NHL

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - After their last two seasons ended with heartbreaking losses in winner-take-all games, the Anaheim Ducks thought they were ready to get past Game 7.Instead, the Chicago Blackhawks showed the Ducks just how far they still are from the Stanley Cup Final.Jonathan Toews scored two goals...

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) With a new coach and major changes in the roster after missing the playoffs the past three years, the New Jersey Devils knew there might be some hard times early in the season.Still, three losses in three games isn't the start John Hynes and his...

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - 8:03 p.m. EDTThere has been little star power during the Stanley Cup Final.Captain Jonathan Toews (a goal and assist) and Patrick Kane (one assist) have combined for three points for the Blackhawks.Lightning captain Steven Stamkos has one assist in his past six games dating to...

AP Sports WriterPenguins, Lightning off to chippy start in conference finalsBy WILL GRAVESPITTSBURGH (AP) The Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning got off to a chippy start in the Eastern Conference finals.There were questionable hits in Tampa Bay's 3-1 win, including a five-minute major penalty given to Lightning...

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Tampa Bay goalie Ben Bishop and his Chicago counterpart, Corey Crawford, both made atrocious mistakes less than a minute apart in Game 5 of this impossibly close Stanley Cup Final on Saturday night.Bishop's blunder ended up in his net when he collided with defenseman Victor...

LOS ANGELES (AP) Vincent Lecavalier is ready for one last run at the Stanley Cup, and the Los Angeles Kings are giving him a chance.The Kings acquired the veteran Canadian player, along with defenseman Luke Schenn, from the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday in a trade for center Jordan...

CALGARY (AP) - Calgary Flames center Mikael Backlund has been signed to a multiyear contract.Terms of the deal announced Saturday were not disclosed.Backlund scored 10 goals and 27 points in 52 regular-season games last season after missing 30 games because of injury.In 11 playoff contests, the 26-year-old native of...

ST. LOUIS (AP) The St. Louis Blues have invited forward Scottie Upshall to training camp for a tryout.The 31-year-old Upshall had eight goals and seven assists in 63 games with the Panthers last season.Upshall is a 12-year veteran with previous stints in Columbus, Phoenix, Philadelphia and Nashville. He...

NEW YORK (AP) Mats Zuccarello scored with 58.3 seconds left to give the New York Rangers their ninth straight win, 4-3 over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday.Zuccarello also had two assists as New York improved to 14-2-2, the best 18-game start in franchise history in wins and...

EMERSON, Manitoba (AP) The case involving NHL player Mike Richards, who is charged with possession of a controlled substance, has been put off until Dec. 8.He did not appear in provincial court Thursday and was represented by his lawyer. Police in Manitoba charged Richards last month.Richards, of Kenora,...

WASHINGTON (AP) Pittsburgh ended Washington's five-game winning streak by scoring twice in the third period to win 3-1 at the Capitals on Wednesday.Phil Kessel netted the go-ahead goal off Evgeni Malkin's pass less than 2 minutes after Beau Bennett had scored the tying goal for the Penguins.In the...

Vancouver 1 2 0-3San Jose 0 1 0-1First Period-1, Vancouver, Horvat 2 (Dorsett, Stanton), 3:08.Second Period-2, Vancouver, Hansen 9 (Edler, Richardson), 3:05. 3, San Jose, Thornton 9 (penalty shot), 4:36. 4, Vancouver, Vrbata 14 (H.Sedin, D.Sedin), 7:09.Third Period-None.Shots on Goal-Vancouver 7-7-7-21. San...