Penguins goaltender Maxime Lagace celebrates his first career shutout with Jeff Carter after Pittsburgh beat Buffalo 1-0 on Saturday in Pittsburgh. Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press
PITTSBURGH — Jeff Carter scored and Maxime Lagace stopped 29 shots for his first career shutout as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Buffalo Sabres 1-0 on Saturday.
Lagace, making his first start in more than two years, got his seventh career win and helped Pittsburgh clinch first place in the East Division. The Penguins were without Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith, their top two goaltenders, for the regular season finale.
Carter scored his 17th goal as the Penguins finished the regular season with 13 wins and points in 14 of their last 16 games. Pittsburgh also finished 22-4-2 at home, one of the best marks in the league.
Michael Houser, who grew up in northern Pittsburgh suburbs, made 22 saves for Buffalo. Houser made his fourth straight start for the Sabres, who used a NHL-high six goalies this season.
Lagace played with the Vegas Golden Knights when he made his last start on Feb. 1, 2019, against Carolina. Lagace, who played in his 18th NHL game, joined Pittsburgh as a free agent in the offseason, and split the year on the team’s taxi squad and minor league affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He served as the backup for five games with Pittsburgh, including the last two before Saturday’s start.
CAPITALS 2, FLYERS 1: Lars Eller tied it with 39.8 seconds left in regulation, Conor Sheary scored the overtime winner and short-handed Washington won at home to clinch the No. 2 seed in the East Division.
ISLANDERS 5, DEVILS 1: Brock Nelson scored twice in the second period as New York beat visiting New Jersey in the final regular-season game at Nassau Coliseum.
MAPLE LEAFS 3, CANADIENS 2: Mitch Marner scored his 20th goal of the season and Toronto wrapped up the North Division title by beating visiting Montreal.
PANTHERS 5, LIGHTNING 1: Alex Wennberg scored three goals as Florida won at home and moved two points ahead of the Lightning for second place in the Central Division.
SENATORS 4, JETS 2: Rookie Tim Stutzle got his first NHL hat trick to help Ottawa win at Winnipeg.
BLUE JACKETS 5, RED WINGS 4: Max Domi scored 4:39 into overtime to lift Columbus to a win at home.
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