Brian Elliott was spectacular in a 28-save shutout as the St. Louis Blues posted a 1-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday. Thanks to Elliott's first shutout of the season, St. Louis now has 44 points on the season and moved from the eighth playoff spot to the sixth seed in the Western Conference. Chris Porter scored the only goal of the game on assists from Barret Jackman and Patrik Berglund for the Blues, who have won four straight. Jimmy Howard stopped 24 shots as the Red Wings lost for a fourth time in their past six games to fall to the eighth spot in the West.

Final Score: Dallas 5, San Jose 4 (SO)

San Jose, CA (Sports Network) - Jamie Benn scored the lone shootout goal, as the Dallas Stars edged the San Jose Sharks, 5-4, at HP Pavilion. The Stars twice overcame two-goal deficits to end the Sharks' winning streak at seven games. Rookie Alex Chiasson, playing in his third career NHL game, scored two goals for Dallas, which has won two games in a row.

Final Score: Florida 2, Ottawa 1

Sunrise, FL (Sports Network) - Dmitry Kulikov scored a go-ahead, power-play goal in the third period and Scott Clemmensen outplayed the returning Craig Anderson in leading the Florida Panthers to a 2-1 win over the Ottawa Senators. Clemmensen made a season-high 40 saves and Marcel Goc added another goal for the Panthers, who still sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference despite winning four of their last five games. Anderson, sidelined since Feb. 21 with an ankle injury, faced just 17 shots and allowed two goals in defeat. The Senators, who are currently sixth in the East standings, have dropped four straight and are winless three games into a seven-game road trip.

Final Score: Minnesota 3, Columbus 0

Columbus, OH (Sports Network) - Ryan Suter and Charlie Coyle potted a power- play goal apiece, while Niklas Backstrom stopped 24 shots to notch his second shutout of the season, as the Minnesota Wild blanked the Columbus Blue Jackets, 3-0, on Sunday at Nationwide Arena. Jason Pominville, acquired from the Buffalo Sabres at Wednesday's trade deadline, recorded a goal and an assist for his first two points as a member of the Wild, who snapped a three- game skid and sit just two points back of the idle Vancouver Canucks for the top spot in the Northwest Division. Sergei Bobrovsky allowed all three goals on 24 shots for Columbus, which has dropped two straight to fall four points back of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Final Score: Washington 4, Tampa Bay 2

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Joel Ward netted the game-winner late in the second period, as the Washington Capitals extended their winning streak to a season-high four games with a 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday at Verizon Center. Ward also registered an assist, while Alex Ovechkin scored twice and John Carlson scored once to help the Capitals take a two-point lead over the idle Winnipeg Jets for the top spot in the Southeast Division. Michal Neuvirth stopped 28 shots in the victory. Vincent Lecavalier tallied a goal and an assist, while Alex Killorn also lit the lamp for the Lightning, who have lost three of their last four and find themselves eight points back of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with just 10 games remaining. Ben Bishop allowed three goals on 37 shots in the setback.

Final Score: Chicago 5, Nashville 3

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - The Chicago Blackhawks became the first team to clinch a playoff spot in the 2013 NHL Playoffs after edging the Nashville Predators 5-3 on Sunday. Jonathan Toews tallied the game-winner with 9:28 left, while Andrew Shaw, Bryan Bickell and Brandon Saad also tallied for the Blackhawks, who picked up their league-leading 62nd point with the win. Patrick Kane added an empty netter in the final minute. Ray Emery had 19 saves in the victory. Nick Spaling, Shea Weber and David Legwand each lit the lamp for the Predators, losers in six of their last seven games. Pekka Rinne turned away 35 shots in the setback.

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