NHL

Penguins will be without Malkin, Hagelin in Game 1 vs. CapsCRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) The Pittsburgh Penguins will be without center Evgeni Malkin and forward Carl Hagelin when the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions open their Eastern Conference semifinal series Thursday night in Washington.Coach Mike Sullivan said Wednesday...

AP Hockey WriterAmid bevy of head shots, NHL attempts to explain rationaleBy STEPHEN WHYNODrew Doughty watched other playoff games this season and couldn't believe that George Parros, the NHL's discipline czar, had suspended him for a head shot.''I saw four hits last night that deserved more than that,'' the...

AP Sports WriterDevils go from last to playoffs, with more needed next yearBy TOM CANAVANNEWARK, N.J. (AP) It would be easy to say the New Jersey Devils are back after ending a six-year playoff drought.John Hynes' team went from last in the Eastern Conference in 2016-17 to the...

AP Sports WriterBlue Jackets good again, just not good enough for next levelBy MITCH STACYCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) In a season of broken records and firsts for the Columbus Blue Jackets, one of the most important eluded them again: winning a playoff series.The Blue Jackets' promising season fizzled out...

AP Sports WriterCaps roll over Blue Jackets, look to nemesis PittsburghBy MITCH STACYCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) After dropping the first two playoff games at home in overtime, the Washington Capitals picked up momentum that only got stronger as they took down the Columbus Blue Jackets in four straight.Now they'll...

Andersen helps Maple Leafs beat Bruins 3-1 to force Game 7TORONTO (AP) The Toronto Maple Leafs won this one for their city.Frederik Andersen stopped 32 shots to lead the Maple Leafs to a 3-1 win over the Boston Bruins on Monday night, forcing a decisive Game 7 in...

AP Sports WriterYou again? Penguins face familiar foe in CapitalsBy WILL GRAVESCRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) Sidney Crosby has faced the Washington Capitals three times in the playoffs. All three times the Pittsburgh captain has led his team to victory. And all three times the Penguins used the win...

Sabres sign Olofsson, who led Swedish league with 27 goalsBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) The Buffalo Sabres have signed Victor Olofsson to a two-year contract after he scored a Swedish Hockey League-leading 27 goals last season.Olofsson was selected by the Sabres in the seventh round of the 2014 draft. The...

AP Sports WriterMaple Leafs hope for new ending in Game 7 against BruinsBy JIMMY GOLENBOSTON (AP) This is where the Toronto Maple Leafs try to change the ending.After beating the Bruins in back-to-back elimination games to force their first-round playoff series to the limit - just like they...

AP Sports WriterYoung, speedy Avalanche show promise before playoff exitBy PAT GRAHAMDENVER (AP) Fair warning to the rest of the league: As fast and young as the Colorado Avalanche were this season, general manager Joe Sakic vows to make them even faster and younger.It's become a full-speed-ahead priority.That...

AP Sports WriterWild split with GM Chuck Fletcher after playoff exitBy DAVE CAMPBELLST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) When Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold entered the team's new practice facility a couple of weeks ago, the organizational motto was staring him in the face.So was the advice he should make...

AP Sports WriterLured out of retirement, Preds' Mike Fisher chasing 1st CupBy TERESA M. WALKERNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Losing the Stanley Cup last June wasn't what hurt Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg the most. Seeing how painful the loss was for veteran center Mike Fisher proved even more agonizing.''That...