NHL roundup \ Saturday’s other games

April 5, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

Predators 5, Blue Jackets 4, SO

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Ville Koistinen scored the only shootout goal for Nashville. Jason Arnott, back in the Predators’ lineup after an 11-game absence because of a concussion, had two goals and an assist. Shea Weber and Radek Bonk also scored for Nashville. Rick Nash, Jiri Novotny and Jason Williams scored for Columbus.

Senators 4, Flyers 3, SO

OTTAWA — Mike Fisher scored on Ottawa’s fifth shootout attempt to give the Senators a victory. Fisher beat Antero Niittymaki after Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson also converted the Senators’ second attempt. Alex Auld turned aside Mike Richards, Simon Gagne, Jeff Carter and Claude Giroux after Daniel Briere was awarded a goal on Philadelphia’s first attempt, though only following a lengthy review that determined his shot crossed the goal line. Niittymaki stopped 34 shots for Philadelphia, which won 8-5 in Toronto on Friday night after losing three of four.

Canadiens 6, Maple Leafs 2

TORONTO — Jaroslav Halak made 34 saves, and Alex Kovalev had a goal and three assists in the Canadiens’ victory. After dropping a 5-2 decision to Toronto two weeks ago in Montreal, the Canadiens have gone 5-0-1 to move five points clear of ninth-place Florida in the race for one of the eight Eastern Conference playoff spots. Guillaume Latendresse, Alex Tanguay, Chris Higgins, Maxim Lapierre and Josh Gorges also scored for Montreal. John Mitchell and Boyd Devereaux scored for Toronto.

Islanders 3, Lightning 1

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Yann Danis made 29 saves, and the New York Islanders snapped a three-game losing streak. Richard Park, Radek Martinek and Josh Bailey scored for the Islanders, who took three of four meetings this season against Tampa Bay. Jesse Joensuu and Bruno Gervais each had a pair of assists. Matt Pettinger had the only goal for the Lightning, losers of six straight (0-4-2).

Devils 3, Sabres 2

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Martin Brodeur stopped 35 shots — including 21 in the third period alone — to turn back the Sabres’ furious rally. Jamie Langenbrunner had a goal and assist, putting the Devils on the verge of clinching their fifth Atlantic Division title this decade. New Jersey enters the final week of the season a point or a Philadelphia loss away from winning the division. Zach Parise and David Clarkson also scored in helping the Devils snap a six-game road skid (0-5-1). Jochen Hecht and Clarke MacArthur scored for the Sabres, who had a 4-0-1 skid snapped and squandered a great opportunity to put themselves firmly in the hunt for the Eastern Conference’s eighth and final playoff berth.

Bruins 1, Rangers 0

BOSTON — Tim Thomas celebrated his new four-year contract with a 1-0 win over the Rangers that clinched the best record in the Eastern Conference. He also got into a brief tussle with Sean Avery after the Rangers wing tapped the back of Thomas’ head with his stick during a stoppage in play with 5:24 left as the goalie knelt in front of the crease. Both received two-minute penalties. The teams met in a potential first-round playoff preview. The Rangers hold the eighth and final postseason spot in the East with three games left. Florida was idle Saturday and trails them by two points with four games left. Rookie Blake Wheeler scored his 21st goal at 9:04 of the first period.

Stars 5, Blues 4, OT

DALLAS — Defenseman Trevor Daley scored 16 seconds into overtime. Daley skated up the right side, took Mike Modano’s centering pass and beat Blues goalie Chris Mason. Despite the victory, the Stars were eliminated from playoff contention. St. Louis has 86 points, six more than Dallas. Both teams have three games left.

Associated Press