NHL

AP Hockey WritersPod hockey: Leading plan for NHL return includes empty rinksBy STEPHEN WHYNO and JOHN WAWROWGet used to the concept of pods and pucks if the NHL is going to have any chance of completing its season, with the most likely scenarios calling for games in empty, air-conditioned...

AP Sports WriterLightning want to push Bruins to brink with 2-1 series leadBy JIMMY GOLENBOSTON (AP) Lightning coach Jon Cooper came to Boston with a plan to steal back the home-ice advantage that the Bruins took away with their Game 1 win in Tampa.Now he has bigger goals...

AP Hockey WritersNHL informs union it won't terminate labor dealBy JOHN WAWROW and STEPHEN WHYNOThe NHL has informed the NHL Players' Association it won't use its option to terminate the existing labor deal next year.The league announced its decision Friday, two days before its deadline to notify the union...

AP Hockey WriterNet gains: NHL’s load management is top goalies playing lessBy STEPHEN WHYNOMarc-Andre Fleury plays when he’s told.How much he plays has changed.A decade ago, Fleury started 61 out of 82 games before backstopping Pittsburgh to the Stanley Cup. He started 58 and 34 times on the Penguins’...

AP Hockey WritersNHL, players' union announce plan to resume play on Aug. 1By JOHN WAWROW and STEPHEN WHYNOThe National Hockey League and NHL Players’ Association announced a tentative agreement Monday to return to play this season and extend their collective bargaining agreement by four years.The CBA deal, coupled with...

Associated PressConnor scores in OT as Jets beat Blues 2-1 to even seriesBy JOE HARRISST. LOUIS (AP) Kyle Connor scored 6:02 into overtime and the Winnipeg Jets beat the St. Louis Blues 2-1 on Tuesday night to tie their best-of-seven Western Conference playoff series at two games apiece.Mark...

Florida Panthers, Erik Gudbranson agree on 1-year dealSUNRISE, Fla. (AP) The Florida Panthers and defenseman Erik Gudbranson have agreed on a one-year contract.The Panthers announced the deal on Monday. Panthers general manager Dale Tallon says Gudbranson is an ''important part of our young core.''Gudbranson was the No. 3...

Hurricanes losing Dudley, still in talks with TV's ForslundRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) Carolina Hurricanes president and general manager Don Waddell said Wednesday that executive Rick Dudley won’t return and that the team is still in talks with longtime TV play-by-play announcer John Forslund on a new deal.The 71-year-old Dudley...

AP Sports WriterMinor hockey league to use pick your playoff opponent formatBy JOSH DUBOWSAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) With the top three teams in the Eastern Conference all coming out of the Atlantic Division, there's a good chance the second and third best teams in the East will play...

Backstrom scores in shootout, Capitals beat Canucks 6-5VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) Nicklas Backstrom scored the shootout winner and the Washington Capitals rallied from a four-goal deficit and beat the Vancouver Canucks 6-5 on Friday night.The Canucks led by four goals late in the second period, but couldn't withstand...

AP Hockey WritersOttawa player is 1st in NHL to test positive for COVID-19By STEPHEN WHYNO and JOHN WAWROWThe NHL has its first known case of the new coronavirus after an Ottawa Senators player tested positive.The team announced late Tuesday that an unidentified player had tested positive for COVID-19. The...

AP Sports WriterBlue Jackets surge sets tone for unpredictable NHL playoffsBy MITCH STACYCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) The Tampa Bay Lightning, the NHL's best team, lost their first two playoff games at home to the Columbus Blue Jackets and are vulnerable without their top scorer for Game 3.Winnipeg lost its...