Hockey

VANCOUVER — One year after reaching Game 7 of the second round of the playoffs, the Vancouver Canucks begin their summer a month earlier.

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Mikko Rantanen was at ease Friday when talking about the excitement of starting the playoffs, which the standout forward experienced with the Colorado Avalanche each of the past seven seasons that included a Stanley Cup title.

DENVER (AP) — Valeri Nichushkin took strides to take his hard-checking, goal-scoring game to another level this season. Same with his life away from the rink , his Colorado Avalanche teammates, coach and GM maintain.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Florida coach Paul Maurice didn't care about which team the Panthers drew for Round 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Didn't care about whether that series would start on home ice or not.

Darcy Tucker gets stopped on the street from time to time. Fans are usually looking for a picture or an autograph.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — The end result wasn't much different for the San Jose Sharks with a second straight season finishing at the bottom of the NHL standings.

WINNIPEG — Judgement Day has arrived for the Winnipeg Jets. Despite the NHL team’s long list of regular-season accomplishments, many hockey fans will only view this campaign as a success if the Jets go deep in the playoffs.

John Tavares remembers watching the knife-edged action as a young hockey player dreaming of the big stage. Auston Matthews has seen the highlights and heard the stories. The run-through-a-wall passion. The crackling atmosphere. The tension.

BROSSARD — David Savard knows his NHL career is coming to a close. But with the Montreal Canadiens in the playoffs, he doesn’t know exactly when he’ll hang up his skates.

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Stars will begin the playoffs without top goal scorer Jason Robertson, who suffered a lower-body injury in their last regular-season game, coach Pete DeBoer said Friday.