NHL

NEW YORK (AP) The New York Rangers have signed forward Ryan Gropp to an entry-level contract.General manager Jeff Gorton announced the signing of the 2015 second-round draft pick on Thursday.Gropp has skated in 32 games with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League (WHL) this season, collecting...

Bruins keep rolling, beat Senators for fifth straight winOTTAWA, Ontario (AP) Jake DeBrusk wasn't even trying to score and ended up with the winner.DeBrusk beat Mike Condon with 8:41 left to lift the Boston Bruins over the Ottawa Senators 3-2 on Thursday night for their fifth straight win.''I...

Flames' Lucic suspended 2 games for roughing SherwoodNEW YORK (AP) Calgary Flames forward Milan Lucic has been suspended for two games without pay by the NHL for roughing Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kole Sherwood during Saturday's game.The league announced Lucic's punishment Sunday.The incident happened five minutes into the...

AP Hockey WriterStarting goaltenders battling fatigue as playoffs loomBy STEPHEN WHYNOBehind the mask is a mind filled with a web of a thousand thoughts, worries and a singular focus of what it takes to win a game.Then the next game, then the one after that.''There is no shut-off for...

Sydor returns to Blues as assistant, rejoining mentor YeoST. LOUIS (AP) Darryl Sydor has returned to the St. Louis Blues as an assistant coach under mentor Mike Yeo.Sydor agreed to a three-year deal Wednesday.The 45-year-old Sydor finished his 18-year NHL playing career with the Blues in 2009-10, then...

Associated PressCoyotes rally for 4-3 shootout win over BlackhawksBy MATT CARLSONCHICAGO (AP) After falling behind early, the surprising Arizona Coyotes came back to pull out a win and grab a share of first place in the Pacific Division.Conor Garland and Nick Schmaltz scored on the Coyotes' first two...

AP Hockey WriterSabres excited to draft Swede Rasmus Dahlin first overallBy STEPHEN WHYNODALLAS (AP) Buffalo Sabres general manager Jason Botterill can't hide his excitement about the chance to select Rasmus Dahlin first overall in the NHL draft.Botterill says he's as impressed with the Swedish defenseman's analysis of his...

AP Hockey WriterVegas' Schmidt suspended for violating NHL's PED policyBy STEPHEN WHYNOVegas Golden Knights defenseman Nate Schmidt has been suspended for 20 games for violating the NHL's performance-enhancing substances policy.After the NHL announced the punishment on Sunday, Schmidt said he did not intentionally take a banned substance and ''will...

Associated PressPerlini, Keller power Coyotes to third straight winBy JOSE M. ROMEROGLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) Brendan Perlini scored twice in a 19-second span in the second period, and the Arizona Coyotes stayed hot with their third victory in a row and fourth in five games, 5-2 over the Montreal...

AP Sports WriterKakko scores 2, lifts Rangers past Penguins 3-2 in OTBy VIN A. CHERWOONEW YORK (AP) Kaapo Kakko likes the way his game is improving.The 18-year-old Finnish rookie scored his second goal of the night 2:36 into overtime to give the New York Rangers a 3-2 victory...

AP Hockey WriterSpecial team: Blues penalty kill has them on verge of CupBy STEPHEN WHYNOSomething is missing from the Boston power play.The uninterrupted puck movement and cross-ice passes to a wide open David Pastrnak aren't there anymore. Torey Krug isn't getting the chance to fire away from the top....

AP Sports WriterHeadache-plagued Stephen Johns finally back on ice for StarsBy SCHUYLER DIXONFRISCO, Texas (AP) Stephen Johns sometimes wondered if he would play hockey again while missing nearly 22 months with headaches that may or may not have been related to concussions.The Dallas Stars defenseman just didn't appreciate...