NHL

AP Sports WriterStanley Cup: Stars and Lightning turn defense into offenseBy STEPHEN HAWKINSThis was already going to be an unusual Stanley Cup, and it now has a matchup for all of those who like their games to be a bit defensive.The Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning, two of...

AP Sports WriterStanley Cup: Stars and Lightning turn defense into offenseBy STEPHEN HAWKINSThis was already going to be an unusual Stanley Cup, and it now has a matchup for all of those who like their games to be a bit defensive.The Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning, two of...

Penguins re-sign F Jared McCann to 2-year dealPITTSBURGH (AP) Jared McCann is sticking with the Pittsburgh Penguins.The team announced Friday it has re-signed the 24-year-old forward to a two-year contract that runs through the 2021-22 season. The deal carries an average annual value of $2.94 million.McCann tied a...

AP Hockey WriterStars, Lightning meet in nontraditional Stanley Cup FinalBy STEPHEN WHYNOEDMONTON, Alberta (AP) The leaves are starting to change color around the NHL playoff bubble, and, at most, seven games remain before the Stanley Cup is handed out.On Saturday night, two of the league's southernmost teams begin...

Wild captain Koivu's long run comes to an end in MinnesotaST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Mikko Koivu's extraordinary career with the Minnesota Wild is over.General manager Bill Guerin said Friday the team will not resign the 37-year-old Finn, whose contract is expiring.Koivu is the only full-time captain the club...

Wild captain Koivu's long run comes to an end in MinnesotaST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Mikko Koivu's extraordinary career with the Minnesota Wild is over.General manager Bill Guerin said Friday the team will not resign the 37-year-old Finn, whose contract is expiring.Koivu is the only full-time captain the club...

AP Hockey WriterLightning put past behind in advancing to Stanley Cup FinalBy JOHN WAWROWJon Cooper experienced difficulty in finding the right words.Emotionally spent following a 2-1 overtime Eastern Conference final series-clinching win over the New York Islanders, the usually articulate Tampa Bay Lightning coach searched putting into perspective...

AP Hockey WriterNHL playoffs showcase Russia's goaltending renaissanceBy STEPHEN WHYNOEDMONTON, Alberta (AP) Nikolai Khabibulin wakes up in Yekaterinburg to watch NHL playoff highlights and beams with pride at the saves made by so many Russian goaltenders.For the first time, there were three Russian starting goaltenders in the conference...

Tampa Bay Lightning advance to face Dallas Stars in Stanley Cup finals, beating New York Islanders 2-1 in OT in Game 6EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) Tampa Bay Lightning advance to face Dallas Stars in Stanley Cup finals, beating New York Islanders 2-1 in OT in Game 6.

AP Hockey WriterNHL playoffs showcase Russia's goaltending renaissanceBy STEPHEN WHYNOEDMONTON, Alberta (AP) Nikolai Khabibulin wakes up in Yekaterinburg to watch NHL playoff highlights and beams with pride at the saves made by so many Russian goaltenders.For the first time, there are three Russian starting goaltenders in the conference...

AP Sports WriterCoyotes tab Armstrong as next general managerBy JOHN MARSHALLGLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) The Arizona Coyotes have hired St. Louis assistant GM Bill Armstrong as their next general manager.Armstrong arrives in the desert after spending the past two seasons as the Blues' assistant GM and director of amateur...

Buffalo Sabres hire Mair, Weber to coach in AHL RochesterBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) The Buffalo Sabres are turning to two former players to serve as assistant coaches on their minor-league affiliate in Rochester.Adam Mair and Mike Weber were hired on Thursday to work under coach Seth Appert, who took...