NHL

AP Hockey WriterDevils select US center Hughes with 1st pick in NHL draftBy JOHN WAWROWVANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) The first round of the NHL draft wasn't so much unpredictable as the game is becoming more international.That was Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill's observation following an opening round...

Canucks beat Golden Knights 2-1 in Game 5, avoid eliminationEDMONTON, Alberta (AP) Elias Petterson scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period, Thatcher Demko made 42 saves in his first NHL playoff start and the Vancouver Canucks staved off elimination by beating the Golden Knights 2-1 Tuesday...

Avalanche sign defenseman Samuel Girard to 7-year extensionDENVER (AP) The Colorado Avalanche locked up defenseman Samuel Girard with a seven-year extension that runs through the 2026-27 season.The 21-year-old Girard played in all 82 games last season. He finished with four goals and 23 assists for a Colorado team...

AP Sports WriterSeattle's addition looms as part of draft weekend storyBy TIM BOOTHVANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) While the selections of Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kaako and the P.K. Subban trade all got their deserved attention during the NHL draft, one of the biggest crowds of the weekend surrounded...

Associated PressCrosby's 4 points lead streaking Penguins past Blues 6-1By DAVID SOLOMONST. LOUIS (AP) Matt Murray returned to the lineup Dec. 15, rejuvenated after missing 13 games with a lower-body injury.What a spark he's provided for the Pittsburgh Penguins.Murray made 30 saves and Sidney Crosby had a goal...

AP Hockey WriterNHL's top teams face dilemma on what round-robin play meansBy STEPHEN WHYNOLong before Peter DeBoer coached two teams to the Stanley Cup Final, he got some experience at Canadian junior hockey's Memorial Cup that could serve him well right about now.That tournament starts with round-robin play before...

Associated PressSchwartz, Tarasenko have Blues close to Cup FinalBy JOE HARRISST. LOUIS (AP) Jaden Schwartz is on a scoring run that has the St. Louis Blues dreaming big.Schwartz's hat trick in Game 5 on Sunday helped give the Blues a 3-2 series lead against the San Jose Sharks...

Kings bench Kovalchuk; GM refuses to say for how longLOS ANGELES (AP) Left winger Ilya Kovalchuk was a healthy scratch for the Los Angeles Kings against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night, and general manager Rob Blake refused to say how long the veteran will be out of...

Penguins center Matt Cullen retires after 21 seasonsPITTSBURGH (AP) Penguins center Matt Cullen has retired after a 21-season career that included three Stanley Cup titles.The 42 year-old won a Cup with Carolina in 2006 and then consecutive titles with Pittsburgh in 2016 and 2017.Cullen had 266 goals, 465...

Blues' Alex Steen out 4 weeks with high ankle sprainST. LOUIS (AP) St. Louis Blues winger Alex Steen will miss at least four weeks because of a high ankle sprain.Steen injured his left ankle in a collision with Edmonton's Alex Chaisson late in the second period of the...

AP Spprts WroterIslanders, Golden Knights to try again to close out seriesBy VIN A. CHERWOOThe New York Islanders and Vegas Golden Knights will try again to close out their respective playoff series and advance to the conference finals.The Islanders will be looking to bounce back from a 4-3 overtime...

AP Sports WriterTampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov wins Hart, Lindsay at NHL AwardsBy GREG BEACHAMLAS VEGAS (AP) Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov won the Hart Trophy and the Ted Lindsay Award on Wednesday night, receiving the NHL's highest honors for his 128-point regular season for the Lightning.The Russian right wing...