Blues Blank Penguins – NHL Roundup

UNDATED (AP) — The St. Louis Blues have padded their lead in the NHL's Western Conference by ending their two-game skid.

David Backes (BAK'-ehs) scored the lone goal on a deflection and Brian Elliott stopped 33 shots as the Blues blanked the Penguins 1-0 in Pittsburgh. Backes provided just the Blues' second goal in three games, but it was enough offense to support Elliott's fourth shutout of the season.

The outcome puts the West-leading Blues three points ahead of San Jose and keeps the Penguins six points behind the East-leading Boston Bruins.

Also on ice:

— Corey Perry and captain Ryan Getzlaf (GETS'-laf) each had a goal and two assists as Anaheim whipped Florida 6-2 to end a four-game home losing streak. Jonas Hiller's 28 saves helped the Ducks climb within four points of the West-leading Blues.

— Chicago is six points behind St. Louis after Pekka Rinne (PEK'-uh RIHN'-ay) handled 29 shots in Nashville's 2-0 shutout of the Blackhawks at United Center. Mike Fisher and Gabriel Bourque did the scoring as the Predators dealt the Blackhawks their fourth loss in seven games.

— Jon Merrill collected a goal and an assist while New Jersey was building a 3-0 lead in a 3-2 victory over Toronto. The Maple Leafs have dropped five in a row.

— Detroit has moved into a tie with the Leafs for the final Eastern Conference playoff berth by squeezing out a point in a 4-3 overtime loss to Minnesota. Matt Moulson won it 2:15 into OT, giving the Wild a six-point cushion between themselves and ninth-place Dallas in the West.

— Evgeni Nabokov (ehv-GEH'-nee nah-BAH'-kahv) had 41 saves in his 58th NHL shutout as the New York Islanders beat Columbus 2-0. Travis Hamonic (HAM'-ah-nik) and Cal Clutterbuck did the scoring in the Islanders' second regulation win ever against the Blue Jackets.

— Vancouver has its first winning streak since mid-January after Zack Kassian set up four goals in a 4-2 victory against Buffalo. Brad Richardson, Shawn Matthias, Yannick Weber, David Booth scored for the Canucks after the Sabres built a 2-0 lead.

NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss.

x-clinched playoff spot

N.Y. Islanders 2, Columbus 0

St. Louis 1, Pittsburgh 0

New Jersey 3, Toronto 2

Nashville 2, Chicago 0

Minnesota 4, Detroit 3, OT

Vancouver 4, Buffalo 2

Anaheim 6, Florida 2

Phoenix at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.

Los Angeles at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Montreal at Boston, 7:30 p.m.

Ottawa at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.

Winnipeg at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

San Jose at Calgary, 9 p.m.

St. Louis at Toronto, 7 p.m.

Phoenix at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.

Los Angeles at Washington, 7 p.m.

N.Y. Islanders at Carolina, 7 p.m.

Buffalo at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

Ottawa at Florida, 7:30 p.m.

Detroit at Columbus, 7:30 p.m.

Dallas at Chicago, 8 p.m.

Colorado at Nashville, 8 p.m.

San Jose at Edmonton, 9:30 p.m.

Vancouver at Minnesota, 7:30 p.m.

Philadelphia at N.Y. Rangers, 8 p.m.

Anaheim at Calgary, 10 p.m.