NHL

AP Sports WriterWith Laviolette, Preds find offensive payoff in postseasonBy TERESA M. WALKERNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Three years ago, general manager David Poile let the only coach the Predators had ever known in Barry Trotz leave and hired Peter Laviolette to inject more offense into the Nashville lineup.The payoff...

G Cam Ward signs 1-day contract, retires with HurricanesRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) Goalie Cam Ward has signed a one-day contract with the Carolina Hurricanes and is retiring as a member of the team he helped lead to a Stanley Cup.General manager Don Waddell announced the signing and retirement Wednesday,...

AP Hockey WriterIslanders agree to terms with Eberle on $27.5M, 5-year dealBy STEPHEN WHYNOThe New York Islanders and winger Jordan Eberle have agreed to a five-year, $27.5 million contract.The contract counts $5.5 million against the salary cap through the 2023-24 season under the deal general manager Lou Lamoriello announced...

AP Hockey WriterRussian stars could decide Blue Jackets-Capitals seriesBy STEPHEN WHYNOWASHINGTON (AP) Dmitry Orlov scoring on Sergei Bobrovsky is a popular clip at a bar in their hometown in southwestern Siberia.''They always show my goal to him,'' Orlov said. ''My friends said that.''Orlov and Bobrovsky are good friends...

AP Hockey WriterDevils contact Kovalchuk to discuss pending return to NHLBy JOHN WAWROWNew Jersey Devils general manager Ray Shero has had preliminary talks with Ilya Kovalchuk's agent regarding the former No. 1 draft pick's possible return to the NHL four years after bolting to play in his native Russia.Shero...

AP Sports WriterEmpty Cup: Flyers' title drought goes on with Game 6 lossBy DAN GELSTONPHILADELPHIA (AP) Flyers fans spent the final minutes of another empty season doing what boorish fans do with elimination on deck. They chucked beer cans and threw trash and hats and whatever objects were...

AP Hockey WriterConvincing Hall to stay is a Devil of a task for New JerseyBy STEPHEN WHYNOAfter the New Jersey Devils acquired P.K. Subban, Taylor Hall texted Ray Shero a green checkmark.''Like, `Check that box off,''' Shero said. ''I guess that's good.''The Devils have a much longer checklist to...

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...

AP Sports WriterCapitals pull away, beat Lightning 6-2 for 2-0 series leadBy FRED GOODALLTAMPA, Fla. (AP) Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals overcame a major hurdle by reaching the Eastern Conference final.Just like that, they're in a full-on sprint toward the finish.The Capitals scored in the opening minute...

Sabres forward Kane injured during opener against MontrealBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Sabres forward Evander Kane has been taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons after slamming heavily into the end boards late in the second period of Buffalo's season-opening game against Montreal on Thursday night.The Sabres did not reveal...

AP Sports WriterChara all action, little talk in Stanley Cup pursuitBy JIMMY GOLENBOSTON (AP) Zdeno Chara didn't say much to his teammates when he showed up, as usual, one game after a puck bloodied his face and knocked him out of the Stanley Cup Final.And it wasn't just...

Anaheim Ducks sign G Reto Berra away from his new Swiss teamANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) Goalie Reto Berra has signed with the Anaheim Ducks, returning to North America less than three months after agreeing to a three-year deal with Fribourg-Gotteron in his native Switzerland's top league.Berra used an out...