NHL

Kucherov, Lightning beat Canucks 5-2 in fight-filled gameVANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) Once all the fighting was finally done, the Tampa Bay Lightning looked up and found themselves in a familiar position: ahead on the scoreboard.Nikita Kucherov had a goal and an assist to reach 50 points this season...

Associated PressBackes scores shootout winner, Bruins top Golden Knights 3-2By W.G. RAMIREZLAS VEGAS (AP) David Backes scored in the sixth round of a shootout to lift Boston to a 3-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday night for the Bruins' season-high seventh straight victory.Jake DeBrusk and...

Fisher scores in 1st game back, Predators top Canucks in OTVANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) Mike Fisher's return to the Predators quickly became a coming-out-of-retirement party.Fisher scored in his first game back and Calle Jarnkrok won it 43 seconds into overtime as Nashville beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-3 on...

AP Hockey WriterAfter fire sale, Senators have little hope for near futureBy STEPHEN WHYNOWASHINGTON (AP) The recent past, present and immediate future are all bleak for the Ottawa Senators.They are on their way to missing the playoffs for the fourth time in six years, just sold off their...

CHICAGO (AP) Vladimir Tarasenko scored at 3:54 of a whistle-free overtime to give the St. Louis Blues a 6-5 come-from-behind win over Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night.Tarasenko, who also set up a goal, beat Corey Crawford on the glove side from the slot for his seventh goal after...

AP Hockey WriterNHL takes esports on ice with gaming tournamentBy STEPHEN WHYNOAs Patrik Laine climbed the ranks of youth hockey in Finland, he learned about the NHL from video games.''I learned probably just about the players,'' the Winnipeg Jets star said. ''Nowadays it's super realistic, and you can just...

Penguins G Matt Murray close to return from concussionPITTSBURGH (AP) Penguins goaltender Matt Murray looks ready to return from a concussion that's kept him out for the past three weeks.Murray practiced with his teammates on Monday and could be available on Tuesday night when the two-time defending Stanley...

AP Hockey WriterSalary cap economics squeezing out NHL's middle classBy STEPHEN WHYNOStanley Cup-winning experience isn't worth what it used to be. Neither is experience of any kind.As NHL teams move toward paying their stars more money and relying on young players to fill the gaps, hockey's middle class is...

Hockey champions laying off 30 workers because of virusJust months after winning the Stanley Cup, officials with the Tampa Bay Lightning said Monday that they are eliminating 30 positions in a sign that even winning a championship does not spare a team from the effects of the coronavirus.The positions...

AP Hockey WriterCapitals' signing of Snively is evidence of Ovechkin effectBy STEPHEN WHYNOARLINGTON, Va. (AP) Joe Snively cheered for the Washington Capitals growing up and played his youth hockey at their practice facility as part of the Little Caps program.Soon, he could be playing for the big Capitals.Snively...

Juuse Saros, Kyle Turris lead Predators past Jets, 1-0WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) Juuse Saros made 28 saves for his first shutout of the season, Kyle Turris scored in the first period and the Nashville Predators beat the Winnipeg Jets 1-0 on Sunday.The Predators are 3-1-1 in their past five...

Raanta starts 2nd straight game; Lundqvist on Rangers benchCHICAGO (AP) Goaltender Antti Raanta made his second straight start for the New York Rangers on Friday night, leaving Henrik Lundqvist on the bench.Raanta had 17 saves in Thursday's 2-1 victory at Winnipeg, improving to 6-1 with a 2.05 goals-against...