Hockey

The New York Rangers fired coach Peter Laviolette on Saturday in the aftermath of missing the playoffs.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators will renew playoff hostilities Sunday — the first time the provincial rivals have faced off in a post-season Battle of Ontario in more than two decades.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Matthew Tkachuk skated with the Florida Panthers in practice on Saturday, a sign that he may be ready to rejoin the lineup for Game 1 of the playoffs.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Greg Cronin was fired Saturday as coach of the Anaheim Ducks after two seasons, general manager Pat Verbeek announced. “He is responsible in many ways for the improvement we’ve seen from our young core.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The spotlight has been on Marc-Andre Fleury all season, with the soon-retiring goalie who has the second-most victories in NHL history winding down his farewell tour with the Minnesota Wild .

OTTAWA — It has taken longer than expected, but the Ottawa Senators are in the NHL playoffs for the first time in eight years.

Minnesota Wild (45-30-7, in the Central Division) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (50-22-10, in the Pacific Division) Paradise, Nevada; Sunday, 10 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Golden Knights -189, Wild +158; over/under is 5.

New Jersey Devils (42-33-7, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (47-30-5, in the Metropolitan Division) Raleigh, North Carolina; Sunday, 3 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Hurricanes -211, Devils +173; over/under is 5.

Ottawa Senators (45-30-7, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (52-26-4, in the Atlantic Division) Toronto; Sunday, 7 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Maple Leafs -159, Senators +134; over/under is 5.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Marc-Andre Fleury was on the bench the last time the Wild visited Vegas, but when he appeared on the video board late in that Jan.