National Hockey

TAMPA, Fla. — The top-seeded Tampa Bay Lightning are well aware that the speedy New Jersey Devils are a dangerous opponent that can't be taken lightly in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Having known mostly success over the past decade with the Penguins, Jason Botterill received a sobering introduction to life at the bottom of the NHL during his first season as Buffalo Sabres general manager.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Although the San Jose Sharks and the Anaheim Ducks both have been regular Stanley Cup playoff participants for the past 15 years, the California rivals somehow met in the post-season only once before this week.

BOSTON — The Boston Bruins remember what happened last time they met Toronto in the NHL playoffs. They also realize they can't count on it happening again.

NEWARK, N.J. — The New Jersey Devils are heading into the playoffs for the first time since 2012 and not surprisingly half the roster has never competed in a NHL post-season game. The newbies in the Cup chase include leading scorer Taylor Hall, No.

Sidney Crosby saw Jakub Voracek's glove on the ice and wasn't going to let his opponent pick it up easily.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Sabres have signed two-time Notre Dame leading scorer Andrew Oglevie to a two-year entry level contract.

WASHINGTON — Dmitry Orlov scoring on Sergei Bobrovsky is a popular clip at a bar in their hometown in southwestern Siberia. "They always show my goal to him," Orlov said. "My friends said that.

Toronto's Frederik Andersen carried one of the heaviest workloads of any goaltender in the regular season. He still wants extra ice time to prepare for the Maple Leafs' first-round playoff matchup with Boston.

DENVER — There were moments in such a sour season a year ago when Gabriel Landeskog doubted himself as a player. It just wore on him that much. Never once did he ever question this: His ability to lead the Colorado Avalanche.