NHL: Avalanche, Blues both lose, stay tied for lead

San Jose: San Jose prevented their Western Conference rivals Colorado from clinching the Central Division by beating the Avalanche 5-1 on Friday, with Marty Havlat scoring his first hat-trick in nearly nine years.

Colorado had the consolation that St. Louis also lost at Dallas, leaving the two teams tied on points with one game left in the regular season. Both teams remain in contention for not just the divisional title but also the Western Conference crown.

They are both four points clear of Chicago, who lost heavily at Washington but were already assured of finishing third.

San Jose also got goals from Dan Boyle and Patrick Marleau in their penultimate game. The Sharks are assured of finishing second in the Pacific Division and will start the play-offs at home next week against Los Angeles.

Patrick Bordeleau scored the lone goal for the Avalanche, who lost for the first time in regulation since March 21.

Colorado can win the division either by beating Pacific Division leader Anaheim on Sunday in the regular-season finale or if St. Louis lose in regulation earlier Sunday against Detroit.

Both Colorado and St. Louis have a chance of taking the Western Conference title, but will need Anaheim to lose on Saturday.

St. Louis are faltering in the closing stages of the season, having lost five in a row after the 3-0 loss at Dallas.

The victory clinched a play-off berth for the Stars — their first in six years, ending a franchise-worst five-year drought.

Trevor Daley had a goal and an assist, Tyler Seguin and Ryan Garbutt also scored, while Kari Lehtonen recorded his fifth shutout of the season.

Washington’s Alex Ovechkin scored his NHL-leading 51st goal as the Capitals beat Chicago 4-0 in a low-intensity game between teams whose postseason fates had already been decided.

Jay Beagle had his first career two-goal game, and Nicklas Backstrom also scored as the Capitals won their fourth straight, a hollow winning streak because they won’t be in the play-offs for the first time since 2007.

The Blackhawks, shut out for only the fourth time this season, were already assured third in the Central.