Canadiens score big; clinch spot

Andrei Kostitsyn scored two of Montreal’s three first-period goals and the Canadiens clinched a playoff spot with a 7-5 win over the Ottawa Senators on Monday night in Montreal.

Chris Higgins also scored in the first as the Canadiens beat Martin Gerber three times in the opening period while outshooting Ottawa 14-7.

Montreal added four goals in the second as Francis Bouillon, Andrei Markov, Mikhail Grabovski and Tom Kostopoulos scored on Ray Emery, who replaced Gerber to begin the middle period.

Carey Price stopped 31 shots for the Canadiens, which returned to the playoffs for just the fourth time in the past nine seasons.

Islanders 4, Penguins 1: At Uniondale, N.Y., Bill Guerin had a goal and assist in the decisive second period to help New York top Pittsburgh.

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby sat out his sixth straight game and 27th in 30 because of a sprained right ankle, but is close to returning – perhaps today.

Oilers 5, Wild 3: At Edmonton, Alberta, Andrew Cogliano scored two goals to lead the Oilers to a victory over Minnesota.

Curtis Glencross, Dustin Penner and Kyle Brodziak also scored for Edmonton.

Nick Schultz, Sean Hill and Todd Fedoruk scored for Minnesota.

Avalanche 2, Flames 0: At Denver, Colorado snapped a four-game losing streak with a crucial win over Calgary behind Jordan Leopold’s first goal in 2 1/2 months and Jose Theodore’s third shutout of the season.

Theodore had 23 saves, including one on the power play in the final minute.

The Flames pulled their goalie with a minute remaining, and had a power play when Kurt Sauer was whistled for hooking. But they were unable to score.