RALEIGH, N.C., April 9 (UPI) -- Mike Smith made 42 saves Saturday, helping Tampa Bay dash Carolina's playoff hopes with a 6-2 rout of the Hurricanes.
Smith turned aside 15 shots in the second period and 17 in the final frame against desperate Carolina, which needed win to avoid elimination from post-season contention.
Martin St. Louis notched two assists and an empty-net goal, and Simone Gagner added a goal and an assist for the playoff-bound Bolts, who finished the regular season with the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference and a 46-25-11 record.
Dominic Moore, Vincent Lecavalier and Brett Clark also found the net for Tampa Bay.
Cory Stillman and Chad LaRose scored for the Hurricanes, who needed a victory to bypass the New York Rangers for the eighth and final post-season berth in the East.
Cam Ward made 29 saves for the Hurricanes, who finished with 91 points at 40-31-11.
