Hockey

DALLAS (AP) — Nathan MacKinnon had a part in both of Colorado's strange goals in the second period before adding an empty-netter late as the Avalanche beat the Dallas Stars 5-1 in the opener of their first-round Western Conference playoff series Satu

WINNIPEG — Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele go together like laces and hockey skates. The Jets’ top-line duo each had a goal and two assists to boost Winnipeg to a 5-3 victory over the St. Louis Blues in Saturday’s Game 1 opening-round playoff match.

WINNIPEG — Kyle Connor’s one-timer with 1:36 remaining in the third period snapped a 3-3 tie and lifted the Winnipeg Jets to a 5-3 victory in Saturday’s opening game of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the St. Louis Blues.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — There were no feelings of satisfaction on Saturday, unlike the ones Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams expressed two years ago when Buffalo showed signs of progress in finishing a mere two points out of playoff contention.

CALGARY — Rasmus Andersson admitted he played his final 12 games of the season on a broken foot, but it's the defenceman's future that was the biggest talking point Saturday as Calgary Flames players and staff spoke for the final time before heading

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Coach Greg Cronin was fired by the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday after two losing seasons, with general manager Pat Verbeek saying his team needs a new voice to achieve significant results from its lengthy rebuilding process.

BROSSARD — Martin St. Louis carried an underlying belief in himself throughout his playing career, beating the odds to reach the Hall of Fame. Now head coach of the Montreal Canadiens, that confidence is becoming contagious. St.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Mark Stone was coming back from a lacerated spleen , Tomas Hertl was still trying to find his form after knee surgery and Alex Pietrangelo underwent an appendectomy as the playoffs neared.

EDMONTON — The Edmonton Oilers have signed defenceman Ty Emberson to a two-year contract extension, the NHL club announced Saturday. The contract carries an average annual value of US$1.3 million.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Matthew Tkachuk skated with the Florida Panthers in practice on Saturday, a sign that he may be ready to rejoin the lineup for Game 1 of the playoffs.