NHL

AP Sports WriterBruins force Stanley Cup Game 7 with 5-1 win over BluesBy JAY COHENST. LOUIS (AP) Facing elimination in an oh-so-hostile environment, Brad Marchand and Tuukka Rask stepped up for the Boston Bruins once again.The Stanley Cup Final is heading to Game 7 because two of Boston's...

AP Sports WriterBruins force Stanley Cup Game 7 with 5-1 win over BluesBy JAY COHENST. LOUIS (AP) Facing elimination in a quite hostile environment, Brad Marchand and Tuukka Rask stepped up for the Boston Bruins once again.The Stanley Cup Final is heading to Game 7 because two of...

AP Hockey WriterBig, bad Bruins are back, force Cup Final Game 7 vs. BluesBy STEPHEN WHYNOST. LOUIS (AP) Punch, counterpunch, Game 7.Just when it looked like the Boston Bruins were down and out, they remembered they can throw their weight around, too. Boston showed it can play St....

AP Hockey WriterBruins-Blues Cup Final Game 6 could hinge on officiatingBy STEPHEN WHYNOST. LOUIS (AP) Patrick Maroon doesn't want to go there. Not even about how the St. Louis Blues handle the roller coaster of inconsistent officiating.''I'm not talking about it,'' the usually talkative Maroon said. ''If you...

AP Hockey WriterBruins-Blues Cup Final Game 6 could hinge on officiatingBy STEPHEN WHYNOST. LOUIS (AP) Patrick Maroon doesn't want to go there. Not even about how the St. Louis Blues handle the roller coaster of inconsistent officiating.''I'm not talking about it,'' the usually talkative Maroon said. ''If you...

AP Hockey WriterSabres' Skinner tells AP he welcomes higher expectationsBy JOHN WAWROWBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Jeff Skinner tells The Associated Press he is grateful for the faith the Buffalo Sabres showed in making him their second highest-paid player and welcomes the increased expectations that come with his newly signed...

AP Hockey WriterSabres' Skinner tells AP he welcomes higher expectationsBy JOHN WAWROWBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Forward Jeff Skinner is both grateful and motivated by the new contract he signed to remain a member of the Buffalo Sabres for the next eight seasons.He's impressed by the faith the Sabres showed...

AP Hockey WriterLineup shuffling benefits Blues in Stanley Cup FinalBy STEPHEN WHYNOST. LOUIS (AP) Had Oskar Sundqvist not gotten suspended and Robert Thomas ruled out with a nagging injury, Zach Sanford might never have gotten a chance to show his stuff on hockey's biggest stage.If Vince Dunn not...

AP Hockey WriterSabres re-sign Jeff Skinner to 8-year, $72 million contractBy JOHN WAWROWBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) After first hiring a new coach, Sabres general manager Jason Botterill addressed his next most pressing offseason need by re-signing leading scorer Jeff Skinner.And it came at a hefty price.Skinner became the Sabres'...

AP Hockey WriterSabres re-sign Jeff Skinner to 8-year, $72 million contractBy JOHN WAWROWBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) The Buffalo Sabres have re-signed leading scorer Jeff Skinner to an eight year, $72 million contract in addressing one their most pressing offseason needs.Skinner becomes the team's second-highest paid player behind captain Jack...

AP Hockey WriterSpecial team: Blues penalty kill has them on verge of CupBy STEPHEN WHYNOSomething is missing from the Boston power play.The uninterrupted puck movement and cross-ice passes to a wide open David Pastrnak aren't there anymore. Torey Krug isn't getting the chance to fire away from the top....

AP Hockey WriterSpecial team: Blues penalty kill has them on verge of CupBy STEPHEN WHYNOSomething is missing from Boston's power play.The uninterrupted puck movement and cross-ice passes to a wide-open David Pastrnak aren't there anymore. Torey Krug isn't getting the chance to fire away from the top. Patrice Bergeron...