Raleigh, North Carolina Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored one goal and two assists as the Carolina Hurricanes concluded a record season with a 6-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night.
The Hurricanes, who clinched the Metropolitan Division title two nights ago, added to their franchise’s records for wins (54) and points (116) in a single season.
Ethan Beer, Martin Nikas, Teofu Tervainen, Stephen Lorentz and Jordan Martinock also scored goals for the Hurricanes, which will carry six straight games into the playoffs.
Carolina goalkeeper Ante Renta saved 27 saves and improved to an all-time 7-0-1 against New Jersey.
Fabian Zetterlund, Jesper Pratt and Jimmy Vesey scored for the Devils, who were 0-3-2 in their last five games with one game remaining. Pavel Zacha got assists and stopped Andrew Hammond 30 shots. The Devils will host the Red Wings on Friday.
More games
► (at) Boston 5, Buffalo 0: Patrice Bergeron scored his eighth hat-trick of his career and his 400th goal in the National Hockey League, and David Pasternak ended Boston’s 39-game winning streak with his 40th goal of the season to lead the Bruins past Buffalo.
The score was already 4-0 when Bergeron received a pass from Charlie McAvoy in the middle and hit the net with 2:13 remaining for his third time in the match. The hats came flying over the glass, and the Bruins hugged their captain, and they jumped up and down their skis.
Linus Olmark saved 37 saves against his former team in his first lockdown of the season while trying to win the job as the No. 1 goalkeeper in the playoffs.
Dustin Tokarsky has stopped 27 shots for the Sabers, who will miss the playoffs for the eleventh consecutive season.
► (at) Columbus 5, Tampa Bay 2: Oliver Björkstrand led Columbus with a goal and assist in the victory over Tampa Bay, preventing Lightning from snatching the number 3 seed in the Atlantic Division.
Jacob Vorasek, Cole Selinger, Jack Roslovic and Andrew Beck also scored goals in the Blue Jackets’ last home game of the season. Elvis Merzlikins saved 25 shots in his 27th win.
Nikita Kucherov and Corey Perry scored twice for Tampa Bay, while Stephen Stamkos and Victor Hedman provided assists. Brian Elliott stopped 30 rounds.
Tampa Bay is one point ahead of Boston with one game left for each team. The number 3 seed will play with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the other will have the first place for wild cards in the East and a series against the Carolina Hurricanes.
► Florida 4, (at) Ottawa 0: Carter Verhaggio scored twice and stopped Spencer Knight 27 shots to close out his second career when Florida beat Ottawa.
Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett also scored for Florida, halting Ottawa’s four-game winning streak.
Philip Gustafson saved 26 balls for Ottawa.
With the Eastern Conference top seed locked up, the Panthers rested a few of their rookie players, including Jonathan Huberdeau, Alexander Barkoff, Claude Giroud, Mackenzie Wiegard and Gustav Forsling.
► (At) NY Islanders 5, Washington 1: Brooke Nelson and Anders Lee scored first-half goals, Matthew Barzall scored three assists, and Semyon Varlamov made 26 saves to lead New York to victory over Washington.
JG Pageau, Kyle Palmieri and Josh Bailey added goals in the third inning for the Islanders, who swept a streak at home with Capitals joining the playoff this week.
Varlamov’s shot was destroyed 41.4 seconds before the game when Axel Johnson-Vgalbe scored from Washington. Vitek Vanessek saved 21 balls for the capital team.
The Islanders were exiting a 4-1 win at Washington on Tuesday when Ryan Bullock and Dobson scored two power-play goals as New York sealed a five-game winning streak. This win ended the road season for the Islanders with a score of 17-19-5.