NHL

AP Sports WriterChara all action, little talk in Stanley Cup pursuitBy JIMMY GOLENBOSTON (AP) Zdeno Chara didn't say much to his teammates when he showed up, as usual, one game after a puck bloodied his face and knocked him out of the Stanley Cup Final.And it wasn't just...

AP Sports WriterSharks finalize 7-year deal with high-scoring Evander KaneBy JOSH DUBOWSAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) The San Jose Sharks have signed pending free agent forward Evander Kane to a seven-year contract.The deal finalized on Thursday keeps the high-scoring winger off the open market and part of the Sharks...

AP Hockey WritersNHL adopts 24-team playoff format if it can resume seasonBy STEPHEN WHYNO and JOHN WAWROWThe NHL announced Tuesday it will abandon the rest of the regular season and go straight into the playoffs with 24 teams instead of 16 if it is able to resume play.Commissioner Gary...

The Latest: Capitals' Stanley Cup parade ends, rally followsWASHINGTON (AP) The Latest on the Washington Capitals' Stanley Cup parade (all times local):12:50 p.m.The Capitals' Stanley Cup parade has ended with a rally upcoming.Tens of thousands of fans lined the route along Constitution Avenue, including hundreds on the steps...

Associated PressFlames rally in third period, top Predators 3-2 in shootoutBy JIM DIAMONDNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) A bad bounce for Nashville turned the game in Calgary's favor.Sean Monahan and Matthew Tkachuk scored in the shootout to give the Flames a 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night.Tkachuk...

AP Sports WriterFans' delight: Islanders back at Nassau Coliseum for a dayBy VIN A. CHERWOOUNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) Nearly 2 1/2 years after last playing at the Nassau Coliseum, John Tavares and the New York Islanders gave their fans something to cheer about back at their refurbished former home.The...

Associated PressAtkinson scores twice, Blue Jackets beat Golden Knights 4-3By W.G. RAMIREZLAS VEGAS (AP) The Columbus Blue Jackets opened a three-game Western Conference trip with victories in Colorado and Arizona, yet didn't feel as though they put forth their best effort.Columbus closed out the trip with one of...

AP Sports WriterKnights, Caps try to keep their cool in Vegas at Cup FinalBy GREG BEACHAMLAS VEGAS (AP) The Vegas Golden Knights still think Tom Wilson's third-period hit on Jonathan Marchessault was very late and probably dirty.They also believe it sparked their comeback victory in the Stanley Cup...

AP Sports WriterLightning disappointed, but don't feel like playoff failuresBy FRED GOODALLTAMPA, Fla. (AP) Jon Cooper searched for adequate words to describe the feeling of coming within one victory of playing for the Stanley Cup.The Tampa Bay Lightning have done it twice in the past three years. And...

Sabres sign Zemgus Girgensons to 2-year dealBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) The Buffalo Sabres have signed forward Zemgus Girgensons to a two-year contract.The team announced the deal Thursday that carries an average value of $1.6 million.Girgensons, from Latvia, is the last of the Sabres' restricted free agents to sign with...

AP Hockey WriterSabres acquire Eric Staal in sending Johansson to WildBy JOHN WAWROWBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) The Buffalo Sabres acquired veteran center Eric Staal in a trade that sent forward Marcus Johansson to the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday.The trade was the first completed by newly hired Sabres general manager...

Senators exec pleads not guilty to harassment allegationBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Ottawa Senators assistant general manager Randy Lee is being allowed to return to Canada after pleading not guilty to allegations he made lewd comments and rubbed the shoulders of a 19-year-old hotel shuttle driver while in Buffalo for...