Dallas Stars' defenseman Trevor Daley (L) scores a goal against St. Louis Blues' goalie Ryan Miller during their NHL match at the American Airlines Center in Dallas Friday. — Reuters DALLAS — Kari Lehtonen made 22 saves Friday as the Dallas Stars beat the St. Louis Blues 3-0 to clinch their first NHL playoff berth since 2008. The Stars secured the final spot in the Western Conference, eliminating the Phoenix Coyotes in the process. The Stars will enter the Stanley Cup playoffs as the second wild-card team in the Western Conference. Tyler Seguin and Ryan Garbutt both scored, while Trevor Daley supplied a goal and an assist. Jamie Benn contributed two assists for the Stars, who have won two of their last three games. Ryan Miller stopped 37-of-40 shots he faced in the Blues' fifth straight defeat. The Blues were without both David Backes, who is nursing a foot injury, and T.J. Oshie, who took an illegal hit to the head from Minnesota Wild forward Mike Rupp Thursday. Rupp was suspended four games for the illegal hit. Lightning 3, Blue Jackets 2: The Tampa Bay Lightning got two goals from veteran defenseman Eric Brewer to down the Columbus Blue Jackets at home. The win takes the Lightning ahead of Montreal for second place in the Atlantic Division and home ice in their upcoming playoff series. Tampa Bay (45-27-9), who tied a franchise record with their 25th home win, lead the Canadiens by a point with each team having one game remaining. They are assured of meeting in the first round of the playoffs. Hurricanes 2, Red Wings 1: Goaltender Cam Ward made 28 saves and the Carolina Hurricanes held on for a road win over the Detroit Red Wings. The Hurricanes are out of playoff contention, while the Red Wings are heading to the postseason for the 23rd consecutive time. Islanders 3, Devils 2 (SO): Martin Brodeur, in perhaps his final start with the New Jersey Devils, went out on a down note as the New York Islanders won on the road. The 41-year-old made 28 saves but failed to stop all three attempts in a shootout between teams who cannot make the playoffs. The Devils fell to 0-13 in shootouts this season and have lost an NHL-record 17 consecutive shootouts dating to last season. Capitals 4, Black Hawks 0: Washington center Jay Beagle notched the first two-goal game of his NHL career and goaltender Jaroslav Halak had his first shutout as a member of the Capitals in an emphatic home win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Washington were eliminated from playoff contention on Wednesday, while defending Stanley Cup champions Chicago will start the playoffs on the road. Sharks 5, Avalanche 1: The San Jose Sharks beat the Colorado Avalanche as left winger Tomas Hertl returned to action after undergoing knee surgery in December. Jets 5, Flames 3: Winnipeg defenseman Paul Postma made it a memorable night in the same rink as his junior days by scoring his first NHL goal of the season as the Jets beat the Calgary Flames on the road. — Agencies
