NHL

AP Hockey WriterPast 2 champions Capitals, Blues struggle to start playoffsBy STEPHEN WHYNOHours after the Washington Capitals were sunk by allowing four consecutive goals, St. Louis coach Craig Berube saw his Blues lose confidence after falling behind in their Game 1.It shouldn't be that easy for the last two...

AP Sports WriterGM calls Preds' series loss unacceptable, promises changesBy TERESA M. WALKERNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The NHL's winningest general manager is not happy with the Nashville Predators' diminishing returns, and David Poile made it clear Thursday that change is coming.''Bottom line, this is unacceptable,'' Poile said in a...

AP Hockey WriterHurricanes coach Brind'Amour 'moving on' after fined by NHLBy JOHN WAWROWTORONTO (AP) Rod Brind'Amour wasn't going to risk another $25,000 fine from the NHL.The Carolina Hurricanes coach provided a short, four-word answer, Thursday, when asked if he had anything more to add a day after being...

AP Hockey WriterBoucher witnesses NHL marathon 20 years after his 5 OT gameBy STEPHEN WHYNOBrian Boucher had a feeling by the second overtime that this game was going a while longer, and he knew from personal experience.Twenty years ago, Boucher was in goal for the Philadelphia Flyers when they...

AP Hockey WriterLightning, Blue Jackets face off again after 5-overtime gameBy LARRY LAGEThe Tampa Bay Lightning and Columbus Blue Jackets are facing one more challenge than the rest of the teams in the pandemic-altered NHL playoffs.Tampa Bay and Columbus will be back on the ice less than 48 hours...

AP Sports WriterPenguins fire 3 assistants following quick playoff exitBy WILL GRAVESPITTSBURGH (AP) The Pittsburgh Penguins had a specific vision last summer when they examined the rubble of a first-round sweep at the hands of the New York Islanders. General manager Jim Rutherford, coach Mike Sullivan and his...

Penguins fire 3 assistants following quick playoff exitPITTSBURGH (AP) The Pittsburgh Penguins' qualifying round loss to the Montreal Canadiens cost assistant coaches Sergei Gonchar, Jacques Martin and Mark Recchi their jobs.The team announced on Wednesday it would not renew the contracts of all three assistants. The move came...

AP Hockey WriterBoucher witnesses NHL marathon 20 years after his 5 OT gameBy STEPHEN WHYNOBrian Boucher knew how it felt.Twenty years ago, he was in goal for the Philadelphia Flyers when they beat the Pittsburgh Penguins in the longest playoff game in modern NHL history, a five-overtime thriller. He...

AP Hockey WriterNHLPA's Fehr buoyed by 0 positive tests; `So far so good'By JOHN WAWROWTORONTO (AP) Zero players testing positive for COVID-19 in the two weeks since NHL teams arrived at their two respective playoff hub cities. And a powerful opening night statement on social and racial justice...

AP Hockey WriterFirst-round back-to-backs favor NHL teams with 2 top goaliesBy STEPHEN WHYNOAfter a season of splitting goaltending duties to keep them rested for the playoffs, Bruce Cassidy knew several months off had cut into that well-planned advantage for the Boston Bruins.With the back-to-back in his first-round series against...

AP Hockey WriterFirst-round back-to-backs favor NHL teams with 2 top goaliesBy STEPHEN WHYNOAfter a season of splitting goaltending duties to keep them rested for the playoffs, Bruce Cassidy knew several months off had cut into that well-planned advantage for the Boston Bruins.With the back-to-back in his first-round series against...

AP Sports WriterAvalanche face Coyotes in dramatic clash of stylesBy JOHN MARSHALLThe Colorado Avalanche have one of the NHL's most dynamic offenses, led by Hart Trophy finalist Nathan MacKinnon.The Arizona Coyotes play it much closer to the vest, relying on superb goaltending and counterattacking when they have the opportunity.Whichever...