National Hockey

ANAHEIM, Calif. — No previous edition of the Freeway Faceoff had ever meant less. The state of Southern California hockey has rarely been lower. The Anaheim Ducks still moved into a long summer with an emphatic win over their rivals.

NEW YORK — Artemi Panarin scored in the shootout and the Columbus Blue Jackets clinched the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers on Friday night.

NEW YORK — The Columbus Blue Jackets didn't get discouraged after giving up the tying goal in the closing seconds of regulation. They kept their focus and won in a shootout to clinch the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

CHICAGO — One more point could provide a big lift for the Dallas Stars. They get another chance on Saturday night. Dallas' playoff road remains muddled after it lost 6-1 to Chicago on Friday night.

The Montreal Canadiens have been eliminated from the NHL playoff race.

PITTSBURGH — Erik Gudbranson didn't want to be "that guy," the one who whooped it up after the Pittsburgh Penguins locked down a playoff spot for the 13th straight year with a win over the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night.

TORONTO — Michael Hutchinson was surprised as anyone when he got the news.

VANCOUVER — Former NHL forward Craig Cunningham just wanted to say thanks and debut his new skating leg.

Bob Cole still remembers the butterflies flapping in his stomach as he walked into the old Boston Garden in the spring of 1969. Calling games for "Hockey Night in Canada" was his dream.

Legendary play-by-play man Bob Cole will call his final game for "Hockey Night in Canada" when the Toronto Maple Leafs visit the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.