Penguins go 8-0 against Flyers

If the Pittsburgh Penguins make the playoffs for the first time in six years, no opponent will be more responsible than the Philadelphia Flyers.

Erik Christensen twice scored tying goals in regulation, then teamed with Sidney Crosby to win it in the shootout and the Penguins swept a season series from Philadelphia for the first time by winning, 4-3, on Sunday at Pittsburgh.

The Penguins won all eight games against a once-dominating opponent.

Coming into the season, the Flyers were 125-64 with 30 ties and one overtime loss in the last 40 years against their Pennsylvania rivals.

Chicago 4, Ottawa 3 -- Radim Vrbata and Jeff Hamilton scored in the shootout to give the Blackhawks a win at Chicago.

Vrbata scored two goals in regulation, including one that tied it with 1:59 left. Mikael Holmqvist also scored for the Blackhawks, who ended a three-game losing streak.

Atlanta 3, Carolina 1 -- Marian Hossa scored two goals and Kari Lehtonen made 35 saves for the Thrashers at Atlanta.

The Thrashers moved into a tie with Tampa Bay for first place in the Southeast Division.

Carolina is five points behind the division leaders and clinging to the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

San Jose 4, Dallas 0 -- Evgeni Nabokov stopped 26 shots for his 32nd career shutout, Joe Pavelski scored two goals at Dallas and the Sharks ended a season-long four-game losing streak.

Vancouver 4, Minnesota 3 -- Daniel Sedin beat Nicklas Backstrom and Roberto Luongo stopped Pierre-Marc Bouchard in the sixth round of a shootout to give the Canucks the win at Vancouver, Canada.

Luongo, who made 28 saves in regulation and overtime, forced Marian Gaborik to shoot high in the fifth round of the shootout before getting a glove on Bouchard’s backhand to clinch the win and move the Canucks two points ahead of Minnesota and Calgary atop the Northwest Division.

Colorado 4, Detroit 3 -- Brad Richardson’s goal 2:41 into overtime lifted the Avalanche at Detroit.

Boston 4, New Jersey 1 -- Joey MacDonald stopped 26 shots in his first career start with Boston and the Bruins inched a little closer to a playoff spot at East Rutherford, N.J.