NHL

Maple Leafs sign Auston Matthews to 5-year, $58 million dealTORONTO (AP) The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed star center Auston Matthews to a five-year contract extension at an annual average of $11.6 million.The former first overall draft pick is in his third season with the Leafs. He was...

AP Sports WriterDevils rebound from worst season in nearly 30 yearsBy TOM CANAVANNEWARK, N.J. (AP) The worst season in nearly three decades is just a recent memory, and so is the five-year drought.The New Jersey Devils are back in the playoffs, and again in the hunt for the...

Khudobin helps Stars beat Predators for 4th win in 5 gamesNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Dallas Stars interim coach Rick Bowness liked what he saw from his team in its latest win.Anton Khudobin stopped 37 shots and the Stars beat the Nashville Predators 4-1 Saturday night.Blake Comeau, Roope Hintz, Jamie...

Rangers agree to contract with free agent forward FontaineNEW YORK (AP) The New York Rangers agreed to terms Sunday with free agent forward Justin Fontaine on a two-way contract and assigned him to Hartford of the American Hockey League.Fontaine, 28, has skated in 197 NHL games over three...

AP Hockey WriterBruins, Blues meet in Stanley Cup Final 49 years in makingBy STEPHEN WHYNOSeeing the famous photo of Bobby Orr scoring the 1970 Stanley Cup-winning goal to beat his St. Louis Blues doesn't bring back bad memories for Scotty Bowman.''Not really,'' the legendary coach said. ''Because we didn't...

1980s Oilers enforcer Dave Semenko dies of cancer at 59EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) Former Edmonton Oilers tough guy Dave Semenko, who protected Wayne Gretzky in the 1980s, has died. He was 59.The Oilers say Semenko died after a short battle with cancer. A team spokesman said Semenko died in...

AP Hockey WriterIn NHL first, 4 women selected to officiate prospect gamesBy JOHN WAWROWThe NHL for the first time selected four female officials to work on the ice at prospect tournaments held this weekend.Katie Guay and Kelly Cooke were selected as referees, while Kirsten Welsh and Kendall Hanley will...

Stars introduce Montgomery as coach, from college to NHLDALLAS (AP) The Dallas Stars have made Jim Montgomery the second head coach in three years to go from the college ranks to the NHL.Montgomery was introduced Friday as the new coach of the Stars. Montgomery was 125-57-26 the past...

Red Wings' Abdelkader fined $5,000 for spearing IslanderNEW YORK (AP) Detroit Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader has been fined $5,000 by the NHL for spearing New York Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield in Tuesday night's game.The league's department of player safety handed down the fine Wednesday.The incident occurred in...

AP Sports WriterBlackhawks take on Bruins in Winter Classic at Notre DameBy JAY COHENSOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) The Winter Classic is going back to college - and it's bringing along two familiar foes.Patrick Kane and the Chicago Blackhawks. Patrice Bergeron and the Boston Bruins.Hockey at the home of...

AP Sports WriterBig Buff has Winnipeg Jets on verge of 1st West finalBy TERESA M. WALKERNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Dustin Byfuglien busted out his dance moves for a little celebration of his latest big goal, which may have caught many people by surprise.Not his teammates.''He's so loose before games,''...

AP Sports WriterLightning lose Bishop but top Penguins 3-1 in Game 1By WILL GRAVESPITTSBURGH (AP) The sight of their franchise goalie writhing in agony did little to slow down the Tampa Bay Lightning.How could it? Watching the bold-faced names on their roster taken off the ice with their...