NHL

AP Sports WriterVilardi scores quickly in NHL debut as Kings defeat PanthersBy JOE REEDYLOS ANGELES (AP) Not many players can top the NHL debut that Gabriel Vilardi had on Thursday night.The Los Angeles center scored 10 seconds into his first shift and added an assist as the Kings...

AP Sports WriterDevils, Golden Knights off to surprising strong startsBy VIN A. CHERWOOAfter finishing at the bottom of the Eastern Conference last season, the New Jersey Devils have been among the NHL's surprise teams.The Devils have been atop the Metropolitan Division for most of the opening weeks and are...

Capitals re-sign Bowey to $2 million, 2-year dealARLINGTON, Va. (AP) The Washington Capitals have re-signed defenseman Madison Bowey to a two-year deal worth $2 million.General manager Brian MacLellan announced the contract Thursday. Right winger Tom Wilson is the team's only remaining restricted free agent.Bowey, who will count $1...

Winnipeg's Enstrom out with concussion after Sestito hitWINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) Winnipeg defenseman Toby Enstrom will be out indefinitely with a concussion, Jets coach Paul Maurice said Friday.Enstrom took a crushing illegal check from behind into the boards by Pittsburgh forward Tom Sestito in the first period Wednesday night...

AP Hockey WriterNHL players use pause to focus on racial injustice concernsBy JOHN WAWROWBraydon Coburn was polite but stern in declining to answer the question.A day after NHL players showed a united front, prompting the league to postpone two nights of playoff games to focus on racial injustice concerns,...

AP Hockey WriterForget the asterisk, NHL playoffs present grueling testBy JOHN WAWROWSorry, Drew Doughty.It's difficult to find anyone - from Hockey Hall of Fame goalie Ken Dryden to French-born Avalanche forward Pierre Edouard Bellemare- supporting Doughty's assertion that these expanded NHL playoffs won't produce, as the Los Angeles Kings...

Vancouver signs defenseman Alex Edler to 2-year extensionVANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) Defenseman Alex Edler has signed a two-year extension with the Vancouver Canucks at an average salary of $6 million.The 33-year-old Swede had 10 goals and 24 assists in 56 games last season. In 13 seasons with the...

AP Hockey WriterNHL Players to Watch: Sabres Eichel has plenty to proveBy JOHN WAWROWSabres center Jack Eichel isn't mincing words when assessing his first two NHL seasons.''Actually, I think I've proven nothing,'' the 20-year-old face of the franchise said before bluntly outlining his lack of accomplishments.''If you look at...

NEW YORK (AP) The New York Rangers scored three goals in the first period to lay the foundation for a 6-3 victory over St. Louis on Friday in a predictably high-scoring encounter between two of the early-season pacesetters in the NHL.The Rangers remained four points clear atop the...

Associated PressBergeron, Nash leads Bruins past Flames 5-2By DOUG ALDENBOSTON (AP) The Boston Bruins made up for a slow start with an impressive finish.Patrice Bergeron played a key role.Bergeron score two of Boston's three goals in the third period, and the Bruins pulled away from the Calgary Flames...

AP Hockey WriterMaple Leafs are best bet to end Canada's Stanley Cup droughtBy STEPHEN WHYNOJohn Tavares didn't just follow his heart home to Toronto.In his head, he envisioned the Maple Leafs as a perennial contender.''I came here believing that we can win a Stanley Cup year in, year out,''...

Associated PressMarc-Andre Fleury inks 3-year extension with KnightsBy W.G. RAMIREZLAS VEGAS (AP) The Vegas Golden Knights have agreed to terms with three-time Stanley Cup champion goalie Marc-Andre Fleury on a three-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $7 million.Fleury had one year remaining on his contract....