OT loss sends Pens on the road

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Ryan Strome scored 2:09 into overtime and the New York Rangers beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 Saturday night in the regular-season finale.

The loss sends the Penguins on the road to open the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the New York Islanders.

Brendan Smith, Brady Skjei and Vladislav Namestnikov also scored for New York, long eliminated from playoff contention for the second straight year. Alexandar Georgiev stopped 36 shots while starting for the second straight night. The Rangers snapped a three-game skid and won for just the fifth time in their final 21 games (5-10-6).

Sidney Crosby, Nick Bjugstad and Jake Guentzel scored for the Penguins, who earned a point to secure third-place in the Metropolitan Division. Matt Murray finished with 26 saves while starting g20 of Pittsburgh’s last 21 games.

Skjei and Namestnikov scored 1:16 apart to give the Rangers a 3-2 lead with 6:10 remaining in regulation. Namestnikov’s go-ahead goal was the 15th short-handed score allowed by Pittsburgh, tied for worst in the league.

However, Guentzel tied it with his 40th of the season with 2:35 to play, becoming the 20th player in franchise history to reach the mark. Crosby, who scored his 35th earlier in the game, had an assist on the play for his 100th point. Crosby reached the mark for the sixth time in his career, and first time since 2013-14.

Blue Jackets 6, Senators 2

OTTAWA, Ontario

Pierre-Luc Dubois scored two goals and the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Ottawa Senators.

The Blue Jackets, who clinched a playoff berth with a 3-2 shootout win over the New York Rangers on Friday, finished 47-31-4 and secured the second wild card in the Eastern Conference.

The Blue Jackets will face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the playoffs.

Alexandre Texier, Riley Nash, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Markus Nutivaara also scored for the Blue Jackets. Joonas Korpisalo made 27 saves.

Thomas Chabot and Mikkel Boedker scored for the Senators (29-47-6). Anders Nilsson stopped 17 shots after replacing starter Craig Anderson, who was pulled midway through the first after giving up three goals on seven shots.

The Senators finished last in the NHL standings for the first time in 23 years.

Nilsson started the third period with a great save on Cam Atkinson, which seemed to fire up his teammates briefly. The Senators cut the Blue Jackets’ lead to 4-2 as Boedker, standing at the top of the crease, took a pass from Chris Tierney and sent a wrist shot past Korpisalo.