NHL

AP Hockey WriterEx-Sabres captain Brian Gionta retires after 16 NHL seasonsBy JOHN WAWROWBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Brian Gionta has retired after 16 NHL seasons, two Olympic appearances and a Stanley Cup title with the New Jersey Devils in 2003.The 39-year-old forward once captained the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens....

Associated PressSchneider makes 32 saves as Devils top Panthers 2-1By DENIS P. GORMANNEWARK, N.J. (AP) After giving up 17 goals while losing four straight, the New Jersey Devils used a strong defensive effort to end their first skid of the season.Cory Schneider stopped 32 shots to help the...

AP Hockey WriterIslanders, sparked by Barzal, top Panthers 5-1 to advanceBy JOHN WAWROWTORONTO (AP) Mathew Barzal can appreciate how the New York Islanders' identity is built around being defensively sound.In centering New York's top line, Barzal also knows it's his role to contribute on offense, too.Acknowledging it took...

Wild sign defenseman Brodin to 7-year, $42 million extensionST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) The Minnesota Wild signed defenseman Jonas Brodin to a seven-year, $42 million contract extension Tuesday, making another long-term commitment to a key piece of their blue line group.Brodin's new deal will begin with the 2021-22 season...

NHL CalendarBy Associated Press(All dates set before season was suspended until further notice.)April 4 - Regular season ends.April 8 - Stanley Cup playoffs begin.May 8-24 - IIHF World Championship, Zurich/Lausanne, Switzerland.June 1-6 - NHL scouting combine, Buffalo, N.Y.June 13 - Last possible day of Stanley Cup Final.June 17 -...

Carolina picks Williams as captain; Rask has finger surgeryRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) The Carolina Hurricanes picked forward Justin Williams as their captain and said center Victor Rask had surgery on two fingers he injured while slicing food in his kitchen.Team officials made the announcements Thursday when the team opened...

AP Hockey WriterOvechkin, a durable 'Russian machine,' reaches 1,000 gamesBy STEPHEN WHYNOWASHINGTON (AP) Alex Ovechkin is built like a linebacker with the motor of a steam engine and the mentality of a wrecking ball.He can score like no other player of this generation and few in history and...

Gagner heads back to Oilers; Canucks deal him for SpoonerVANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) The Vancouver Canucks have acquired center Ryan Spooner, sending Sam Gagner back to the Edmonton Oilers.Vancouver is the third NHL stop this season for Spooner, who has also played for the New York Rangers and...

AP Sports WriterBobrovsky says he came to Florida to win the Stanley CupBy TIM REYNOLDSSUNRISE, Fla. (AP) Sergei Bobrovsky already has two Vezina Trophies, the award handed out at the end of each season to the NHL's top goaltender.He's not looking for a third.For the Florida Panthers' new...

Associated PressIslanders overpower Panthers to sweep season seriesBy RICK MENNINGSUNRISE, Fla. (AP) The New York Islanders used good goaltending and a strong power play to beat the Florida Panthers yet again.Devon Toews and Mathew Barzal had power-plays goals in a 3:51 span early in the second period and Thomas...

Associated PressCouture's goal in 2OT lifts Sharks past Vegas in Game 2By W.G. RAMIREZLAS VEGAS (AP) Logan Couture's second goal of the game, on the power play at 5:13 of the second overtime, lifted the San Jose Sharks to a 4-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on...

Emergency to keep Blue Jackets coach out of All-Star GameNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Columbus Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella has returned to Ohio because of a family emergency, keeping him out of both Thursday night's game with Nashville and the NHL All-Star Game this weekend.The Blue Jackets announced Tortorella's...