NHL

Kings bench Kovalchuk; GM refuses to say for how longLOS ANGELES (AP) Left winger Ilya Kovalchuk was a healthy scratch for the Los Angeles Kings against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night, and general manager Rob Blake refused to say how long the veteran will be out of...

CHICAGO (AP) - One point. That is the combined total for Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Steven Stamkos through two games of the Stanley Cup Final.The biggest stars for the Blackhawks and Lightning are looking to break out with the deadlocked series shifting to Chicago for Game 3 on...

AP Sports WriterRunner-up Sharks head into offseason with few glaring needsBy JOSH DUBOWSAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) When general manager Doug Wilson entered last offseason he had a long list of needs after the San Jose Sharks missed the playoffs for the first time since 2003.The additions of players...

AP Sports WriterYouthful, speedy Avalanche take another big step forwardBy PAT GRAHAMDENVER (AP) To Gabriel Landeskog and the Colorado Avalanche, this was up for debate: Whether his skate brushed the blue line on what would've been a game-tying goal in Game 7 before being overturned.To the Colorado captain...

TORONTO (AP) Scoring hasn't necessarily taken a nosedive in the NHL, but it's enough of a concern that general managers are debating how to generate more offense.Through Monday, an average of 5.32 goals are being scored this season, down slightly from 5.5 through Nov. 10, 2014, but down...

AP Sports WriterQuenneville returns to Chicago with Florida PanthersBy JAY COHENCHICAGO (AP) In some Chicago circles, certainly every one that includes a hockey rink, it's just “Q.” Only one letter is necessary for a man so revered there is a Twitter account for his mustache with more than...

AP Hockey WriterBig D-men like Orpik and Engelland still have value in FinalBy STEPHEN WHYNOWASHINGTON (AP) Brooks Orpik went 824 days between goals before scoring the winner in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.In that span, the bruising defenseman blocked 446 shots and dished out even more...

NEW YORK (AP) - In a thrilling series featuring two of the NHL's top goal scorers and two of the league's best goaltenders, Chris Kreider of the New York Rangers is stealing the spotlight.The 24-year-old power forward who is one of fastest skaters in the league has been the...

AP Hockey WriterUncertainty with Kuznetsov threatens to hang over CapitalsBy STEPHEN WHYNOARLINGTON, Va. (AP) They're no longer defending Stanley Cup champions, don't know if one of their best players will be eligible for opening night, are over the salary cap ceiling and face expiring contracts for two franchise...

Another slow start undermines Stars in loss to LightningEDMONTON, Alberta (AP) Another slow start doomed the Dallas Stars.Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final slipped away from the Western Conference champions in a hurry Wednesday night, with a suddenly vulnerable Anton Khudobin allowing two early goals and the...

Capitals' Shattenkirk suspended 2 games for chargingNEW YORK (AP) Washington Capitals defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk has been suspended two games for charging Los Angeles Kings defenseman Kevin Gravel.The NHL announced the suspension Sunday about six hours before the Capitals were to play the Anaheim Ducks. Shattenkirk will miss that...

AP Sports WriterNash, Bergeron score twice, Bruins beat Lightning in Game 1By FRED GOODALLTAMPA, Fla. (AP) Rick Nash and Boston's high-scoring line of Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand are off to a flying start in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.Nash had two goals...