NHL

NHL investigating possible homophobic slur during gameTORONTO (AP) The NHL says it is investigating the possible use of a homophobic slur during the Tampa Bay Lightning's 6-2 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday night.Television cameras picked up what sounded like a slur with 1:51 left in...

AP Sports WriterBig Z, Big Question: Will Zdeno Chara return for Bruins?By JIMMY GOLENBOSTON (AP) The Boston Bruins have a very big question looming this offseason.A 6-foot, 9-inch question, to be precise.The Presidents' Trophy winners must try to squeeze another Stanley Cup-contending season out of a core that...

Associated PressBruins backup goalie Anton Khudobin dealing with injuryBy MATT KALMANBOSTON (AP) Anton Khudobin became the latest Boston Bruins goaltender to get injured Monday.Khudobin skated over to the Bruins bench at Warrior Ice Arena just before practice and had his right arm or wrist attended to by the...

AP Hockey WriterNHL playoff formatBy STEPHEN WHYNOTwo of the top four teams in the NHL are guaranteed to be out the playoffs after the second round.Goodbye Nashville or Winnipeg. Goodbye Boston or Tampa Bay. Thanks for playing.That's the reality under the divisional playoff format that could pit the top...

After moving into second place on the NHL career wins list for a coach, the Chicago Blackhawks' Joel Quenneville had good news for the list's leader, Scotty Bowman.''Scotty's safe,'' Quenneville quipped.He's the only one. Quenneville won his 783rd game, Corey Crawford made 39 saves in his Montreal hometown, and...

AP Sports WriterBruins fire coach Claude Julien after 419 wins, Cup titleBy JIMMY GOLENBOSTON (AP) The Bruins felt they needed to a change at the top, even if it meant doing it on a day when the city was celebrating a championship.Boston fired Stanley Cup-winning coach Claude Julien...

AP Hockey WriterCoyotes put speedy forward Michael Grabner on buyout waiversBy STEPHEN WHYNOThe Arizona Coyotes placed Michael Grabner on waivers Saturday for the purpose of buying out the speedy forward's contract.He had one year left at $3.775 million in salary and a cap hit of $3.35 million. Assuming Grabner...

AP Sports WriterNylander, van Riemsdyk score early, Maple Leafs beat RangersBy VIN A. CHERWOONEW YORK (AP) William Nylander and James van Riemsdyk scored in the first period, Frederik Andersen stopped 34 shots and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the New York Rangers 4-2 on Friday night.Connor Brown and...

Associated PressBruins quick to remove coach Bruce Cassidy's interim tagBy MATT KALMANBOSTON (AP) Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney was quick to remove head coach Bruce Cassidy's interim tag, making the move days after the team lost its first-round playoff series.''I think the way the team responded to...

ST. PAUL, Minnesota (AP) Dallas extended its lead in the NHL Western Conference with a 6-3 win at Minnesota on Monday, overturning an early 2-0 deficit.Goaltender Antti Niemi stopped 30 shots in relief for the Stars, whose 120 goals scored this season is 15 clear of the next...

National Hockey League had humble beginnings 100 years agoMONTREAL (AP) The five men who met on Nov. 26, 1917, to form the National Hockey League could not have dreamed of the 31-team, multi-billion-dollar enterprise it is a century later.That day the owners of the Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers,...

Horvat leads Canucks to 7-4 win over SenatorsVANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) Getting some bounces on the power play helped get the Vancouver Canucks back into the NHL playoff picture.Bo Horvat had two goals and an assist and the Canucks kept their playoff hopes alive with a 7-4 win...