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GLENDALE, Ariz. - A talented bunch, the Vancouver Canucks have a tendency to try for the spectacular play instead of the straightforward one. Now that they've started to make the game simple — ugly? — the wins are starting to pile up.

WINNIPEG - It was just another day in the office for Washington Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - After a long, tough road trip, the Nashville Predators were definitely happy to be home on Thursday night. Mike Fisher scored two goals and the Predators beat the Calgary Flames 5-3 to snap a four-game losing streak.

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Steve Ott has quickly won over blue-collar Buffalo fans with his hard-hitting, gritty style, and the forward should become even more popular following a handful of clutch goals.

NEW YORK, N.Y. - When the final buzzer sounded at Madison Square Garden, the Swedish goalie celebrated the big win with his teammates. No, it wasn't Henrik Lundqvist and the New York Rangers this time.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Louisville coach Rick Pitino rattled off Russ Smith's stats, one more impressive than the next. Then he paused and peered over his glasses. "But he came up lame without a rebound. So we're very disappointed with that.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. - Johnny Cueto insists there's still enough time to get set for opening day. Derek Norris homered as the Oakland Athletics roughed up Cueto and beat the Cincinnati Reds 10-9 Thursday.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Carlos Carrasco had a so-so day in his push for the fifth spot in the Cleveland Indians' rotation.

SALT LAKE CITY - It was every frontrunner's nightmare. Top-seeded Gonzaga ran into a No. 16 seed that wasn't playing like one, a crowd itching for an upset and the very real prospect of making history in a most embarrassing way.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Vander Blue had no doubt where he was going with the ball. The Marquette guard's only concern was whether he'd have room to make it happen. Blue needed just four seconds to make his own path.