NHL

AP Hockey WriterTop picks from 2016 and 2017 are unfazed by playoff pressureBy STEPHEN WHYNOAuston Matthews got a taste of playoff hockey last season. Patrik Laine has been waiting two years for this.The third pick in the 2016 draft? Well, Pierre-Luc Dubois is taking a surprising star turn in...

DALLAS (AP) Dallas extended its lead atop the NHL Central Division to nine points by beating Nashville 5-1 on Thursday, helped by rookie Mattias Janmark scoring his sixth December goal to break a tie late in the second period.Tyler Seguin added two insurance goals in the third period...

Associated PressNathan MacKinnon scores in OT, Avalanche beat Panthers 5-4By PAUL GEREFFISUNRISE, Fla. (AP) Nathan MacKinnon scored 3:03 into overtime to give the Colorado Avalanche their sixth victory in seven games this season, 5-4 over the Florida Panthers on Friday night.Playing after sustaining a leg injury Wednesday night...

Winnipeg 1 1 0-2Vancouver 0 3 2-5First Period-1, Winnipeg, Tlusty 14 (O'Dell), 2:17.Second Period-2, Winnipeg, Wheeler 23 (Stafford, Stuart), 5:07. 3, Vancouver, Higgins 10 (Vrbata, Bonino), 10:57. 4, Vancouver, Weber 8 (H.Sedin, Edler), 16:29 (pp). 5, Vancouver, Vrbata 28 (H.Sedin, D.Sedin), 19:00.Third...

Big crowds, extra police expected at Blues' celebrationST. LOUIS (AP) Organizers of the celebration to honor the Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues expect a massive crowd, and security will be tight.Hundreds of thousands of people are expected Saturday for a parade and rally beneath the Gateway Arch...

AP Hockey WriterOnly on AP: Welsh excited as 1 of NHL's 1st female officialsBy JOHN WAWROWBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Once the butterflies and adrenalin rush of officiating her first NHL prospects game subsided, Kirsten Welsh woke up Saturday eager to get back on the ice again.Whatever miscues Welsh made...

Blackhawks place de Haan on IR with right shoulder injuryGLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) The Chicago Blackhawks placed defenseman Calvin de Haan on injured reserve Thursday with a right shoulder injury.The 28-year-old de Haan got hurt during Tuesday night's 5-1 loss at Vegas. He had offseason surgery on the same...

AP Hockey WriterPanarin, Bobrovsky, Duchene among many on the move in NHLBy LARRY LAGEThe St. Louis Blues will look a lot like the team that won the franchise's first Stanley Cup when the puck drops for the NHL's season-opening game against the 2018 champion Washington Capitals.Ryan O'Reilly, who won...

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones will be out at least three weeks with a hairline fracture on the top of his right foot. The team said Monday that Jones was injured in Saturday night's game at St. Louis and put on injured reserve. Coach John Tortorella...

AP Hockey WritersBettman: NHL players in isolation while season is on holdBy STEPHEN WHYNO and JOHN WAWROWNHL players are staying away from rinks and self-isolating during the coronavirus pandemic that has put their season on hold.Players have been instructed to remain at home in their team's city and avoid...

Associated PressOvechkin, Wilson lead Capitals to 5-2 win against WildBy BRIAN HALLST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) For Tom Wilson, it didn't seem as if anything was out of the ordinary. He's seen Alex Ovechkin put on a show against plenty of teams.The Minnesota Wild are tired of being spectators...

Associated PressToews, Lehner lead Blackhawks over Blue Jackets 3-2 in OTBy MATT CARLSONCHICAGO (AP) Jonathan Toews scored 46 seconds into overtime, Robin Lehner made 37 saves and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 on Friday night.Toews drove to the net and knocked a rebound of...