BOSTON - The Devils and Bruins are still hoping for home-ice advantage. Only one team played like it.
Martin Brodeur stopped 38 shots, and Scott Niedermayer and Patrik Elias each had a goal and two assists Saturday as New Jersey beat Boston 5-2 and moved into first place in the Atlantic. The teams play again today, with playoff seedings on the line.
"It's still a big game for us," Devils forward Scott Gomez said. "It just shows you how crazy this league is. Anything could happen."
Playing without captain and leading scorer Joe Thornton, the Bruins failed to pick up a point for just the third time in 14. Andrew Raycroft, a candidate for rookie of the year, allowed the five goals on 30 shots as the Devils won their fourth consecutive.
"It's all about playing well going into the playoffs," Devils forward John Madden said. "It's very important to be able to have confidence and believe in each other going into the playoffs."
LEAFS 6, SENATORS 0: Ed Belfour made 28 saves in his 10th shutout for visiting Toronto. Joe Nieuwendyk scored twice for the Maple Leafs, who scored four in the second. Ottawa fell to 17-7-2-1 against Toronto since April 8, 1999. Ottawa goalie Martin Prusek was pulled in the second.
BLUES 4, PREDATORS 1: Brian Savage scored the winner for visiting St. Louis, which clinched a 25th consecutive playoff berth. The Blues' run is the longest such streak in major-league sports. St. Louis is assured of the seventh seed in the West. Nashville could have secured its first berth with a win. The Predators, who lost for the third time in six, meet Colorado today. St. Louis goalie Chris Osgood, the NHL defensive player of the month in March, is 5-1 in his past six.
RANGERS 3, CAPITALS 2 (OT): Bobby Holik scored twice as visiting New York won for just the second time in 12. The Rangers finished this disappointing season with the sixth worst record in the league. That, however, is good enough to keep them out of the lottery for a chance at the top pick in the draft. Jeff Halpern, a bright spot on the otherwise anonymous Capitals, scored twice. He has 20 points in the past 19 games. New York's Mark Messier didn't make the trip after Wednesday's emotional tribute from the Madison Square Garden crowd. He finished his 25th, and likely final, season with 18 goals.
COYOTES 2, BLACKHAWKS 1 (OT): Krys Kolanos scored 2:55 into overtime for Phoenix. Chicago rookie Tuomo Ruutu scored his 23rd. It was Phoenix's first home victory since Feb. 20, a period of 13 games.
JACKETS 4, RED WINGS 1: Rick Nash broke a tie with his 41st goal and Marc Denis made 32 saves for visiting Columbus. Nash is tied with Atlanta's Ilya Kovalchuk for the league lead. Steve Thomas scored for Detroit.Defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom, 33, who has won the past three Norris Trophies, signed a two-year extension. He is giving up a chance at free agency. "He's one of the best players in the league," general manager Ken Holland said. "We're glad he's committed and locked up." Lidstrom has 10 goals.
2006 ALL-STAR GAME: Phoenix will host the event in 2006 at the arena that opened in December. "For the incredible hockey fans of Arizona, it's about to pay off," NHL vice president Frank Supovitz said.
