Last-place Sabres fire head coach Ralph Krueger

Goal-scoring co-champion David Pastrnak and top goaltender Tuukka Rask lead the Boston Bruins into the 24-team National Hockey League post-season that begins Saturday in a coronavirus pandemic shutdown return. The NHL season was halted March 12 by the virus with more than three weeks remaining in the regular season, so the playoffs were expanded for the league’s comeback in two Canadian hub cities, Toronto for 12 Eastern Conference clubs and Edmonton for 12 West teams. “It’s a little surreal,” New York Rangers defenseman Marc Staal said.

Joel Armia, Jeff Petry and Jordan Weal all scored as the visiting Montreal Canadiens held on to claim a 3-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night that was crucial to their playoff hopes. Montreal goalie Carey Price stopped 23 shots in a victory that keeps his team in the thick of the playoff