Read the reports of the games played Friday in the NHL.
Posted at 10:23 p.m.
Updated at 11:04 p.m.
William Nylander scored twice as the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Boston Bruins 5-2 on Friday night.
With the victory, the Maple Leafs are guaranteed to face the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning, in the first round of the playoffs. The Bruins will face the Carolina Hurricanes.
Ilya Mikheyev, Nick Abruzzese, with his first career NHL goal, and Pierre Engvall, in an empty net, also threaded the needle for the Maple Leafs.
Erik Kallgren stopped 24 shots for the Torontonians, who had 115 points this season, 10 more than their old record.
Trent Frederic and Jake DeBrusk flashed the red light for the Bruins, who saw Jeremy Swayman turn away 22 pucks.
Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press
Senators win over Flyers 4-2
Photo Matt Slocum, Associated Press
Josh Norris (9) and Brady Tkachuk (7) celebrate the Senators victory.
Brady Tkachuk had a goal and an assist as the Ottawa Senators beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 on Friday night.
Josh Norris and Travis Hamonic scored as Austin Watson completed the scoring in an empty net for the Senators, who will miss the playoffs for the fifth straight season.
James van Riemsdyk and Owen Tippett replied for the Flyers, who wrapped up one of the worst campaigns in franchise history.
Tkachuk reached 30 goals for the first time in his career, hitting the target on the power play with just 3:22 remaining in the third period.
Anton Forsberg stopped 32 of 34 pucks for the Senators. His Flyers counterpart, Martin Jones, blocked 32 shots.
Aaron Bracy, Associated Press
Red Wings edge Devils 5-3
Photo Seth Wenig, Associated Press
Tyler Bertuzzi (59) finished the game counting into an abandoned cage.
Pius Suter broke the game’s tie midway through the third period to lead the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-3 win over the New Jersey Devils.
Tyler Bertuzzi and Michael Rasmussen led the Red Wings offense with one goal and one assist each. Moritz Seider and Joseph Veleno completed for the winners.
Sam Gagner added two assists and goaltender Magnus Hellberg blocked 23 shots.
Fabian Zetterlund led the Devils with a goal and an assist. Dawson Mercer and Nolan Foote scored the other goals.
The Devils finished the season six straight losses and also lost their last eight outings in front of their fans.
Matt Sugam, Associated Press
Dryden Hunt goal helps Rangers beat Capitals 3-2
Photo Danny Wild, USA TODAY Sports
Dryden Hunt
Dryden Hunt gave the team the lead in the third period, goaltender Alexandar Georgiev blocked 34 pucks and the New York Rangers defeated the Washington Capitals 3-2 on Friday night.
The Capitals’ loss means the Pittsburgh Penguins finish third in the Metropolitan Division. In the first round of playoffs, they will face the Rangers, who will make the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
For their part, the Capitals complete the schedule in eighth place in the Eastern Conference and will have to battle with the Florida Panthers, the winners of the Presidents’ Trophy.
Hunt’s sixth goal of the season came on the heels of a superb play on his part to finally beat the vigilance of Ilya Samsonov at 6:42. Kaapo Kakko and Adam Fox picked up assists.
After a scoreless first period, Filip Chytil put Rangers ahead at 3:26 of the second period, with contributions from Kakko and Braden Schneider.
The Capitals turned things around, however, when defensemen Justin Schultz and John Carlson took turns outplaying Georgiev.
Alexis Lafrenière, however, put Rangers level before the end of the second period when he scored his 19and of the season.
Allan Kreda, Associated Press
Malkin and Letang help Penguins beat Blue Jackets
Photo Gene J. Puskar, Associated Press
Evgeny Malkin
Evgeni Malkin passed his 20and goal of the season and added an assist as the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-3.
With this win, the Penguins (46-25-11) climbed to third place in the Metropolitan Division, which will earn them a chance to face the New York Rangers in the first round of the playoffs.
The Penguins started the night with a one-point lead over the Washington Capitals, who lost to the Rangers.
Kristopher Letang, Brian Boyle, Evan Rodrigues and Marcus Pettersson scored the other Penguins goals.
In the Blue Jackets’ loss, Oliver Bjorkstrand found the back of the net in a fourth straight game. Gustav Nyquist and Justin Danforth completed.
The Blue Jackets finished the season with six losses in their last eight meetings.
Dan Scifo, Associated Press
Casey Mittelstadt plays heroes in overtime for Sabers
Photo Timothy T. Ludwig, USA TODAY Sports
Casey Mittelstadt after scoring the winning goal.
Casey Mittelstadt played the heroes at 2:07 of overtime and the Buffalo Sabers defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 on Friday night.
Tage Thompson scored his 38and goal of the campaign as defenseman Owen Power, the first pick in the last draft, scored his second goal in eight NHL games.
The Sabers have come from behind for a fifth win in their last six games. They’ll miss the playoffs for a 12and consecutive season.
Dustin Tokarski blocked 19 pucks for the Buffalo squad.
Dominik Kubalik and Dylan Strome scored for the Blackhawks. Collin Delia stopped 33 shots.
Jonah Bronstein, Associated Press