NHL

NHL suspends Rangers' Lemieux for 2 preliminary round gamesNEW YORK (AP) New York Rangers forward Brendan Lemieux has been suspended by the NHL for the first two games of the team's preliminary-round series against Carolina because of an illegal check that injured Colorado forward Joonas Donskoi in March.The...

VOORHEES, N.J. (AP) Danny Briere could have scrapped by for one more NHL season, hung on as fourth-line center and provided veteran leadership for a team needing an extra push toward a Stanley Cup.At 37, Briere knew his best days as a player were behind him.What's ahead instead...

AP Hockey WriterDevils contact Kovalchuk to discuss pending return to NHLBy JOHN WAWROWNew Jersey Devils general manager Ray Shero is on the verge of landing yet another asset in his team's rebuilding plan: Ilya Kovalchuk.Shero confirmed on Tuesday that Kovalchuk would like to return to the NHL next season,...

The Latest: Boston Bruins force Game 7 in Stanley Cup FinalST. LOUIS (AP) The Latest from Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final between Boston and St. Louis (all times local):9:57 p.m.The Boston Bruins have forced Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Final against St. Louis.Boston got goals...

AP Sports WriterDevils win in shootout for Arizona's 4th straight lossBy TOM CANAVANNEWARK, N.J. (AP) Coleman and Pavel Zacha scored in the fifth and sixth rounds of the shootout and New Jersey Devils hurt Arizona's playoff chances with a 2-1 victory Saturday, sending the Coyotes to their fourth...

Russell hands Maple Leafs winner in 6-4 victory over OilersEDMONTON, Alberta (AP) Thanks to Kris Russell's embarrassing mistake, Patrick Marleau wound up with one of the easiest goals of his career Thursday night.It was a big one, too.Russell accidentally fired the puck into his own net late in...

AP Hockey WriterCapitals brace for Hathaway to be suspended for spittingBy STEPHEN WHYNOARLINGTON, Va. (AP) Garnet Hathaway was ejected for spitting on an opponent and now the Washington Capitals winger may have to swallow more punishment from the NHL.Hathaway was given a match penalty for spitting on Anaheim...

St. Louis 0 1 0 0-1Detroit 0 0 1 1-2First Period-None.Second Period-1, St. Louis, Steen 23 (Pietrangelo, Stastny), 9:38 (pp).Third Period-2, Detroit, Cole 21 (Abdelkader, Quincey), :24.Overtime-3, Detroit, Abdelkader 20 (Zidlicky, Kronwall), :24 (pp).Shots on Goal-St. Louis 8-11-5-0-24. Detroit 10-5-8-2-25.Goalies-St. Louis,...

Sens GM says Boucher, coaching staff returning next seasonOTTAWA, Ontario (AP) Guy Boucher will be back behind the Ottawa Senators bench next season, and so will his entire staff.Speaking on an Ottawa sports radio station, Senators general manager Pierre Dorion confirmed that Boucher and his assistants will return...

Little-used veteran goalie Cory Schneider waived by DevilsNEWARK, N.J. (AP) Veteran goaltender Cory Schneider, one of the main faces for the New Jersey Devils, has been placed on waivers.The Devils said on Twitter on Monday the 33-year-old player would be assigned to Binghamton of the AHL if not...

AP Sports WriterSharks retain Bob Boughner as coach, removing interim tagBy GREG BEACHAMThe San Jose Sharks saw enough from Bob Boughner behind their bench last season to be confident he's the coach to lead them back to the top.Sharks general manager Doug Wilson formally retained Boughner as San Jose's...

Lightning sign veteran defenseman Kevin ShattenkirkTAMPA, Fla. (AP) Veteran defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk has signed a one-year, $1.75 million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.Lightning vice president and general manager Julien BriseBois announced the deal Monday.Shattenkirk played 73 games for the New York Rangers last season, finishing with two...