NHL

Flyers' Nolan Patrick has second abdominal surgeryPHILADELPHIA (AP) Philadelphia Flyers No. 2 overall pick Nolan Patrick had a second abdominal surgery prior to being drafted and is expected to return to full activity in four to six weeks.General manager Ron Hextall announced the surgery Friday, a week after...

NHL GMs pleased so far with crack down on slashingMONTREAL (AP) If there are any misgivings about the NHL's crackdown on slashes to the hands, they are not shared by the general managers.Teams are scoring about half a goal more since officials made the quick tap to the...

AP Sports WriterCholowski scores in OT, Red Wings rally past Ducks 4-3By GREG BEACHAMANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) The Detroit Red Wings are clawing back from a rough start to the season with an emphasis on tenacity and a renewed attention to consistency.A couple of extraordinarily poorly timed penalties by...

AP Sports WriterWith Laviolette, Preds find offensive payoff in postseasonBy TERESA M. WALKERNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Three years ago, general manager David Poile let the only coach the Predators had ever known in Barry Trotz leave and hired Peter Laviolette to inject more offense into the Nashville lineup.The payoff...

AP Hockey WriterSkinner focused on Sabres, not contract after being tradedBy JOHN WAWROWBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) The trade to the Buffalo Sabres happened so suddenly, forward Jeff Skinner hasn't had time to think about his contract status.For now, Skinner is focused on becoming acclimated to Buffalo and his new...

AP Hockey WriterNHL playoff formatBy STEPHEN WHYNOTwo of the top four teams in the NHL are guaranteed to be out the playoffs after the second round.Goodbye Nashville or Winnipeg. Goodbye Boston or Tampa Bay. Thanks for playing.That's the reality under the divisional playoff format that could pit the top...

AP Sports WriterDucks fire coach Randy Carlyle amid 7-game losing streakBy JOE REEDYANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) Anaheim Ducks general manager Bob Murray tried to give Randy Carlyle as much time as possible to turn things around. But a seven-game losing streak and freefall into last place in the Western...

AP Hockey WriterPlenty of trade chatter heading into NHL draftBy STEPHEN WHYNODALLAS (AP) A year after shaking up his team with trades at the draft that altered the landscape of the NHL, Stan Bowman isn't letting on that he'll make the same kinds of moves now.''I learned to...

Couturier 3rd Flyers to be named NHL's top defensive forwardEDMONTON, Alberta (AP) Sean Couturier is the third Philadelphia Flyers player to be chosen as the NHL's top defensive forward.The center was revealed as the Frank J. Selke Trophy recipient Thursday night, finishing ahead of four-time winner Patrice Bergeron...

Associated PressJones' overtime goal sends Blue Jackets past Panthers 4-3By PAUL GEREFFISUNRISE, Fla. (AP) Seth Jones scored 18 seconds into overtime and the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Florida Panthers 4-3 on Saturday night.Brandon Dubinsky, Josh Anderson and Anthony Duclair also scored for the Blue Jackets. Sergei Bobrovsky...

Associated PressFleury has first shutout, leads Vegas past Capitals 3-0By W.G. RAMIREZLAS VEGAS (AP) Marc-Andre Fleury is beginning to look like his old, Stanley Cup-winning self.Fleury stopped 26 shots for his first shutout with Vegas, William Karlsson scored during a three-goal first period and the Golden Knights beat...

Anaheim Ducks ink Brendan Guhle, Sam Carrick to extensionsANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) The Anaheim Ducks have signed defenseman Brendan Guhle to a two-year, $1.6 million contract extension.The Ducks also signed forward Sam Carrick to a one-year extension worth $700,000 on Sunday.The 22-year-old Guhle has 14 points in 59 career...