitchcock said.

Franzen scored his 27th with a shot from inside the right faceoff dot at 13:55, and then got the Red Wings even at 2 off a cross-ice feed from Datsyuk at 16:10.

Elliott made the biggest save the rest of regulation, lifting his pad high to foil Filppula with just under 3½ minutes left.

The Red Wings totaled just two shots on three power plays in the first two periods, often stymied by blocked shots by the Blues. St. Louis has allowed just five goals in its opponents last 91 chances.

Notes

Perron has four goals in four games, and six in his last eight with zero assists. The Blues are 4-10 in shootouts. Bertuzzi, who has 14 goals, is 5 for 9 in the shootout.

CBSSports.com w Outside, inside, Pennsylvania, N the Rangers own the Flyers.

As a result, they are the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Ryan Callahan and Artem Anisimov scored as part of a four-goal first period, and the New York Rangers clinched the No. 1 seed for the first time since 1994 with a 5-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday.

The Rangers are tops in the East for the first time since Mark Messier led them to their last Stanley Cup championship 18 years ago. The Rangers, who lead the overall NHL standings with 109 points, are assured of home-ice advantage until at least the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Rangers are on top thanks to a stunning series sweep of the Atlantic Division-rival Flyers. They went 6-0 against Philadelphia for the first time in 40 years.

“I love this, what a season,” said forward Brad Richards, considered the biggest prize in last summers free-agent market. “This is a great time of year. Yes, its going to be a grind, it always is, but we have a good team here, and we have the right pieces in place. Its up to us.”

Ryan McDonagh and Brian Boyle also scored to help the Rangers storm to a 4-0 lead. Marian Gaborik added his 41st goal, and Henrik Lundqvist earned his career-best 39th victory.

The Rangers have ridden the All-Star Lundqvist all the way to the top, and he was sensational again in the clincher. It was Rangers defenseman Marc Staal who knocked the puck past him for the first Philadelphia goal. Staal kicked the puck with his left skate under Lundqvists right leg in the second to make it 4-1. Jakub Voracek got credit for the goal.

Lundqvist solidified his Vezina Trophy credentials with 37 saves in his milestone victory. In the locker room, he had his right arm wrapped up in ice and was hurting. He said he had trouble keeping a hold of his stick late in the game after being struck by a shot late in the second period.

“There were times where I wanted to say, Im outta here. But I got through it,” he said “Well see how it is in a couple of days, see how it feels. Hopefully, Ill be ready to go, but it was tough.”

First place is rare air for a team that has won only two postseason series since 1998. Owner James Dolan made an atypical visit to the postgame news conference in January and proclaimed the Rangers Stanley Cup contenders.

“I think were pretty close to getting that back,” Dolan said of the Stanley Cup.

Opening at home sure helps.

“Its been a long year for these guys, but they deserve the No. 1 seed,” Rangers coach John Tortorella said. “Now, in a couple of days, things will change. But I know our guys are excited for that.”

Ilya Bryzgalov was a sparkling 10-2-1 in March and chosen as the NHLs first star, but he sat out the previous three games because of a chip fracture in his right foot. In his return, he had Flyers fans wishing he missed one more.

McDonagh took Gaboriks feed from behind the net and scored his seventh goal of the season 6:25 in. Boyle followed with his 10th, and Anisimov and Callahan both scored on the power play for a 4-0 lead that quieted an oddly sparse crowd for Philadelphia.

The Flyers have trailed at least 2-0 in seven of their last 10 games

“I dont know what weve got to do,” Flyers forward Claude Giroux said “Drink one more cup of coffee? I dont know. Weve got to find a way to get a better start.”

Unable to solve Lundqvist, the Flyers took out their frustrations with their fists. Zac Rinaldo slugged it out with New Yorks Brandon Prust in a lengthy bout the refs were in no rush to stop. Philadelphias Jody Shelley used a series of rights to the face to pummel Mike Rupp.

The teams kept up the trash-talking, pushing and poking for the rest of the game.

All the scrapping helped both teams score power-play goals in the final 90 seconds of the second. Gaborik sent a shot from the slot past two defenders for a 5-1 lead. Wayne Simmonds, wearing a visor after he was hit in the face by a puck last week, followed for the Flyers with his 28th goal.

Scott Hartnell added his team-high 37th in the third, but it was too late for Philadelphia.

The Rangers won the first five meetings with Philadelphia by Feb. 11, including a 2-1 victory in the Winter Classic at Citizens Bank Park.

“It feels good to beat them again, and complete the deal,” Gaborik said. “With the Winter Classic and all, weve been kind of linked together with them for a while.”

Dating to last season, the Rangers have seven straight wins against the Flyers for the first time since Philadelphia went 13 games without a win from November 1971 to December 1973.

Voracek wanted the Flyers to look at the “bright side” if the two teams resume their rivalry in the playoffs.

“If they want to beat us, that means theyd have to beat us 10 times this year,” he said. “Thats a lot of games. I dont think its going to happen”

The Flyers have been fired up lately. Coach Peter Laviolette was fined $10,000 on Monday after calling out Penguins counterpart Dan Bylsma for sending out his checking line late in Philadelphias 6-3 win at Pittsburgh on Sunday.

Notes

Flyers C Danny Briere sat out with a back contusion. This is the latest the Rangers have been in first place in the East since 1994. The Rangers are 21-3-3 when leading after the first period. Gaborik has a point in six straight games.

CBSSports.com The Washington Capitals wasted a chance to enhance their push toward the playoffs.

Steven Stamkos scored two late goals, giving him a NHL-best 58 this season, and the Tampa Bay Lightning handed the playoff-hopeful Capitals a damaging 4-2 loss on Monday night.

Stamkos gave the Lightning a 3-2 lead with 1:03 left, just 2:14 after Jason Chimera tied it for Washington, when he put in a rebound after goalie Michal Neuvirth had stopped Brett Clarks shot from the blue line. Stamkos then scored into an empty net at 19:58.

“Were fighting for our playoff lives, so its not that hard to bounce back,” Chimera said. “It means a lot playing for something this time of year. You want to play in the playoffs. Ask any player what is the worst day. Its sitting home watching the first day of playoffs. You want to be in those playoffs. You want to be in the hot seat.”

Washington, which also got a goal from Alexander Semin, is in eighth place in the Eastern Conference. The Capitals have a two-point lead over the Buffalo Sabres with two games remaining. The Sabres have three games left.

“Its disappointing to say the least,” Washington right wing Troy Brouwer said of the loss.

The Capitals are three points behind Southeast Division-leading Florida. The teams play in Washington on Thursday night.

“We were too lackadaisical,” Capitals defenseman Karl Alzner said. “We should have come out and tried to pound them right away and get their spirits down.”

Teddy Purcell and Victor Hedman also scored for the Lightning, who have already been eliminated from playoff contention.

“It was nice to beat a divisional rival in a game that mattered to them,” Stamkos said. “When youre in the position we are, you just play spoiler. You try to win every game. I dont think you come into games with grudges against certain teams, but after its that much more sweet to win, especially our last game at home and against a team that weve battled with the last couple years.”

Chimera tied it at 2 with his 20th goal of the season, coming from in-close with 3:17 left in the third.

Purcell and Hedman had goals 25 seconds apart late in the second. After Purcell scored from the left circle during a power play with 2:40 to go, Hedman beat Neuvirth with a shot from the blue line that put the Lightning ahead 2-1 at 17:45.

Semin gave the Capitals a 1-0 lead from the top of the right circle following a Tampa Bay turnover at 12:47 of the second.

Tampa Bays Dwayne Roloson stopped several good scoring chances in first, including shots from Alex Ovechkin and Mike Knuble. He made an outstanding second-period glove save on Mike Green, who whacked his stick on the glass in frustration.

“Everyone on their bench, our bench, thought it was a goal,” Stamkos said. “Im sure Green thought it was a goal, too.”

Roloson made 31 saves.

Neuvirth stopped a shot from the slot by Stamkos, and rookie J.T. Browns in-close chance during the second.

“This was a playoff atmosphere,” Lightning coach Guy Boucher said.

Tampa Bay finished with 27 shots.

Notes

Stamkos added an assist, giving him three assists and 11 points during a six-game point streak. Semin, who also had an assist, has 23 goals and 43 points in 39 games against Tampa Bay. Purcell snapped his 11-game goal drought, dating to March 8 against the Capitals. Washington G Tomas Vokoun is in nine games. Lightning C Nate Thompson earned his first assist in 26 games when he helped set up Hedmans goal. Stamkos and Ovechkin had six shots each. Brown, playing in his second NHL game, had five shots.

CBSSports.c When you are already the defending Stanley Cup champions, it takes a whole lot more than a division title to really get the party started.

Tim Thomas survived a third-period barrage from the New York Rangers, and Boston held on for a 2-1 victory on Sunday night that clinched the Northeast Division for the Bruins.

It also kept the Rangers from wrapping up the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, and ga a potential postseason opponent in the coming weeks. The Bruins had dropped all three previous meetings to the Rangers this season, five straight dating to last season, and nine of 11.

“It was an important win for a number of reasons,” said Thomas, who made 19 saves in the scoreless third period and 33 overall. “One of those was to show them were not a pushover team just in case we get matched up in the playoffs.”

The Bruins donned division champion hats in their low-key dressing room. With the victory, Boston also secured the No. 2 seed in the East, so it has little else to shoot for other than fine-tuning in the final three regular-season games.

“Were not playing for position in the conference, but we are playing for our own momentum and our confidence,” Thomas said. “Its good, but its not the banner we want. We want something else to go along with it.”

After falling behind 1-0 in the first period, the Bruins stormed back in the second and got just enough offense from Dennis Seidenberg and Patrice Bergeron to put this one away.

Seidenberg tied it, and Bergeron provided the lead for the Bruins, who are 7-1-1 in their past nine games. Boston swept a weekend in New York with victories against the Islanders and Rangers on back-to-back days.

“We were struggling for a couple of months getting a win here and there, but never finding the consistent basis we are used to,” Seidenberg said. “We just have to keep this going as we get ready for the playoffs.

“This was very important. We had a lot of frustrating games against them. We put a lot of pucks on the net, and [goalie Henrik] Lundqvist stood on his head. They were doing to us what we usually do to other teams.”

Marian Gaborik scored his 40th goal of the season early in the first period, but the Rangers couldnt muster anything else against the Bruins. Lundqvist made 19 saves for New York, which leads Pittsburgh by five points.

New York needs only one point in its final three games to finish first. The Rangers had won four in a row and six of seven. They outshot the Bruins 19-3 in the third period, but couldnt get even.

“These games against Boston … these are hard games,” Rangers coach John Tortorella said, “but I have no problem with how we played.

“If we play like this, well find a way to win. Tonight, we didnt, but I think we did a lot of good things.”

Thomas, who got the day off Saturday, is 5-1-1 in his past seven outings. He made the most of the offensive support he got.

After Brad Richards lost control of the puck as he attempted to carry it out of his own end, the Bruins worked it back around and set up Seidenberg for a slap shot that beat Lundqvist, who appeared to be briefly screened when players crossed in front of him, at 4:00.

Se the only games he has missed this season. Seidenberg has scored in back-to-back games after going 26 straight without a goal. The defenseman has five this season.

Bergeron got help from the Rangers in netting his 22nd during a power play with 8:08 left in the second. New York defenseman Dan Girardi had the puck in the corner to the right of Lundqvist, but had it knocked off his stick by Tyler Seguin. He nudged it over to Bergeron, who jammed a shot in at the left post to make it 2-1.

“It took a weird bounce,” forward Brian Boyle said. “He threw it on there quick, and that was that. We had plenty of time to come back from that. We werent discouraged.”

The Rangers 25th-ranked power play plagued them again as New York went 0 for 3, including a two-man edge for 22 seconds in the third. New York thought its power play was getting in shape after the Rangers scored two man-advantage goals in each of the previous two games for the first time this season.

Thomas had a scary moment in the closing minutes when he came far out to play the puck, and fumbled it, but Derek Stepan couldnt put a backhander past him into the vacated net. He also denied Artem Anisimov during the Rangers late-game push for the tying goal.

“He saved his best for the end,” Bruins coach Claude Julien said. “We were on the bench seeing a puck going in, and all of a sudden that pad came right out and made a big save.”

Gaborik gave the Rangers the lead 4:33 in with no assists from his teammates but a big one from Bruins captain Zdeno Chara. The 6-foot-9 defenseman fired a shot from the left point that struck teammate Jordan Caron and knocked him to the ice. Gaborik picked up the loose puck and raced out on a breakaway. He beat Thomas, who had skated out above the crease, and excitedly celebrated, crouching to his knees and pumping his arms.

“The goal was a lucky bounce for Gaborik,” Seidenberg said. “With his speed, its impossible to stop him. We kept putting pressure on their net. Once we got that first goal, we found our way into the game and felt more comfortable.”

Gabor all in the past five seasons and twice in three with the Rangers.

Notes

Bruins C Gregory Campbell sat out after he was struck in the foot by a puck on Saturday. Seidenberg had been out because of an infection in a cut above his left knee. Lundqvist, who made his ninth consecutive start, was 6-2 in the previous eight.

CBSSports.com With a magnificent performance on the road in a pivotal late-season game, the surging Buffalo Sabres took another huge step in their charge to the playoffs.

In the process, Buffalo dealt a severe blow to the erring Washington Capitals.

Ryan Miller stopped 44 shots, Drew Stafford scored two goals and the Sabres beat Washington 5-1 Tuesday to climb over the Capitals into the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

It was the fifth straight win for the Sabres, their longest streak since a six-game run in 2009-2010. Buffalo was in 14th place on Feb. 17 before going on a 14-2-4 tear.

The Sabres have 86 points, two more than Washington and two fewer than seventh-place Ottawa. All three teams have five games left.

After playing catch-up for six weeks, Buffalo cant afford to let up.

“Its a great thing because of the way were playing,” Stafford said. “We can control our fate now. We know every game from n its must-win. Even though were in right now, it doesnt matter to us because weve got games left and we need to get the job done.”

Buffalo took a 3-0 lead early in the second period and coasted home behind Miller, whos 14-1-3 over his past 18 games, allowing only 32 goals in that span. Hes also 8-0-2 in his past 10.

The standout goaltender had plenty of help.

“It was pretty important to have everybody going,” Miller said. “Every line contributed and everybody played hard. It was a great team effort, and the perfect time to do it.”

Buffalo took control with a two-goal first period and went up 3-0 on Thomas Vaneks 25th goal of the season at 2:31 of the second period. That chased Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby, who stopped 15 shots.

Alexander Semin answered for Washington at 5:07 of the period, and the Capitals had a chance to further cut into the deficit with a power play. Instead, Washingtons most esteemed player made a critical mistake that pretty much sealed the decision.

With the Capitals working in Buffalos end of the ice, Alexander Ovechkin misplayed the puck at the point and Buffalos Jason Pominville gained possession and bolted the other way, ending his run with a short-handed goal against Michal Neuvirth for a 4-1 lead.

“I thought we were starting to feel pretty good about ourselves,” Washingtons Karl Alzner said. “The crowd was feeling pretty good, I think. And that was a real killer.”

After his futile chase after Pominville, Ovechkin pounded his stick on the ice in frustration.

“I should play the puck on my stake, not my stick,” Ovechkin said. “But it happens.”

Ovechkin came in with seven goals and an assist over his previous five games, but in this game he didnt get a point and mustered only two shots over the first two periods.

Stafford got his second goal of the game and 19th of the season at 9:29 of the third period, sending a good portion of the sellout crowd scurrying for the exits.

The Capitals arent done yet, but time is running out.

“Now were going to start needing a little bit of help and thats kind of the first time weve been in this position,” winger Mike Knuble said. “Youve got to set a target of trying to get four out of these five and finish extremely strong. And then even if you do that and hold up that end of the bargain, youve got to wait for a little bit of help somewhere else.”

The Sabres opened the scoring at 8:45 of the first period when Cody McCormick registered his first goal in 67 games since February 2011. Holtbys effort to clear the puck from behind the net ended up on the stick of Buffalos Brad Boyes, who whipped a centering pass to McCormick in the slot.

McCormick is the 30th different player to score a goal for the Sabres this season. The last team to have more than 30 players score a goal in a season was the 2006-07 Phoenix Coyotes with 32.

It became 2-0 at 18:05 of the period when Stafford tipped in his own rebound after Holtby let Staffords first attempt slip behind him in the crease.

That was enough offense to give Buffalo another big win.

“Obviously with them being right there with us in the standings the stakes are a little bit higher, but were not done yet,” Stafford said. “Were in the position we want to be, but we know the road is just going to get tougher.”

Notes

Buffalo D Christian Ehrhoff hurt his left knee in a collision with Troy Brouwer late in the first period and did not return. Capitals GM George McPhee said C Nicklas Backstrom, who has been sidelined since early January with a concussion, has passed a baseline test and will decide himself when to resume playing. McPhee said, “Well see where it goes from here, but it looks like the worst is behind for Nicky.” The Capitals signed free agent D Cameron Schilling to a two-year entry-level contract. The 23-year-old Schilling played in 144 games with Miami (Ohio). Buffalo won the season series 3-1, its first series win against the Capitals since 2007-08.