Boston Bruins' Martin Lapointe (20) scores on Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Jean-Sebastien Aubin in the first period. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        BOSTON — Glen Murray scored three goals as the Boston Bruins clinched the top spot in the Eastern Conference with a 7-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night. The Bruins, who ended a five-game winless streak, finally gained momentum going into their playoff opener at home Thursday night against Montreal.

        Bill Guerin scored his 41st goal and Murray also ended the regular season with 41 after completing his hat trick with an empty-net goal with 7.7 seconds remaining, giving the Bruins two 40-goal scorers for the first time since Rick Middleton and Barry Pederson did it in 1982-83.

        The Penguins ended their first non-playoff season in 12 years winless in their last 10 games. They were 0-8-1-1 since their 6-2 victory March 24 against Washington. Boston is 8-1-2 in its last 11 games against Pittsburgh.

        • Sabres 3, Habs 0: Martin Biron made 22 saves for his fourth shutout of the season, and Miroslav Satan scored his team-leading 37th goal. The Canadiens finished eighth in the Eastern Conference and will begin their first playoff series in four years Thursday at Boston.

        • Maple Leafs 5, Senators 2: Mats Sundin had a goal and three assists as Toronto spoiled Roger Neilson's 1,000th regular season game as an NHL coach. Ottawa finished seventh in the Eastern Conference and will face Philadelphia in the first round.

        • Blues 3, Red Wings 2 OT: Blues defenseman Chris Pronger scored unassisted with 1:09 left in overtime, giving the Blues their first win against the Red Wings in two years. Detroit defenseman Chris Chelios, who has played in 1,259 games, got his 700th career assist. He is the 37th player in NHL history to reach that mark. He is the 12th active player to have 700 or more assists.

        • Devils 4, Capitals 3, OT: Scott Niedermayer scored 1:53 into overtime. The Devils moved one point ahead of the Islanders. New Jersey will either be the fifth or sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, pending the outcome of the Islanders game against Philadelphia today.

        • Flyers 2, Rangers 1: Adam Oates and Mark Recchi scored as the Philadelphia Flyers won the Atlantic Division title.

        • Sharks 3, Kings 1: Scott Thornton scored his 100th career goal.

AHL: Brule wins Ducks player-of-the-year honor

               Right wing Steve Brule has been named the Fifth Third Bank Cincinnati Mighty Ducks Player of the Year. Brule, 27, recorded a club-high 63 points (21 goals, 42 assists) in 77 games.

        He led the club in shots (250), first goals (four) and game-tying goals (two), while adding six power-play goals and three-game winning goals.

        A seven-year pro, Brule compiled a season-high, seven-game point streak March 16-29 and had two six-game point streaks (Dec.2-21 and Jan.23-Feb.3). The 6-0, 200-pound native of Montreal was New Jersey's sixth choice (143rd overall) in the 1993 NHL entry draft. Brule spent the 2000-2001 season with Manitoba in the now-defunct IHL, leading his team with 69 points (21-48-69) in 78 games.

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