NHL
Thrashers lock up first division crown RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – Ilya Kovalchuk, Pascal Dupuis and Marian Hossa scored to lead the Atlanta Thrashers to a 4-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes and their first division title Friday night.
Johan Hedberg finished with 32 saves for the Thrashers, who clinched the Southeast Division when Tampa Bay lost 7-2 at home to Florida. Eric Belanger added a late goal for Atlanta.
Anson Carter scored for the Hurricanes, who have lost five of six games – a stretch that cost them a chance to defend their Stanley Cup title.
The Hurricanes were eliminated from the playoff race after a loss at Tampa Bay earlier this week, making them just the third defending Cup champion to miss the postseason.
Panthers 7, Lightning 2
TAMPA, Fla. – Olli Jokinen had a goal and an assist, and Ville Peltonen set up three goals to lead Florida past Tampa Bay.
The Panthers chased Lightning goalie Johan Holmqvist with four goals in their first 12 shots.
Nathan Horton opened the scoring 3 minutes in with his career-high 31st goal. Noah Welch, David Booth and Jay Bouwmeester also scored in the first period, while Panthers goalie Ed Belfour faced only three shots at the other end.
Stars 2, Ducks 1
DALLAS – Vladislav Nagy converted in the fourth round to send the Dallas Stars to a shootout victory over Anaheim, preventing the Ducks from clinching their first Pacific Division title.
Jussi Jokinen, Sergei Zubov and Mike Modano failed to score in the shootout for the Stars before Nagy beat Anaheim goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov.
Stars goaltender Marty Turco stopped Corey Perry in the fourth round to give Dallas the victory after Anaheim’s first three shooters were unable to convert.
With a point for the overtime loss, the first-place Ducks eliminated the Stars from title contention in the Pacific Division.
Anaheim improved to 108 points, two better than second-place San Jose and three ahead of Dallas.
All three teams have one game remaining.