National Hockey

OTTAWA — Jean-Gabriel Pageau is the type of hockey player who would play goal if you asked him to. Fortunately, he's been given an assignment much more to his liking.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — With the top three teams in the Eastern Conference all coming out of the Atlantic Division, there's a good chance the second and third best teams in the East will play in the first round for the second straight year.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle doesn't know what's behind the confluence of streaks bolstering the Ducks' playoff chances. Right now, he's just trying to make it last.

NASHVILLE — Pekka Rinne stopped 26 shots, Ryan Hartman scored at 5:33 of the third period and the Nashville Predators beat the Dallas Stars 2-0 Tuesday night for a franchise-record ninth straight victory.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus backup goalie Joonas Korpisalo had lost three straight starts since his last victory on Jan. 18.

CHICAGO — The Chicago Blackhawks and Jonathan Toews executed their plan — and didn't waste any time in overtime.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Those Minnesota Wild fans waiting in concession lines or lingering too long in the concourse during the first intermission sure missed a show. Eric Staal has put on quite the must-see performance himself this season.

NASHVILLE — The Nashville Predators talk about everything and shy away from nothing. Right now, they have an awful lot to discuss.

TAMPA, Fla. — Overtime has become Brayden Point's time to shine. The Tampa Bay centre scored his fourth overtime goal of the season on Tuesday to give the league-leading Lightning a 5-4 victory over in-state rival Florida.

NEWARK, N.J. — There's no stopping Taylor Hall, unquestionably the New Jersey Devils' most valuable player in their quest to end a five-year playoff drought.