Louis Blues goalie Ryan Miller makes a save on a shot by Dallas Stars right wing Valeri Nichushkin during the second period at the American Airlines Center on Friday.
AFP/Toronto
Kari Lehtonen made 22 saves on Friday as the Dallas Stars beat the St Louis Blues 3-0 to clinch their first NHL playoff berth since 2008.
The Stars secured the final spot in the Western Conference, eliminating the Phoenix Coyotes in the process.
Tyler Seguin and Ryan Garbutt both scored, while Trevor Daley supplied a goal and an assist.
Jamie Benn contributed two assists for the Stars, who have won two of their last three games.
Ryan Miller stopped 37-of-40 shots he faced in the Blues’ fifth straight defeat.
The Blues were without both David Backes, who is nursing a foot injury, and T J Oshie, who took an illegal hit to the head from Minnesota Wild forward Mike Rupp on Thursday.
Rupp was suspended four games for the illegal hit.
St Louis are currently tied for the Central Division lead with Colorado, who fell 5-1 to the Sharks in San Jose on Friday.
Elsewhere, the Tampa Bay Lightning got two goals from veteran defenseman Eric Brewer to down the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 at home.
The win takes the Lightning ahead of Montreal for second place in the Atlantic Division and home ice in their upcoming playoff series.
Tampa Bay (45-27-9), who tied a franchise record with their 25th home win, lead the Canadiens by a point with each team having one game remaining. They are assured of meeting in the first round of the playoffs.
Columbus, playoff-bound as an Eastern Conference wild card, fell to 42-32-7.
Goaltender Cam Ward made 28 saves and the Carolina Hurricanes held on for a 2-1 road win over the Detroit Red Wings.
It was the first win by the Carolina franchise in Detroit since November, 1989, when they were the Hartford Whalers.
The Hurricanes are out of playoff contention, while the Red Wings are heading to the postseason for the 23rd consecutive time.
Martin Brodeur, in perhaps his final start with the New Jersey Devils, went out on a down note as the New York Islanders won on the road with a 3-2 verdict in a shootout.
The 41-year-old made 28 saves but failed to stop all three attempts in a shootout between teams who cannot make the playoffs.
The Devils fell to 0-13 in shootouts this season and have lost an NHL-record 17 consecutive shootouts dating to last season.
Washington center Jay Beagle notched the first two-goal game of his NHL career and goaltender Jaroslav Halak had his first shutout as a member of the Capitals in an emphatic 4-0 home win over the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Capitals won for the fourth straight time and ended Chicago’s four-game win streak, but the result had little significance for either team.
Washington were eliminated from playoff contention on Wednesday, while defending Stanley Cup champions Chicago will start the playoffs on the road.
