BOSTON: Jussi Jokinen collected a goal and two assists as visiting Pittsburgh clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference in a game that was rescheduled from Friday after authorities conducted a manhunt for one of the suspects involved in the Boston Marathon bombings.
Jarome Iginla and defenceman Kris Letang scored power-play goals in the third period and Tomas Vokoun turned aside 38 shots for the Penguins, who have won six in a row overall and six straight against Boston.
Pittsburgh moved within four points of Chicago in the race for the Presidents’ Trophy.
Meanwhile, Patrik Elias recorded his 51st career two-goal game - and first of the season - as host New Jersey netted six unanswered tallies to keep its slim post-season aspirations alive.
Fourth-liner Ryan Carter scored for the second straight game and David Clarkson, Stephen Gionta and Dainius Zubrus also scored.
Martin Brodeur (11 saves) denied Quinton Howden on a penalty shot early in the third period for the Devils, who have won two straight following a 10-game winless skid (0-6-4) and moved within six points of the eighth-place New York Rangers.
New Jersey has four games remaining on its schedule - including a pair at New York.
In another match, John Tavares and Brad Boyes scored in the shoot-out as visiting New York snapped Winnipeg’s five-game winning streak. Josh Bailey and Frans Nielsen each had a goal and an assist and Michael Grabner and Matt Martin also scored for the Islanders, who improved to 8-0-2 in April and pulled even in points with fifth-place Toronto.
Captain Andrew Ladd tallied in the shootout and finished with two assists for the Jets, who fell to 5-0-1 on their six-game homestand and moved within a point of both Washington and the eighth-place New York Rangers.
Elsewhere, James van Riemsdyk scored twice and James Reimer made 49 saves as visiting Toronto clinched their first playoff berth in eight seasons.
Nazem Kadri and Joffrey Lupul also tallied to lift the Maple Leafs two points clear of the New York Islanders for fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Phil Kessel and defenseman Cody Franson assisted on both of van Riemsdyk’s goals for Toronto, who won for the fourth time in five games against provincial-rival Ottawa. Rookie Jakob Silfverberg scored who saw their four-game winning streak come to an end. REUTERS
