National Hockey

IRVINE, Calif. (AP) — Dallas Eakins was the Anaheim Ducks' coach during the worst four-year stretch in franchise history.

OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators are missing the playoffs for a sixth straight year, but unlike years past there’s a belief this will be the last time for the foreseeable future. There’s good reason for that optimism.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Blues made immediate changes to Craig Berube’s coaching staff after missing the playoffs, firing assistants Craig MacTavish and Mike Van Ryn.

Keith Yandle walked into coffee shops when he played hockey in New York and would hear people talking about the next Rangers game against the Islanders or the New Jersey Devils.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — When the Minnesota Wild brought back Marc-Andre Fleury and traded Cam Talbot for Filip Gustavsson last summer, their outlook in the net seemed obvious .

Buffalo Sabres (41-33-7, fifth in the Atlantic Division) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (25-47-9, eighth in the Metropolitan Division) Columbus, Ohio; Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Colorado Avalanche (50-24-7, second in the Central Division) vs. Nashville Predators (42-31-8, fifth in the Central Division) Nashville, Tennessee; Friday, 8 p.m.

SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Kraken will be without forward André Burakovsky for the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs after he underwent surgery to address a lower-body injury.

SEATTLE (AP) — After missing the playoffs for the first time in their short franchise history last year, the Vegas Golden Knights wanted to savor this Pacific Division title. Not for long, though.

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Conor Garland capped his first career hat trick 1:19 into overtime, and the Vancouver Canucks beat the Arizona Coyotes 5-4 Thursday night in the season finale for both teams. Elias Pettersson scored his 39th goal and J.T.