NHL

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Chicago Blackhawks and Nashville Predators believe how they finished the regular season doesn't matter in the playoffs.With two Stanley Cup titles in the past five years, the Blackhawks think they know how to ramp up their game for postseason intensity.Center Brad Richards, who signed...

The only negative for the hometown fans of the Edmonton Oilers is that their new era, the one built around 18-year-old rookie Connor McDavid, will begin on the road.McDavid, the No. 1 overall pick and the latest youngster thought to be the next Gretzky, will join his teammates in...

MONTREAL (AP) Montreal's David Desharnais and Brendan Gallagher scored 1:33 apart in the third period to lift the pace-setting Canadiens to a 4-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Thursday.The Canadiens improved to 12-2-1 and lead the NHL Atlantic Division by nine points from Ottawa, which kept...

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) Jaromir Jagr moved into a tie for fourth on the all-time goals list with a first-period score that sparked the Florida Panthers to a 4-1 win over the Washington Capitals on Thursday night.Jagr gave the Panthers the lead 51 seconds into the game. Dmitry Kulikov's...

NEW YORK (AP) Andrew Ladd and Jason Chimera scored their first goals with the Islanders and helped New York to a needed victory in a finale of a long stretch of home games. Cal Clutterbuck and Ladd scored 1:39 apart midway through the third period to lift the Islanders over...

CHICAGO (AP) The Blackhawks have recalled forward Bryan Bickell from Rockford of the American Hockey League.The physical winger was sent down Nov. 2 after he had no points in his first seven games of the season with Chicago. The 29-year-old Bickell had seven goals and seven assists in...

Predators hang on to beat inexperienced BlackhawksNASHVILLE, Tennessee (AP) Nashville's Mike Fisher redirected Roman Josi's shot late in the second period for the go-ahead power-play goal, and the Predators hung on to beat Chicago 3-2 on Friday.Fisher's goal was Nashville's third with the man advantage. P.K. Subban, Nashville's...

NEW YORK (AP) The New York Rangers returned to the top of the NHL Metropolitan Division with a 4-1 win against Ottawa on Sunday, with Derick Brassard scoring twice.The Rangers moved a point above Washington, but the Capitals have three games in hand.Another divisional leader, Los Angeles, boosted...

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) For a team playing its third game in four nights, the Minnesota Wild looked plenty fresh on Sunday night - even in overtime. Matt Dumba scored late in the extra session and Darcy Kuemper stopped 35 shots, helping Minnesota beat the Ottawa Senators 2-1. The Wild were coming...

AP Hockey WriterNHL Draft: McPhee grows emotional once son picked by OilersBy JOHN WAWROWBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) As a longtime NHL scout and general manager, George McPhee has had a hand in providing opportunities to countless prospects at the NHL draft.It wasn't until Saturday, when McPhee fully appreciated how...

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Tampa Bay Lightning backup goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy could be sidelined up to three months after undergoing surgery to remove a blood clot from near his left collarbone.Team vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman said Friday that the 21-year-old Russian was treated for a type...

AP Sports WriterNylander, van Riemsdyk score early, Maple Leafs beat RangersBy VIN A. CHERWOONEW YORK (AP) William Nylander and James van Riemsdyk scored in the first period, Frederik Andersen stopped 34 shots and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the New York Rangers 4-2 on Friday night.Connor Brown and...