NHL

MONTREAL (AP) Patrik Laine and Mathieu Perreault each had a goal and an assist, and the Winnipeg Jets spoiled Claude Julien's return to Montreal with a 3-1 victory over the Canadiens on Saturday. Joel Armia also scored for Winnipeg (27-29-5), and Connor Hellebuyck stopped 19 shots. The Jets had dropped...

AP Sports WriterIslanders, Canucks, Flames try to get one win from advancingBy VIN A. CHERWOONew York Islanders coach Barry Trotz knows just how capable the Washington Capitals are in coming back from an 0-2 series deficit.They did it two years ago in the first round against Columbus when he...

Associated PressHockey commentator Don Cherry fired for rant over immigrantsBy ROB GILLIESTORONTO (AP) Don Cherry, Canada's most polarizing, flamboyant and opinionated hockey commentator, was fired Monday for calling immigrants ''you people'' in a television rant in which he said new immigrants are not honoring the country's fallen soldiers.Rogers...

AP Hockey WritersNHL, players approve plan to resume season, extend CBABy STEPHEN WHYNO and JOHN WAWROWHockey became the latest sport to finalize a return during a global pandemic after NHL owners and players approved an agreement Friday to resume the season - and with it an assurance of labor...

Sabres demote 14 to minors, assign Ruotsalainen to FinlandBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) The Buffalo Sabres have assigned rookie forward Arttu Ruotsalainen to Ilves of the Finnish Elite League, part of a series of roster moves made 11 days before they open the season.The 21-year-old Ruotsalainen was an undrafted free...

Blues' Edmundson awarded $3.1M, 1-year deal in arbitrationST. LOUIS (AP) Blues defenseman Joel Edmundson has been awarded a $3.1 million, one-year contract in arbitration.Edmundson was one of four St. Louis restricted free agents to file for player-elected salary arbitration this summer after helping the team win its first...

The Carolina Hurricanes say defenseman Joni Pitkanen will miss the rest of the season with a broken heel. General manager Jim Rutherford disclosed the severity of Pitkanen's injury Wednesday. Pitkanen was hurt with 1:57 left in the second period of a 5-3 loss to Washington on Tuesday night. He raced...

Flames remove interim tag, announce Geoff Ward as head coachCALGARY, Alberta (AP) The Calgary Flames have removed the ''interim'' tag from Geoff Ward's job and made him the NHL club's head coach.Ward was promoted from associate coach Nov. 29. Bill Peters resigned amid allegations of racism when he...

AP Hockey WriterDucks' Vermette facing lengthy ban for slashing linesmanBy GREG BEACHAMAnaheim Ducks center Antoine Vermette is facing the likely prospect of a 10-game suspension from the NHL for slashing a linesman.Vermette slapped his stick against the back of linesman Shandor Alphonso's legs after losing a faceoff to Minnesota...

AP Hockey WriterSabres avoid arbitration; reach deals with McCabe, UllmarkBy JOHN WAWROWBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) The Buffalo Sabres have avoided arbitration rulings by reaching agreements to sign defenseman Jake McCabe and goalie Linus Ullmark.McCabe agreed to a two-year $5.7 million contract Saturday, a day before his scheduled hearing. Ullmark...

Minor league goalie misses NHL call-up after losing passportMONTREAL (AP) Pittsburgh Penguins minor league goalie Casey DeSmith missed a chance to join the NHL team in Montreal on Saturday because he lost his passport.The Penguins wanted to promote DeSmith from the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for Saturday's game against the...

Associated PressCouturier, Konecny lift Flyers over Hurricanes 4-1By AARON BRACYPHILADELPHIA (AP) Joel Farabee and Carter Hart showed why the Flyers' future could be bright. The present is pretty good, too.Farabee, a 19-year-old rookie, scored one of four goals for Philadelphia and the 21-year-old Hart stopped 33 shots in...