RALEIGH, N.C. — The New York Islanders clinched an Eastern Conference playoff spot despite a 4-3 shootout loss to the Carolina Hurricanes Tuesday. With the point they received by reaching overtime, coupled with a loss by the Winnipeg Jets at Washington, the Islanders secured a place in the playoffs for the first time since 2007. John Tavares tied it with 1:01 left in regulation. Josh Bailey and Brad Boyes also scored, and Evgeni Nabokov made 29 saves for the Islanders. Riley Nash and Jeff Skinner scored in the shootout to give the Hurricanes the victory. Carolina's Jordan Staal had a goal and an assist, Patrick Dwyer and Alexander Semin added goals, and Dan Ellis made 36 saves before stopping Frans Nielsen and Boyes in the shootout. The Islanders earned a point for the 11th straight game (8-0-3).
Capitals 5, Jets 3: Mathieu Perreault, Jason Chimera, Nicklas Backstrom and captain Alex Ovechkin each had a goal and an assist as hosts Washington hung on to clinch the Southeast Division for the fifth time in six seasons. The Jets stay one point out of the Eastern Conference playoff race with just one contest remaining. Panthers 3, Rangers 2: Marcel Goc scored a tiebreaking power-play goal 7:37 into the third period and Jacob Markstrom turned aside 36 shots as NHL-worst Florida prevented visiting New York from securing a postseason berth. Tomas Fleischmann had a goal and an assist and Drew Shore added an empty-net tally for the Panthers, who snapped both their six-game losing skid and the Rangers' three-game winning streak. Flyers 5, Bruins 2: Matt Read and defenseman Oliver Lauridsen scored seven seconds apart in the second period and hosts Philadelphia rolled to their fourth win in five games. Scott Hartnell, Jakub Voracek and Simon Gagne also scored and Steve Mason turned aside 39 shots for his third straight win as the Flyers stalled Boston's attempt for a division title. Sabres 4, Penguins 2: Steve Ott scored a disputed game-winner with 2:34 remaining as visiting Buffalo prevailed in a game rescheduled from Saturday due to the manhunt associated with the Boston Marathon bombings. Devils 3, Canadiens 2: Patrik Elias and Steve Sullivan scored power-play goals and Martin Brodeur turned aside 19 shots as hosts New Jersey handed Montreal their fifth loss in six games. Predators 4, Flames 3: Austin Watson scored his first career goal while playing in his sixth contest to snap a tie early in the third period as hosts Nashville ended their eight-game winless streak (0-7-1). Sharks 3, Stars 2: Joe Pavelski and Logan Couture scored 30 seconds apart late in the third period as San Jose rallied to clinch a postseason berth in their regular-season home finale. Blues 3, Avalanche 1: Chris Stewart and Andy McDonald each had a goal and an assist as hosts St. Louis clinched their second consecutive playoff berth while avoiding a season series sweep by lowly Colorado. Wild 2, Kings 1: Charlie Coyle and Cal Clutterbuck scored 16 seconds apart in the first period and Niklas Backstrom made it stand up with 22 saves as host Minnesota edged Los Angeles. — Agencies
