NHL

AP Hockey WriterConnolly rediscovers game, revitalizes career with CapitalsBy STEPHEN WHYNOARLINGTON, Va. (AP) Hockey is easy again for Brett Connolly.Once a blue chip prospect, it looked awfully difficult for Connolly during his first four NHL seasons. He couldn't produce like he did in junior ranks or the minors,...

NEW YORK -- Nashville defenseman Anton Volchenkov has been suspended for four games for an illegal check to the head of Calgary forward Michael Ferland. The NHL announced the punishment on Sunday. Volchenkov also loses $21,505.36 in salary, which goes to the players' emergency assistance fund. The play occurred at 19:06...

ST. LOUIS (AP) - St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong and coach Ken Hitchcock sat side by side, presenting a united front for a franchise bleeding from its latest playoff flop.Armstrong on Tuesday praised Hitchcock's job in transforming the Blues from also-rans to legitimate Stanley Cup contenders, but...

With Tortorella's dog ailing, Gretzky becomes All-Star coachLOS ANGELES (AP) Wayne Gretzky will coach the Metropolitan Division team in the NHL All-Star Game on Sunday. He is replacing Columbus' John Tortorella, who is skipping the weekend festivities because one of his dogs is ailing.The NHL announced the move...

AP Hockey WritersFleury among players exposed for Vegas NHL expansion draftBy JOHN WAWROW and STEPHEN WHYNOThree-time Stanley Cup champion goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, Nashville forward James Neal and Anaheim defenseman Sami Vatanen are among the high-profile players available for the Vegas Golden Knights to select in the NHL expansion draft.Now...

NEW YORK (AP) Montreal welcomed back star goaltender Carey Price and continued its winning ways with a 5-3 victory over the New York Islanders on Friday, re-establishing the Canadiens as the NHL Eastern Conference pacesetter.The Canadiens stretched their lead atop the Atlantic Division to nine points and moved...

San Jose 1 2 2-5Vancouver 0 0 1-1First Period-1, San Jose, Irwin 4 (Tennyson, Couture), 17:43.Second Period-2, San Jose, Karlsson 9 (Burns), 6:24. 3, San Jose, Pavelski 28 (Couture, Marleau), 19:45 (pp).Third Period-4, San Jose, Tierney 1 (Burns, Vlasic), 3:55. 5, Vancouver,...

Buffalo 0 2 2-4Arizona 1 0 0-1First Period-1, Arizona, Murphy 4 (Gagner, Dahlbeck), 1:17.Second Period-2, Buffalo, Meszaros 6 (Benoit, Grigorenko), 4:27 (pp). 3, Buffalo, Meszaros 7 (Deslauriers, Dalpe), 13:36.Third Period-4, Buffalo, Gionta 11 (Foligno, Weber), 18:11 (en-sh). 5, Buffalo, Ristolainen 8 (Gionta, Moulson),...

TORONTO (AP) - Toronto team president Brendan Shanahan says forward Nazem Kadri will be held out of the Maple Leafs' next two games.Kadri missed a team meeting Sunday and was made a healthy scratch for Monday's game.Shanahan says that after consulting with general manager Dave Nonis and the coaches,...

Judge: NHL to arbitrate co-owner's case against PredatorsNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The co-owner suing the Nashville Predators will have to plead his case against the franchise's ownership before NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman after a judge refused his bid to keep his lawsuit in a Tennessee court.According to online court...

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - The Tampa Bay Lightning tested Henrik Lundqvist again - and this time the New York Rangers goalie passed with high marks.Lundqvist stopped 38 shots to rebound from two subpar performances and help the Rangers shut down the Lightning 5-1 on Friday night in Game 4...

NEW YORK (AP) The New York Islanders sent league-leading Dallas to its first back-to-back losses of the season, winning 6-5 on Sunday, led by two goals and an assist from Kyle Okposo.Also Sunday, Florida stretched its winning streak to nine by beating Minnesota 2-1.New York's Cal Clutterbuck scored...