NHL

AP Hockey WriterColumbus hopes for Game 5 bounceback after historic collapseBy STEPHEN WHYNONo team in NHL history with a chance to win a playoff series had blown a three-goal lead in the final four minutes.Until the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night.The Toronto Maple Leafs scored three goals in...

AP Sports WriterStars clinch 1st playoff trip since 2016, beating Flyers 6-2By SCHUYLER DIXONDALLAS (AP) Jamie Benn gave a brief nod to Tyler Seguin after sharing a big smile with goalie Anton Khudobin.A trying season for the Dallas captain will continue in the playoffs.The Stars clinched their first...

AP Sports WriterBlue Jackets move to the brink of sweeping LightningBy MITCH STACYCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) The Columbus Blue Jackets extended their stunning postseason mastery of the Tampa Bay Lightning, beating the NHL's best team 3-1 on Sunday night and moving to within a game of sweeping the playoff...

AP Hockey Writer'No easy shifts' as first-round series get tight and nastyBy STEPHEN WHYNOIt wasn't long after celebrating Craig Smith's overtime goal that P.K. Subban zeroed in on the cold reality of Nashville's playoff series against Dallas.''There are no easy shifts out there, no easy games and no easy...

Devils dedicate statue to goaltender Martin BrodeurNEWARK, N.J. (AP) The New Jersey Devils have dedicated a statue outside Prudential Arena to longtime goaltender Martin Brodeur.The 44-year-old Brodeur was honored prior to the Devils' game against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night in a ceremony attended by a couple...

Associated PressTrocheck scores late winner, Panthers beat Capitals 3-2By PAUL GEREFFISUNRISE, Fla. (AP) Roberto Luongo spoke eloquently on the ice and then played brilliantly in net.On a night when the Florida Panthers honored the victims of last week's shooting at nearby Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, their veteran...

AP Sports WriterEkman-Larsson, Kuemper lead Coyotes past Canucks, 1-0By BOB BAUMGLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) Darcy Kuemper bounced back nicely for the Arizona Coyotes.Just 2 1/2 weeks after being acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Kings - and one night after being worked over in a 5-2 loss...

Sabres sign prospect goalie Luukkonen to 3-year contractBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) The Buffalo Sabres have signed prospect goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to a three-year, entry level contract.Luukkonen is from Finland and was Buffalo's second-round pick in last year's draft. Luukkonen entered the draft listed first among European goaltenders in the...

PITTSBURGH (AP) Pittsburgh Penguins forward Pascal Dupuis will play his first game in nearly a year after being sidelined by injury and blood clots.He's expected to play Thursday against Dallas. The 36-year-old Dupuis has been limited to 55 games the past two seasons because of a torn ACL...

NHL plans move to small-group training as Phase 2 of returnTORONTO (AP) The NHL hopes to have players back in team facilities soon -- with plenty of precautions.The league, which paused its season on March 12 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, released a memo Monday saying it is...

AP Sports WriterRask comes up big as Boston Bruins advance to face 'CanesBy MITCH STACYCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) The Boston Bruins got some timely goals in their tight Eastern Conference semifinal series with Columbus, and when the goals weren't coming, Tuukka Rask stood tall.The Finn turned in his best...

AP Sports Writer'Back-to-back!' Banner night for Ovechkin, Cup champ CapsBy HOWARD FENDRICHWASHINGTON (AP) A Stanley Cup championship banner rose to the rafters at the home of the Washington Capitals for the first time, and everyone in attendance Wednesday night got to relive the sheer excitement of it all.Alex...