NHL

All-Star D Victor Hedman out for Lightning with illnessLOS ANGELES (AP) All-Star defenseman Victor Hedman is sitting out of the Tampa Bay Lightning's game at Los Angeles.The Lightning made the announcement Monday, shortly before the opening faceoff.Hedman participated in the pregame warmup, but left early. The Lightning didn't...

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - Winning the Presidents' Trophy for the NHL's best regular-season record has given the New York Rangers home-ice advantage for playoffs.That's it. There are no guarantees how far they will get in the postseason and recent history is working against them.Since the 2002-03 season, only the...

AP Hockey WriterNeal's OT goal puts Preds past Ducks 3-2 to open West finalBy GREG BEACHAMANAHEIM, California (AP) James Neal scored 9:24 into overtime, and the Nashville Predators kicked off their first appearance in the NHL's Western Conference finals with a 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on...

NEW YORK (AP) - Henrik Lundqvist practiced with his Rangers teammates Tuesday for the first time since he was forced from the lineup by a neck injury in February, and could be back in goal by this weekend.Lundqvist took the ice several hours before the Rangers hosted the Stanley...

AP Sports WriterPenguins regroup, Predators look for road magic in Game 5By WILL GRAVESPITTSBURGH (AP) Somewhere between the catfish lobbing , A-list national anthem singers, Carrie Underwood's forgetfulness , Charles Barkley's surprise cameo and P.K. Subban's breath, there's been another notable development during the Stanley Cup Final:A series...

AP Sports WriterBruins return to ice; honor player, coach and GM SchmidtBy JIMMY GOLENBOSTON (AP) Boston said goodbye to the man called ''the ultimate Bruin.''The hockey club observed ''a moment of celebration and applause'' for Milt Schmidt before its game against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night, a...

AP Hockey WriterEmergency goalie: The most unique one-day job in sportsBy STEPHEN WHYNOTom Fenton was in a barber's chair when he got the call. Nathan Schoenfeld was giving his 5-week-old twin boys a bath. Eric Semborski was teaching kids to play hockey at a suburban rink.Within hours, each was...

The Winnipeg Jets have taken off and are on course to land in the playoffs, an experience their passionate fans haven't enjoyed in nearly 20 years.''At this point in the season, obviously it becomes a little bit more realistic,'' left wing Evander Kane said. ''But we don't pay too...

MacArthur: Patience key in recovery from fourth concussionOTTAWA, Ontario (AP) Clarke MacArthur reported to the Ottawa Senators' training camp healthy and excited for the season. He never imagined his plans would be derailed in a simple scrimmage.Speaking to the media for the first time since suffering his fourth...

Canes acquire Ulf Samuelsson's son in trade with MontrealRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) The Carolina Hurricanes have acquired the son of former NHL defenseman Ulf Samuelsson from the Montreal Canadiens in a trade of minor leaguers.In the deal announced Tuesday, the Hurricanes picked up defenseman Philip Samuelsson from Montreal in...

D Jan Rutta agrees to 1-year deal with Chicago BlackhawksCHICAGO (AP) The Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to a one-year deal with Czech defenseman Jan Rutta.The 26-year-old Rutta set career highs with 24 assists and 32 points in 46 games with the Czech Extraliga's Pirati Chomutov. He also played...

AP Sports WriterBettman: Concessions needed for NHL to go to OlympicsBy ANDREW SELIGMANCHICAGO (AP) The International Olympic Committee and hockey's governing body will have to make concessions before the NHL sends the world's best players to the Winter Games in South Korea next year, commissioner Gary Bettman said...