The Associated Press

NEW YORK - The New Jersey Devils accomplished what the New York Islanders couldn't do for themselves - knock the hated Rangers out of the playoff race.

Jeff Friesen had a goal and an assist Friday night to lead the Devils to a 2-1 victory over their metropolitan rivals. The Rangers failed to reach the postseason for a team-record sixth straight season, allowing the Islanders to get in.

The Islanders had two chances to eliminate their New York neighbors. Needing only a win over them Tuesday to clinch the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs, the Islanders blew a two-goal lead and settled for a tie.

A win over Detroit on Thursday also would have gotten the Islanders in for the second straight season following a seven-year absence, but New York lost.

So, the Devils - on a 6-0-3-1 run - did the job for the Islanders, clinching their fifth Atlantic Division title in seven years in the process.

Red Wings 5, Jackets 5, OT

COLUMBUS - Pavel Datsyuk scored with 12 seconds left in regulation as Detroit rallied three times from two-goal deficits to tie the Blue Jackets.

Columbus looked to have won the game when David Vyborny scored an empty-net goal with under a minute left. But the goal was waved off because Detroit's Brendan Shanahan was down on the ice.

Play was stopped despite the Blue Jackets having control of the puck - even though NHL rules state play cannot be stopped until the injured player's team regains control. The referee does have the discretion to halt the game immediately if the player is seriously injured, but Shanahan skated off the ice after the whistle.

The tie meant Detroit can't catch Ottawa for the best record in the NHL, giving the Senators possession of the Presidents' Trophy.

Panthers 4, Hurricanes 1

SUNRISE, Fla. - Goalie Roberto Luongo celebrated his 24th birthday by stopping 34 shots to help Florida snap a seven-game winless streak.

The victory ended the Panthers' franchise-record 13-game home winless streak. Florida hadn't won at home since beating Carolina 3-2 in overtime Jan. 25.

Carolina Center Kevyn Adams, a Miami University graduate, returned after missing five games because of an abdomen injury.

SABRES: No competing bids were submitted to buy the franchise Friday, leaving B. Thomas Golisano a significant step closer to owning the bankrupt franchise.

Sabres lawyer William Thomas, who reported receiving no other bids by a 3 p.m. deadline, now can prepare for Thursday's hearing before U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Michael Kaplan, who is expected to approve Golisano's offer, valued at about $92 million.

Larry Quinn, the former Sabres president who has spearheaded Golisano's purchase effort, anticipates the sale will close quickly after both the city and Erie County approved the deal earlier this week. New York state is expected to suspend its revenue sharing agreement on HSBC Arena, the Sabres home, Quinn said.

The Rochester billionaire also needs approval from the NHL Board of Governors, which is expected because league helped broker the transaction between Golisano and Adelphia Communications.