NHL

AP Sports WriterCapitals winger Tom Wilson banned 20 games for preseason hitBy HOWARD FENDRICHWASHINGTON (AP) Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson was banned 20 games by the NHL on Wednesday for a blindside hit to the head of an opponent during the preseason, a punishment reflecting what the league...

NEW YORK (AP) The New York Rangers have waited all season for their top line to dominate a game.Against a downtrodden opponent Friday night, Rick Nash, Derick Brassard and Mats Zuccarello stepped to the forefront.Zuccarello recorded his first NHL hat trick, and Brassard and Nash each assisted on...

AP Hockey WriterDevils GM doesn't care if Zacha considers signing with KHLBy JOHN WAWROWBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) New Jersey Devils general manager Ray Shero says he is still attempting to sign center Pavel Zacha amid concerns the former first-round draft pick will play in the Kontinental Hockey League this...

Washington 2 0 2 1-5Columbus 0 2 2 0-4First Period-1, Washington, Ward 10 (Fehr, Alzner), 9:51. 2, Washington, Chimera 3 (Latta, Orpik), 19:22.Second Period-3, Columbus, Johnson 3 (Foligno, Wisniewski), 8:48 (pp). 4, Columbus, Foligno 15 (Connauton, Johansen), 11:57 (pp).Third Period-5, Columbus,...

AP Sports WriterAs Wild camp begins, Parise injured but 'not overly serious'By DAVE CAMPBELLST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Minnesota Wild training camp began with one notable absence: Zach Parise.He's being held off the ice for now because of a back injury, his status considered day to day. Coach Bruce...

AP Hockey WriterCalgary coach in limbo after allegedly using racial slursBy JOHN WAWROWBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Bill Peters’ status as the Calgary Flames coach - and whatever future he might have in the sport - have been placed into question while the NHL and the team investigate allegations he...

Washington 2 0 2 1-5Columbus 0 2 2 0-4First Period-1, Washington, Ward 10 (Fehr, Alzner), 9:51. 2, Washington, Chimera 3 (Latta, Orpik), 19:22.Second Period-3, Columbus, Johnson 3 (Foligno, Wisniewski), 8:48 (pp). 4, Columbus, Foligno 15 (Connauton, Johansen), 11:57 (pp).Third Period-5, Columbus,...

Detroit defenseman Niklas Kronwall retires after 15 seasonsDETROIT (AP) Niklas Kronwall is retiring after 15 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings.The hard-hitting defenseman announced his retirement in a video Tuesday on the team's Twitter account. He will remain with the Red Wings as an adviser to the general...

Makar, Hutchinson help Avalanche force Game 7 against StarsEDMONTON, Alberta (AP) The biggest boost for the Colorado Avalanche in must-win game after must-win game comes from an unlikely source - their third-string goaltender.Michael Hutchinson stopped 27 shots and the Avalanche beat the Dallas Stars 4-1 on Wednesday night...

The Los Angeles Kings were finally able to raise their Stanley Cup banner Saturday. Now they must find the form that helped them win a championship. After a less than inspiring performance in the opener, the Kings will visit the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday. Los Angeles at Colorado When: 9:00 PM...

Blues' Tarasenko to miss weekend games at Boston, DetroitST. LOUIS (AP) Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko will not travel with the team for weekend games at Boston and Detroit after suffering an unspecified upper-body injury in a win over Los Angeles.General manager Doug Armstrong said Friday that Tarasenko will...

AP Hockey WriterCapitals invest big money and time in forward Tom WilsonBy STEPHEN WHYNOTom Wilson does not want to boast he is now a big part of the Washington Capitals' core.His new contract does that for him.When the Capitals signed the physical, top-line right winger to a $31 million,...