Five things to know about the NHL playoffs

The Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes put themselves one win away from earning first-round sweeps, while three Canadian teams set out to take the lead in their series on Friday. Here are five things to know entering Friday’s post-season action: HOSTILE TERRITORY The Vancouver Canucks might have taken both games in Nashville in the regular season, but the playoffs are a different animal. After an impressive regular season, Vancouver finds itself in a 1-1 series against the Predators after