The Philadelphia Flyers hired Alain Vigneault as coach, hoping he can lead the team to its first Stanley Cup since 1975.
Vigneault, 57, led the New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks to the Stanley Cup Final. He takes over a team that missed the playoffs for the second time in three seasons.
Flyers General Manager Chuck Fletcher made his first big move since he was hired in November for the fired Ron Hextall. Fletcher fired coach Dave Hakstol a month later and replaced him with interim coach Scott Gordon.
Philadelphia went 37-37-8 for 82 points and last reached the second round in 2012.
Etc.
• The NHL suspended Toronto forward Nazem Kadri for the rest of the first round of the playoffs for cross-checking Boston's Jake DeBrusk in the head. Kadri hit DeBrusk in the third period of Boston's 4-1 victory Saturday in Game 2.
• San Jose veteran center Joe Thornton was suspended for Tuesday night's Game 4 against Vegas for a hit to the head of the Golden Knights' Tomas Nosek on Sunday.
• Defenseman Jacob Bryson is skipping his senior season at Providence after signing a three-year entry level contract with Buffalo.
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