Senators Clinch Playoff Berth - NYTimes.com Erik Karlsson stood outside the visiting locker room, munching on a celebratory slice of pizza. Must have tasted pretty good. Karlsson spent the evening on the ice for the first time in about two and a half months, and he and the Ottawa Senators are heading back to the postseason. They might even wind up back in the same arena next week. Sergei Gonchar scored a power-play goal 47 seconds into overtime on Karlsson's second assist of his successful and sooner-than-anticipated return from a torn Achilles" tendon, and Ottawa clinched a playoff berth by beating the Capitals, 2-1, on Thursday night in Washington. "I would have been happy if I sat in the stands and we would have won this game, as well, I think, and that's the main goal," Karlsson said. I'm going to have to work on my stuff, and as long as this team keeps winning, I'm going to be happy. The overtime wins by the Senators and Rangers eliminated the Winnipeg Jets from the playoff chase. FLYERS 2, ISLANDERS 1 Oliver Lauridsen scored his second career N.H.L. goal on a slap shot high above the circle late in the third period to lift Philadelphia in its home finale. The Flyers missed the playoffs for the first time since 2007. John Tavares scored for the playoff-bound Islanders, who failed to earn a point for the first time in 12 games. BRUINS 2, LIGHTNING 0 Tuukka Rask stopped 30 shots for his second shutout in as many starts and Boston beat Tampa Bay, keeping the Bruins in control of the tight race for the Northeast Division title. Boston can clinch the division title with wins over Washington on Saturday and Sunday against Ottawa. CANADIENS 4, JETS 2 Winnipeg saw its playoff hopes end on two scoreboards it didn't control, even before it bowed to Montreal. David Desharnais scored two goals for Montreal, which broke out of a slump in which it lost five of six. RED WINGS 5, PREDATORS 2 Pavel Datsyuk had a goal and two assists and Detroit moved a step closer to its 22nd straight playoff appearance with a win at home over Nashville. The Red Wings, who moved into seventh place in the Western Conference and have one game remaining, need one more point to secure their spot in the postseason. MAPLE LEAFS 4, PANTHERS 0 Phil Kessel scored two goals to lead visiting Toronto over Florida, which clinched the worst record in the N.H.L. for the first time in franchise history. DEVILS 3, PENGUINS 2 Ilya Kovalchuk scored his first goal since a shoulder injury last month, giving the Devils a victory in their home finale. BLUE JACKETS 3, STARS 1 Cam Atkinson scored two goals, Sergei Bobrovsky made 32 saves and the Columbus Blue Jackets stayed alive in the Western Conference playoff race with a victory over the host Dallas Stars.