NHL roundup: Sabres clinch Atlantic Division title for first time in 16 years

[h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/buffalo-sabres/UobjtMIP/"]Sabres[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/hockey/buffalo-sabres-UobjtMIP/chicago-blackhawks-A1kbmKeg/?mid=6outu415"]5-1[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chicago-blackhawks/A1kbmKeg/"]Blackhawks[/a] [/h2][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/thompson-tage/lvRtlzSi/"]Tage Thomspon[/a] recorded his 39th and 40th goals of the season as he led the Sabres to their first division title in 16 years. [/p][p]Buffalo held the Blackhawks to just 16 shots on goal and 0-for-5 on the power play.[/p][p]They'll now face either the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/boston-bruins/jeans23J/"]Boston Bruins[/a] or the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ottawa-senators/noTCHmWM/"]Ottawa Senators[/a] in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, as both teams are now playing for seeding. [/p][p]The win also marked a milestone for Buffalo, as they reached 50 wins for just the third time in franchise history (2005, 2006).[/p][embed guid="fce55201-b2fa-41fb-83d0-cc822526ee43" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoHMC0Ld3NM" social-type="youtube" /][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/philadelphia-flyers/QySGG7oT/"]Flyers[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/hockey/carolina-hurricanes-Sx0gl0tm/philadelphia-flyers-QySGG7oT/?mid=ns8FOrHO"]3-2[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/carolina-hurricanes/Sx0gl0tm/"]Hurricanes[/a][/h2][p]After going down 2-0 in the first, the Flyers rallied with two goals in the second that eventually sent the game into OT.[/p][p]After both teams went scoreless, it was [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/foerster-tyson/bJRGCl0Q/"]Tyson Foerster[/a] who scored the game's only goal during the shootout to help the Flyers clinch the final remaining playoff spot in the East. [/p][p]Philly will now face the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/pittsburgh-penguins/AkN0nWU6/"]Pittsburgh Penguins[/a] in the first round in a classic 'Battle of Pennsylvania'.[/p][embed guid="ecc5ba50-1eb3-4d33-bb7c-deca65986faa" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhUtPKt-w9A&pp=0gcJCdoKAYcqIYzv" social-type="youtube" /][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/los-angeles-kings/CIDo8i2o/"]Kings[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/hockey/los-angeles-kings-CIDo8i2o/seattle-kraken-MibYQ5nU/?mid=0pYlwrWH"]5-3[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/seattle-kraken/MibYQ5nU/"]Kraken[/a][/h2][p]The Kings locked up the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference after shutting out the Kraken for their 35th win. This is now their fifth-straight playoff appearance, losing all of the previous four in the first round.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/byfield-quinton/U31FxIdk/"]Quinton Byfield[/a] scored twice to bring his season total up to 22 on the year, while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kopitar-anze/vNlBZ8Wo/"]Anze Kopitar[/a] recorded his 25th assist on the season.[/p][embed guid="df41468a-8bbf-42bb-a91f-f44fbc2a9fc0" url="https://x.com/NHL/status/2043903190559535423?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/san-jose-sharks/E588Co9j/"]Sharks[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/hockey/nashville-predators-QV0K6kn4/san-jose-sharks-E588Co9j/?mid=bLyYtQWh"]3-2[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/nashville-predators/QV0K6kn4/"]Predators[/a][/h2][p]It was an unfortunate night for both teams, thanks to the Kings' win. Both the Sharks and Predators were eliminated from playoff contention as their seasons are all but over.[/p][p]Should the Kings have lost, the Preds would be sitting just one point below them in the standings, the Sharks (84) three points below. Nashville has one game remaining, while the Sharks have two.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/celebrini-macklin/I7wgduSQ/"]Macklin Celebrini[/a] put up two goals to reach 44 on the season for the Sharks. [/p][embed guid="3d4eba09-f5ca-4bbc-9ce2-a27adb57c890" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfEDlKhfFJA&pp=0gcJCdoKAYcqIYzv" social-type="youtube" /][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/florida-panthers/fc1eq8Pp/"]Panthers[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/hockey/florida-panthers-fc1eq8Pp/new-york-rangers-O4zxeyWN/?mid=tUxFQ4nC"]3-2[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-york-rangers/O4zxeyWN/"]Rangers[/a][/h2][p]In what is considered a nothing game, it was still goalie [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/quick-jonathan/hbva3EAP/"]Jonathan Quick[/a]'s last ever game after he announced his retirement. Quick would finish his career as a three-time Stanley Cup Finals and Conn Smythe winner.[/p][p]He finished his career as the all-time wins (410) and shutouts (65) leader of USA-born goalies.[/p][p]After the Rangers tried to rally back to make it 2-2, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/reinhardt-cole/2yzszD5a/"]Cole Reinhardt[/a] scored his second goal of the game, eighth of the season, in the third to give Florida the win. [/p][embed guid="d8f76e25-95cd-4979-9ccf-f228e6ed6332" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAdMQKj1H80" social-type="youtube" /][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tampa-bay-lightning/YVE3zk1c/"]Lightning[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/hockey/detroit-red-wings-dnJdmCF0/tampa-bay-lightning-YVE3zk1c/?mid=8Gv7SQHa"]4-3[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/detroit-red-wings/dnJdmCF0/"]Red Wings[/a][/h2][p]After the Sabres clinched the Atlantic, the Lightning are now in a battle with the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/montreal-canadiens/nu2G7VWc/"]Montreal Canadiens[/a] for second place in the division as both head into their final games with 106 points each. [/p][p]The Red Wings rallied after being down 3-1 to send it to overtime, but Tampa Bay's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kucherov-nikita/CCOwSw87/"]Nikita Kucherov[/a] scored his 44th goal of the season to rub salt in the Red Wings' wounds who were recently eliminated from playoff contention for the 10th straight season. [/p][p]Their lone bright spot was [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kane-patrick/tb7eL3Io/"]Patrick Kane[/a] recording his 1,400th career point with an assist on a goal by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/debrincat-alex/bDQ5AqfL/"]Alex DeBrincat[/a], which originally sent the game to OT.[/p][p]Tampa will now face the Rangers for their final game, while the Habs go up against the Flyers. [/p][embed guid="0d51d97a-b09b-49ef-833e-09c899f8a00d" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rV57J5JFaRQ" social-type="youtube" /][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/st-louis-blues/KSAayVoi/"]Blues[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/hockey/minnesota-wild-j9Ck7BHi/st-louis-blues-KSAayVoi/?mid=x6mPrn2t"]6-3[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/minnesota-wild/j9Ck7BHi/"]Wild[/a][/h2][p]The St. Louis Blues rallied for five straight goals to take down the Wild, as their season is just one game away from ending for good. [/p][p]With Minnesota already clinched, the Blues were simply playing for pride as they earned their 35th win of the season. [/p][embed guid="b8507a00-4905-4409-b6b0-d77fe280b1a6" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfi5WD-fgt0" social-type="youtube" /][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/dallas-stars/vVAvnIuC/"]Stars[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/hockey/dallas-stars-vVAvnIuC/toronto-maple-leafs-ShE7Z8G3/?mid=xGjzN8Zq"]6-5[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/toronto-maple-leafs/ShE7Z8G3/"]Maple Leafs[/a][/h2][p]In another 'nothing game', [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bourque-mavrik/IuxX9vYQ/"]Mavrik Bourque[/a] still gave the Stars a spark after scoring his first career hat trick, bringing his goal total to 19 on the season. [/p][p]Dallas has already clinched a playoff spot in the West, while the Leafs were already eliminated in the East. [/p][embed guid="b588bb07-553f-4c31-aa16-4b4982c2c812" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee4CrQhd6xU" social-type="youtube" /][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/colorado-avalanche/hACAnvBa/"]Avalanche[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/hockey/colorado-avalanche-hACAnvBa/edmonton-oilers-Mg0qoxeI/?mid=ptfrLn4d"]2-1[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/edmonton-oilers/Mg0qoxeI/"]Oilers[/a][/h2][p]The Oilers (91 points) failed to gain ground in the Pacific Division after a shootout loss to the Avs, who scored on all three of their shootout chances, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mackinnon-nathan/dhMyX3sE/"]Nathan MacKinnon[/a] scoring the game-winner. [/p][p]Both teams have already clinched the playoffs, with the Avs taking the No. 1 seed in the West, but Edmonton is still in a three-way battle for the Pacific Division between the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/vegas-golden-knights/fTT0TsUg/"]Vegas Golden Knights[/a] (93 points) and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/anaheim-ducks/4CM4ojpD/"]Anaheim Ducks[/a] (90 points).[/p][p]The division will come down to the final game of the season. [/p][embed guid="25282a89-a1a4-4aee-bcbe-47fd74656e6f" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qus9867Xg98&pp=0gcJCdoKAYcqIYzv" social-type="youtube" /][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/vegas-golden-knights/fTT0TsUg/"]Golden Knights[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/hockey/vegas-golden-knights-fTT0TsUg/winnipeg-jets-r3L8pAaJ/?mid=bLyVrjd3"]6-2[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/winnipeg-jets/r3L8pAaJ/"]Winnipeg Jets[/a][/h2][p]The Golden Knights pulled ahead in the Pacific Division as they now sit with 93 points ahead of the Oilers and Ducks. If they win their final game against the Seattle Kraken, they'll clinch a division title. [/p][p]Winnipeg's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/scheifele-mark/2e6dppLs/"]Mark Scheifele[/a] became just the second player in franchise history ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hossa-marian/rNgRZK5a/"]Marian Hossa[/a] - Atlanta Thrashers) to eclipse 100 points in a single season, as he finished with a goal (35th) and an assist (66th). [/p][embed guid="44d74f1a-be94-4d6b-8c65-8557e819123a" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bxGM82Tfbo" social-type="youtube" /]