NHL

Maple Leafs have 4-goal 1st, beat Red Wings 6-3TORONTO (AP) Curtis McElhinney made 29 saves in his season debut and the Toronto Maple Leafs scored four times in the first period in a 6-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday night.Starting in place of Frederik Andersen,...

Associated PressAthanasiou scores twice, Red Wings top Rangers 3-2By SCOTT CHARLESNEW YORK (AP) Andreas Athanasiou scored twice as the Detroit Red Wings beat the New York Rangers 3-2 on Tuesday night.Frans Nielsen also scored and Taro Hirose recorded an assist during his NHL debut for Detroit, which won...

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 WriterTavares and who else? Top names to watch in NHL free agencyBy LARRY LAGEThe NHL's best rarely make it to free agency.Teams tend to re-sign their top players, keeping them off the market and on their rosters. That leaves a slew of solid veterans and journeymen available...

Former NHL forward Olczyk says he is cancer-freeCHICAGO (AP) Former NHL forward and coach Eddie Olczyk says he is cancer-free after months of treatment.The 51-year-old Olczyk made the announcement during the first intermission of Thursday night's Canucks-Blackhawks game. Olczyk is a color analyst for TV broadcasts for the...

The Vancouver Canucks and the San Jose Sharks will both be gunning for a victory on Sunday when they meet at HP Pavilion. Vancouver at San Jose When: 8:00 PM ET, Sunday, January 27, 2013 Where: HP Pavillion at San Jose, San Jose, California TV: 8 p.m. ET, Rogers Sportsnet Pacific (Vancouver),...

Sidney Crosby was careful not to get too far ahead of himself after helping the Pittsburgh Penguins rout the Ottawa Senators for a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series. "I'm not talking about anything ahead of Game 5," the Pittsburgh captain said when asked about a potential Eastern...

Judge denies request to block funding tied to Detroit arenaDETROIT (AP) A federal judge has denied a request to block some public funding for Little Caesars Arena and the Detroit Pistons' move from the suburbs.U.S. District Court Judge Mark Goldsmith issued his decision late Monday, saying a requested...

AP Hockey WriterMixed feelings around hockey about holding NHL draft earlyBy STEPHEN WHYNOThe NFL's successful virtual draft and uncertainty surrounding the resumption of hockey this season have raised the possibility of an NHL draft held before the Stanley Cup Final.After postponing its draft scheduled for June 26-27 in light...

AP Hockey WriterDevils select US center Hughes with 1st pick in NHL draftBy JOHN WAWROWVANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) The first round of the NHL draft wasn't so much unpredictable as the game is becoming more international.That was Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill's observation following an opening round...

AP Sports WriterIce melting to slush in Vegas heat at Stanley Cup FinalBy GREG BEACHAMLAS VEGAS (AP) After just one game, it's already clear this Stanley Cup Final is on thin ice. Thin, patchy, slushy, rut-riddled ice.The Vegas Golden Knights have shocked the sporting world by playing for...

AP Sports WriterHurricanes turn to glory days, hiring Brind'Amour as coachBy JOEDY McCREARYRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) The Carolina Hurricanes hired former captain and current assistant Rod Brind'Amour as their coach Tuesday, hoping the ''greatest leader'' in franchise history can end a nine-year playoff drought.The team also announced that club...