NHL

AP Hockey WriterNY Rangers sign Zibanejad to $26.75 million, 5-year dealBy STEPHEN WHYNOMika Zibanejad knew from the moment the New York Rangers traded Derek Stepan that his role would be more substantial.Now he has the contract to match.The Rangers avoided arbitration Tuesday and signed Zibanejad to a $26.75 million,...

Associated PressFleury, Golden Knights blank Predators 3-0 for 8th straightBy W.G. RAMIREZLAS VEGAS (AP) Night after night, the Vegas Golden Knights keep proving it's no fluke they're the top team in the West.Just ask last year's conference champions.Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 27 shots in his second shutout of the...

AP Hockey WriterEichel let's loose: Sabres captain `fed up' with losingBy JOHN WAWROWBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Sabres captain Jack Eichel kept his frustrations in check for the first 14 minutes of an end-of-season interview session with Buffalo-area reporters Thursday.It wasn't until he was asked to assess the future of...

AP Hockey WriterHoltby's playoff dominance goes beyond 'the save'By STEPHEN WHYNOARLINGTON, Va. (AP) Alex Ovechkin covered his eyes with his gloved hands in disbelief. Barry Trotz hid his disbelief inside.Chandler Stephenson had the perfect view and didn't like the odds. The net was wide open and Braden Holtby...

AP Sports WriterHart makes 40 saves as Flyers beat Blackhawks 3-1By JAY COHENCHICAGO (AP) Carter Hart is looking to help the Philadelphia Flyers rally into a playoff spot.If the 20-year-old rookie is feeling any pressure, it's hard to tell.Hart made 40 saves and James van Reimsdyk snapped a...

AP Hockey WriterDual-role players? Defensemen as wingers show it can be doneBy STEPHEN WHYNOBrendan Smith caught his breath for a few seconds on the bench before New York Rangers coach David Quinn called his name again.Smith had just skated a shift as a defenseman and was needed at forward,...

Associated PressPominville lifts Sabres past NHL-best Lightning in overtimeBy ERIK ERLENDSSONTAMPA, Fla. (AP) The Buffalo Sabres long ago fell out of playoff contention. They still might be a factor in the postseason.Jason Pominville scored on a power play at 1:26 of overtime to give the Sabres a 2-1...

Gaudreau powers Flames past Canadiens for 8th straight winCALGARY, Alberta (AP) After a miserable start to the season, Johnny Gaudreau and Brian Elliott are rolling right now for the resurgent Calgary Flames.Gaudreau had a goal and three assists, and the Flames beat the Montreal Canadiens 5-0 on Thursday...

DALLAS (AP) Dallas' Jason Spezza scored three goals, including the tiebreaker late in the third period that lifted the Stars to a 4-2 win against Edmonton on Tuesday.Edmonton's boom youngster Connor McDavid scored his first NHL goal, but struggled in the faceoff circle again, contributing to the Oilers'...

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook will not play in Tuesday's game against the Vancouver Canucks and is considered day-to-day with a lower-body injury, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said on Tuesday. Seabrook collapsed on the ice late in the first period Sunday and had to be helped to the locker...

AP Hockey WriterAfter beating cancer, Eddie Olczyk continues the fightBy STEPHEN WHYNOEddie Olczyk was ready to give up.The NHL player turned broadcaster was on his second round of chemotherapy for stage 3 colon cancer, and the effects were so severe that he told his wife, Diana, he couldn't do...

AP Sports WriterFrom Frozen Four to NHL playoffs: Cale Makar signs with AvsBy PAT GRAHAMDENVER (AP) Cale Makar is about to jump from one postseason run straight into another.The 20-year-old defenseman signed a three-year, entry-level deal with the Colorado Avalanche a day after his Massachusetts squad lost in...