NHL

AP Sports WriterFrom Frozen 4 to NHL playoffs: Cale Makar signs with AvsBy PAT GRAHAMDENVER (AP) Cale Makar is about to jump from one grueling playoff run straight into another.The 20-year-old defenseman signed a three-year, entry-level deal with the Colorado Avalanche a day after his Massachusetts squad lost...

AP Sports WriterBlue Jackets move to the brink of sweeping LightningBy MITCH STACYCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) The Columbus Blue Jackets extended their stunning postseason mastery of the Tampa Bay Lightning, beating the NHL's best team 3-1 on Sunday night and moving to within a game of sweeping the playoff...

AP Hockey Writer'No easy shifts' as first-round series get tight and nastyBy STEPHEN WHYNOIt wasn't long after celebrating Craig Smith's overtime goal that P.K. Subban zeroed in on the cold reality of Nashville's playoff series against Dallas.''There are no easy shifts out there, no easy games and no easy...

AP Hockey Writer'No easy shifts' as first-round series get tight and nastyBy STEPHEN WHYNOIt wasn't long after celebrating Craig Smith's overtime goal that P.K. Subban zeroed in on the cold reality of Nashville's playoff series against Dallas.''There are no easy shifts out there, no easy games and no easy...

AP Sports WriterWilliams ready for Canes' 1st home playoff game in a decadeBy JOEDY McCREARYRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) The last time Justin Williams played in a postseason game in Raleigh, he skated off with the Stanley Cup.The stakes aren't quite that high - yet - for the Carolina Hurricanes,...

AP Sports WriterFrom Frozen Four to NHL playoffs: Cale Makar signs with AvsBy PAT GRAHAMDENVER (AP) Cale Makar is about to jump from one postseason run straight into another.The 20-year-old defenseman signed a three-year, entry-level deal with the Colorado Avalanche a day after his Massachusetts squad lost in...

AP Sports WriterFrom Frozen Four to NHL playoffs: Cale Makar signs with AvsBy PAT GRAHAMDENVER (AP) The Colorado Avalanche have signed defenseman Cale Makar to a three-year deal a day after his Massachusetts squad lost in the Frozen Four championship game.Makar, who's from Calgary, could make his NHL...

AP Sports WriterBlue Jackets surge sets tone for unpredictable NHL playoffsBy MITCH STACYCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) The Tampa Bay Lightning, the NHL's best team, lost their first two playoff games at home to the Columbus Blue Jackets and are vulnerable without their top scorer for Game 3.Winnipeg lost its...

Lightning's Kucherov suspended for Game 3 for boardingCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) NHL leading scorer Nikita Kucherov has been suspended for Game 3 of the Tampa Bay Lightning's first-round series against the Columbus Blue Jackets.Kucherov was suspended for boarding Columbus defenseman Markus Nutivaara late in Tampa Bay's 5-1 loss in...

AP Sports WriterBlue Jackets surge sets tone for unpredictable NHL playoffsBy MITCH STACYCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) The Tampa Bay Lightning, the NHL's best team, lost their first two playoff games at home to the Columbus Blue Jackets and are vulnerable without their top scorer for Game 3.Winnipeg lost its...

Lightning's Kucherov suspended for Game 3 for boardingCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) NHL leading scorer Nikita Kucherov has been suspended for Game 3 of the Tampa Bay Lightning's first-round series against the Columbus Blue Jackets.Kucherov was suspended for boarding Columbus defenseman Markus Nutivaara late in Tampa Bay's 5-1 loss in...

AP Sports WriterPredators beat Stars 2-1 in OT, even series 1-1By TERESA M. WALKERNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Craig Smith has a knack for timely goals in the playoffs, and he helped the Nashville Predators avoid a very big hole heading to Dallas.Smith scored five minutes into overtime to give...