ISLANDERS, LIGHTNING STAY ALIVE IN RACE FOR FINAL PLAYOFF SPOT
The Islanders (39-29-12, 90 points) and Lightning (40-30-10, 90 points) earned victories in must-win games to stay in the race for the 16th and final berth in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Tampa Bay’s triumph came against Toronto (39-26-15, 93 points), who holds a three-point lead over both clubs for the second Eastern Conference Wild Card spot:

* Brock Nelson (GWG) scored just 87 seconds into the contest and Jaroslav Halakdenied all 29 shots he faced as the Islanders extended their win streak to four games. Halak registered his second shutout of the season to extend his personal win streak to five games and improve to 5-1-0 since rejoining the Islanders on March 24 (1.51 GAA, .949 SV%, 1 SO).

* Nikita Kucherov (GWG) scored his 39th goal of the season (tied for second in the NHL) to help the Lightning improved to 6-1-1 in their past eight games overall and finish their season series against Toronto with a 2-1-1 record (TOR: 2-2-0). Victor Hedmantallied 0-3—3 to take the League lead for assists among defensemen and become the first blueliner in Lightning history to reach the 70-point mark in a season (15-55—70).

Remaining Games for Teams in Playoff Contention
Toronto: Saturday vs. PIT and Sunday vs. CBJ
NY Islanders: Saturday at NJD and Sunday vs. OTT
Tampa Bay: Friday at MTL and Sunday vs. BUF

DUCKS, OILERS EARN WINS IN PURSUIT OF PACIFIC DIVISION TITLE
The Pacific Division title will be decided within the final two days of the regular season following wins by the Ducks (45-23-13, 103 points) and Oilers (45-26-9, 99 points):

* John Gibson (37 saves) posted his sixth shutout of the season and Corey Perrynetted the game-winning goal to help the Ducks extend their point streak to 13 games (10-0-3) dating to March 12. Anaheim, who has clinched home ice in the opening round, also moved to 8-0-1 in their past nine contests at Honda Center.

* Milan Lucic (3-0—3) registered a natural hat trick in the third period to help the Oilers rally past the Sharks (45-29-7, 97 points) and stay in the race for the No. 1 seed in the division. Connor McDavid (1-1—2) reached the 30-goal mark for the first time to extend his point streak to 12 games (7-15—22) and open a nine-point lead in the race for the Art Ross Trophy (30-67—97).

* Edmonton will contest a home-and-home set against the Canucks on the weekend, while Anaheim hosts the Kings in their regular-season finale on Sunday. The Ducks hold a 42-41 advantage in ROW, but the Oilers lead the season series tiebreaker.

WESTERN CONFERENCE SEEDING TO BE DECIDED ON FINAL WEEKEND
The Blues (44-29-7, 95 points), Flames (45-32-4, 94 points) and Predators (41-28-12, 94 points) earned wins to maintain their positions in the Western Conference playoff picture. St. Louis owns the ROW tiebreaker against both clubs (STL: 43, CGY: 41, NSH: 39).

* Jaden Schwartz collected 1-2—3 to help the Blues improve to 13-2-2 in their past 17 games and strengthen their grip on third place in the Central Division. St. Louis plays Saturday at CAR and Sunday vs. COL, needing only one point to clinch the No. 3 seed.

* Jon Gillies, a third round pick in the 2012 NHL Draft (75th overall), made 27 saves in his NHL debut to help the Flames maintain the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. Calgary plays its final game of the regular season on Saturday at SJS.

* Viktor Arvidsson (2-2—4) established a career high for points in a game as the Predators raced to a 5-0 lead en route to victory. Nashville closes the 2016-17 regular season on Saturday at WPG.

PENGUINS LOCK UP HOME ICE AGAINST BLUE JACKETS
Pittsburgh won its fourth straight game to clinch the No. 2 seed in the Metropolitan Division and home ice in their First Round series against Columbus.

* The Penguins (50-19-11, 111 points) reached the 50-win mark for the fourth time in franchise history (also 1992-93, 2011-12 and 2013-14). They will finish with the No. 2 seed in the NHL and the second-most points in franchise history behind the 1992-93 campaign, in which they established franchise records for wins (56) and points (119) in a season.

* Sidney Crosby (0-2—2) collected 5-5—10 in the five-game season series against the Devils and now shares second in the NHL with 43-45—88 this season (74 GP).

LOOSE PUCKS
Bryan Little (1-3—4) matched a career high for points in a game and Eric Comriemade 35 saves while making his NHL debut as the Jets extended their win streak to six games, their longest such run since relocating to Winnipeg in 2011-12 . . . San Jose’s Brent Burns, who leads NHL blueliners with 29-46—75 (81 GP), matched his own single-season franchise record for points by a defenseman (27-48—75 in 2015-16). He is the first defenseman to record back-to-back 75-point seasons since Brian Leetchachieved the feat with the Rangers in 1995-96 and 1996-97 . . . Oilers goaltender Cam Talbot recorded his 41st win to establish a single-season franchise record, surpassing the mark set by Grant Fuhr (40 in 1987-88) . . . Wild goaltender Devan Dubnykbecame the first goaltender in franchise history to reach 40 wins in a season . . . Oscar Klefbom (0-4—4) became the first Oilers defenseman to record four assists in a game since Chris Pronger (0-4—4) on Dec. 31, 2005 . . . Blake Wheeler (0-1—1) extended his point streak to seven games (3-7—10) . . . Penguins rookie Jake Guentzel (1-1—2) scored for a fourth straight game . . . Bruins forward Brad Marchand has been suspended for two games for spearing Lightning defenseman Jake Dotchin . . . Denver will face Minnesota-Duluth in the championship game at the NCAA Frozen Four on Saturday . . . The Blues announced that forward VladimirSobotka will return to the team and has signed a three-year contract extension.

SNEAK PEEK AT FRIDAY’S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Tampa Bay @ Montreal, 7:30 p.m., NBCSN, SNE, RDS

the above information was provided by the NHL PR department