National Hockey

New York Islanders (35-23-10, fifth in the Metropolitan Division during the regular season) vs. Washington Capitals (41-20-8, first in the Metropolitan Division during the regular season) Toronto; Friday, 8 p.m.

Carolina Hurricanes (38-25-5, fourth in the Metropolitan Division during the regular season) vs. Boston Bruins (44-14-12, first in the Atlantic Division during the regular season) Toronto; Thursday, 8 p.m.

Arizona Coyotes (33-29-8, fifth in the Pacific Division during the regular season) vs. Colorado Avalanche (42-20-8, second in the Central Division during the regular season) Edmonton, Alberta; Friday, 2 p.m.

TORONTO — Claude Julien marvelled at the Philadelphia Flyers this week. The head coach of the Montreal Canadiens was impressed by their depth, team play and skill from top to bottom.

EDMONTON — Troy Stecher scored an emotional game-winning goal Wednesday as the Vancouver Canucks beat the St. Louis Blues 5-2 to take the opener of their best-of-seven NHL playoff series.

TORONTO — Patrice Bergeron scored early in the second ovetime and the Boston Bruins beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 on Wednesday in Game 1 of their first-round series that was postponed 15 hours to a rare late-morning start.

EDMONTON — Colorado dominated well into the third period with nothing to show for it. All that firepower and the Avalanche could not solve Arizona goalie Darcy Kuemper.

TORONTO — Islanders coach Barry Trotz isn't surprised the Washington Capitals, his former team, is unhappy with Anders Lee.

TORONTO — After being told to come back the next morning because another game lasted five overtimes, the Boston Bruins didn't want to repeat history so quickly. “We talked about trying to end this before the fifth overtime,” Patrice Bergeron said.

The Tampa Bay Lightning and Columbus Blue Jackets are facing one more challenge than the rest of the teams in the pandemic-altered NHL playoffs.