NHL

Gurianov scores on penalty shot, Stars beat Canadiens 4-1DALLAS (AP) Given his first NHL penalty shot, Denis Gurianov was too tired to make a plan.''I didn't think about anything because it was after a long shift, so I was a bit gassed,'' Gurianov said. ''I just went there...

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...

AP Sports WriterWild hire Bill Guerin as new general managerBy DAVE CAMPBELLThe Minnesota Wild have hired Bill Guerin, who won two Stanley Cups as a player and two more titles in the front office with the Pittsburgh Penguins, as their new general manager.Guerin was announced Wednesday as the fourth...

AP Hockey WriterBackup plan: The case to play goalies on consecutive nightsBy JOHN WAWROWIf NHL coaches want to provide goalies quality downtime during a constricted schedule, Martin Biron believes he has an ideal backup plan.Rather than split starts as teams often do when playing on consecutive days, the former...

Ex-Rangers, Lightning D Dan Girardi retires after 13 seasonsTAMPA, Fla. (AP) Former New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Dan Girardi will retire from the NHL after 13 seasons.Girardi appeared in 927 games, finishing with 56 goals and 264 points and a plus-78 ratings. He also played...

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel have been linked as the NHL's two top draft prospects since September.It wasn't until this week at the league's pre-draft scouting combine in Buffalo when the two finally had a chance to sit down and chat.''We've had a pretty good...

Sharks sign defenseman Radim Simek to 4-year extensionSAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) The San Jose Sharks signed defenseman Radim Simek to a four-year contract extension on Monday.Simek was set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer before the Sharks locked him up with the new deal worth a...

AP Hockey WriterBlues' last to Stanley Cup run shows value of regular seasonBy STEPHEN WHYNOWhen the Tampa Bay Lightning woke up on Jan. 3 atop the NHL standings, the St. Louis Blues were dead last.Tampa had won 31 of its first 39 games, while St. Louis had won just...

Kadri, Maple Leafs beat Blue Jackets 6-3TORONTO (AP) Nazem Kadri had three goals and two assists, Frederik Andersen made a career-high 54 saves and the surging Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-3 on Wednesday night.Patrick Marleau added a goal and two assists and Mitch Marner...

AP Sports WriterLightning's Vasilevskiy standing tall in Stanley Cup FinalBy FRED GOODALLFor all the hype Dallas goaltender Anton Khudobin is receiving for helping the Stars reach the Stanley Cup Final, fellow Russian Andrei Vasilevskiy is reminding everyone the Tampa Bay Lightning have a strong presence in net, too.''If you're...

Associated PressBlue Jackets rally to beat Kings 3-2 on Dubois' OT goalBy NICOLE KRAFTCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) The Blue Jackets have pulled their goaltender in the closing minutes several times this season, only to see it backfire. But this time, it worked.Pierre-Luc Dubois scored in overtime, Zach Werenski had...

Associated PressHockey commentator Don Cherry fired for rant over immigrantsBy ROB GILLIESTORONTO (AP) - Don Cherry, Canada's most polarizing, flamboyant and opinionated hockey commentator, was fired Monday for calling immigrants ''you people'' in a television rant in which he said new immigrants are not honoring the country's fallen soldiers.Rogers...