Ducks take top seed after shootout win

Devante Smith-Pelly scores in shootout as Anaheim secure top seed in NHL Western Conference playoffs.

Devante Smith-Pelly (77) scored the only goal in the shootout to seal Ducks' win [Reuters]

Anaheim secured the top seed in the NHL Western Conference playoffs with a 4-3 shootout win over city rival Los Angeles, with Devante Smith-Pelly scoring in regulation and then the only goal in the shootout.

Anaheim’s Nick Bonino and Matt Beleskey also scored in regulation for the Ducks, who will face Dallas in the opening round of the postseason.

Elsewhere, San Jose’s Joe Pavelski scored twice to become the fourth player in team history with 40 goals in a season as the Sharks downed Phoenix 3-2.

Montreal’s Brian Gionta scored on a penalty shot at 2:04 of overtime to give the Canadiens a 1-0 win over the Rangers.

Nashville’s Patric Hornqvist scored the go-ahead goal with 58.2 seconds left and Shea Weber added an empty-netter to complete the Predators’ 7-5 win over Chicago.

Ottaway’s Jason Spezza scored the game’s only goal and Craig Anderson stopped 27 shots for his fourth shutout of the season as the Senators beat Toronto 1-0.

Boston clinched the NHL’s best record and home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs with a 4-1 win over league-worst Buffalo.

Columbus made it eight straight wins over Florida as Ryan Johansen scored the tiebreaker in the third period to complete the 3-2 win.

Edmonton marked Ryan Smyth’s final game with a 5-2 win over Vancouver, with Taylor Hall having three assists to reach 80 points for the season.

Source: Reuters