NHL

AP Sports WriterWilliams embraces leadership role in return to CarolinaBy JOEDY McCREARYRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) The Carolina Hurricanes didn't bring back Justin Williams to be ''Mr. Game 7.''Not yet, anyway.The 35-year-old with the reputation for scoring big postseason goals has returned to Raleigh, tasked with bringing veteran leadership and...

Associated PressGolden Knights net 4 third-period goals to beat BlackhawksBy W.G. RAMIREZLAS VEGAS (AP) Reilly Smith scored the go-ahead goal in the third period, and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2 on Tuesday night.The Golden Knights, who swept the season series 3-0, also got third-period...

AP Hockey WriterNHL, players reach tentative deal for 56-game seasonBy STEPHEN WHYNOThe National Hockey League and players reached a tentative deal Friday to hold a 56-game season in 2021, pending the approval of each side's executive board and Canadian health officials.The season would start Jan. 13. Deputy Commissioner Bill...

Associated PressKeller scores in OT as Coyotes beat Capitals 3-2By JONATHAN DALTONGLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) This time, the Arizona Coyotes stayed calm at the end of a close game.Clayton Keller scored 4:33 into overtime, and the Coyotes rallied to beat the Washington Capitals 3-2 on Friday night.Arizona had lost...

The Latest: NHL concussion settlement worth $18.9 millionBy The Associated PressThe Latest on a tentative settlement on the NHL concussion lawsuit (all times Eastern):1:45 p.m.Each player who decides to participate in the settlement of a concussion lawsuit against the NHL would receive a $22,000 payment and the potential for...

Russell hands Maple Leafs winner in 6-4 victory over OilersEDMONTON, Alberta (AP) Thanks to Kris Russell's embarrassing mistake, Patrick Marleau wound up with one of the easiest goals of his career Thursday night.It was a big one, too.Russell accidentally fired the puck into his own net late in...

Ellis scores in shootout, Predators beat Canadiens 3-2MONTREAL (AP) Ryan Ellis scored the only goal in the shootout to lift the Nashville Predators to a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night.Scott Hartnell and Kevin Fiala scored in regulation for Nashville, and Pekka Rinne finished with...

Capitals end Blackhawks' win streak in OTBy The Associated PressCHICAGO (AP) Marcus Johansson scored at 2:20 of overtime, Braden Holtby made 32 saves and the Washington Capitals snapped Chicago's seven-game winning streak with a 3-2 victory over the Blackhawks on Friday night.Jay Beagle scored two goals, giving him...

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) The Calgary Flames acquired center Freddie Hamilton from the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday for a conditional seventh-round pick next year.Hamilton will report to the Stockton Heat of the American Hockey League.The 23-year-old Hamilton appeared in 18 NHL games last season, going scoreless in one game...

AP Hockey WriterHenrik Lundqvist says he's scheduled for open-heart surgeryBy STEPHEN WHYNOHenrik Lundqvist said Monday he's scheduled for open-heart surgery after tests revealed a heart condition that kept him from continuing to play goal in the NHL.Lundqvist wrote on Twitter that he's set to have an aortic valve, aortic...

Avalanche acquire Burakovsky in trade with CapitalsDENVER (AP) The Colorado Avalanche made a move to boost their offense by acquiring forward Andre Burakovsky in a deal with the Washington Capitals on Friday.In exchange, the Capitals pick up minor-league forward Scott Kosmachuk, a second-round pick in the 2020 draft...

AP Hockey WriterVegas re-signs goalie Robin Lehner to $25M, 5-year dealBy STEPHEN WHYNOThe Vegas Golden Knights re-signed Robin Lehner on Saturday to a $25 million, five-year contract that makes him their goaltender of the present and future and plunges one-time face of the franchise Marc-Andre Fleury into uncertainty.Lehner's deal...