NHL

The playoff chase in the NHL's Eastern Conference has gone from compelling to downright wacky.Five teams, fighting for four spots, are now separated by just three points after Tuesday's thrilling night of action. The race tightened significantly because of Ottawa's stirring rally from a three-goal deficit against Pittsburgh. The...

Winnipeg Jets name forward Blake Wheeler captainWINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) The Winnipeg Jets named forward Blake Wheeler as their captain Wednesday.Wheeler fills the void left when former captain Andrew Ladd who was dealt to Chicago in February.The 6-foot-5 Wheeler has been with the Jets since the team relocated from...

WASHINGTON (AP) - Alex Ovechkin is 29, and his hair is flecked with gray nowadays. His coaches and linemates keep changing, as have the ways opponents try to stop him.After 10 years in the NHL, one thing that stays the same about the guy known as Alex the Great:...

Long wait finally ends for Eric Lindros, Hall of Fame classTORONTO (AP) Eric Lindros had just received his Hockey Hall of Fame ring and was feeling particularly buoyant.''Check it out!'' he said, raising his left hand and shiny new ring to show to the television camera. ''Check it...

The Winnipeg Jets have agreed to terms with defenseman Jacob Trouba on a $6 million, two-year deal, ending his long contract stalemate. The team announced the deal Monday. Trouba will count $3 million against the salary cap for the remainder of this season and next. He'll make a pro-rated $2.5 million...

OTTAWA (AP) The Ottawa Senators have signed defenseman Mark Fraser to a one-year, two-way contract.The deal will carry an annual value of $800,000 in the NHL and $125,000 in the American Hockey League.Fraser, 28, spent time with both the New Jersey Devils and the AHL's Albany Devils last...

AP Hockey WriterFlailing Flyers lack answers for recent strugglesBy STEPHEN WHYNOWith a series of ''I don't know'' responses, captain Claude Giroux was at a loss to explain what has happened to the Philadelphia Flyers lately.Eleven losses in 14 games have erased the positive vibes and good feelings from their...

Jan. 1 - Winter Classic: Chicago at Washington.Jan. 22-26 - All-Star break.Feb. 21 - Stadium Series: Los Angeles vs. San Jose at Santa Clara, Calif.April 11 - Regular season ends.

Sullivan not worried about Malkin going into Game 4SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) Evgeni Malkin has no goals in the first three games of the Stanley Cup Final and none in his past six overall.Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan isn't worried.Hours before Game 4 of the Cup final against...

Calgary 0 1 2 1-4Los Angeles 2 1 0 0-3First Period-1, Los Angeles, Lewis 6 (Doughty, McNabb), 2:26. 2, Los Angeles, Gaborik 11 (Kopitar, Williams), 17:50 (pp).Second Period-3, Los Angeles, McBain 2 (Brown, Williams), 4:32 (pp). 4, Calgary, Gaudreau...

AP Hockey WriterNHL, NHLPA launch program to help players prepare for futureBy STEPHEN WHYNOThe NHL and NHLPA want players to plan for life after hockey long before they hang up their skates.Now they have an avenue to do so.The league and union on Thursday announced a new program intended...

Penguins' Letang hurt soon after scoring against Red WingsDETROIT (AP) Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang twice left a game against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night after appearing to injure his left knee.Letang got tangled up with Detroit's Thomas Vanek early in the first period and twisted...