National Hockey

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins asked Ron Hextall and Brian Burke to thread an impossibly thin needle when they were hired in February 2021.

BROSSARD, Que. — The Montreal Canadiens had many bumps in the road during the 2022-23 season but nothing marked their campaign more than injuries.

CALGARY — Almost, but not quite, was the theme of the Calgary Flames' season. On the losing side of 30 one-goal games, including an NHL-leading 17 in overtime or a shootout, the Flames ended up two points out of a playoff spot.

DALLAS (AP) — Jason Robertson went from training camp holdout to piling up points and setting records all season for the Dallas Stars.

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.