PREDATORS SWEEP

The Nashville Predators completed a sweep of the Western Conference’s top-seeded Chicago Blackhawks with a 4-1 victory Thursday at home.

Sidney Crosby and Scott Wilson scored 51 seconds apart in the third period, helping the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins eliminate the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets with a 5-2 win in their Western Conference series Thursday.

Mika Zibanejad scored at 14:22 of overtime to give the New York Rangers a 3-2 victory against the host Montreal Cana- diens on Thursday and a 3-2 lead in their playoff series.

The Buffalo Sabres fired head coach Dan Bylsma and general manager Tim Murray. Bylsma, who led the Pittsburgh Penguins to a Stanley Cup title in 2009, had a 68-73-23 record in his two seasons with the Sabres.