AROUND THE NHL

AROUND THE NHL

Wednesday’s games

Sabres 2, Canadiens 1

BUFFALO, N.Y.

Rasmus Ristolainen and Tyler Ennis scored and the Sabres closed their home schedule snapping the Canadiens’ five-game winning streak. Robin Lehner stopped 31 shots in a game. Tomas Plekanec scored for the Canadiens and Carey Price stopped 28 shots. Buffalo has already been eliminated from playoff contention to extend the franchise’s longest postseason drought to six years. Montreal already secured the team’s fourth playoff berth in five years. The Canadiens clinched the Atlantic Division and guaranteed the Eastern Conference’s second seed.

Capitals 2, Rangers 0

WASHINGTON

Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov scored and the Capitals wrapped up home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs. Ovechkin reclaimed the team lead in goals by scoring on the power play in the second period, beating Henrik Lundqvist from his trademark spot in the faceoff circle. Kuznetsov scored off the rush in the third period, and the best home team in the league beat the best road team thanks to a 24-save shutout from Vezina Trophy candidate Braden Holtby.

Associated Press