NHL

Associated PressCrawford lead Blackhawks to 1st win, 3-1 over OilersBy MATT CARLSONCHICAGO (AP) Patrick Kane and Alexander Nylander scored, Corey Crawford stopped 27 shots, and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Edmonton Oilers 3-1 Monday night for their first win of the season.Brandon Saad added an empty-netter with 32.7...

AP Sports WriterCrosby doing it all again as Penguins close in on CupBy WILL GRAVESPITTSBURGH (AP) Sidney Crosby's teammates keep saying nothing ever changes with the Pittsburgh Penguins captain. That the secret to his greatness is really no secret at all. The Penguins believe he remains the same...

AP Hockey WriterUnusual starting goalies making big impact in NHL playoffsBy STEPHEN WHYNOEven though Anton Khudobin left a backup goaltending role with Boston for a similar position with the Stars, he walked into the Dallas locker room looking like a starter.Jaroslav Halak left a net-sharing situation with the Islanders...

Associated PressHart dives, saves Flyers to get 8th straight victoryBy AARON BRACYPHILADELPHIA (AP) Carter Hart's incredible stop saved the game and the Flyers' winning streak.Hart turned away 41 shots - including a stellar right arm save late in the third period - Sean Couturier and Jakub Voracek scored,...

AP Hockey WriterVegas' Schmidt suspended for violating NHL's PED policyBy STEPHEN WHYNOVegas Golden Knights defenseman Nate Schmidt has been suspended for 20 games for violating the NHL's performance-enhancing substances policy.After the NHL announced the punishment on Sunday, Schmidt said he did not intentionally take a banned substance and ''will...

AP Sports WriterHart makes 40 saves as Flyers beat Blackhawks 3-1By JAY COHENCHICAGO (AP) Carter Hart is looking to help the Philadelphia Flyers rally into a playoff spot.If the 20-year-old rookie is feeling any pressure, it's hard to tell.Hart made 40 saves and James van Reimsdyk snapped a...

AP Sports WriterTurris scores late, Predators beat Blues 2-1By TERESA M. WALKERNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The Nashville Predators have their first three-game winning streak since October and appear to finally be finding their way under new coach John Hynes as they try to fight their way into the playoff...

AP Sports WriterNHL playoffs return after 2-day break for protestsBy JOHN MARSHALLThe NHL playoffs took a two-day break to protest racial injustice, the latest twist in an unprecedented, pandemic-halted season.Now it's back to the ice.Three second-round playoff series resume with Game 4s on Saturday after NHL players joined athletes...

Pat Stapleton, former Blackhawks defenseman, dies at 79TORONTO (AP) Pat Stapleton, the former NHL defenseman who famously kept an air of mystery over whether he possessed the puck from the winning goal of the 1972 Summit Series, has died. He was 79.The Strathroy Rockets, a Greater Ontario Junior...

Slumping Sabres call up Alexander Nylander from minorsBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) The slumping Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Alexander Nylander from the minors.Nylander is Buffalo's first-round pick in the 2016 draft and has a career-high 12 goals and 31 points in 49 games with AHL Rochester this season.The move...

AP Hockey WriterBuffalo Sabres hire Phil Housley as head coachBy JOHN WAWROWBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Phil Housley began his Hall of Fame playing career in Buffalo. It is also where he will open his NHL head-coaching career after being hired by the Sabres on Thursday.Housley's hiring completes an offseason...

Pettersson scores in shootout, Canucks best Flames 4-3VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) Vancouver Canucks center Bo Horvat credited veteran goalie Jacob Markstrom with Saturday's win over the Calgary Flames.Markstrom stopped 44 of 47 shots and put up three more saves in the shootout, leading Vancouver to a 4-3 victory...