National Hockey

DENVER — Back-to-back power-play goals early in the third period turned the game for the Colorado Avalanche on Friday night.

NASHVILLE — Six seasons into his NHL career, Casey DeSmith finally has his first playoff win.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Backup goalie Casey DeSmith finally has his first postseason victory, and he helped the Vancouver Canucks take back home-ice advantage in the process.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nothing seems to be able to knock the New York Rangers off their game, certainly not giving up a fluky bounce goal five minutes in or having seven penalties called on them.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The problems for Dallas are two-fold — the Stars aren't getting great scoring chances and for long stretches aren't even putting the puck on net.

TORONTO — William Nylander took a pass from John Tavares and wheeled towards the net. The Maple Leafs winger then deftly fed the puck against the grain on a tee for Mitch Marner to blast a one-timer from a sharp angle.

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Newfoundlanders remember legendary "Hockey Night in Canada" sportscaster Bob Cole as a national star who proved that someone from the country's easternmost province could make it big on the mainland, all without moving away.

NASHVILLE — Rick Tocchet expects boos to rain down when his Vancouver Canucks take the ice on Friday. That's exactly how it should be, the head coach said.

Canadian curling champion Brad Gushue first struck up a friendship with Bob Cole some 20 years ago during the NHL lockout.

The Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes put themselves one win away from earning first-round sweeps, while three Canadian teams set out to take the lead in their series on Friday.