NHL

AP Hockey WriterRivalry round: the series you love to hate in NHL playoffsBy STEPHEN WHYNOThere is no fancy name for when the New York Islanders face the Philadelphia Flyers. It's not a battle of the boroughs or a cross-river rivalry, but when teams are a bus ride apart they...

Capitals sign top goaltending prospect Ilya SamsonovARLINGTON, Va. (AP) The Washington Capitals have signed top goaltending prospect Ilya Samsonov to a three-year, entry-level contract.General manager Brian MacLellan announced the deal Friday, six weeks after Samsonov played his final game of the season in the Kontinental Hockey League playoffs....

Associated PressHertl lifts Sharks past Vegas 2-1 in 20T to force Game 7By W.G. RAMIREZLAS VEGAS (AP) After winning Game 5 at home to avoid elimination, Tomas Hertl vowed the San Jose Sharks would return to SAP Center for a seventh and decisive game in their opening round...

Associated PressNew Housley campaign ad features NHL Hall of Fame husbandBy STEVE KARNOWSKIMINNEAPOLIS (AP) Republican Karin Housley launched a campaign ad Friday that invokes her husband's hockey celebrity as she tries to close the gap in her race with Democratic U.S. Sen. Tina Smith.The ad, which is set...

AP Hockey WriterNHL investigating Flyers' Lehtera after drug bust in FinlandBy STEPHEN WHYNOThe NHL said Thursday it is investigating Philadelphia Flyers forward Jori Lehtera after a report he is being questioned in connection with a drug bust in his native Finland.Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said the league is investigating...

AP Hockey WriterPlayoff hockey back in Toronto as Wilson plays the villainBy STEPHEN WHYNOAs NHL playoff hockey returns to Toronto for the first time since 2013, a local boy whose family couldn't afford to attend many games when he was younger will be in the building.Ditching the Maple Leafs...

Associated PressBoeser nets 2, Sedin hits milestone as Canucks top Preds 5-3By JIM DIAMONDNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) It was a grand night for Daniel Sedin.Brock Boeser had two goals and an assist, Sedin surpassed 1,000 career points and the Vancouver Canucks beat the Nashville Predators 5-3 on Thursday.Loui Eriksson...

Associated PressBruins' Patrice Bergeron returns for Game 5By MATT KALMANBOSTON (AP) Bruins center Patrice Bergeron was back on the ice for Game 5 of Boston's first-round playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs.Bergeron missed the Bruins' 3-1 Game 4 victory Thursday with an undisclosed injury. The Bruins lead...

NHL moves up draft to Oct. 6-7, free agency starts Oct. 9EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) The NHL on Friday moved its draft up to Oct. 6-7 and set an Oct. 9 start for free agency.The first round of the draft will be Oct. 6, with the New York Rangers...

Florida scores 4 in 2nd period, beats Senators 6-3OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) The Ottawa Senators have prided themselves in outworking opponents this season. Their game against Florida was a reminder of what can happen if they don't give a full effort.Frank Vatrano scored the deciding goal as part of...

Canadiens acquire defenseman for DesharnaisMONTREAL (AP) The Montreal Canadiens and Edmonton Oilers have made a deal on the eve of the NHL trade deadline.Montreal has acquired defenseman Brandon Davidson for forward David Desharnais. The deal was announced Tuesday night.The 25-year-old Davidson played 28 games this season for Edmonton,...

Associated PressPreds GM makes rare mid-season coaching change hiring HynesBy JIM DIAMONDNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Nashville's David Poile did something he has rarely done in nearly 40 years as a general manager: He made a mid-season coaching change after being fed up with the Predators underachieving.Poile hired former New...