NHL: Carolina 3, Pittsburgh 2 (OT)

RALEIGH, N.C., April 5 (UPI) -- Anton Babchuk scored 71 seconds into overtime Saturday, lifting the Carolina Hurricanes to a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins and into the playoffs.

It was Carolina's eighth straight victory overall and a franchise-record 11th in a row on home ice.

Babchuk's 13th goal this season was a laser past Pittsburgh goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and gave Carolina its first playoff berth since 2006, when it won the Stanley Cup.

Eric Staal and Chad LaRose scored once each in regulations, while Cam Ward made 33 saves on 35 shots for the Hurricanes, who have 95 points and are fourth in the Eastern Conference, tied with Philadelphia.

Ward also stopped Evgeni Malkin's third-period penalty shot.

Pittsburgh's Jordan Staal and Tyler Kennedy scored once apiece. Fleury was beaten three times on 27 shots for the Penguins, whose three-game winning streak was broken.

Malkin had his six-game point streak snapped, while Sidney Crosby's 12-game point streak ended.