NHL

AP Hockey WriterPunishment for hits to head prevalent early in NHL playoffsBy STEPHEN WHYNOGeorge Parros is a busy man early in the Stanley Cup playoffs thanks to a rash of questionable hits around the NHL.The vice president of player safety's department suspended Toronto Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri three...

AP Sports WriterBlue Jackets looking for spark from long home standBy MITCH STACYCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) The Columbus Blue Jackets commanded the NHL spotlight earlier this season with a surprise 16-game winning streak, but lately they've struggled to play crisp hockey in consecutive periods, let alone in consecutive games.The...

Chayka steps down as Arizona GM a week before qualifierBy JOHN MARSHALLGLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona general manager John Chayka has stepped down, one week before the Coyotes open the Stanley Cup qualifiers against Nashville.The Coyotes announced Sunday former player and current assistant GM Steve Sullivan will serve as...

AP Sports WriterSigned for 5 years with Wild, now Niederreiter can relaxBy DAVE CAMPBELLNino Niederreiter has been bold enough with his hobbies to ride on the outside of an airplane . On the ice, he plays a fearless game with a thick frame that's tough to knock off the...

The line of Jiri Tlusty, Alexander Semin and Eric Staal did it all for the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday night. Tlusty scored twice, Semin had a goal and two assists and Staal chipped in with a pair of assists -- all in the first period -- to lead the...

Carolina signs D Jake Gardiner to 4-year dealRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) The Carolina Hurricanes have signed defenseman Jake Gardiner to a four-year contract.Under terms of the deal announced Friday by Carolina general manager Don Waddell, Gardiner will make an average of $4.05 million each season.The 29-year-old Gardiner had three...

Associated PressMilan Lucic has goal, assist; Oilers hold off Wild 3-2By MIKE COOKST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Milan Lucic had a goal and assist and the Edmonton Oilers held off the Minnesota Wild 3-2 on Saturday.Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jesse Puljujarvi also scored for Edmonton, which has alternated wins and...

Kraken expect training center to open in summer of '21SEATTLE (AP) The expansion Seattle Kraken expect to have the main portion of their training facility open in plenty of time for the team's first NHL season.The primary NHL rink, locker rooms, training areas and front office space are...

AP Hockey WriterReirden replacing Trotz among minimal changes for CapitalsBy STEPHEN WHYNOARLINGTON, Va. (AP) Next season's defending champion Washington Capitals will look a lot like the group that won the Stanley Cup last month.They re-signed defensemen John Carlson and Michal Kempny and forward Devante Smith-Pelly and have so...

The Minnesota Wild and the Toronto Maple Leafs will both be gunning for a victory on Wednesday when they meet at Air Canada Centre. Minnesota Wild vs. Toronto Maple Leafs When: 7:30 PM ET, Wednesday, December 7, 2016 Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario ROT TEAM PS OU Money Line 51 MINNESOTA 0 (-110) 5.5 (-110) -105 -115 52 TORONTO TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSN North...

AP Sports WriterOvechkin, Holtby shine in Game 7, Caps beat Lightning 4-0By FRED GOODALLTAMPA, Fla. (AP) Alex Ovechkin lifted the Prince of Wales Trophy, spun around and set it back down on a table.The rest of the Capitals joined him for a team photo after beating the Tampa...

AP Sports WriterAgent: Charges against Sabres' O'Reilly droppedBy STEPHEN WHYNOThe agent for Ryan O'Reilly confirmed that charges against the Buffalo Sabres forward have been dropped stemming from an impaired driving incident last year.Pat Morris tells The Associated Press in an email that Canadian prosecutors found there was not enough...