Sports: Around the NHL

Around the NHL

Compiled from Times wires

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The Blackhawks had the Devils right where they wanted them, until they put them on the power play.

Patrik Elias and Alexander Mogilny tied the game early in the third period with power-play goals, and Randy McKay got the game-winner with 3:42 remaining as New Jersey beat Chicago 4-3 to win the Atlantic Division title.

"Our power play came through for us," said McKay, who scored in close after a centering pass by Jason Arnott went off Chicago goaltender Steve Passmore. "Right now, our power play is going well and we have to keep that going in the playoffs."

In their last six games, the Devils have converted 9-of-19 chances with the extra man, or 47.4 percent.

The win moved the Devils into a tie for first-place with Ottawa in the Eastern Conference with three regular-season games remaining. The Senators have won more games, so they would be the top seed for the playoffs if the teams finish tied.

The division title was the Devils' fourth in five seasons.

"It has no significance whatsoever," Devils center Bobby Holik said. "Nobody mentioned it and nobody worried about it. We only care about playing better hockey, which we did in the second half of the game. That's the important thing, not these titles."

BRUINS 3, CANADIENS 2, OT: Andrei Kovalenko's overtime goal gave Boston the win at home, and the Bruins regained the lead in the race for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

ISLANDERS 4, PENGUINS 1: Bill Muckalt and Dave Scatchard scored against former teammate Garth Snow as New York beat visiting Mario Lemieux-less Pittsburgh. Lemieux decided Sunday to sit out his second game since ending a 3 1/2-year retirement Dec. 27 to rest for the upcoming playoffs. The 35-year-old center did not make the trip and said he was not injured.

SABRES 5, PANTHERS 3: Jason Woolley had two goals and an assist to lead surging Buffalo .

The visiting Sabres' win gave them 96 points and pushed them into fourth place, one ahead of idle Philadelphia, in the race for home-ice advantage in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Chris Gratton, Erik Rasmussen and Curtis Brown also scored for Buffalo, which won for the fifth time in six games. ... Bruins coach Mike Keenan said Monday he doesn't think his job is on the line in terms of the way the season has gone and the way the team has developed.

FLAMES: Forward Jarome Iginla will miss the rest of the season and this month's International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship after breaking a bone in his wrist in a fight with Dallas' Brendan Morrow.

FLYERS: Center Daymond Langkow will return to the lineup tonight against Florida after an 11-game absence because of broken bones in both feet.

RANGERS: Rookie defenseman Tomas Kloucek will have surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left knee and will be sidelined for about eight months. ... Coach Ron Low and his two assistants will return next season to fulfill the final year of their contracts, said general manager Glen Sather.

THRASHERS: Atlanta recalled center Dan Snyder and defenseman Brian Pothier from the Orlando Solar Bears of the IHL. Right wing Herbert Vasiljevs was sent back to Orlando.

PLAYER HONORS: Pittsburgh's Jaromir Jagr was named the Player of the Month after leading the league with 31 points in 15 games during March. The Senators' Martin Havlat was named Rookie of the Month.