NHL

AP Hockey WriterCapitals sign Nicklas Backstrom to $46M, 5-year extensionBy STEPHEN WHYNOWASHINGTON (AP) Nicklas Backstrom isn't leaving the team he lifted the Stanley Cup with and is getting paid handsomely to stick around for the long haul.The Washington Capitals on Tuesday signed Backstrom to a $46 million, five-year...

Sabres' Thompson to miss 5-6 months after shoulder surgeryBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson will miss the remainder of the season after having surgery to repair an injury to his right shoulder.The Sabres announced Thompson had the operation on Tuesday and will require between five and...

Flyers GM Fletcher expects Patrick to return from migrainesVOORHEES, N.J. (AP) Philadelphia Flyers general Chuck Fletcher expects center Nolan Patrick to return from a migraine disorder and play this season.Patrick, the No. 2 overall pick of the 2017 draft, has been sidelined all season because of his condition....

AP Sports WriterPenguins' Crosby to return from 2-month absence against WildBy WILL GRAVESPITTSBURGH (AP) Sidney Crosby is back.The Pittsburgh Penguins captain will be in the lineup on Tuesday night when Pittsburgh faces Minnesota. Crosby hasn't played since undergoing abdominal surgery on Nov. 14. The Penguins have thrived in...

AP Hockey WriterCapitals sign Nicklas Backstrom to $46M, 5-year extensionBy STEPHEN WHYNOWASHINGTON (AP) Nicklas Backstrom isn't leaving the team he lifted the Stanley Cup with and is getting paid handsomely to stick around for the long haul.The Washington Capitals on Tuesday signed Backstrom to a $46 million, five-year...

AP Sports WriterPenguins' Crosby to return from 2-month absence against WildBy WILL GRAVESPITTSBURGH (AP) Sidney Crosby is back.The Pittsburgh Penguins captain will be in the lineup on Tuesday night when Pittsburgh faces Minnesota. Crosby hasn't played since undergoing abdominal surgery on Nov. 14.The Penguins have thrived in spite...

AP Hockey WriterAP Source: NHL All-Star game to feature women 3-on-3 eventBy JOHN WAWROWThe NHL is increasing its promotion of women's hockey by adding a three-on-three game between U.S. and Canadian national team members to its All-Star festivities later this month in St. Louis..The women's game will happen during...

Leafs lose Rielly for at least 8 weeks with broken footTORONTO (AP) The Toronto Maple Leafs have lost defenseman Morgan Rielly for at least eight weeks with a fractured foot.Rielly blocked a shot in the first period of Sunday night's 8-4 loss in Florida but managed to finish...

AP Hockey WriterAP source: NHL All-Star game to feature women's 3-on-3 eventBy JOHN WAWROWWomen's national team players representing the United States and Canada will compete in a 3-on-3 event at the NHL All-Star game in St. Louis in two weeks, a person with direct knowledge of the plan said...

AP Hockey WriterNHL extends Buffalo's agreement to host combine through 2022By JOHN WAWROWBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) The NHL's top prospects will continue making their pre-draft stops in Buffalo for at least another three years.The league on Monday announced an extension of its agreement to hold its annual scouting combine...

Associated PressOvechkin, Samsonov lead Capitals over Hurricanes 2-0By RICH DUBROFFWASHINGTON (AP) By now, it almost seems like no big deal when Alex Ovechkin reaches another milestone.Ovechkin scored two first-period goals Monday night and moved into 11th place on the NHL's career list, leading the Washington Capitals to a...

AP Hockey WriterNHL extends Buffalo's agreement to host combine through 2022By JOHN WAWROWBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) The NHL's top prospects will continue making their pre-draft stops in Buffalo for at least another three years.The league on Monday announced an extension of its agreement to hold its annual scouting combine...