Sharks Clinch a Playoff Spot

Joe Thornton assisted on four goals, including Christian Ehrhoff’s winner 34 seconds into the overtime, and the San Jose Sharks earned a playoff spot with a 5-4 victory over the Canucks on Wednesday night at Vancouver, Canada.

Thornton, who also set up Scott Hannan’s tying goal with 4:03 left in the third period, spotted Ehrhoff alone in the slot for the shot that sent the Sharks to their sixth straight victory.

Despite the loss, Vancouver moved one point behind eighth-place Edmonton for the final playoff spot in the West.

Buffalo 3, Montreal 1 -- Daniel Briere faked out a defenseman and did the same to the goalie to score on a breathtaking rush to seal the win as the host Sabres (49-24-6) tied a franchise record for victories set in 1974-75.

Ryan Miller stopped 27 shots -- including 15 in the final period -- to help the fourth-place Sabres move seven points ahead of idle Philadelphia in the East.