Ducks edge out Islanders to clinch playoff berth

Andersen makes 29 saves as the Anaheim Ducks join Nashville Predators in the Western Conference playoffs.

Johnny Boychuk
The Ducks scored twice in the second period to seal the win [AP]

Frederik Andersen made 29 saves, and the Anaheim Ducks used a two-goal second period to beat the struggling New York Islanders 3-2 in the NHL to clinch a Western Conference playoff berth.

Rickard Rakell gave the Ducks a 1-0 lead in the first, and Kyle Palmieri and Andrew Cogliano stretched the advantage in the second for Anaheim, which leads the NHL with 103 points.

Elsewhere, Filip Forsberg scored during a three-goal first period and had two assists as the Nashville Predators had become the first Western Conference team to clinch a playoff berth with a 4-3 win over the Washington Capitals.

Mattias Ekholm, Mike Fisher and Forsberg scored during a five-minute span midway through the first period for a 3-0 lead. Mike Ribeiro added a goal with an assist by Forsberg after Washington’s Troy Brouwer scored twice earlier in the second period.

The Predators have won four straight after losing nine of 11.

At Pittsburgh, Daniel Winnik, Steve Downie and Sidney Crosby scored in a four-minute, eight-second stretch of the third period to rally the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 3-2 victory over the Arizona Coyotes.

Max Pacioretty scored in overtime as the Montreal Canadiens also clinched a playoff berth with a 3-2 victory over the Florida Panthers.

Other results:

Boston Bruins 4-2 New York Rangers

Detroit Red Wings 4-0 Tampa Bay Lightning

San Jose Sharks 3-2 Philadelphia Flyers

Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 Montreal Canadiens

Colorado Avalanche 5-3 Buffalo Sabres

Minnesota Wild 4-1 Los Angeles Kings 

Dallas Stars 4-3 Vancouver Canucks 4-3

Source: AP