Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf (left) scores the game winning goal past Boston Bruins left wing Milan Lucic and defenseman Zach Trotman (right) during the overtime period at TD Banknorth Garden. The Anaheim Ducks won 3-2 in overtime. PICTURE: USA TODAY
Reuters/Boston
The Anaheim Ducks tied the game with a deflected goal in the last minute of regulation before captain Ryan Getzlaf scored with 1:51 left in overtime to give his team a 3-2 victory over the slumping Boston Bruins in Thursday’s National Hockey League.
The loss was the sixth straight (0-3-3) for the Bruins, who at least collected a point to match the Ottawa Senators with 85 points in the race for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot.
Rangers 5, Senators 1
The New York Rangers cooled off the red-hot Ottawa Senators with a 5-1 victory and became the first team to clinch a playoff spot.
Winger Chris Kreider scored two goals as the Rangers posted their eighth win in their last 10 games and stopped Ottawa’s winning streak at seven.
Panthers 4, Maple Leafs 1
The Florida Panthers kept their playoff hopes alive with a 4-1 win over the lowly Toronto Maple Leafs.
Brandon Pirri scored two goals for Florida (34-26-14), who moved three points back of Ottawa and Boston.
Kings 3, Islanders 2
Anze Kopitar scored the winner with 4:23 left in the third period, and the Los Angeles Kings (37-23-14) moved into playoff position in the Western Conference with a 3-2 win over the New York Islanders.
With their third consecutive win, the defending Stanley Cup champions moved a point ahead of the idle Calgary Flames for third place in the Pacific Division.
Capitals 3, Devils 2 (OT)
Goaltender Braden Holtby stopped 29 of 31 shots, and the Washington Capitals needed an overtime goal by defenseman Matt Niskanen to earn a 3-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils.
Devils right winger Steve Bernier scored with 29.2 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime, where the Capitals (40-24-10) prevailed to match their point total from last season, when they missed the playoffs.