National Hockey

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Matt Boldy broke a tie 18 seconds into the third period and the Minnesota Wild beat the NHL-worst San Jose Sharks 3-1 on Thursday to pick up a couple of points in their slim playoff bid.

TORONTO — Mark Giordano wasn't sure he would get a chance to honour his late father under the NHL's bright lights.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes clinched another playoff berth and they hardly even noticed.

OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators were well aware of the Connor Bedard factor on Thursday but they were much more concerned with their own play than the young Chicago Blackhawks forward.

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Semyon Varlamov made 27 saves and Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored the go-ahead goal midway through the second period to help lift the New York Islanders past the Florida Panthers 3-2 on Thursday night.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Vladimir and Natalia Malkin took the long flight from Russia to Pittsburgh for the first time in several years this week. Their arrival gave their son some serious juice.

Jake Allen loved being a member of the Montreal Canadiens. The hockey-mad market, the crackling Bell Centre on a Saturday night, the Original Six franchise's iconic logo. The 33-year-old goaltender is also realistic.

New Jersey Devils (36-33-4, fifth in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Buffalo Sabres (34-34-5, sixth in the Atlantic Division) Buffalo, New York; Friday, 7 p.m.

Chicago Blackhawks (21-46-5, eighth in the Central Division) vs. Ottawa Senators (31-36-4, seventh in the Atlantic Division) Ottawa, Ontario; Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NHL LINE : Senators -196, Blackhawks +162; over/under is 6.

TAMPA, Fla.