Read reports from Thursday’s NHL games.
David Pastrnak played heroes in overtime as the Boston Bruins defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1 on Thursday night.
With Pastrnak’s 53rd campaign goal, the Bruins secured the Presidents’ Trophy and posted a team-high 58th win.
In overtime, Hampus Lindholm served the paying pass to Pastrnak, who hit the target on a backhand shot.
The Bruins broke a tie with the 1970-71 team for the most wins in a season and came within four wins of the NHL record, jointly held by the Detroit Red Wings (1995-96) and the Tampa Bay Lightning (2018-19).
Tyler Bertuzzi scored on the power play as Linus Ullmark made 25 saves for Boston, which has won eight of its last nine games.
Jack Roslovic replied for the Blue Jackets, who have lost six of their last eight games. Michael Hutchinson stopped 29 shots.
Erik Haula and Timo Meier hit the target and the New Jersey Devils defeated the New York Rangers 2-1 on Thursday night.
Vitek Vanecek made three important saves in the third period to confirm the Devils’ victory in this duel involving two teams that could face each other in the first round of the playoffs.
Vanecek finished the game with 22 saves for his 30th win this season.
The Devils extended their lead to four points over second-place Rangers in the Metropolitan Division with two weeks left in the season.
Chris Kreider scored his 33rd goal of the season for Rangers, who have only suffered a third defeat in their last 11 outings (8-2-1).
Igor Shesterkin continued his fine work in front of the net for Rangers, fending off 29 pucks in front of a packed house at the Prudential Center.
Pat Maroon scored twice in the third period and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Washington Capitals 5-1 on Thursday.
His fifth goal of the campaign made it 4-1, before Erik Cernak sent the puck into an empty net.
Steven Stamkos provided a goal and an assist.
Accompanied by Alex Killorn’s net, midway through the first period, he added a 32nd goal shortly before the first intermission.
Andrei Vasilevskiy made 30 saves.
The Lightning have won two in a row, having dropped four in a row.
For the Capitals, Craig Smith scored and Darcy Kuemper stopped 29 shots.
Beaten for the third straight time, the Capitals are seven points behind the Penguins in the race for the last playoff spot in the East.
T.J. Oshie left the rink at the first intermission with an upper body injury. He did not return to the game afterwards.
Tristan Jarry made 27 saves as the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Nashville Predators 2-0 on Thursday.
Playing his 200th career game, Jarry notably stopped Philip Tomasino on a breakaway early in the third period.
Jason Zucker had a 26th goal in the middle period and Jake Guentzel added a power play goal in the third period.
The Penguins hold onto the last available playoff spot in the East, one point ahead of the Florida Panthers. Pittsburgh has a game in hand.
The Penguins will play Saturday at 3 p.m. at home against the Boston Bruins.
Juuse Saros blocked 43 shots for the Predators, who have lost three of their last four games.
Defenseman Jake Walman scored with 3.2 seconds left in the third period on Thursday to give the Detroit Red Wings a 3-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.
Walman grabbed Andrew Copp’s pass near the blue line, then he hit the target with a wrist shot.
Dominik Kubalik and captain Dylan Larkin also scored for the Red Wings.
Larkin dominates his team with 28 goals including 15 in superiority, like Thursday.
Alex Nedeljkovic blocked 31 shots-he faltered against Brent Burns and Jaccob Slavin 3:36 apart in the second period.
Frederik Andersen made 19 saves after going 10-0-1 against the Red Wings.
The Hurricanes’ next game is Saturday night in Montreal.
The Red Wings will be back in action Friday night in Winnipeg.
Alex DeBrincat scored at 1:36 in overtime and the Ottawa Senators beat the Philadelphia Flyers 5-4 on Thursday.
Ottawa still has chances to sneak into the playoffs, sitting five points behind the last allocated spot in the East.
The gap is five points vis-à-vis the Pittsburgh Penguins. There are seven games left for each team.
Tim Stutzle, Austin Watson, Shane Pinto and Claude Giroux scored for the Senators.
Cam Talbot was lightly busy, receiving only 11 shots.
The Senators will host the Maple Leafs on Saturday night.
Tony DeAngelo, Cam York, Noah Cates and Owen Tippett fought back for the Flyers, who had won four games in a row.
Felix Sandstrom stopped 41 shots.
Wanting a broader perspective, Flyers coach John Tortorella watched the game from the press gallery, with d. g. interim Daniel Briere.
It was assistant Brad Shaw who led the club from the bench.
