With the Pacific Division title locked up, the Sharks can rest some players before heading into the postseason, according to an Associated Press report. ?We wanted to get it done and over with,? San Jose Coach Ron Wilson said Friday night after the Sharks beat Anaheim 3-1. ?Now we?ve got four games where some guys need a little break.

Tim Thomas made 30 saves, Phil Kessel and Peter Schaefer each had a goal and an assist and the Bruins eliminated the Maple Leafs from playoff contention with a 4-2 win on Thursday night, as reported by the Associated Press. The Bruins moved into a seventh place tie with idle Philadelphia, while Toronto missed the playoffs for the third straight year. It was the first time since the 1926-28 seasons they have gone three years without a playoff appearance.

Bouncing back from a bad game and putting themselves in position to be the top seed in the Eastern Conference was more exciting for the Penguins than making the playoffs. Less than 24 hours after a loss to the Islanders, the Penguins clinched a playoff berth and took a big step toward the top seed, beating the Devils 2-0 on Tuesday night behind a 31-save performance by Marc-Andre Fleury, as reported by the Associated Press.

The Canadiens achieved their goal of returning to the playoffs ahead of schedule. Andrei Kostitsyn scored two of Montreal?s three first-period goals and the Canadiens clinched a playoff spot with a 7-5 win over the Senators on Monday night, according to an Associated Press report.

Alex Ovechkin is scoring goals and having fun. With a playoff spot on the line, he gave the Capitals exactly what they needed. Ovechkin became the NHL?s first 60-goal scorer in 12 years by getting two Friday night in the Capitals? comeback 5-3 victory over the Thrashers, according to an Associated Press report.

Niklas Backstrom?s first shutout since October and Marian Gaborik?s 200th NHL goal helped the Wild snap a five-game losing streak with a 2-0 victory over the Kings on Saturday night, as reported by the Associated Press.

The Red Wings became the first team to secure a postseason berth in the NHL after skating to a 5-3 victory over the Stars on Thursday, as reported by Yahoo.com. Pavel Datsyuk scored two goals as the Red Wings claimed their 17th consecutive playoff berth, the longest active streak of qualifying for the postseason among the major pro sports. In addition, Detroit also claimed its seventh consecutive division title and tied the NHL record streak by the Canadiens for most consecutive seasons (eight) with at least 100 points.

Sabres' defenseman Nathan Paetsch was knocked out and sustained a concussion while being leveled by the Penguins' Georges Laraque early in the second period Wednesday night, according to an Associated Press report.

San Jose finished a three-week stretch spent mostly on the road with its franchise-record 10th straight win. Joe Pavelski and Milan Michalek each scored goals, Evgeni Nabokov made 26 saves, and the Sharks beat the Predators 2-1 Tuesday, as reported by the Associated Press. The Sharks finished up a stretch when they played 11 of 13 games away from San Jose. They have the best road record in the NHL at 25-8-3.

Flames captain Jarome Iginla made franchise history Monday. With 1:33 remaining in the first period of Calgary?s game against the Blues, Iginla scored career goal No. 365, giving him sole possession of first place on the franchise list in that category, according to a Yahoo.com report.