NHL

AP Sports WriterSweep! NHL-best Lightning ousted in record speed by ColumbusBy MITCH STACYCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) The Tampa Bay Lightning ended up on the wrong side of NHL history, getting swept in the first round of the playoffs after one of the best regular seasons ever.The Columbus Blue Jackets...

Brian Elliott finally unquestioned No. 1 goalie with FlamesCALGRY, Alberta (AP) Brian Elliott was eager to get back in the rink on a hot summer day. After years of fending off challengers in St. Louis, the goalie has big expectations entering next season as the unquestioned No. 1...

Canes reassign GM Francis to another front-office positionRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) Hall of Fame player Ron Francis is out as general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes after four years but will remain with the team in another front-office position.New owner Tom Dundon said Wednesday night that the team will...

AP Hockey WriterOvechkin turns attention to Capitals staying a Cup contenderBy STEPHEN WHYNOARLINGTON, Va. (AP) Alex Ovechkin doesn't think the Washington Capitals suddenly stink.Forwards Justin Williams, Marcus Johansson and Daniel Winnik and defensemen Karl Alzner, Nate Schmidt and Kevin Shattenkirk are gone, as are the expectations of Washington...

Jan. 1 - Winter Classic: Chicago at Washington.Jan. 22-26 - All-Star break.Feb. 21 - Stadium Series: Los Angeles vs. San Jose at Santa Clara, Calif.April 11 - Regular season ends.

AP Sports WriterRangers, Islanders, Devils all creating buzz in offseasonBy VIN A. CHERWOOThe New York Rangers' rebuild got a big boost with the additions of forwards Artemi Panarin and Kaapo Kakko. The New Jersey Devils drafted Jack Hughes with the No. 1 pick and traded for P.K. Subban to...

Associated PressJaden Schwartz scores twice, Blues beat Wild 6-3By JOE HARRISST. LOUIS (AP) Jaden Schwartz has been putting on a show for St. Louis Blues fans all season.On Saturday night, he put one on for his parents.Schwartz scored twice and Kyle Brodziak added a short-handed goal in the...

AP Hockey WriterNHL, NHLPA agree on protocols to resume seasonBy STEPHEN WHYNOThe NHL and NHL Players' Association agreed Sunday on protocols to resume the season, a major step toward the return of hockey this summer.Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly told The Associated Press there was an agreement on protocols for...

Joel Quenneville, Bruce Boudreau and Paul MacLean have been announced as the finalists for the Jack Adams Award, given to the head coach who has contributed most to his team's success. Quenneville led Chicago to a league-best 36-7-5 mark after opening the season by earning a point in each...

AP Hockey WriterRoenick suspended by NBC Sports for inappropriate commentsBy STEPHEN WHYNOFormer NHL forward Jeremy Roenick was suspended indefinitely by NBC Sports on Monday for his inappropriate comments about coworkers.Roenick made a series of questionable remarks about fellow hockey broadcasters Kathryn Tappen, Patrick Sharp and Anson Carter during a...

AP Sports WriterRangers top Senators 4-1, level series 2-2By SIMMI BUTTARNEW YORK (AP) Oscar Lindberg scored two goals and Henrik Lundqvist made 22 saves as the New York Rangers beat the Ottawa Senators 4-1 on Thursday night to level their Eastern Conference semifinal series at two games each.Chris...

AP Sports WriterLindblom joins Flyers for playoffs after cancer treatmentBy DAN GELSTONOskar Lindblom heard the sound of his Philadelphia Flyers teammates tapping the ice with their sticks as he returned to practice and knew - after months of fear and fight in his battle with bone cancer - he...