Blues Keep Streak Alive

The St. Louis Blues defeated the Nashville Predators, 4-1, Saturday, clinching their 25th consecutive playoff berth. The Blues’ run, which started in 1980, is the longest such streak in major league sports.

St. Louis, assured of the Western Conference’s seventh seed with 91 points, needed a late-season surge to extend that streak. The Blues’ first victory in Nashville this season gave them their 10th win in 15 games.

The Predators, who lost for the fifth time in six games, could have secured the first playoff berth in the franchise’s six-year history with a victory.

Vancouver 5, Edmonton 2 -- Mike Keane scored two goals at Vancouver to help the Canucks win the Northwest Division and in so doing, eliminate the Oilers from playoff contention.

The Canucks clinched the third seed in the Western Conference playoffs with their first division title since 1993.

The loss by the Oilers gave Nashville a playoff berth. The Oilers missed the playoffs despite losing in regulation for only the second time in their final 19 games.

Oiler center Adam Oates, 41, announced his retirement after the game. The former Duck had 341 goals in 19 seasons.

New Jersey 5, Boston 2 -- Martin Brodeur stopped 38 shots and Scott Niedermayer and Patrik Elias each had a goal and two assists at Boston as the Devils moved ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers into first place in the Atlantic Division.

Playing without captain and leading scorer Joe Thornton, the Bruins failed to pick up a point for only the third time in 14 games.

New York Rangers 3, Washington 2 -- Bobby Holik scored the game-winning goal 1:08 into overtime at Washington to give the Rangers the victory in the season finale.

It was only the second win for New York in its last 12 games. The Rangers finished the season with the sixth worst record in the NHL (27-40-7-8).

Atlanta 2, Tampa Bay 1 -- Ilya Kovalchuk scored his NHL-leading 41st goal and the Thrashers scored twice in the third period at Tampa, Fla.

Kovalchuk tied it, 1-1, with a breakaway goal 4:11 into the third. Shawn McEachern put the Thrashers ahead when he scored from the left circle at 7:04.

The Lightning is the top-seeded team in the Eastern Conference for the playoffs.

Phoenix 2, Chicago 1 -- Krys Kolanos scored 2:55 into overtime at Glendale, Ariz.

The Coyotes trailed for more than 42 minutes before Paul Mara scored with 58.8 seconds left in regulation.

The Coyotes, who won for only the second time in 22 games (2-13-4-3), were selected to stage the 2006 All-Star game in their arena that opened in December.

Columbus 4, Detroit 1 -- Rick Nash ended a 1-1 tie with his 41st goal to help the Blue Jackets end their season with a victory at Detroit.

Nash is tied with Atlanta’s Ilya Kovalchuk for the NHL lead.

Montreal 6, Buffalo 3 -- The home victory clinched the No. 7 seeding in the Eastern Conference playoffs for the Canadiens, who ended a five-game skid.

Toronto 6, Ottawa 0 -- Ed Belfour made 28 saves for his second straight shutout and the Maple Leafs scored four goals in the second period at Ottawa.

It was Belfour’s career-best 10th shutout this season and the 75th of his career.