NHL

AP Hockey WriterSummer of Ovi: Cup celebrations, fatherhood await OvechkinBy STEPHEN WHYNOAlex Ovechkin has already done a ''keg stand'' with the Stanley Cup, performed shirtless push-ups in a fountain full of teammates and lifted hockey's prestigious trophy so often in joy that it could be considered upper-body training.''That's my...

CHICAGO (AP) Chicago's Patrick Kane scored a spectacular tiebreaking goal in the second period and the Blackhawks beat Montreal 3-2 on Sunday, handing the NHL-leading Canadiens just their second regulation loss of the season. The Blackhawks maintained their six-point lead in the Central Division, while Pacific Division leader Edmonton missed...

AP Sports WriterBettman says he hasn't talked to Stars about Lites' commentsBy JAY COHENSOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said he hasn't reached out to the Dallas Stars about CEO Jim Lites' expletive-laced criticism of high-priced forwards Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin.Lites ripped Benn and Seguin...

AP Sports WriterVeteran goalies take center stage for Rangers, PenguinsBy WILL GRAVESPITTSBURGH (AP) So much for Henrik Lundqvist not being able to beat the Montreal Canadiens. Ditto with Marc-Andre Fleury's most important games with the Pittsburgh Penguins being in his rearview mirror.Welcome to the 2017 playoffs, same as...

Detroit 1 1 4 1-7Dallas 1 3 2 0-6First Period-1, Dallas, Ja.Benn 23 (Jo.Benn, Sceviour), 12:42. 2, Detroit, Nyquist 21 (Sheahan, Marchenko), 16:57.Second Period-3, Detroit, Datsyuk 18, 9:20. 4, Dallas, Daley 16 (Horcoff, Ja.Benn), 15:16. 5, Dallas, Eakin 12 (Daley, Klingberg), 17:02....

NHL set for virtual draft; Lafreniere in line as top pickBy The Associated PressAlexis Lafreniere was supposed to hear his named called in front of family, friends and an adoring crowd inside Montreal's Bell Centre.The presumptive top pick in the 2020 NHL draft from Quebec would then climb on...

Buffalo Sabres hire Mair, Weber to coach in AHL RochesterBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) The Buffalo Sabres are turning to two former players to serve as assistant coaches on their minor-league affiliate in Rochester.Adam Mair and Mike Weber were hired on Thursday to work under coach Seth Appert, who took...

AP Hockey WriterShh! NHL gags teams on injury disclosure for player privacyBy STEPHEN WHYNOJakub Voracek thinks it's none of your business.When the Philadelphia Flyers winger missed practice over the weekend, no injury, illness or other reason was given. That is the NHL's mandatory rule during the pandemic, adding another...

Penguins' Malkin out of All-Star game with lower-body injuryPITTSBURGH (AP) Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin is dealing with a lower-body injury that will keep the Russian star out of Sunday's All-Star game.Coach Mike Sullivan announced the injury on Wednesday, a day after Malkin played 18:27 in a 3-0...

Flames extend contract of general manager Brad TrelivingCALGARY, Alberta (AP) The Calgary Flames announced a multiyear contract extension for general manager Brad Treliving on Thursday, hours before their season opener against Colorado.He is entering his sixth season in the job. While with the team, Calgary has made the...

Rangers agree to contract with free agent forward FontaineNEW YORK (AP) The New York Rangers agreed to terms Sunday with free agent forward Justin Fontaine on a two-way contract and assigned him to Hartford of the American Hockey League.Fontaine, 28, has skated in 197 NHL games over three...

Predators re-sign Arvidsson to $29.75 million, 7-year dealNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The Nashville Predators are making sure they keep Viktor Arvidsson around, re-signing the forward who made the second-biggest scoring jump in the NHL with a seven-year deal worth $29.75 million.General manager David Poile announced the deal Saturday night...