Sharks Are Still Ruling the Pacific

Mike Ricci had a goal and two assists as the Sharks took a big step toward the first division title in franchise history, beating the Phoenix Coyotes, 5-2, Thursday night at San Jose.

Mike Rathje had a goal and an assist, and Teemu Selanne scored the go-ahead goal as the Sharks (41-25-8-3, 93 points) used a decisive second period to open a four-point lead on the surprising Coyotes (37-25-9-6) and the Kings (37-25-11-4) atop the Pacific Division. All three teams have five games left.

It was the third straight victory for the Sharks, who wrap up a six-game homestand Saturday against Detroit. San Jose needs only three points in its final five games to improve its point total for the sixth consecutive season.

Though the game was likely the Sharks’ most important this season, they struggled in the first 30 minutes. But after tough guy Andrei Nazarov scored early in the second period to put the Coyotes up, 2-1, the Sharks answered with four consecutive goals.

Montreal 3, Philadelphia 1--At Montreal, the Canadiens moved into the final Eastern Conference playoff position, handing the Flyers their fifth loss in a row.

Montreal, winner of four consecutive games, is two points in front of idle Washington for eighth place in the East.

Andrei Markov had a goal and an assist and goaltender Jose Theodore stopped 23 shots. Richard Zednik and Bill Lindsay also scored for the Canadiens.

New York Islanders 2, Boston 1--Oleg Kvasha scored at 3:29 of overtime, but the Bruins added to their Eastern Conference lead at Boston.

Kvasha put the puck between defenseman Hal Gill’s skates near the Boston blue line, then cut past Sean O’Donnell, who knocked him to the ice. But as he was falling, Kvasha shot the puck between goalie Byron Dafoe’s legs.

The Islanders, outshot 40-16, nearly won in regulation, but Glen Murray scored with 2:16 left.

The Bruins gained one point from the overtime loss and are five points ahead of Philadelphia.

New York Rangers 4, Toronto 2--Pavel Bure scored twice, including the go-ahead goal midway through the third period at Toronto. Bure was standing alone at the side of the net as linemate Eric Lindros fought off a Maple Leaf defender and fed him a loose puck. The Russian easily put in the winner.

Matthew Barnaby added a goal as New York, badly outplayed by Toronto most of the game and outshot, 37-24, got its third consecutive win thanks to the solid goaltending of 18-year-old rookie Dan Blackburn.

Calgary 4, Minnesota 3--Jarome Iginla scored his 48th goal and added two assists at Calgary, Canada. With five games remaining, Iginla is nine goals ahead of Washington’s Peter Bondra in the race for the Rocket Richard Trophy as the NHL’s top goal scorer.

Tampa Bay 4, Pittsburgh 2--Dave Andreychuk scored twice at Tampa, Fla., to reach 20 goals for the 17th time in his career.

Columbus 2, Nashville 1--Deron Quint scored his first goal in 19 games and Espen Knutsen had two assists at Columbus, Ohio.