NHL

Associated PressBlues fire coach Ken Hitchcock, promote Mike YeoBy JIM SALTERST. LOUIS (AP) The Blues abruptly fired coach Ken Hitchcock on Wednesday, cutting short the veteran's final season in St. Louis and putting coach-in-waiting Mike Yeo in charge of the underperforming team months earlier than planned.General manager Doug...

NEW YORK (AP) - Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog and forward Cody McLeod were fined by the league for their actions in the waning seconds of a 3-1 loss to Minnesota on Saturday.Landeskog was fined $5,000 for a punch he threw at Wild forward Mikko Koivu as both players...

LAS VEGAS (AP) - The NHL is officially exploring expansion.Commissioner Gary Bettman said Wednesday that the league is opening an expansion review process to consider whether to add new franchises to its 30-team league. Bettman cited Las Vegas, Seattle and Quebec City as the markets that have expressed the...

Coyotes recall goalie Peters to serve as emergency backupGLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) The Arizona Coyotes have recalled goalie Justin Peters from the Tucson Roadrunners of the AHL to serve as an emergency backup after starter Mike Smith injured his left leg.Smith was injured in Tuesday night's game against Ottawa...

NEW YORK (AP) The NHL will play a 3-on-3 All-Star tournament instead of a traditional All-Star game.The NHL and the players union announced the format change Wednesday for the Sunday, Jan. 31 event in Nashville, Tennessee.''We are introducing a creative new format this year in Nashville not only...

AP Sports WriterBlue Jackets looking for spark from long home standBy MITCH STACYCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) The Columbus Blue Jackets commanded the NHL spotlight earlier this season with a surprise 16-game winning streak, but lately they've struggled to play crisp hockey in consecutive periods, let alone in consecutive games.The...

Senators owner Melnyk cautiously optimistic about teamOTTAWA, Ontario (AP) Senators owner Eugene Melnyk has a few new priorities following a life-saving liver transplant - and a renewed focus on some old ones, too.Away from the rink, he's taking up a close-to-home fight. Melnyk launched his new foundation, The...

Washington 1 0 2-3Pittsburgh 0 0 0-0First Period-1, Washington, Fehr 8 (Beagle, Laich), 17:47.Second Period-None.Third Period-2, Washington, Johansson 10 (Kuznetsov, Orpik), 5:36. 3, Washington, Fehr 9 (Ward, Carlson), 10:16.Shots on Goal-Washington 9-16-9-34. Pittsburgh 9-10-12-31.Goalies-Washington, Holtby. Pittsburgh, Fleury. A-18,663 (18,387). T-2:23.

Eastern Conference Atlantic GP ...

N.Y. Islanders 1 0 0-1Washington 1 1 3-5First Period-1, N.Y. Islanders, Bailey 2 (Tavares, Leddy), 5:48. 2, Washington, Kuznetsov 1 (Johansson, Alzner), 9:05.Second Period-3, Washington, Alzner 2 (Brouwer, Beagle), 10:31.Third Period-4, Washington, Laich 1 (Beagle, Chimera), 2:42. 5, Washington,...

MONTREAL (AP) - Tyler Johnson scored about a minute into overtime to lift the Tampa Bay Lightning over the Montreal Canadiens 1-0 in a battle between Eastern Conference leaders on Tuesday night.Johnson took his own rebound and saw the puck go in off defenseman Tom Gilbert's skate.The Lightning (42-20-6)...

Anaheim 1 1 2-4Calgary 2 0 0-2First Period-1, Anaheim, Silfverberg 3 (Kesler, Beauchemin), 3:58 (pp). 2, Calgary, Monahan 3 (Gaudreau, Russell), 4:37. 3, Calgary, Ferland 3, 5:44.Second Period-4, Anaheim, Cogliano 2 (Palmieri), 16:42.Third Period-5, Anaheim, Beleskey 4 (Silfverberg, Beauchemin), 1:11 (pp). 6, Anaheim,...