NHL

Associated PressOttawa tops Colorado 4-3 to sweep series of 2 Sweden gamesBy KAREL JANICEKSTOCKHOLM (AP) Mike Hoffman scored two goals to help the Ottawa Senators beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-3 on Saturday for a sweep of their two regular-season games in Sweden.Mark Stone and Johnny Oduya also scored...

AP Hockey Writer'Monster year' could land John Carlson a monster contractBy STEPHEN WHYNOJohn Carlson can't forget that he is fighting for the NHL lead for points among defensemen because his Washington Capitals teammates keep razzing him about it.''The guys do a good job of pumping that up in the...

AP Sports WriterBruins goalie Rask opts out of playoffs to be with familyBy JIMMY GOLENBOSTON (AP) Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask has opted out of the team's playoff run to be with his family.The defending Eastern Conference champions announced the decision Saturday morning, less than two hours before...

AP Hockey WriterUncertainty with Kuznetsov threatens to hang over CapitalsBy STEPHEN WHYNOARLINGTON, Va. (AP) They're no longer defending Stanley Cup champions, don't know if one of their best players will be eligible for opening night, are over the salary cap ceiling and face expiring contracts for two franchise...

AP Sports WriterCanes need to fill leadership void after Williams steps awayBy JOEDY McCREARYRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) The Carolina Hurricanes once again are looking for leadership - and maybe another captain.Veteran forward Justin Williams' decision to step away from the sport leaves them with questions about their captaincy heading...

Flyers sign Braun to 2-year extension; Niskanen retiresPHILADELPHIA (AP) The Philadelphia Flyers signed defenseman Justin Braun to a two-year contract at an annual average of $1.8 million.Braun played in 62 regular-season games and all 16 playoff games in his first season with the Flyers. He had three goals...

NHL GMs pleased so far with crack down on slashingMONTREAL (AP) If there are any misgivings about the NHL's crackdown on slashes to the hands, they are not shared by the general managers.Teams are scoring about half a goal more since officials made the quick tap to the...

Predators' Watson charged with domestic assaultNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Nashville Predators forward Austin Watson was arrested on a charge of domestic assault involving his girlfriend over the weekend.Franklin Police Lt. Charles Warner said Wednesday that Watson was arrested Saturday evening. Watson was released from jail on $4,500 bond and...

AP Sports WriterRinne shuts out Bruins on 36th birthday, Predators win 1-0By TERESA M. WALKERNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Goalie Pekka Rinne celebrated his 36th birthday and a new contract extension Saturday night by shutting out the Boston Bruins in the Nashville Predators' 1-0 victory.Rinne stopped 26 shots to notch...

Horvat, Canucks beat Blues 5-1VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) Jacob Markstrom turned in another solid start Thursday night, and then moved on.''There's another game in two days, that's what I'm focusing about,'' he said.Markstrom made 29 saves to lead the Vancouver Canucks to a 5-1 victory over the St....

Devils sign No. 1 overall pick Nico HischierNEWARK, N.J. (AP) The New Jersey Devils have signed No. 1 overall pick Nico Hischier to the maximum three-year, entry-level contract for salary and performance bonuses.The Devils said Saturday that Hischier will have an average salary of $925,000.The 18-year-old Swiss forward...

Draisaitl, MacKinnon, Panarin are Lindsay Award finalistsNEW YORK (AP) NHL leading scorer Leon Draisaitl of the Oilers, Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon and Rangers winger Artemi Panarin were named finalists for the Ted Lindsay Award on Tuesday.The trophy goes to the league's most outstanding player as voted by fellow...