NEWARK, N.J. — Dawson Mercer scored his first career hat trick and the New Jersey Devils beat the fading Penguins 5-1 Tuesday night, putting Pittsburgh’s bid for a 17th straight Stanley Cup playoff berth in serious jeopardy.

Dougie Hamilton and Timo Meier also scored for the Devils and Vitek Vanecek made 22 saves as New Jersey rebounded from its worst loss of the season, a 6-1 setback in Winnipeg on Sunday night.

Coupled with Florida’s win over Buffalo, the Panthers moved a point ahead of the Penguins in the race for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Both teams have four games left, but they don’t play each other.

Bryan Rust ruined Vanecek’s bid for a fourth shutout this season when he scored his 20th of the season at 6:14 of the third period. Tristan Jarry had 32 saves for the Penguins, whose run of 16 straight postseason appearances is the longest active streak among the major North American sports leagues.

Pittsburgh is 4-7 in its last 11 games, losing three straight on the road.

RED WINGS 5, CANADIENS 0: David Perron had two goals and an assist, Ville Husso returned from a lower-body injury to make 24 saves and Detroit won at Montreal.

Husso was back after sitting out seven games. Lucas Raymond, Matt Luff and Joe Veleno also scored and Jordan Oesterle and Olli Matta each had two assists.

Cayden Primeau made 16 saves in his second start for Montreal this season.

PANTHERS 2, SABRES 1: Matthew Tkachuk snapped a tie in the opening minute of the third period, and Florida topped visiting Buffalo  for its fourth consecutive victory.

Aaron Ekblad also scored for Florida, and Alex Lyon made 40 saves for his fourth straight win.

HURRICANES 3, SENATORS 2: Martin Necas scored with 40.1 seconds left in overtime as Carolina beat visiting Ottawa.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Brady Skjei both had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes, who maintained their three-point lead over New Jersey atop the Metropolitan Division despite squandering a two-goal lead. Stefan Noesen had two assists.

Antti Raanta made 25 saves to improve to 18-2-3 as Carolina got its 50th win of the season.

MAPLE LEAFS 4, BLUE JACKETS 2: Zach Aston-Reese scored twice, Joseph Woll made 24 saves and Toronto won at home.

Woll was recalled from the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League on an emergency basis after Matt Murray left with a head injury Sunday in a 5-2 loss to Detroit. Woll improved to 4-1-0 this season with the Maple Leafs.

Alexander Kerfoot and Auston Mathews, into an empty net, also scored for Toronto. Sam Lafferty had two assists.

PREDATORS 3, GOLDEN KNIGHTS 2: Cody Glass scored a power-play goal 3:30 into overtime, and host Nashville kept its thin playoff hopes alive.

Jonathan Marchessault tripped Philip Tomasino in the slot to put Nashville on the power play in overtime, and the Predators needed only 37 seconds before Glass scored his 14th with his shot deflecting past Vegas goalie Jonathan Quick.