NHL

AP Sports WriterNieto's hat trick lifts Avalanche to 5-3 win over StarsBy PAT GRAHAMDENVER (AP) Matt Nieto capped off his first career hat trick on an empty-netter in the closing seconds, Semyon Varlamov stopped 34 shots and the injury-riddled Colorado Avalanche ended a three-game skid with a 5-3...

AP Hockey WriterSabres lose F Girgensons to season-ending hamstring injuryBy JOHN WAWROWBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Buffalo Sabres forward Zemgus Girgensons is expected to miss the entire season after having surgery to repair a hamstring injury he suffered in a team scrimmage on Monday.The Sabres announced Girgensons' injury upon returning...

AP Hockey WritersNHL playoff scenarios run the gamut of where, when and howBy JOHN WAWROW and STEPHEN WHYNOShorts and skates don’t usually mix. Maintaining NHL-quality ice in August or holding a Stanley Cup Final in September? Those are far from the norm, too.With the NHL playoffs, which were to...

AP Hockey WriterNHL's top prospect says he is overcoming 2 hernia injuriesBy JOHN WAWROWBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Center Nolan Patrick says a misdiagnosis of a sports hernia injury contributed to the NHL's top-ranked draft prospect missing more than half of last season.Patrick had surgery to repair one side of...

Lightning F J.T. Brown raises fist during national anthemSUNRISE, Fla (AP) Tampa Bay Lightning forward J.T. Brown raised his right fist during the playing of the national anthem before the team's first road game of the season.The 27-year-old Brown, who was scratched for Tampa Bay's season-opening win against...

Stars C Martin Hanzal set for season-ending back surgeryDALLAS (AP) Dallas Stars center Martin Hanzal is set for back surgery that will end his injury-plagued season.General manager Jim Nill said Friday the expected recovery time is six to seven months.Hanzal, who signed a $14.25 million, three-year contract on...

AP Hockey WriterEichel draws on NFL Bills' success to motivate NHL SabresBy JOHN WAWROWBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Jack Eichel doesn't have to search far back or long to see what it's like to win in Buffalo.The Sabres captain need only look to members of the NFL's Buffalo Bills -...

AP Hockey WritersBettman: NHL players in isolation while season is on holdBy STEPHEN WHYNO and JOHN WAWROWNHL players are staying away from rinks and self-isolating during the coronavirus pandemic that has put their season on hold.Players have been instructed to remain at home in their team's city and avoid...

Rangers assistant GM Jim Schoenfeld resignsNEW YORK (AP) Jim Schoenfeld has resigned as vice president and assistant general manager of the New York Rangers.The former NHL defenseman and coach spent 17 seasons in the Rangers' organization, serving in a variety of roles. He spent most of that time...

Associated PressGardiner scores OT winner, Carolina beats Caps 3-2By IAN QUILLENWASHINGTON (AP) Three new players helped the Carolina Hurricanes beat an old nemesis on Saturday night.Jake Gardiner scored his first goal for his new team in the last minute of overtime, James Reimer debuted by making 33 stops...

Hurricanes D Pesce out 4-6 months after shoulder surgeryRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brett Pesce is recovering from shoulder surgery that is expected to keep him out the rest of the season.The team announced Thursday that Pesce had surgery on his right shoulder with a recovery time...

AP Hockey WriterLightning acquire Sergachev from Canadiens for DrouinBy STEPHEN WHYNOThe Tampa Bay Lightning have traded forward Jonathan Drouin to the Montreal Canadiens in a deal that gets them defensive prospect Mikhail Sergachev.The teams announced the deal Thursday, about 48 hours before the NHL's trade freeze prior to the...