NHL

AP Sports WriterBlues found Allen 'amazing to watch' in Game 1 win over WildBy DAVE CAMPBELLST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Just three months ago, when the St. Louis Blues departed for a road trip, Jake Allen was left behind for a mental break.These days, their 26-year-old goaltender better be...

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...

Blackhawks' Rozsival has surgery for facial fracturesCHICAGO (AP) Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Michal Rozsival has undergone surgery to repair facial fractures.The team says Rozsival is expected to make a full recovery from Tuesday's operation. The Blackhawks did not say how long he will be out.Rozsival was injured when Anaheim's...

AP Sports WriterBruins coach Cassidy ready to return to playoffsBy JIMMY GOLENBOSTON (AP) Bruce Cassidy knows how to handle the pre-playoff jitters this time.Returning to the Stanley Cup playoffs as a head coach for the first time since 2003, Cassidy is trusting in his team to smooth over...

AP Sports WriterBruins coach Cassidy ready to return to playoffsBy JIMMY GOLENBOSTON (AP) Bruce Cassidy knows how to handle the pre-playoff jitters this time.Returning to the Stanley Cup playoffs as a head coach for the first time since 2003, Cassidy is trusting in his team to smooth over...

AP Sports WriterPenguins begin title defense against untested Blue JacketsBy WILL GRAVESPITTSBURGH (AP) Forget about past history and playoff experience. The Pittsburgh Penguins insist those things won't matter when the puck drops on Wednesday night in Game 1 of their first-round series against Columbus Blue Jackets.So what if...

AP Hockey WriterWith workload down for Ovechkin, Caps primed for playoffsBy STEPHEN WHYNOARLINGTON, Va. (AP) Tired of rolling over the NHL in the regular season and falling short in the playoffs, the Washington Capitals went to great lengths to make sure their best players won't be tired this...

Red Wings' Jeff Blashill named coach of US men's teamCOLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) Jeff Blashill of the Detroit Red Wings has been named coach of the U.S. men's hockey team that will compete in the world championships next month in key tuneup ahead of next year's Winter Olympics.The...

AP Sports WriterCrosby, McDavid, Matthews players to watch in NHL playoffsBy LARRY LAGESidney Crosby might be peaking as the playoffs arrive, with a shot to help the Pittsburgh Penguins become the first franchise in nearly two decades to hoist the Stanley Cup in consecutive seasonsThat's a scary thought for...

Oilers ready for Sharks challenge as they return to playoffsEDMONTON, Alberta (AP) Jordan Eberle shrugs off the notion that he and the rest of the Edmonton Oilers might be a little wide-eyed when the puck drops in their playoff series against the San Jose Sharks.The Sharks are the...

Ashes of late NHL enforcer Bob Probert spread in penalty boxDETROIT (AP) Late Red Wings enforcer Bob Probert has been given a little more time in the penalty box at Detroit's Joe Louis Arena.Probert's widow, Dani, sprinkled some of the forward's ashes in the box on Sunday, when...

Ashes of late NHL enforcer Bob Probert spread in penalty boxDETROIT (AP) Late Red Wings enforcer Bob Probert has been given a little more time in the penalty box at Detroit's Joe Louis Arena.Probert's widow, Dani, sprinkled some of the forward's ashes in the box on Sunday, when...