NHL

AP Hockey WriterAP source: Stars place Nichushkin on waivers for buyoutBy JOHN WAWROWA person with direct knowledge of the decision tells The Associated Press the Dallas Stars have placed former first-round draft pick Valeri Nichushkin on waivers to buy out the final year of his contract.The person spoke to...

AP Sports WriterBruins put away Blue Jackets to advance to conference finalBy MITCH STACYCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Tuukka Rask was impenetrable when it counted in Game 6, and the Boston Bruins are on their way to the Eastern Conference final.Rask made 39 saves and recorded his sixth career playoff...

AP Sports WriterCup final awaits either playoff-starved Blues or SharksBy JOSH DUBOWSAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) One of the playoff-success challenged franchises in St. Louis and San Jose will play for the Stanley Cup this season.The two teams that have enjoyed loads of regular season success followed by annual...

Sharks F Tomas Hertl to miss Game 4 of Stanley CupSAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) San Jose Sharks forward Tomas Hertl will miss his second straight game in the Stanley Cup Final with a lower-body injury.Coach Peter DeBoer said Hertl will not be ready to play Game 4 on...

Sharks' Thornton fined for slashing Lightning's JohnsonNEW YORK (AP) The NHL has fined San Jose Sharks forward Joe Thornton $5,000 for slashing.The punishment was issued Sunday by the league's player safety department.Thornton slashed Tampa Bay Lightning forward Tyler Johnson in the second period of Saturday night's game in...

Flyers forward Dale Weise suspended for 3 gamesNEW YORK (AP) Philadelphia Flyers forward Dale Weise was suspended for three games without pay by the NHL on Friday for an illegal check to Anaheim defenseman Korbinian Holzer's head.The hit came in the second period of the Flyers' 3-2 home...

AP Sports WriterCrosby's return makes resilient Penguins diligent, dangerousBy WILL GRAVESPITTSBURGH (AP) Mike Sullivan's messages can be relentless. The Pittsburgh Penguins coach peppers his team with a handful of mantras that seemingly run on a loop during every practice, every period, sometimes every shift.They run from ''play the...

Jets use 4-goal third period to rally past Blackhawks 5-2WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) Andrew Copp had the go-ahead score in Winnipeg's four-goal third period, and the Jets rallied to beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2 on Sunday night.Copp gave Winnipeg a 3-2 lead when he beat Corey Crawford up high...

Miller finishes with 4 points, Canucks beat Kings 8-2VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) J.T. Miller had a goal and three assists to lead the Vancouver Canucks to an 8-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night.Miller finished Vancouver's home opener with a career-high four points, while Brandon...

Pastrnak, Bergeron combine for 7 points, Bruins beat SensOTTAWA, Ontario (AP) David Pastrnak and Patrice Bergeron put on a show, and Tuukka Rask made it stand for the Boston Bruins.Pastrnak had two goals and two assists, Bergeron added a goal and two assists and the Bruins beat the...

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...

Associated PressBlues fire coach Ken Hitchcock, promote Mike YeoBy JIM SALTERST. LOUIS (AP) The Blues abruptly fired coach Ken Hitchcock on Wednesday, cutting short the veteran's final season in St. Louis and putting coach-in-waiting Mike Yeo in charge of the underperforming team months earlier than planned.General manager Doug...