Penguins top Predators, clinch playoff spot

Evgeni Malkin scored twice, James Neal had four assists, and the Pittsburgh Penguins clinched a playoff spot with a 5-1 victory over the Nashville Predators on Thursday night. Chris Kunitz, Matt Cooke and Pascal Dupuis also scored to help Pittsburgh pull within a point of the New York Rangers for the top spot in the Eastern Conference with nine games remaining. Marc-Andre Fluery made 29 saves for his NHL-leading 40th victory. Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby was held without a goal for the 12th straight game and failed to score a point, but it hardly stopped the Penguins from winning their ninth straight home game to keep the heat on the Rangers. Nashville\'s Alexander Radulov scored in his return to the NHL after four years in Russia. Nashville hopes Radulov will take some of the pressure off goalie Pekka Rinne as the franchise gears up for the postseason. The talented 25-year-old left the Predators after the 2007-08 season to go home to Russia, where he won two MVPs and one title while playing for the KHL\'s Salavat Yulayev Ufa. The Predators failed to capitalize on a chance to overtake the idle Red Wings. Nashville remains in third place in the Central Division, one point behind Detroit. Philadelphia 2, Washington 1 (SO): Matt Read and Wayne Simmonds scored shoot-out goals to lift the host Flyers. Tampa Bay 3, Edmonton 2 (SO): Teddy Purcell scored in the sixth round of a shoot-out for the host Lightning. Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis also scored in the extra session, helping Tampa Bay win the shoot-out, 3-2. Minnesota 3, Calgary 2 (SO): Devin Setoguchi scored in the fourth round of a shoot-out in the host Wild\'s victory. Vancouver 2, Dallas 1: Cory Schneider stopped a penalty shot and finished with 25 saves, and Mason Raymond scored early in the first period for the visiting Canucks.