Nashville Predators will return to the Stanley Cup playoffs after a 4-3 win over Washington
Sunday 29 March 2015 11:50, UK
Nashville Predators have clinched a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2012 with a 4-3 victory over the Washington Capitals.
And former Capitals Filip Forsberg and Mike Ribeiro both played important roles in Nashville’s victory.
Rookie centre Forsberg, taken by Washington with the 11th pick of the 2012 NHL draft, scored one goal and assisted on two others, while Ribeiro, who played for the Capitals two seasons ago, recorded a goal and an assist.
Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne kept out 25 shots to improve his record to 41-15-4, but Washington goalie Braden Holtby was pulled after allowing three goals on 13 shots.
Defenseman Mattias Ekholm and centre Mike Fisher were also on target for the Predators, who made it four wins in a row.
The Capitals collected two goals from right winger Troy Brouwer and one from defenseman Mike Green.
The Anaheim Ducks have also clinched a playoff spot after beating the New York Islanders 3-2.
The Ducks (48-22-7) have won two straight and six of their last eight to move into first place overall in the NHL with 103 points.
Centres Kyle Palmieri and Andrew Cogliano scored in the second period and winger Richard Rakell was credited with a goal in the first period for the Ducks, while goalie Frederik Andersen made 29 saves.
Centre Sidney Crosby had a goal and two assists, all in the third period, to boost his league-leading points total to 78 as Pittsburgh Penguins beat Arizona Coyotes 3-2.
And Boston Bruins snapped a six-game winless streak with a 4-2 win over New York Rangers, taking advantage of a rusty Henrik Lundqvist.
The veteran goaltender, who missed 25 games because of a sprained blood vessel in his neck, gave up four goals in the first 26 minutes for New York, finishing with 26 saves.
Goaltender Petr Mrazek made 23 saves for his second shutout of the season and the fourth of his career, leading the Detroit Red Wings to a 4-0 win over Tampa Bay Lightning.
Saturday’s NHL results:
Washington 3-4 Nashville
Boston 4-2 New York Rangers
New York Islanders 2-3 Anaheim
Philadelphia 2-3 San Jose (SO)
Pittsburgh 3-2 Arizona
Detroit 4-0 Tampa Bay
Toronto 4-3 Ottawa (OT)
Montreal 3-2 Florida (OT)
Carolina 3-1 New Jersey
St Louis 2-4 Columbus
Minnesota 4-1 Los Angeles
Vancouver 3-4 Dallas (OT)
Colorado 5-3 Buffalo
