Hype for March 22, 2010

With the Northeast Division all but wrapped up and their struggles on the road a distant memory, the Buffalo Sabres like where they are less than a month before the NHL playoffs begin.

"If we play like the last three games, it's going to be tough to beat us," Buffalo defenceman Toni Lydman said.

The Atlanta Thrashers pushed aside the Philadelphia Flyers to remain in the thick of the playoff race.

Ondrej Pavelec made 44 saves, Ron Hainsey, Todd White and Rich Peverley scored, and the Thrashers beat the Flyers 3-1 on Sunday night to move within a point of eighth-place Boston in the Eastern Conference.

The St. Louis Blues absorbed another home-ice beatdown. This time it was the Nashville Predators delivering the heartache.

Dustin Boyd scored his second goal of the game 48 seconds after teammate Patric Hornqvist tied it late in the third period, helping Nashville rally for a 3-2 victory Sunday night. The Predators have won six and a row, all with Pekka Rinne in goal, and are fifth in the Western Conference with 89 points.

Chuck Kobasew is finding his scoring touch - the Minnesota Wild just hope its not too late.

Kobasew scored a pair of goals in the Wild's 4-3 victory over the Calgary Flames on Sunday to give him four in Minnesota's last four games.

Teemu Selanne can finally exhale. His 600th goal is in the books, with four home games to spare in what likely will be his final NHL season.

Selanne became the 18th player in NHL history to reach the milestone, scoring 34 seconds into the second period during a power play in the Anaheim Ducks' 5-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday night.

Not even a game against the NHL's bottom feeders could keep the San Jose Sharks from continuing their tumble down the standings.

Devan Dubnyk made 27 saves to earn his second career NHL win in as many games as the last-place Edmonton Oilers skinned the Sharks 5-1 on Sunday.