MONTREAL, April 3 (UPI) -- Bryan Smolinski scored twice Thursday and the Montreal Canadiens ended Buffalo's playoff hopes by downing the Sabres 3-1.
Chris Higgins also scored and Carey Price stopped 27 shots for the Canadiens, who Tuesday clinched their first division title in 16 years.
With one game remaining in the regular season, Montreal and Pittsburgh are tied for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. Montreal is at home vs. Toronto Saturday and Pittsburgh finishes its season in Philadelphia Sunday.
Buffalo became the first team in 15 years to win the Presidents' Trophy one year and fail to make the playoffs the next. The Presidents' Trophy goes to the team with the best regular-season record in the NHL and this year's honor was wrapped up Thursday by Detroit.
Buffalo will miss the playoffs for the first time in four years.
