Sharks Overtake Avalanche in West

The San Jose Sharks became only the second team in NHL history to improve its point total for six consecutive seasons.

But Shark captain Owen Nolan wasn’t all that impressed after Wednesday night’s 5-3 victory over the Blue Jackets at Columbus, Ohio.

“I guess that’s a good milestone for the regular season, but we’ve got our sights set on the playoffs,” Nolan said after scoring two goals and adding an assist. “It’s sort of like winning the Presidents’ Trophy (for best regular-season record) and then getting beat in the first round of the playoffs.”

The Sharks, who moved into second place in the Western Conference over the idle Colorado Avalanche, matched the achievement by the New York Islanders from 1973-79.

Nolan scored the first two goals and assisted on the third as the Sharks built a 3-0 lead on their way to their fifth win in six games.

Edmonton 3, Phoenix 0--Mike Comrie and Daniel Cleary scored third-period goals a minute apart, leading the Oilers to a critical victory at Edmonton, Canada.

Tommy Salo stopped 23 shots for his sixth shutout of the season and 30th career.

The Oilers and Vancouver Canucks are tied with 90 points for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Edmonton and Vancouver trail Phoenix by one point, and all three teams have two games remain- ing.

Cleary scored his 10th goal 6:23 into the third when he jammed in a rebound.

Minnesota 4, Dallas 4--Jim Dowd and Andrew Brunette scored 21 seconds apart midway through the third period as the Wild fought back from three goals down to tie the Stars at Dallas.

The point gives Dallas 87 with two games left. The Stars would have to win both and hope for losses from Vancouver and Edmonton in their final two games for any chance to extend their streak of consecutive postseason appearances to seven.

Chicago 3, Detroit 3--Darren McCarty’s 100th career goal helped the Red Wings overcome a two-goal, third-period deficit at Chicago.

The point enabled the Blackhawks (40-26-13-1) to clinch their first playoff berth since 1997.

New Jersey 1, Philadelphia 0--Martin Brodeur stopped 22 shots, and John Madden scored with 10:42 to play to give the Devils a victory at East Rutherford, N.J.

The victory was the fourth in a row and ninth in 12 games for the Devils, and it also prevented the Flyers from clinching the Atlantic Division title.

Toronto 7, New York Rangers 2--Darcy Tucker and Cory Cross each scored two goals as the Maple Leafs clinched the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs at New York.

Carolina 4, Tampa Bay 2--Ron Francis and Rod Brind’Amour scored first-period goals at Raleigh, N.C., as the Hurricanes beat the Lightning to win the Southeast Division title for the second time in four seasons.

Florida 4, Atlanta 4--The Panthers’ Pierre Dagenais scored the game’s final goal with 4:26 remaining at Atlanta.

Buffalo 4, Pittsburgh 4-- Miroslav Satan scored twice and host Buffalo squandered a pair of two-goal leads, but still ran Pittsburgh’s winless streak to eight with a tie.