NHL

Vasilevskiy, Hellebuyk, Rask chosen as NHL Vezina finalistsAndrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning has been selected as a Vezina Trophy finalist for the third consecutive season, with a shot at becoming the first back-to-back winner of the NHL’s top goalie award in 12 years.Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyk and Boston’s...

The Los Angeles Kings were finally able to raise their Stanley Cup banner Saturday. Now they must find the form that helped them win a championship. After a less than inspiring performance in the opener, the Kings will visit the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday. Los Angeles at Colorado When: 9:00 PM...

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...

AP Hockey WriterCapitals fire coach Todd Reirden after 2 postseason letdownsBy STEPHEN WHYNOThe Washington Capitals have fired coach Todd Reirden after a second consecutive first-round exit in the playoffs.General manager Brian MacLellan announced the move Sunday, three days after the Capitals lost to former coach Barry Trotz's New York...

Vancouver signs defenseman Alex Edler to 2-year extensionVANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) Defenseman Alex Edler has signed a two-year extension with the Vancouver Canucks at an average salary of $6 million.The 33-year-old Swede had 10 goals and 24 assists in 56 games last season. In 13 seasons with the...

Big crowds, extra police expected at Blues' celebrationST. LOUIS (AP) Organizers of the celebration to honor the Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues expect a massive crowd, and security will be tight.Hundreds of thousands of people are expected Saturday for a parade and rally beneath the Gateway Arch...

NHLPA files appeal of Wilson's 20-game suspensionWASHINGTON (AP) The NHL Players' Association has filed an appeal on behalf of Tom Wilson after the Capitals forward was suspended 20 games for an illegal check to the head.The NHLPA announced the expected move Friday, which had to happen within 48...

Stars' Ales Hemsky out 5-6 months following hip surgeryDALLAS (AP) Dallas Stars forward Ales Hemsky will miss five to six months after surgery for a hip injury that general manager Jim Nill said was sustained during the World Cup of Hockey.Nill said the surgery was performed Monday. Hemsky,...

AP Sports WriterThe Kids Are All Right: Penguins lead goalie youth movementBy WILL GRAVESPITTSBURGH (AP) Jim Rutherford knows what it's like to be a young goaltender trying to find his way in the NHL. Rutherford went through it with the Detroit Red Wings in the early 1970s, thrust...

AP Sports WriterLightning disappointed, but don't feel like playoff failuresBy FRED GOODALLTAMPA, Fla. (AP) Jon Cooper searched for adequate words to describe the feeling of coming within one victory of playing for the Stanley Cup.The Tampa Bay Lightning have done it twice in the past three years. And...

AP Hockey WriterSharks re-signing Karlsson sets table for busy NHL offseasonBy STEPHEN WHYNOErik Karlsson had no wanderlust to test the free agent market before re-signing in San Jose.''I never thought outside that box,'' Karlsson said. ''I'm happy that it didn't get to that.''A handful of other teams aren't so...

Devils draw top pick in NHL draft lotteryTORONTO (AP) Devils general manager Ray Shero has made it clear his team needs to accumulate more talent.The luck of the draw helped New Jersey take a huge step in that direction Tuesday.The Devils will pick first at June's NHL draft...