NHL

AP Sports WriterRed-hot Maple Leafs ride fast start to 4-2 win over DevilsBy TOM CANAVANNEWARK, N.J. (AP) What was supposed to be a rebuilding season for youthful Toronto could turn into a playoff appearance.Nazem Kadri sparked Toronto's four-goal first period with a power-play score, and the Maple Leafs...

Blues fire coach Ken Hitchcock, promote Mike YeoST. LOUIS (AP) The Blues abruptly fired coach Ken Hitchcock on Wednesday, cutting short the veteran's final season in St. Louis and putting coach-in-waiting Mike Yeo in charge of the underperforming team months earlier than planned.General manager Doug Armstrong announced the...

Associated PressBruins backup goalie Anton Khudobin dealing with injuryBy MATT KALMANBOSTON (AP) Anton Khudobin became the latest Boston Bruins goaltender to get injured Monday.Khudobin skated over to the Bruins bench at Warrior Ice Arena just before practice and had his right arm or wrist attended to by the...

AP Hockey WriterDucks' Vermette facing lengthy ban for slashing linesmanBy GREG BEACHAMAnaheim Ducks center Antoine Vermette is facing the likely prospect of a 10-game suspension from the NHL for slashing a linesman.Vermette slapped his stick against the back of linesman Shandor Alphonso's legs after losing a faceoff to Minnesota...

AP Sports WriterPuck picnic: Calgary Flames practice in NYC's Central ParkBy BEN WALKERNEW YORK (AP) Among all the joggers, dog walkers, bird watchers and families feeding the ducks in Central Park this weekend, Kris Versteeg and his out-of-town pals came for a picnic.A puck picnic, that is.Needing a...

AP Hockey WriterThe NHL 100: Hockey's greatest players honored in centennialBy GREG BEACHAMLOS ANGELES (AP) Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Bobby Orr were among the easiest choices for The NHL 100, the group of enduring superstars chosen and honored by the league Friday night as the best players...

Landeskog's overtime winner lifts Avalanche over PenguinsPITTSBURGH (AP) Colorado's Gabriel Landeskog redirected a shot by Nathan MacKinnon into the net 22 seconds into overtime for his second goal of the game, giving the Avalanche a 4-3 win at Pittsburgh on Monday.Landeskog tied the game with 6:32 left in...

Associated PressElliott solid in return to St. Louis, Flames beat Blues 4-1By JOE HARRISST. LOUIS (AP) Brian Elliott stopped 23 shots in his return to St. Louis, Johnny Gaudreau and Sam Bennett each had a goal and an assist and the Calgary Flames beat the Blues 4-1 on...

AP Hockey WriterSabres hire Penguins' Jason Botterill as general managerBy JOHN WAWROWBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Jason Botterill is leaving the Pittsburgh Penguins' bid to defend their Stanley Cup title for an opportunity to build the Buffalo Sabres into contenders as general manager.The Sabres hired the Penguins associate GM on...

Penguins rally with 3 late goals to down SharksBy The Associated PressPITTSBURGH (AP) Pittsburgh rallied with three late goals to beat San Jose 3-2 on Thursday in a rematch of last season's Stanley Cup combatants, with Evgeni Malkin, Scott Wilson and Patric Hornqvist all scoring in the third...

AP Hockey WriterBeaulieu welcomed Montreal trading him to Buffalo SabresBy JOHN WAWROWBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Understanding his days were numbered in Montreal, defenseman Nathan Beaulieu welcomed the trade that sent him to the Buffalo Sabres.Aside from getting a fresh start with a Phil Housley-coached team placing a value on...

Minnesota 0 3 0-3Chicago 3 1 0-4First Period-1, Chicago, Saad 3 (Hossa), 1:15. 2, Chicago, Kane 3 (Richards, Vermette), 13:11. 3, Chicago, Kruger 1 (Shaw, Keith), 15:15.Second Period-4, Minnesota, Zucker 2 (Vanek), 1:21. 5, Minnesota, Parise 4 (Vanek, Koivu), 5:07 (pp)....