Page 18 - ATODAY
P. 18
A18
SPORTSWednesday 6 April 2016
Panthers set franchise record. Rangers secure playoff berth.
The Associated Press New York Islanders center Frans Nielsen (51) celebrates a goal by teammate John Tavares as for St. Louis, which shook
TORONTO (AP) — Rocco Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop (30) reacts in the second period of an NHL hockey game, off the Coyotes’ two-goal
Grimaldi scored twice and Monday, April 4, 2016, in New York. first period. St. Louis is 11-0-1
Aleksander Barkov got his in its last 12 games against
27th goal as the Florida Associated Press Arizona, including 3-0 this
Panthers beat the Toronto season. Antoine Vermette
Maple Leafs 4-3 on Mon- Ryan McDonagh was in- for Columbus, which pulled midway through the third scored his 16th goal and
day night to set a franchise jured blocking a shot early within one with 9:15 re- period was the go-ahead Anthony Duclair got his
record with their 99th point. in the first period and left maining before conceding score for St. Louis, which 20th for the Coyotes.
Florida clinched its fifth the game. an empty-net goal. scored five straight goals to ISLANDERS 5, LIGHTNING 2
playoff berth Sunday Henrik Lundqvist made 27 BLUES 5, COYOTES 2 beat Arizona and tie for first NEW YORK (AP) — John
and then surpassed the stops for his 34th win. ST. LOUIS (AP) — Vladi- place in the Western Con- Tavares got his 30th goal
98 points reached by the Nick Foligno scored twice mir Tarasenko’s 37th goal ference. and two assists as New York
1999-2000 Panthers. The Blues and Stars each scored three times in a 5:15
Nick Bjugstad also scored have 105 points, also tied span to get a crucial 5-2
and Al Montoya made 22 for the Central Division victory over Tampa Bay.
saves for the Panthers. lead, with two games to Ryan Pulock, Matt Martin,
Colin Greening had two play. Dallas holds the tie- Brock Nelson and Johnny
goals and T.J. Brennan also breaker with more regula- Boychuk also scored for
scored for the Leafs, who tion wins. the Islanders while Thomas
are tied for last in the NHL Kyle Brodziak scored twice, Greiss had 32 saves. New
with 67 points. Jonathan Troy Brouwer and Patrik York holds the Eastern Con-
Bernier made 32 saves. Berglund also scored and ference’s first wild-card
The Panthers lead the goalie Brian Elliott won his spot and won for the third
Lightning by four points for 10th consecutive decision time in four games to re-
first in the Atlantic Division. duce its magic number to
RANGERS 4, BLUE JACKETS two over Boston to secure
2 a third straight postseason
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Chris berth. Alex Killorn and Vic-
Kreider and Derek Stepan tor Hedman scored for the
each scored their 20th Lightning while Ben Bishop
goals and had an assist as gave up five goals on 23
New York hung on to beat shots. Tampa Bay is two
Columbus and earn a sixth- points behind first-place
consecutive playoff berth. Florida in the Atlantic Divi-
Dan Boyle and Mats Zuc- sion.
carello also scored for the The Lightning were without
Rangers, who ended a star Steven Stamkos, who
three-game losing streak had surgery to remove a
to move three points be- blood clot from near his
hind second-place Pitts- right collarbone Monday
burgh. They remain two and is expected to miss 1
points ahead of the fourth- to 3 months.
place Islanders in the Met- CANUCKS 3, KINGS 2
ropolitan Division. VANCOUVER, British Co-
The Rangers clinched play- lumbia (AP) — Jared Mc-
ing down a defenseman Cann scored the winner
most of the way. Captain in the second period while
Ryan Miller made 40 saves
as Vancouver beat Los An-
geles. Emerson Etem and
Jannik Hansen also scored
as Vancouver got its first
three-game winning streak
this season.
Tyler Toffoli and Kyle Clifford
had a goal each for Los
Angeles, which dropped its
fifth straight game on the
road in regulation and fell
to 2-6-0 over its last eight.
