NHL

Catfish tosser says he was 'dumb redneck with a bad idea'PITTSBURGH (AP) A Tennessee man is calling himself a ''dumb redneck with a bad idea'' after police filed charges against him for throwing a catfish onto the rink in Pittsburgh during the opening of the Stanley Cup Final.Police...

AP Sports WriterBruins coach Cassidy ready to return to playoffsBy JIMMY GOLENBOSTON (AP) Bruce Cassidy knows how to handle the pre-playoff jitters this time.Returning to the Stanley Cup playoffs as a head coach for the first time since 2003, Cassidy is trusting in his team to smooth over...

AP Hockey WriterNHL teams adjusting on the fly to new wrinkle of bye weeksBy STEPHEN WHYNOMike Smith felt weird.The All-Star goaltender for Phoenix knew other teams were playing while he and the rest of the Coyotes were enjoying a week off. He filled his time by sledding with his...

AP Sports WriterPredators, Ducks win away from advancing to Western finalsBy TERESA M. WALKERNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The Nashville Predators aren't happy about letting a first chance at franchise history slip through their fingers. The Edmonton Oilers can look at themselves after one of the biggest collapses ever in...

AP Sports WriterThe constant for the Devils has been missing the playoffsBy TOM CANAVANNEWARK, N.J. (AP) If anyone needs the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft, it is the New Jersey Devils.After making the playoffs for 20 of 22 seasons, the Devils have fallen on hard times....

4 months after Cup clash, Penguins, Sharks meet againPITTSBURGH (AP) The stakes are nowhere near the same: hockey immortality versus two points in the standings in the second week of a long season.Still, the San Jose Sharks and Pittsburgh Penguins expect the atmosphere to be a little more...

AP Hockey WriterAnaheim Ducks sign holdout D Hampus Lindholm to 6-year dealBy GREG BEACHAMANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) The Anaheim Ducks signed holdout Hampus Lindholm to a six-year, $31.5 million contract through the 2021-22 season on Thursday, ending a stalemate with their talented Swedish defenseman.The 22-year-old Lindholm scored 92 points...

NHL fines Bruins winger Marchand $10,000 for trippingBOSTON (AP) The NHL has fined Bruins forward Brad Marchand $10,000 for a dangerous trip in Boston's game against Detroit this week.The fine is the maximum allowed under the collective bargaining agreement.Marchand tripped Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall in Tuesday night's...

Avs defenseman Erik Johnson nears return from broken legDENVER (AP) Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson is nearing a return after being sidelined since early December with a broken leg.Although Johnson won't play Tuesday against Los Angeles, coach Jared Bednar said the Avalanche's top defenseman has been going through...

Pens center Nick Bonino tests injured foot, still day to dayNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Pittsburgh center Nick Bonino tested his injured left foot by skating with teammates, and now he has to wait and see how it reacts before deciding if he might be available Monday night for Game...

Ducks C Ryan Kesler has hip surgery, will be out 3 monthsANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Kesler has undergone hip surgery that will keep the Selke Trophy finalist away from full hockey activity for 12 weeks.The 32-year-old Kesler had surgery last week, the Ducks announced Saturday.Kesler...

AP Hockey WriterFlyers hire rising star Knoblauch as assistant coachBy STEPHEN WHYNOThe Philadelphia Flyers have hired rising coaching star Kris Knoblauch as an as assistant.Knoblauch was Connor McDavid's junior coach and is coming off an Ontario Hockey League championship with the Erie Otters. The 38-year-old has led Erie to...