CHICAGO: Patrick Kane had three goals and an assist as the Chicago Blackhawks raced to a six-goal lead in the second period before hanging on for a 6-4 win over the Boston Bruins on Sunday.

Kane’s scoring spree gave him 100 points for the first time in his nine-year NHL career. The win was career No. 800 for Chicago coach Joel Quenneville.

Kane, the NHL’s leading scorer, was clicking with linemates Artemi Panarin and Artem Anisimov during the club’s fourth win in five games. Panarin had a goal and three assists, while Anisimov added a goal and two assists.

Jonathan Toews also scored for the Blackhawks, who won’t finish lower than third in the Central Division and will avoid a wild-card playoff seeding.

Kane’s second career regular-season hat trick — both this season — lifted him to 43 goals, the most for a Chicago player since Tony Amonte in 1999-2000. He’s the first Blackhawk to reach 100 points since Jeremy Roenick had 107 in 1993-94.

Patrice Bergeron had two goals and an assist for the Bruins, who remained one point behind Detroit and Philadelphia for a playoff spot.

In Pittsburgh, Sidney Crosby, Beau Bennett and Patric Hornqvist scored to help the surging Penguins equal their longest winning streak of the season at six games with a 6-2 victory over Philadelphia.

Crosby scored his 33rd goal and Pittsburgh jumped out to a 3-0 advantage midway through the second period. Carl Hagelin added his 12th and Eric Fehr scored twice in the third period for the Penguins, who won for the 12th time in 13 games.

They moved five points ahead of the third-place New York Rangers in the Metropolitan Division.

Pittsburgh, in the playoffs for the 10th consecutive season, reached 100 points for the 10th time in team history. Matt Murray stopped 28 shots for the Penguins.

In Anaheim, California, Nate Thompson and Ryan Kesler each scored a short-handed goal and John Gibson made 25 saves as the Ducks defeated Dallas 3-1 to return to the top of the Pacific Division.

Ryan Getzlaf added an empty-net goal as the Ducks moved one point ahead of the Los Angeles Kings. Both teams have four games remaining, including the fifth and final Freeway Faceoff of the season between the rivals Thursday at Los Angeles.

The Stars lead St. Louis by two points for the Central Division title and home-ice advantage in the Western Conference playoffs.

Denver’s David Backes started the scoring in a three-goal first period and Anders Nilsson made 19 saves in relief of an injured Jake Allen as St. Louis beat the Avalanche 5-1.

Magnus Paajarvi, Colton Parayko and Alex Pietrangelo also scored for the Blues. Troy Brouwer added an empty-netter with 2:55 remaining.

Matt Duchene scored late for the Avalanche, who maintained their slim playoff hopes with Minnesota’s 5-1 loss to Winnipeg.

Minnesota, which dropped its third straight, leads Colorado by five points for the final Western Conference berth.

Mark Scheifele scored his team-leading 27th goal for Winnipeg.