Sharks rule the Pacific
Brian Boucher made 23 saves, and the visiting San Jose Sharks wrapped up the Pacific Division title with a 3-1 victory Friday night over the defending champion Anaheim Ducks.
Anaheim, second in the division, has three games remaining and trails San Jose by eight points. The Ducks had won 10 straight at home.
The Sharks won their third division crown and first since the 2002-03 season. They also finished first in the 2001-02 campaign. San Jose has points in 18 straight games (16-0-2).
Boucher shut out the Ducks after the first period, and Jeremy Roenick and Curtis Brown scored second-period goals for the Sharks.
Devils 5, Flyers 4 (SO): At Newark, N.J., Brian Gionta, Patrik Elias and Jamie Langenbrunner scored in the shootout to defeat Philadelphia.
Canadiens 4, Sabres 3 (OT): At Buffalo, N.Y., Christopher Higgins scored 3:38 into overtime, capping Montreal’s rally from a 3-1 deficit.
Wild 4, Canucks 0: At St. Paul, Minn.,
Pierre- Marc Bouchard and Brent Burns scored with the man advantage for Minnesota and sent Vancouver to its fourth straight loss and into a tie for eighth place in the Western Conference.
Predators 2, Blue Jackets 0: At Columbus, Ohio, Dan Ellis stopped 43 shots to shut out Columbus for the second time in four days as Nashville defeated Columbus.
Hurricanes 7, Thrashers 1: At Raleigh, N.C., Tuomo Ruutu and Jeff Hamilton each scored two of Carolina’s five power-play goals to defeat Atlanta.
Blues 4, Red Wings 3 (OT): At Detroit, Brad Boyes’ second goal of the game and 40th of the season gave St. Louis an overtime win against league-leading Detroit.
Avalanche 5, Oilers 4 (SO): At Denver, Joe Sakic forced overtime by scoring with 5.9 seconds left in regulation, then added the decisive tally in a shootout as Colorado defeated Edmonton.
Around the league
Former Canucks coach Marc Crawford has been named in a lawsuit over Todd Bertuzzi’s infamous attack on Steve Moore. Crawford, who coaches the Los Angeles Kings, could be liable for millions if a judge decides Moore deserves compensation for his injury. … Tampa Bay Lightning coach John Tortorella will coach Team USA in the world championships in May in Quebec and Nova Scotia.