Ryan Callahan, the Rangers' captain, was handed the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award before Friday's game. As if he needed to show he was really worthy, Callahan made a sharp pass, checked an opponent to the ice and thwarted a rush with a poke check — all within 30 seconds. The Rangers were playing the last-place Montreal Canadiens, and they are all but certain to finish the regular season with the best record in the Eastern Conference, but they all played with verve, hustling to a 4-1 victory before an appreciative crowd at Madison Square Garden. Defenseman Michael Del Zotto scored twice as the Rangers (50-21-7) won their fourth straight game and the sixth game in their last seven. They became the first Rangers team to win 50 games since the 1994 Stanley Cup championship team won 52. Penguins 5, Sabres 3: Sore nose and all, Sidney Crosby had a goal and three assists to help the Pittsburgh Penguins beat Buffalo, ending the host Sabres' five-game winning streak. It was Crosby's third four-point game in a season in which concussion troubles have limited him to 18 games. Crosby's performance came one night after his nose was bloodied when he was hit by a puck in a 5-3 loss to the Islanders. Predators 4, Red Wings 1: Gabriel Bourque and Francis Bouillon scored in the second period, and Pekka Rinne made 26 saves to help Nashville won in Detroit for Coach Barry Trotz's 500th victory with the franchise. Trotz is the fifth coach to win 500 games with one franchise, joining the Islanders' Al Arbour, Buffalo's Lindy Ruff, Chicago's Billy Reay and Montreal's Toe Blake. Kings 4, Oilers 1: Anze Kopitar had a goal and an assist as Los Angeles took over the Pacific Division lead with a win in Edmonton. Avalanche 4, Flames 1: Semyon Varlamov made 38 saves to lead Colorado past Calgary. Mark Olver, David Jones, Milan Hejduk and Peter Mueller scored to help the Avalanche end a four-game winless streak. Jarome Iginla scored a power-play goal for Calgary with 38 seconds left. Jets 4, Hurricanes 3: Andrew Ladd scored 16 seconds into overtime as visiting Winnipeg beat Carolina, eliminating the Hurricanes from playoff contention. Kyle Wellwood scored the tying goal with 4 minutes 47 seconds left in regulation and added an assist. Blue Jackets 4, Panthers 1: Defenseman Nikita Nikitin scored twice and had an assist as host Columbus defeated Florida. In another game, Vancouver Canucks downed Dallas Stars 5-2.
