NHL

AP Sports WriterBruins coach Cassidy ready to return to playoffsBy JIMMY GOLENBOSTON (AP) Bruce Cassidy knows how to handle the pre-playoff jitters this time.Returning to the Stanley Cup playoffs as a head coach for the first time since 2003, Cassidy is trusting in his team to smooth over...

Associated PressGolden Knights' inaugural season more than Cup for some fansBy W.G. RAMIREZLAS VEGAS (AP) Aaron and Rhonda Hawley never truly embraced how much the Vegas Golden Knights meant to them until late in the season.On March 29, their 17-year-old daughter Brooke and two classmates were killed in...

Associated PressSabres beat Red Wings 3-2 in shootout for 9th straight winBy PAUL HARRISDETROIT (AP) The Buffalo Sabres continue to find ways to win.Sam Reinhart and Tage Thompson scored in a seven-round shootout to give the Sabres their ninth consecutive victory, 3-2 over the Detroit Red Wings on...

Harden scores 39 points as Rockets beat Pelicans 122-116NEW ORLEANS (AP) James Harden scored 39 points, including 13 straight during a stretch of the fourth quarter, and the Houston Rockets beat the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans 122-116 Monday night.Russell Westbrook had 26 points and Clint Capela added 11...

AP Sports WriterKen Hitchcock, 3rd in NHL wins, retiring after 22 yearsBy SCHUYLER DIXONKen Hitchcock wasn't sure how long he would coach the Dallas Stars the second time around after 15 years away.Turned out to be one season.The coach who led Dallas to its only Stanley Cup championship retired...

AP Hockey WriterSabres among teams focused on trade market over free agencyBy JOHN WAWROWBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Realizing how difficult it is to lure free agents to Buffalo, Sabres general manager Jason Botterill has spent the past two-plus years relying on trades to stock his roster with established talent.It...

If familiarity breeds contempt, there should be animosity aplenty on Sunday when the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers meet at Madison Square Garden. New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers When: 7:00 PM ET, Sunday, December 11, 2016 Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York ...

CHICAGO (AP) Chicago's Patrick Kane extended his points streak to 26 games as the Blackhawks beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-0 on Sunday to move into a share of second place in the NHL Central Division.Kane, the NHL's leading scorer with 46 points, had the second assist on Duncan...

AP Hockey WriterBruins, Blues meet in Stanley Cup Final 49 years in makingBy STEPHEN WHYNOSeeing the famous photo of Bobby Orr scoring the 1970 Stanley Cup-winning goal to beat his St. Louis Blues doesn't bring back bad memories for Scotty Bowman.''Not really,'' the legendary coach said. ''Because we didn't...

Monahan scores twice, lead Flames over Ducks 6-1CALGARY, Alberta (AP) Sean Monahan scored twice to set a single-season career high with 33 goals and also added two assists, leading the Calgary Flames to a 6-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night.Monahan entered the game with just...

Wayne Gretzky to hit ice in alumni game in WinnipegWINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) Wayne Gretzky will make a rare return to the ice Saturday to play alongside other former Edmonton Oilers greats against Winnipeg Jets alumni as part of the Heritage Classic weekend.''I mean, I skate once a year....

Associated PressCoyotes snap losing streak to Blues with 5-2 winBy STEVE OVERBEYST. LOUIS (AP) Christian Dvorak had no idea the two goals he scored Saturday night helped the Arizona Coyotes end a long run of futility against the St. Louis Blues.''Wow, we lost 12 in a row to...