Blackhawks Pad Lead – NHL Roundup For April 15th

UNDATED (AP) — The Chicago Blackhawks took another step toward securing home-ice advantage throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Western Conference leaders own a four-point lead over East-leading Pittsburgh and have a game in hand following the Blackhawks' 2-0 shutout of St. Louis.

Blues goaltender Brian Elliott stretched his shutout streak to 214 minutes before Bryan Bickell scored early in the second period. Marian Hossa (HOH'-sah) also tallied to back Corey Crawford, who stopped 30 shots in the Hawks' fifth straight win.

The NHL schedule includes Detroit's 3-0 shutout of Nashville, which puts the Red Wings in sole possession of the eighth and final Western Conference playoff seed. Henrik Zetterberg scored the game-winner and Jimmy Howard posted his third shutout in the Wings' first victory in four games.

Jhonas (YOH'-nahs) Enroth stopped 32 shots and Buffalo beat Tampa Bay 3-1 to pull within four points of a playoff berth with five games left. Goals by Tyler Ennis, Jochen Hecht (YOH'-kehn hehsht) and Kevin Porter helped the Sabres improve to 8-4-2 in their last 14 games.