NHL

AP Sports WriterGM Rutherford looks to retool after "puzzling" Pens exitBy WILL GRAVESPITTSBURGH (AP) Jim Rutherford is not ready to blow up the core that's led the Pittsburgh Penguins to three Stanley Cups in a little more than a decade.Still, the longtime general manager understands there's some serious...

AP Sports WriterPreview: Trotz, Islanders face Capitals in first roundBy VIN A. CHERWOOBarry Trotz famously told the then-defending champion Washington Capitals two years ago any future title runs would go through Long Island.Toronto will have to do.Trotz and the New York Islanders will face the Capitals in the first...

AP Hockey WriterHockey makes progress in midst of awakening about racismBy STEPHEN WHYNOAnson Carter filled his time in pandemic isolation walking 11 miles a day, sometimes with his dogs, around his Atlanta neighborhood.When video surfaced of another Black man, Ahmaud Arbery, being shot and killed in nearby Glynn County,...

AP Hockey WriterFirst-round back-to-backs favor NHL teams with 2 top goaliesBy STEPHEN WHYNOCraig Berube remembers playing plenty of back-to-backs in the playoffs and actually likes them.''I think it's something the guys will look forward to,'' the St. Louis Blues coach said. ''There's nothing wrong with it.''Berube also wasn't a...

AP Sports WriterAfter waiting hours for ice, Bruins, Hurricanes postponedBy JIMMY GOLENAs the Boston Bruins watched from their locker room at the Scotiabank Arena, waiting for the previous game to end so they could take the ice, the players began rooting for someone - anyone - to score.And to...

AP Hockey WriterPolar opposites: Big, tough Blues face small, quick CanucksBy STEPHEN WHYNOHockey is trending to look like the Vancouver Canucks, with smaller players and more skill, speed and offense.That didn't stop the big, heavy St. Louis Blues from bruising their way to the Stanley Cup last season and...

After waiting hours for ice, Bruins, Hurricanes postponedTORONTO (AP) The playoff opener between the Boston Bruins and Carolina Hurricanes was postponed on Tuesday night after the previous game in the same building went into a fifth overtime.Game 1 of the series will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday...

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...

Kraken to start season ticket seat selection in late AugustSEATTLE (AP) The Seattle Kraken will allow fans who put down deposits on season tickets to begin selecting their seats later this month.The Kraken said Tuesday they will begin reaching out to fans beginning Aug. 24 so they can...

AP Sports WriterOffseason goals for Wild topped by goaltending improvementBy DAVE CAMPBELLThe Minnesota Wild returned home from the Western Conference bubble with regret, dismay and another postseason defeat.Despite the spark that was on display after the change in head coaches up until the pandemic put the sport on a...

AP Hockey WriterRangers win NHL draft lottery, shot at LafreniereBy LARRY LAGEThe New York Rangers won the second phase of the NHL draft lottery, giving them a shot at selecting winger Alexis Lafreniere.The Rangers were among eight teams that lost in the qualifying round of the playoffs with...

AP Hockey WriterLightning face Blue Jackets in 1st-round NHL playoff rematchBy JOHN WAWROWTORONTO (AP) As if forward Alex Killorn and the Tampa Bay Lightning needed yet another reminder of last year's monumental playoff collapse in preparing to open the first round Tuesday.The ever-stingy, John Tortorella-coached Columbus Blue Jackets...