NHL

AP Sports WriterBack to health, Blues and Avalanche top two teams in WestBy PAT GRAHAMLook who's back and healthy for the Colorado Avalanche: Pretty much everyone. Ditto for St. Louis, the defending Stanley Cup champions.The Blues and Avalanche were navigating through some key injuries before the season was halted...

AP Sports WriterHealthy Penguins wary of upstart Canadiens as playoffs beginBy WILL GRAVESZach Aston-Reese pondered the question for a minute.''I'm not exactly sure who is on their first line,'' the Penguins forward said when asked how Pittsburgh plans to slow down Montreal's top line in their best-of-five play-in series...

AP Sports WriterPronger moves on from Panthers split without animosityBy DAN GELSTONPHILADELPHIA (AP) Chris Pronger might not book a client of his family's blossoming boutique travel agency business into the NHL bubble. But if Pronger were stuck in one of the league's hub cities for an extended period,...

AP Sports WriterPreview: Islanders ready to face high-scoring PanthersBy VIN A. CHERWOOThe New York Islanders beat the Florida Panthers in all three meetings during the season. However, the last one was way back in December -- three months before the NHL paused play due to the coronavirus pandemic.Now, the...

AP Sports WriterGoaltenders in spotlight for Blackhawks-Oilers seriesBy JAY COHENFor all the offensive stars between the Chicago Blackhawks and Edmonton Oilers, big megawatt scorers like Patrick Kane and Connor McDavid, it is the goaltending that bears watching heading into their qualifying series.Corey Crawford missed the start of training camp...

Sonny Milano gets 2-year extension, stays with Anaheim DucksANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) Left wing Sonny Milano has agreed to a two-year, $3.4 million contract extension with the Anaheim Ducks.The Ducks announced the deal Tuesday night.Anaheim acquired Milano from Columbus last February in a trade for Devin Shore. Milano contributed...

AP Hockey WriterRacial equality statements begin to unfold amid NHL restartBy STEPHEN WHYNOPhiladelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins players lined up shoulder to shoulder during the U.S. and Canadian anthems before the first exhibition game of the NHL's restarted season, while members of the Boston Bruins plan to lock arms...

AP Sports WriterKnights were on a roll and Stars struggled before NHL haltedBy STEPHEN HAWKINSThe Dallas Stars were in a miserable stretch when the NHL season came to a sudden and unexpected stop 4 1/2 months ago. Vegas was playing some of its best hockey after a coaching change.Both...

AP Sports WriterWill experience prevail for Wild vs. quick-strike Canucks?By DAVE CAMPBELLThe virus pause has provided the Minnesota Wild as they are currently constructed with perhaps their best and last opportunity to make a long postseason run.They caught a break when the NHL rolled out a 24-team format for...

AP Hockey WriterBruins to lock arms for anthems to promote racial equalityBy STEPHEN WHYNOBoston Bruins players plan to lock arms during the U.S. and Canadian anthems to promote racial equality, while members of the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins lined up together Tuesday before the first exhibition game of...

AP Hockey WriterCould NHL home-nation advantage end Canada's Cup drought?By JOHN WAWROWKen Dryden became so accustomed to winning championships with the Montreal Canadiens the Hockey Hall of Fame goalie has difficulty assessing Canada's Stanley Cup drought.''It is bizarre,'' Dryden recently told The Associated Press by phone from his home...

Former Maple Leafs player Eddie Shack dies at 83By The Associated PressEddie Shack, one of the NHL's most colorful players on and off the ice, has died. He was 83.The Toronto Maple Leafs announced the news in a tweet Sunday morning.''Eddie entertained Leafs fans on the ice for...