NHL

AP Hockey WriterBlue Jackets, Maple Leafs go home facing eliminationBy STEPHEN WHYNOA year after Mike Babcock told arena staffers in Washington he'd see them a few days later for Game 7, John Tortorella claimed his Blue Jackets would be back after winning Game 6 back in Columbus.Now the trick...

AP Hockey WriterBlue Jackets, Maple Leafs go home facing eliminationBy STEPHEN WHYNOA year after Mike Babcock told arena staffers in Washington he'd see them a few days later for Game 7, John Tortorella claimed his Blue Jackets would be back after winning Game 6 back in Columbus.Now the trick...

Associated PressMarc-Andre Fleury had winning in mind all alongBy W.G. RAMIREZLAS VEGAS (AP) Marc-Andre Fleury never believed the expansion Vegas Golden Knights were a team built just for the future, and that losing would be acceptable because it was the inaugural season.On Sept. 13, the three-time Stanley Cup...

AP Sports WriterMaple Leafs beat Bruins 4-3, avoid elimination in Game 5By JIMMY GOLENBOSTON (AP) Tyler Bozak and James van Riemsdyk scored 1:19 apart in the second period, and then the Toronto Maple Leafs killed off a 5-on-3 and three more power plays in a row to beat...

Associated PressBruins' Patrice Bergeron returns for Game 5By MATT KALMANBOSTON (AP) Bruins center Patrice Bergeron was back on the ice for Game 5 of Boston's first-round playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs.Bergeron missed the Bruins' 3-1 Game 4 victory Thursday with an undisclosed injury. The Bruins lead...

Associated PressBruins' Patrice Bergeron 'optimistic' he can play Game 5By MATT KALMANBOSTON (AP) Bruins center Patrice Bergeron was back on the ice for Game 5 of Boston's first-round playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs.Bergeron missed the Bruins' 3-1 Game 4 victory Thursday with an undisclosed injury. The...

AP Hockey WriterBig saves, more saves: Top goalies starring in key momentsBy STEPHEN WHYNOBruce Cassidy watched from afar as Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy stoned Travis Zajac on a breakaway and knew that was the kind of save teams need in the playoffs.One night later, the Boston coach saw up...

AP Sports WriterBruins say Bergeron's status for Game 5 a game-day decisionBy JIMMY GOLENBOSTON (AP) Boston Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron was back on the ice on the team's off-day, and coach Bruce Cassidy said it will be a game-day decision whether he plays in Game 5 against Toronto...

Associated PressKings shift focus to extending Doughty, addressing offenseBy DAN GREENSPANEL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) The Los Angeles Kings believe they are still Stanley Cup contenders, even after being swept by the upstart Vegas Golden Knights in the first round. How close they are to that goal might be...

Caps' Burakovsky to have surgery, out rest of first roundARLINGTON, Va. (AP) Washington Capitals winger Andre Burakovsky will have minor surgery to repair an upper-body injury and miss the rest of the first-round series against Columbus.Coach Barry Trotz says Burakovsky could return if his team advances deeper in...

AP Sports WriterBruins say Bergeron's status for Game 5 a game-day decisionBy JIMMY GOLENBOSTON (AP) Boston Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy says he will decide on Saturday whether forward Patrice Bergeron plays in Game 5 of the playoff against Toronto that night.Bergeron missed Game 4 on Thursday with an...

AP Sports ColumnistColumn: Vegas provides a new template for expansion teamsBy PAUL NEWBERRYDan Bouchard can appreciate, better than most, the Miracle in the Desert.He was a goalie for the expansion Atlanta Flames back in the 1970s, so he knows how difficult it is to build a competitive team from...