NHL

AP Sports WriterOvechkin, Capitals prepare for 'biggest game of life'By FRED GOODALLTAMPA, Fla. (AP) Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is closer than ever to playing for the Stanley Cup, and he's determined to make the most of the opportunity.''I've never been in this position before,'' he said...

Associated PressNiederreiter scores twice as Wild beat Panthers 5-1By BRIAN HALLST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) The move by Minnesota Wild coach Bruce Boudreau to put Charlie Coyle at center between Zach Parise and Nino Niederreiter is paying off.Niederreiter scored twice, Ryan Suter had three assists and Devan Dubnyk finished...

AP Sports WriterPanthers open training camp, with Bill Torrey still in mindBy TIM REYNOLDSCORAL SPRINGS, Fla. (AP) The first day of Florida Panthers training camp is always roughly the same: Plenty of players on the ice, plenty of hope for the new season, a bit of organized chaos.Day...

AP Sports WriterKings bench Kovalchuk, team refuses to say for how longBy JOE REEDYLOS ANGELES (AP) Left wing Ilya Kovalchuk was a healthy scratch for the Los Angeles Kings in their 3-1 win over the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night, and the team wouldn't say how long he...

AP Sports WriterJon Gillies makes 35 saves, Flames beat Coyotes 5-2By JOHN NICHOLSONGLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) Jon Gillies looked a bit foolish when he lost sight of the puck at his feet and turned the wrong way as Derek Stepan tucked in a first-minute goal.''I don't think you say,...

Associated PressDuBois' 1st shootout goal lifts Blue Jackets over Flyers 2-1By NICOLE KRAFTCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Pierre-Luc DuBois had not scored a shootout goal in his entire career.Until he got to the NHL.DuBois scored his first shootout goal on his first attempt, lifting the Columbus Blue Jackets to a...

Smith scores twice, Predators top Canadiens 4-1MONTREAL (AP) All eyes were on P.K. Subban and Shea Weber. Craig Smith stole the show.Smith scored twice and the Nashville Predators defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-1 on Saturday night in the second matchup between Subban and Weber since the blockbuster trade...

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...

Coyotes sign Dvorak to 6-year contract extensionGLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) The Arizona Coyotes have signed center Christian Dvorak to a six-year contract extension averaging $4.45 million per year.The deal, announced Thursday, will keep Dvorak in Arizona through 2024-25.The 22-year-old Dvorak was Arizona's third-leading goal scorer with 15 last season...

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) Brandon Saad is gone. Same for Patrick Sharp and Kris Versteeg. Brad Richards signed with Detroit. Antoine Vermette returned to Arizona.The Chicago Blackhawks have to find a way to replace that lost production, and Bryan Bickell might be a good place to start.The rugged...

AP Sports WriterFrom St. Louis to Tokyo, Blues fan celebrates a Stanley CupBy STEPHEN WADETOKYO (AP) I can't imagine there were many St. Louis Blues fans farther from their hometown than I was when the team finally won its first Stanley Cup. If not, my kicker is that...

AP Hockey WriterCoyotes acquiring Hall shifts balance of power in WestBy STEPHEN WHYNOJohn Chayka looked at the Arizona Coyotes roster and their spot atop the Pacific Division and wondered.The Coyotes haven't made the playoffs since 2012, and 2018 NHL MVP Taylor Hall was available. The cost was two draft...