NHL

NEW YORK (AP) The New York Rangers scored three goals in the first period to lay the foundation for a 6-3 victory over St. Louis on Friday in a predictably high-scoring encounter between two of the early-season pacesetters in the NHL.The Rangers remained four points clear atop the...

Patrick Kane had a couple shots that simply could not be stopped. Just like the Chicago Blackhawks. Chicago extended its NHL-record season-opening points streak to 22 games Sunday when Kane scored the tying goal on a power play with 2:02 left in regulation and the Blackhawks earned an extra point when...

Stars honor slain Dallas officers before, during NHL openerDALLAS (AP) The Stars honored five officers slain in downtown Dallas this summer by wearing decals of their badges on their helmets during the season opener Thursday night.Family members of two of the slain officers, Dallas police Sgt. Michael Smith...

Anze Kopitar skated at the Los Angeles Kings' training complex Monday with a brace on his sprained right knee, reporting no problems in his comeback from the recent injury. The Kings' high-scoring center still is unlikely to play in the defending Stanley Cup champions' banner-raising season opener against Chicago on...

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Buffalo Sabres defenseman Mark Pysyk is rejoining the team after completing a conditioning assignment in the minors.Pysyk had an assist in three games with the Sabres' American Hockey League affiliate in Rochester, New York. He was sent down last week after recovering from a lower...

NEW YORK (AP) The New York Rangers have signed forward Ryan Gropp to an entry-level contract.General manager Jeff Gorton announced the signing of the 2015 second-round draft pick on Thursday.Gropp has skated in 32 games with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League (WHL) this season, collecting...

The NHL is proposing a new realignment plan which would feature playoff wild-card spots plus see the league go from six divisions to four. The plan was detailed in an NHL memo sent to all 30 clubs Tuesday, which a team source leaked to ESPN.com. The new plan calls for divisional...

May 31-June 6 - Pre-draft rookie combine, Buffalo, N.Y.June 17 - Last possible day for Stanley Cup Final.June 24 - NHL Awards, Las Vegas.June 26-27 - NHL draft, Sunrise, Fla.July 1 - Free agency begins.

WASHINGTON (AP) Sidney Crosby outdueled Alex Ovechkin in a vintage goal-for-goal showdown between the NHL's top teams, and Nick Bonino and Marc-Andre Fleury put the finishing touches on a playoff classic. Crosby scored two goals in 52 seconds, Bonino had the winner in the third period and Fleury made dazzling...

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook will not play in Tuesday's game against the Vancouver Canucks and is considered day-to-day with a lower-body injury, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said on Tuesday. Seabrook collapsed on the ice late in the first period Sunday and had to be helped to the locker...

MONTREAL (AP) Golfer Jack Nicklaus stopped by the Canadiens dressing room Tuesday night and delivered a pregame pep talk about being prepared and not trying to do too much. Carey Price responded with more of his usual excellence, and Montreal did just enough to beat the rival Boston Bruins. Price stopped...

Chicago Blackhawks top goaltender Corey Crawford was ruled out Friday with an upper-body injury and is considered day to day. The Hawks recalled goaltender Henrik Karlsson from the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL. Crawford missed the morning skate as the team prepared to face the San Jose Sharks on Friday night. "He's...