Tuesday in the NHL | The Rangers are the first to secure a playoff spot

Adam Fox played the hero from the 36^e second of overtime and the New York Rangers defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 6-5 on Tuesday night.

The Rangers became the first NHL team to secure their playoff spot this season.

The New Yorkers are currently at the top of the NHL standings with 100 points and they gave head coach Peter Laviolette his 800^e career victory.

Alexis Lafrenière found the back of the net twice for the Rangers, who will be in the playoffs for a third straight season.

Mika Zibanejad, Jonny Brodzinski and Vincent Trocheck also moved the ropes for the winners. Igor Shesterkin finished the game with 36 saves.

Scott Laughton, Ryan Poehling, Travis Konecny, Owen Tippett and Tyson Foerster responded for the Flyers. Samuel Ersson allowed six goals on 27 shots.

Allan Kreda, Associated Press

Jake Allen shines in a Devils victory against the Maple Leafs

Jake Allen made 42 saves and the New Jersey Devils beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3 on Tuesday night.

Jack Hughes scored two goals while Nico Hischier had a goal and two assists for the Devils, who have won four of their last five games.

Timo Meier added a goal and an assist while Luke Hughes and Max Willman threaded the needle once each for the winners.

Jesper Bratt contributed to three Devils goals and Curtis Lazar contributed two goals.

Auston Matthews, with his 59^e goal of the season, an NHL high, William Nylander and Tyler Bertuzzi responded for the Maple Leafs.

TJ Brodie set the table for two goals for Toronto, who saw Joseph Woll stop 19 pucks.

Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press

The Capitals have the upper hand over the Red Wings in the middle of a race for the playoffs

Dylan Strome scored twice and the Washington Capitals beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 in overtime Tuesday night in an important duel for the Eastern Conference playoff race.

The Capitals trailed the Red Wings by two points and have one more game to play. They are also in the rearview mirror of the Philadelphia Flyers, who occupy third place in the Metropolitan Division.

The Washington squad has won a third game in a row and five of its last six.

Nic Dowd and Connor McMichael also moved the ropes for the Capitals. Charlie Lindgren stopped 30 shots.

Alex DeBrincat ended a 12-game goalless drought. David Perron and Patrick Kane also scored for the Red Wings, who lost by 10^e times in their last 13 outings.

Alex Lyon gave up four times in 30 shots.

Stephen Whyno, Associated Press

Two points for Crosby in a victory against the Hurricanes

Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist as the Penguins spoiled Jake Guentzel’s return to Pittsburgh with a 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night.

The Penguins scored two goals on five shots in the second period.

Bryan Rust scored his 23^e net of the season and his seventh in 10 games. Jesse Puljujarvi scored his third goal of the campaign.

Drew O’Connor and Crosby scored into an empty net late in the third period.

Crosby scored his 35^e goal of the season. He also became the first active player, and the 14th^e in NHL history, to record at least 15 seasons of 40 assists.

Alex Nedeljkovic, a second-round pick of the Hurricanes in the 2014 draft, stopped 38 shots in the victory.

Dmitry Orlov scored the Hurricanes’ goal and goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 18 pucks.

Guentzel, acquired by the Hurricanes on March 7, took six shots and finished the game with 21:06 of ice time.

Guentzel scored 466 points in 503 games with the Penguins, from 2016 to 2024. He won the Stanley Cup with the team in 2017.

Dan Scifo, Associated Press

Bruins defeat Panthers 4-3

Pavel Zacha scored the game-winning goal with 2:21 left in regulation and the Boston Bruins defeated the Florida Panthers 4-3 on Tuesday.

The Bruins took first place in the Atlantic Division with their victory. The team is two points ahead of the Panthers, who however have a game in hand.

Charlie McAvoy, David Pastrnak and Trent Frederic also scored in the victory. Jeremy Swayman made 18 saves.

Evan Rodrigues, Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe found the back of the net for the Panthers. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 17 shots.

The Panthers have lost five of their last six games.

Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov returned to action after a five-game absence due to a lower body injury. He got an assist on Rodrigues’ goal, just 27 seconds into the first period.

Colby Guy, Associated Press