Brodeur Picks up Win Number 600 as Devils Rout Thrashers

Defeats for the Rangers and Thrashers made the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference a lot clearer on Tuesday night.

Thrashers out and Rangers on the brink
Ilya Kovalchuk was in no mood to do favours for his former team-mates as he helped the New Jersey Devils end the Atlanta Thrashers playoff hopes. The left winger was traded from Atlanta in February and he had plenty to celebrate despite failing to make the score-sheet. The win saw New Jersey pull two point clear of the Penguins in the Atlantic Division and was goaltender Martin Brodeur’s 600th career victory.

The Rangers meanwhile failed to close the gap to eighth placed Boston. New York suffered a 5-2 stomping at Buffalo, a win which saw the Sabres clinch the Northeast division. After a lively opening period, which ended 2-2, the home side took over with Jochen Hecht putting Buffalo 3-2 up at 5:17 in the second. The lead was doubled by Toni Lydman at 13:22 of the same period before Tyler Ennis sealed victory with a goal at 2:06 of the third.

Canadiens nearly secure
A shootout loss at the Islanders may not have been the ideal result for the Habs but it may be enough to put Montreal in the playoffs. Despite putting in a below-par performance, the Canadiens looked like they might take the win when Maxim Lapierre gave Montreal a 3-2 lead at 6:20 in the third period. The Islanders, who were eliminated from playoff contention on Monday night, would not be denied however as Frans Nielsen tied it late before Matt Moulson scored the winner in the shootout.

Failure to win in the Big Apple meant the Canadiens missed out on a chance to secure a spot in the post-season. The point gained from the loss was however one more than the Rangers took last night, meaning Montreal could be secure in the playoffs as soon as tonight, depending on how the results go around the league. The Habs will need to raise their game however to merit any NHL betting interest in the post-season.

Flyers looking steady
A shutout victory at Toronto improved Philadelphia’s standing in the eighth and last playoff spot in the East. The Flyers took an early lead with a power-play goal from Claude Giroux at 10:59 in the first period. The Flyers maintain the slender advantage until late in the game when Giroux set up Mike Richards for an empty net goal at 18:44 in the third to seal victory. Brian Boucher’s 23 save performance against the Maple Leafs could be what secures the Flyers place in the post-season. The win saw Philadelphia move four points clear of ninth placed New York, having played a game more than the Rangers.

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