NHL

Nashville 0 1 0-1N.Y. Rangers 1 1 2-4First Period-1, N.Y. Rangers, Staal 5 (Zuccarello, Brassard), 6:36.Second Period-2, N.Y. Rangers, Kreider 17 (Zuccarello, Brassard), 4:14. 3, Nashville, Cullen 7 (Beck, Santorelli), 15:24.Third Period-4, N.Y. Rangers, Moore 6 (Girardi, Glass), 5:51. 5,...

MONTREAL (AP) Montreal's Max Pacioretty broke a tie 14 seconds into the third period and the Canadiens hung on to beat Carolina 2-1 on Thursday, bolstering their lead in the NHL's Atlantic Division while ending the Hurricanes' winning streak at five games. Carey Price made 31 saves, and Andrew Shaw...

Lightning defenseman Dan Girardi out indefinitelyWASHINGTON (AP) Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Dan Girardi is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury.The team announced Girardi's status Tuesday before visiting the defending Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals. Girardi has missed the past five games.Coach Jon Cooper says the 34-year-old's absence means...

Leafs’ Mikheyev out at least 3 months with lacerated wristedNEWARK, N.J. (AP) Toronto Maple Leafs rookie Ilya Mikheyev had surgery to repair an artery and wrist tendons that were severed by a skate during a game against the New Jersey Devils.He is expected to make a full recovery...

Canucks sign GM Jim Benning to multiyear contract extensionVANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) The Vancouver Canucks signed GM Jim Benning to a multiyear contract extension Wednesday.Benning has served four years in the role since joining the Canucks in May 2014.''I'm grateful to the Aquilini family and to Trevor Linden...

AP Hockey WriterPlayers brace for moves as NHL trade deadline approachesBy JOHN WAWROWThomas Vanek remembers waking up in Edmonton, Alberta, and turning on the TV in his hotel room to find out where he was heading.It was March 5, 2014, the NHL's trade deadline day, and Vanek's bags were...

Associated PressPalmieri scores 2, Kinkaid stops 21, Devils rout Caps 6-0By by MIKE FARRELLNEWARK, N.J. (AP) Sharp in Europe, the New Jersey Devils played equally well at home.Kyle Palmieri scored twice, Keith Kinkaid made 21 saves and the Devils came back from a season-opening win in Sweden by...

AP Sports WriterTexas-sized NHL Winter Classic for Stars, Preds in CottonBy STEPHEN HAWKINSDALLAS (AP) Welcome to a Texas-sized NHL Winter Classic.The annual showcase is going to be one big outdoor game when the Dallas Stars host the Nashville Predators at the historic Cotton Bowl Stadium on Wednesday -...

Wild extend forward Marcus Foligno with 3-year, $9.3M dealST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) The Minnesota Wild signed forward Marcus Foligno to a three-year, $9.3 million contract extension on Tuesday, coming off the best season of his NHL career.The deal takes a potential free agent off the market next summer...

AP Hockey WriterNHL admits Avs' goal should've counted on coach's challengeBy STEPHEN WHYNOThe NHL said Friday that a video review had incorrectly nullified a late-game goal by the Colorado Avalanche during a 4-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues, the first mistake of its kind since coach's challenges were...

Lehner earns 2nd straight shutout, Sabres beat Canucks 4-0VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) Robin Lehner and the Buffalo Sabres have gotten pretty stingy lately.Lehner made 30 saves for his second straight shutout and the Sabres blanked the Vancouver Canucks 4-0 on Thursday night.''We didn't give them too much defensively,''...

AP Hockey WriterBarzal agrees to 3-year contract, back on ice with IslandersBy STEPHEN WHYNOMathew Barzal couldn't wait to practice again. Yes, practice.He left home to get to New York despite not having a contract so he'd be ready for the start of the season, then watched as Islanders teammates...