NHL

New Jersey Devils sign forward Jesper Bratt to 3-year dealNEWARK, N.J. (AP) The New Jersey Devils have signed forward Jesper Bratt to a three-year, entry-level contract.The Devils announced the signing of their 2016 sixth-round draft pick on Friday.The 18-year-old Bratt spent the last four seasons in Sweden with...

AP Hockey WriterOvechkin finished playoffs with lower-body injuryBy STEPHEN WHYNOWashington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin finished the playoffs playing through a lower-body injury that required pain-numbing injections.The Russian Hockey Federation announced the injury Thursday, saying Ovechkin would not be able to play at the world championships in Europe because...

AP Hockey WriterOvechkin finished playoffs with lower-body injuryBy STEPHEN WHYNOWashington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin finished the playoffs playing through a lower-body injury that required pain-numbing injections.The Russian Hockey Federation announced the injury Thursday, saying Ovechkin would not be able to play at the world championships in Europe because...

AP Hockey WriterSabres hire Penguins' Jason Botterill as general managerBy JOHN WAWROWBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Jason Botterill is leaving the Pittsburgh Penguins' bid to defend their Stanley Cup title for an opportunity to build the Buffalo Sabres into contenders as general manager.The Sabres hired the Penguins associate GM on...

Blackhawks re-sign forward Richard Panik to 2-year dealCHICAGO (AP) The Blackhawks have rewarded Richard Panik for a breakout season by re-signing him to a two-year deal that runs through 2018-19.The 26-year-old Panik set career highs with 22 goals, 22 assists and 44 points in his first full season...

AP Hockey WriterDucks eager for rematch with Rinne's Predators in West finalBy GREG BEACHAMANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) Among the numerous hurdles and obstacles that have blocked the Anaheim Ducks' path to a Stanley Cup title this decade, Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne might be the biggest - and not just...

AP Sports WriterRangers head into offseason after second-round playoff lossBy VIN A. CHERWOOGREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) Two days after their season ended with a loss to Ottawa in the second round of the playoffs, the New York Rangers are still dealing with the defeat.''We all believe we should still...

AP Sports WriterRangers head into offseason after second-round playoff lossBy VIN A. CHERWOOGREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) Two days after their season ended with a loss to Ottawa in the second round of the playoffs, the New York Rangers are still dealing with the defeat.''We all believe we should still...

AP Sports WriterMike Sullivan guides Penguins back to conference finalsBy WILL GRAVESPITTSBURGH (AP) The Pittsburgh Penguins looked like they needed a day off. Maybe more than one.And yet there the defending Stanley Cup champions were on Tuesday morning, dressed and skating barely 12 hours removed from a listless...

AP Hockey WriterCaps' Alex Ovechkin finished playoffs with lower-body injuryBy STEPHEN WHYNORussian hockey officials announced Thursday that Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin played through injury before Washington was eliminated from the NHL playoffs in the second round by the Pittsburgh Penguins.Ovechkin finished the playoffs dealing with a lower-body injury that...

AP Hockey WriterCap's Alex Ovechkin finished playoffs with lower-body injuryBy STEPHEN WHYNOWashington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin finished the playoffs playing through a lower-body injury that required pain-numbing injections.The Russian Hockey Federation announced the injury Thursday, saying Ovechkin would not be able to play at the world championships in Europe...

AP Sports WriterStifled Penguins head to Game 7 looking for a sparkBy WILL GRAVESPITTSBURGH (AP) The Pittsburgh Penguins spent the better part of five games exploiting the few chances the Washington Capitals gave them, focusing on generating quality scoring chances while the Presidents' Trophy winners seemed more intent...