NHL

AP Sports WriterKunitz's double-OT goal sends Penguins back to Stanley CupBy WILL GRAVESPITTSBURGH (AP) Chris Kunitz spent a portion of the spring nursing a lower-body injury and wondering if his time with the Pittsburgh Penguins was over. The veteran forward's contract is up this summer and he's been...

Oilers ready for Sharks challenge as they return to playoffsEDMONTON, Alberta (AP) Jordan Eberle shrugs off the notion that he and the rest of the Edmonton Oilers might be a little wide-eyed when the puck drops in their playoff series against the San Jose Sharks.The Sharks are the...

AP Hockey WriterFirst night of playoffs teaches lesson to young Maple LeafsBy STEPHEN WHYNOWASHINGTON (AP) Mike Babcock watched the first night of the Stanley Cup playoffs and was glad his players tuned in.''It's important for your players to be able to watch on TV just how hard everyone...

AP Sports WriterPenguins star Sidney Crosby out with another concussionBy WILL GRAVESPITTSBURGH (AP) The scene brought back jarring memories. Sidney Crosby woozily making his way off the ice after taking a brutal hit from a member of the Washington Capitals. His brain foggy. His immediate future uncertain.The sight...

McDavid disappointed at NHL decision to skip OlympicsTORONTO (AP) Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid said he's disappointed the NHL won't be sending players to the Winter Olympic in South Korea.''It would have been a special group, and you're just hopeful to be a part of it,'' McDavid told...

AP Sports WriterMike Sullivan guides Penguins back to conference finalsBy WILL GRAVESPITTSBURGH (AP) The Pittsburgh Penguins looked like they needed a day off. Maybe more than one.And yet there the defending Stanley Cup champions were on Tuesday morning, dressed and skating barely 12 hours removed from a listless...

AP Sports WriterPredators just 1 NHL team winning thanks to their SwedesBy TERESA M. WALKERNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Filip Forsberg is having quite the spring for the Nashville Predators, setting franchise records with his eight goals and 15 points. He's tied the team mark with at least a point...

Oilers clean out lockers, reflect on turnaround seasonEDMONTON, Alberta (AP) The Edmonton Oilers cleaned out their lockers Friday after their turnaround season, knowing that the newfound success changes everything.''Coming in next year, it has to be a different mindset,'' captain Connor McDavid said. ''We're not going to surprise...

AP Sports WriterSharks face key decisions with Thornton, MarleauBy JOSH DUBOWSAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) Joe Thornton is expected to be healthy at the start of training camp despite undergoing offseason surgery to repair torn ligaments in his left knee.Where Thornton and longtime San Jose teammate Patrick Marleau will...

AP Hockey WriterBuyouts make Panthers, Devils even bigger free agent buyersBy STEPHEN WHYNOFlorida Panthers general manager Dale Tallon was already talking about getting aggressive in the free agent market.Now he has some extra room to do that.Florida was one of several teams to buy out a player in the...

AP Hockey WriterSabres GM: Kyle Okposo on track for start of training campBy JOHN WAWROWBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Buffalo Sabres forward Kyle Okposo is on track to report for the start of training camp in September in recovering from an undisclosed illness that placed his future in question two...

AP Hockey WriterConcussion spotter couldn't pull Crosby for hitting boardsBy STEPHEN WHYNOA week after he was knocked out of playoff game with a concussion, Pittsburgh star Sidney Crosby slid headfirst into the boards during another tense game against the Washington Capitals.He did not come out of Game 6 on...