NHL

Senators reduce capacity at Canadian Tire Centre by 1,500OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk believes less could mean more.Tired of seeing too many empty seats, the NHL club is reducing the capacity at Canadian Tire Centre by 1,500 to about 17,000. Rows in the upper bowl...

AP Sports WriterSigned for 5 years with Wild, now Niederreiter can relaxBy DAVE CAMPBELLNino Niederreiter has been bold enough with his hobbies to ride on the outside of an airplane . On the ice, he plays a fearless game with a thick frame that's tough to knock off the...

Larry Robinson won't return to Sharks next seasonSAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) Larry Robinson will not be back with the San Jose Sharks next season.A team spokesman confirmed Thursday that Robinson's contract expires in the summer and that he will not return. Robinson had been with the Sharks for...

AP Sports WriterParade of forwards at top of NHL draftBy JAY COHENCHICAGO (AP) Cody Glass played in a youth hockey tournament in Las Vegas when he was 10. His Junior Steelers team finished a disappointing second.He is looking forward to many more games in Sin City.Glass was selected...

AP Hockey WriterCrosby vs. McDavid is hot debate for best player in hockeyBy STEPHEN WHYNOWhen Connor McDavid stepped on the ice for his first NHL training camp, Taylor Hall already knew hockey's ''Next One'' was the best player out there.When Sidney Crosby stayed on the ice late after practice,...

AP Sports WriterMystique vs. mayhem in unlikely Stanley Cup FinalBy WILL GRAVESPITTSBURGH (AP) The dynasty that once appeared so certain is again in the offing for the Pittsburgh Penguins.Four victories against the Nashville Predators in the Stanley Cup Final would make Pittsburgh the first franchise to win back-to-back...

Coyotes acquire forward Nick Cousins from FlyersGLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) The Arizona Coyotes have acquired forward Nick Cousins from the Philadelphia Flyers.Philadelphia got a 2018 fifth-round pick and the rights to unsigned forward prospect Brendan Warren, also sending unsigned goaltending prospect Merrick Madsen to Arizona. The teams announced the...

Predators re-sign Arvidsson to $29.75 million, 7-year dealNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The Nashville Predators have re-signed 31-goal scorer Viktor Arvidsson to a $29.75 million, seven-year deal.Arvidsson will count $4.25 million against the salary cap through 2022-23. General manager David Poile announced the deal Saturday night after the team and...

AP Sports WriterPredators reach 1st Stanley Cup Final, oust Ducks in 6 gamesBy TERESA M. WALKERNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Different players just keep stepping up for the Nashville Predators, and now their magical postseason run has an even bigger destination: the franchise's first trip to the Stanley Cup Final.Colton...

NHL stars pick between Crosby, McDavid as best playerBy The Associated PressThe Associated Press asked 30 top NHL players to name the best hockey player in the world. One catch: players couldn't pick a teammate. Sidney Crosby received 21 votes, Connor McDavid six, Erik Karlsson 1, two players couldn't...

Jets sign faceoff specialist Matt Hendricks to 1-year dealWINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) The Winnipeg Jets signed center Matt Hendricks to a one-year, $700,000 contract Saturday.The 36-year-old former St. Cloud State player spent the last four seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, finishing with four goals and three assists in 42...

AP Hockey WriterCapitals Improvement: MacLellan plans on tweaks not overhaulBy STEPHEN WHYNOARLINGTON, Va. (AP) Brian MacLellan has the power to completely remake the Washington Capitals in the wake of another early playoff exit and he faces a salary-cap crunch that would justify it.The general manager doesn't expect anything...