Lightning/NHL

Devils storm back, take title

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published April 19, 2006

MONTREAL - A record-setting goal by Brian Gionta and an out-of-town result helped inspire New Jersey to complete two stunning comebacks.

Jamie Langenbrunner capped a sensational third-period rally Tuesday as the Devils took the Atlantic Division title with their 11th straight victory, 4-3 over Montreal.

The Devils, who trailed the division-leading Flyers by 19 points on Jan. 6, capped the biggest comeback to win a division since the league divided into two conferences in 1974-75. Detroit overcame an 18-point deficit in 1993-94.

Gionta had three points, including his franchise-record 47th and 48th goals, then Langenbrunner scored with 2:23 to go in regulation.

"I don't think it's sunk in," Langenbrunner said. "We were basically so far out of it even three weeks ago that somehow we won this division and have home ice - I think we're all a little bit in shock about that. But we definitely earned it."

Philadelphia and New Jersey each had 101 points, with the Devils winning the division title based on victories, 45-44.

SENATORS 5, RANGERS 1: Dany Heatley scored his 50th goal in the third to help visiting Ottawa clinch the top seed in the East and set up a first-round playoff matchup against Tampa Bay. New York fell out of first in the Atlantic Division, fell to the No. 6 seed and ceded home-ice advantage to No. 3 New Jersey in the first round.

SABRES 4, HURRICANES 0: Chris Drury scored to reach 30 goals for the first time and Martin Biron got his first shutout of the season for visiting Buffalo. Carolina was knocked out of the top spot in the East and what would have been a first-round playoff matchup against the Southeast Division rival Lightning.

FLYERS 4, ISLANDERS 1: Jeff Carter helped visiting Philadelphia earn the fifth seed in the East, beating Garth Snow on a breakaway with 7:22 left for a 2-1 lead. Peter Forsberg returned to Philadelphia's lineup after missing five of the last six games because of a groin injury.

BLUE JACKETS 5, STARS 4 (OT): Sergei Fedorov's one-timer 35 seconds into overtime won for host Columbus. Fedorov's 14th career overtime goal tied Mats Sundin for the league record.

MAPLE LEAFS 5, PENGUINS 3: Mats Sundin scored twice and added two assists for host Toronto.

PANTHERS 2, THRASHERS 1 (OT): Mike Van Ryn's overtime goal, his second score of the game, lifted host Florida.

PREDATORS 6, RED WINGS 3: Paul Kariya earned his ninth career hat trick as Nashville snapped Detroit's 20-game points streak. The Predators finished with the league's best home record at 32-8-1.

BLACKHAWKS 3, BLUES 2 (OT): Kyle Calder scored at 3:20 of overtime for host Chicago, as St. Louis finished with the NHL's worst record.

KINGS: The team fired general manager Dave Taylor, but will ask him to remain with the team in another capacity. The entire coaching staff, including interim coach John Torchetti, will not have their contracts renewed. Assistant GM Kevin Gilmore, and director of player personnel Bill O'Flaherty were also let go.

[Last modified April 19, 2006, 01:59:13]