NHL

Associated PressBenn records hat trick in Stars' 4-2 win over SharksBy RICK EYMERSAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) Jamie Benn stole the puck from Tomas Hertl and scored the go-ahead goal with 3:06 left before finishing a hat trick with an empty-netter to give the Dallas Stars a 4-2 victory...

AP Sports WriterAvs on the cusp of playoffs a year after last-place finishBy PAT GRAHAMDENVER (AP) The captain of the Colorado Avalanche has a pingpong paddle sitting in his locker that features a picture of him taped to one side.Merely a ploy, explained Gabriel Landeskog, the self-proclaimed table...

Minnesota Wild forward Luke Kunin undergoes ACL surgeryST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Minnesota Wild rookie forward Luke Kunin has undergone surgery to repair a torn ACL is in left knee.The Wild said Wednesday the surgery was successful and was performed by Dr. Michael Stuart at Mayo Clinic in Rochester,...

AP Sports WriterWith 40 goals for playoffs-bound Wild, Staal has right fitBy DAVE CAMPBELLST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Eric Staal was coming off his least productive NHL season since he was a teenage rookie with Carolina when Minnesota took a flier on him two summers ago to add some...

AP Sports WriterPenguins emerge from funk as legit three-peat threatBy WILL GRAVESPITTSBURGH (AP) Evgeni Malkin made the proclamation more than two months ago, minutes after the Pittsburgh Penguins put together three borderline spectacular periods against San Jose on Jan. 30 to pick up their ninth win in 12...

Predators sign Westerholm to 3-year, entry-level dealNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The Nashville Predators have signed goaltender Niclas Westerholm to a three-year, entry-level contract that begins in 2018.The 20-year-old Westerholm made his pro debut with SaiPa of the Finnish Elite League this season, posting a 3.23 goals-against average and a...

AP Sports WriterHall and Butcher score 2 apiece as Devils power past RangersBy TOM CANAVANNEWARK, N.J. (AP) Taylor Hall and rookie Will Butcher scored two goals apiece, and the New Jersey Devils moved to the brink of their first playoff berth since 2012 with a 5-2 victory over...

Blues' Gunnarsson out 6 months to heal torn ACLST. LOUIS (AP) - St. Louis Blues defenseman Carl Gunnarsson will miss at least six months on the ice after surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee.The Blues say the 31-year-old Gunnarsson was hurt during the first period...

AP Sports WriterParise, Dubnyk push Wild past Oilers 3-0 for playoff spotBy DAVE CAMPBELLST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) The Minnesota Wild made sure the bad news didn't defeat them.Their season-ending road trip sure feels a little lighter now, with a spot in the playoffs secure.Zach Parise scored twice and...

Nylander, Matthews lead Maple Leafs to 5-2 win over SabresTORONTO (AP) Auston Matthews kept his points streak going, and William Nylander was the main reason why.The two each had two goals and an assist as the playoff-bound Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 on Monday night.Andreas...

Blues' Upshall out indefinitely with lacerated left kidneyST. LOUIS (AP) St. Louis Blues forward Scottie Upshall is out indefinitely with a lacerated left kidney.Upshall was injured Saturday night in a 6-0 loss to the Arizona Coyotes. St. Louis president of hockey operations and general manager Doug Armstrong provided...

AP Hockey WriterUncommon path should ease NHL learning curve for TolvanenBy STEPHEN WHYNOThe secret was out pretty quickly.A week before the 2015 playoffs, the United States Hockey League's Sioux City Musketeers invited prospect Eeli Tolvanen to skate with them to see about signing him for the following season. He...