Boston, MA -- Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Mike Smith made 35 saves, including 15 in the first period, as the Tampa Bay Lightning held on to beat the Boston Bruins, 3-1, at TD Banknorth Garden. Jeff Halpern, Andreas Karlsson and Vincent Lecavalier scored for the Lightning, who had dropped 10 of their last 12 contests entering play. Chuck Kobasew lit the lamp for the Bruins, who have fallen to 1-4-2 in their last seven games following a six-game winning streak. Tim Thomas allowed two goals on 25 shots in defeat. The Bruins are seventh in the Eastern Conference with 80 points and remain three points behind the New York Rangers for the sixth seed and one in front of Philadelphia, which is occupying the eighth slot. Boston hosts the Flyers on Saturday.

Final Score: Atlanta 6, Calgary 4

Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Ilya Kovalchuk netted his third hat trick of the season and added an assist as the Atlanta Thrashers came back to beat the Calgary Flames, 6-4, at Philips Arena. Bobby Holik scored the game-winning goal and had two assists while Kari Lehtonen made 28 saves for the Thrashers, who won for just the second time in their past 12 games. Jarome Iginla scored twice and Daymond Langkow added a goal and two assists for the Flames, who have dropped three of their last four games. Curtis Joseph got the start in net and gave up five goals on 31 shots for Calgary, which with 82 points is tied with Minnesota for second place in the Northwest Division. Both teams trail first-place Colorado (84) by two points.

Final Score: Detroit 5, Dallas 3

Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Pavel Datsyuk recorded two goals and an assist as the Detroit Red Wings scored twice in the first 61 seconds of the third period to pull past the Dallas Stars, 5-3, and clinch the Central Division crown. It was the seventh straight division title for the Red Wings, who have qualified for the playoffs for the 17th straight season -- the longest current streak in American professional sports. Valtteri Filppula added a goal and two assists for Detroit, which has won five straight in March since ending February on a four-game losing streak. Mikael Samuelsson picked up the go-ahead go early in the third, and Johan Franzen contributed a goal and a helper. Chris Osgood made 16 saves to earn the win. The victory gives the Red Wings 100 points for the season, while upping their NHL-best record to 47-18-6. It is the eighth straight season Detroit has reached the century mark, tying Montreal's NHL record set between 1974 and 1982. Brenden Morrow scored his 27th goal of the season for Dallas, which has lost four of five. Jere Lehtinen and Trevor Daley also tallied, while Marty Turco allowed four goals on 30 shots. The Stars lost an opportunity to leapfrog idle San Jose for the Pacific Division lead. Dallas remains at 89 points, one behind the Sharks, winners of 10 games in a row.

Final Score: Ottawa 3, Montreal 0

Montreal, QC (Sports Network) - Jason Spezza scored twice, and Martin Gerber made 28 saves to post his second shutout of the season and ninth of his career as Ottawa topped Montreal, 3-0, at Bell Centre. With 87 points, the teams are now tied at the top of the Northeast Division and are a point behind New Jersey in the Eastern Conference. With just 10 games left in the regular season, the Sens and Canadiens will meet two more times. Antoine Vermette also tallied for Ottawa, which has won three straight overall, while posting its eighth win in 10 games against Montreal. Gerber also made his seventh-straight start -- a season high for a Senators goaltender during a campaign in which both he and Ray Emery have come under fire for their performances. Carey Price turned aside 21-of-24 shots for Montreal, which had won six of its previous eight games, but remains in a battle to secure its first division title since 1991-92.

Final Score: Los Angeles 4, Nashville 1

Nashville, TN (Sports Network) - Alexander Frolov scored a pair of goals to lead the Los Angeles Kings past the Nashville Predators, 4-1, at the Sommet Center. Kevin Dallman and Matt Ellis also tallied for the Kings, who had dropped seven of their last eight games entering play. Erik Ersberg stopped 37-of-38 shots to pick up the win. J.P. Dumont scored the only goal for the Predators, losers of three straight. Dan Ellis absorbed the loss after allowing three goals on 29 shots. The Predators are two points back of Vancouver, which lost to Phoenix on Thursday, for the eighth spot in the Western Conference.

Final Score: New Jersey 4, Minnesota 3 (SO)

St. Paul, MN (Sports Network) - Jamie Langenbrunner scored the only goal in the shootout and the New Jersey Devils moved into sole possession of the top playoff seed in the Eastern Conference with a 4-3 over the Minnesota Wild. Dainius Zubrus, Brian Gionta and Vitaly Vishnevski tallied for the Devils, who, with 88 points, now lead Ottawa, Pittsburgh and Montreal by one. Marty Brodeur allowed three goals on 37 shots for New Jersey, which has won four of its last five games. The Devils will complete their current late-season four- game road trip in Denver on Saturday afternoon. Stephane Veilleux, Brent Burns and Marian Gaborik scored for Minnesota, which is now winless in its last five games but earned at least one point for the fourth time in six March games (1-2-3). Niklas Backstrom made 27 saves in the loss. Minnesota sits tied with Calgary in second place in the Northwest Division. Both teams, with 82 points, trail first-place Colorado (84) by two.

Final Score: Colorado 5, Edmonton 1

Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Jaroslav Hlinka and Tyler Arnason each posted a goal and an assist as the Colorado Avalanche pounded the Edmonton Oilers, 5-1, to take over sole possession of first place in the crowded Northwest Division. Jeff Finger, David Jones and Wojtek Wolski also scored for the Avs, who have won eight of nine overall and six straight on home ice. Peter Budaj stopped 23-of-24 shots to pick up the win. The victory improved Colorado's record to 39-27-6 (84 points), two points ahead of Minnesota and Calgary and four points clear of Vancouver for the top spot in the Northwest. The Avalanche won despite the absence of Ryan Smyth and Peter Forsberg from the lineup. Sam Gagner scored the lone goal for the Oilers, who had won three straight and seven of eight overall.

Final Score: Phoenix 2, Vancouver 0

Glendale, AZ (Sports Network) - Ilya Bryzgalov stopped all 24 shots he faced for his fifth career shutout to lead the Phoenix Coyotes to a 2-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks. bNiko Kapanen and Dan Winnik scored for Phoenix, which has won two straight and climbed within three points of these Canucks for the eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Coyotes also trail Nashville by one point and will host Edmonton on Saturday. Roberto Luongo was very strong with 43 saves for the Canucks, who have dropped two straight following three consecutive wins. Vancouver currently holds the aforementioned eighth seed, but is also only four points behind Colorado for the lead in the Northwest Division.