NHL

AP Hockey WriterLightning re-sign Palat to $26.5M, 5-year dealBy STEPHEN WHYNOTampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman completed his offseason to-do list by signing ''model player'' Ondrej Palat to a $26.5 million, five-year deal.The Lightning and Palat avoided arbitration and settled on the contract Friday. The Czech left winger...

Prosecutors to drop charges in Stanley Cup dead catfish tossPITTSBURGH (AP) Prosecutors are dropping charges filed against a Tennessee man for throwing a catfish onto the rink in Pittsburgh during the opening of the Stanley Cup Final.Jacob Waddell, 36, was charged in Allegheny County with disorderly conduct, possessing...

AP Hockey WriterLooming expansion draft turns up trade chatter around NHLBy STEPHEN WHYNOThe prospect of losing talent to Vegas is keeping a lot of NHL general managers up at night.''Sometimes at 3 in the morning I wake up and remind myself of that: `You can only lose one player....

Ashes of late NHL enforcer Bob Probert spread in penalty boxDETROIT (AP) Late Red Wings enforcer Bob Probert has been given a little more time in the penalty box at Detroit's Joe Louis Arena.Probert's widow, Dani, sprinkled some of the forward's ashes in the box on Sunday, when...

AP Sports WriterBack home, Preds eager to rebound off 1st postseason lossBy TERESA M. WALKERNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Winning the Stanley Cup requires 16 victories each postseason, and the Nashville Predators started better than any team in these playoffs by winning their first five.Now the St. Louis Blues are...

AP Hockey WriterNo-name Penguins defense faces unheralded Predators centersBy STEPHEN WHYNOThe star centers and no-name defense of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The standout defensemen and unheralded centers of the Nashville Predators.The Stanley Cup Final is full of intriguing matchups, with Game 1 coming up Monday night in Pittsburgh.Pittsburgh goes for...

Despite heel injury, Karlsson leading Senators in postseasonOTTAWA, Ontario (AP) Sweden's Erik Karlsson was the best player in the Ottawa Senators' opening-round series against the Boston Bruins, and that was while playing with two hairline fractures in his left heel.If Ottawa's captain was that good playing injured, one...

Prosecutors to drop charges in Stanley Cup dead catfish tossPITTSBURGH (AP) Prosecutors are dropping charges filed against a Tennessee man for throwing a catfish onto the rink in Pittsburgh during the opening of the Stanley Cup Final.Jacob Waddell, 36, was charged in Allegheny County with disorderly conduct, possessing...

Ottawa star D Erik Karlsson has foot surgery, out 4 monthsOTTAWA, Ontario (AP) The Ottawa Senators are hopeful that star defenseman Erik Karlsson will be ready for the start of next season following surgery on his left foot Wednesday.General manager Pierre Dorion says Karlsson's recovery from surgery to...

Blackhawks' Hossa to miss 2017-18 season with skin disorderCHICAGO (AP) Blackhawks winger Marian Hossa will miss the entire 2017-18 NHL season because of a progressive skin disorder.The team announced the news on Wednesday. The 38-year-old veteran says severe side effects associated with medication to treat the skin disorder...

Flyers sign D Gostisbehere to multiyear contract extensionPHILADELPHIA (AP) The Philadelphia Flyers have signed defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere to a $27 million, six-year contract extension.The 24-year-old Gostisbehere had seven goals and 39 points in 76 games this season, a dropoff from a sensational rookie season that saw Flyers fans...

Fisher rejoins Predators at practice, questionable for FinalNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Predators captain Mike Fisher said Thursday he feels a lot better and his goal is to be available during the Stanley Cup Final that begins next week.Fisher skated for the first time with his teammates since being injured...