Canadiens Win to Inch Closer to the Playoffs

Jeff Hackett had 31 saves in his 22nd shutout as the Montreal Canadiens defeated the New York Rangers, 3-0, Wednesday night at New York to move past Carolina into an eighth-place tie with Buffalo in the race for the Eastern Conference’s final postseason berth.

Montreal, which missed the playoffs last season, has not been out of the postseason in consecutive seasons since failing in three in a row from 1920-22.

St. Louis 6, Calgary 5--Scott Pellerin had a goal and two assists in the third period as the Blues overcame four goals by Marc Savard and clinched the NHL’s best record by beating the Flames at St. Louis.

San Jose 5, Dallas 2--Vincent Damphousse scored two goals and had an assist as the Sharks clinched a playoff spot by beating the Stars at San Jose.

The victory, combined with Edmonton’s 3-2 loss to Colorado, moves the Sharks up a spot and into seventh in the Western Conference standings.

Damphousse, who scored his 19th and 20th goals of the season, gave the Sharks a 3-2 edge with 2:26 remaining in the second period.

Florida 6, Boston 3--The Panthers set a franchise record for goals in a period with six in the second, including two each by Ray Whitney and Ray Sheppard, in a victory at Sunrise, Fla.

Colorado 3, Edmonton 2--The Avalanche extended its winning streak to six games as Milan Hejduk, Dave Andreychuk and Alex Tanguay scored goals at Edmonton.

Pittsburgh 4, Toronto 2--Jaromir Jagr had two goals and an assist as the Penguins clinched a playoff berth.

Phoenix 3, Nashville 2--Mikael Renberg scored his 150th career goal as the Coyotes won for the fourth time in five games at Phoenix.

Around the League

Bryan Berard, blind in one eye but hoping to return to hockey, does not plan to wear a visor if he makes it back to the NHL. “I don’t like to wear a visor,” said Berard, a red scar snaking below his right eye as he addressed the media at a news conference in Cranston, R.I. “My life is hockey and it is a tough time for me right now because I don’t know if I will get back on the ice. But I believe I will.” Berard was accidentally hit in the eye by a hockey stick March 11. . . . All-Star left wing Brendan Shanahan signed a four-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings. . . . Ranger goalie Mike Richter had surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left knee.