NHL

AP Sports WriterPlayoff race about to get tougher for battered Blue JacketsBy MITCH STACYCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Dragged down by injuries and its lines patched together with rookies, the Columbus Blue Jackets are somehow still in the playoff hunt.Getting contributions from a changing cast of fill-ins who started the...

AP Sports WriterNo playoffs for Blackhawks for first time since 2008By JAY COHENCHICAGO (AP) What was left of the United Center crowd was mostly quiet while the final seconds of an era ticked off Tuesday night. There was no big rally for the Chicago Blackhawks. No final charge.It's...

Associated PressDevils slip past Bruins with 3-2 win in a shootoutBy MIKE FARRELLNEWARK, N.J. (AP) Damon Severson scored in the sixth round of the shootout Tuesday to give the New Jersey Devils a 3-2 victory over the Boston Bruins.Severson beat Jaroslav Halak with a backhand and Mackenzie Blackwood...

Red Wings acquire Perlini in trade with BlackhawksDETROIT (AP) The Detroit Red Wings have acquired forward Brendan Perlini in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks.The 23-year-old Perlini has been a healthy scratch for most of this season, appearing in just one game. But he has 45 goals and...

Markstrom stops 49 shots, Canucks blank Blackhawks 3-0VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) Jacob Markstrom had a career-high 49 saves as Vancouver Canucks beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-0 Wednesday night after retiring the numbers of retired stars Daniel and Henrik Sedin.Brandon Sutter had a goal and two assists, and Bo...

Toews breaks season drought as Blackhawks beat KingsBy The Associated PressCHICAGO (AP) Chicago's Jonathan Toews belatedly scored his first goal of the season as the Blackhawks beat Los Angeles 3-0 on Sunday.Toews, who had just three assists over Chicago's first eight games scored on the power play.Elsewhere, Philadelphia...

The Carolina Hurricanes say defenseman Joni Pitkanen will miss the rest of the season with a broken heel. General manager Jim Rutherford disclosed the severity of Pitkanen's injury Wednesday. Pitkanen was hurt with 1:57 left in the second period of a 5-3 loss to Washington on Tuesday night. He raced...

AP Hockey WriterAP source: Golden Knights trade Colin Miller to SabresBy JOHN WAWROWBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) A person with direct knowledge of the move tells The Associated Press the Buffalo Sabres have acquired defenseman Colin Miller from the Vegas Golden Knights for a pair of draft picks.The Golden Knights...

Hurricanes' Hamilton misses camp practice; status unclearRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) Carolina Hurricanes All-Star defenseman Dougie Hamilton didn't practice Thursday and his status is unclear as the team prepares for the return to play next week.The team's website reported Wednesday that Hamilton left that day's practice early ''in some visible...

AP Hockey WriterBig D-men like Orpik and Engelland still have value in FinalBy STEPHEN WHYNOWASHINGTON (AP) Brooks Orpik went 824 days between goals before scoring the winner in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.In that span, the bruising defenseman blocked 446 shots and dished out even more...

CHICAGO (AP) - Blackhawks defenseman Kimmo Timonen is inactive for Game 6 of the Western Conference finals against Anaheim.Chicago acquired the 40-year-old Timonen in a trade with Philadelphia in February, but he has struggled to come back after missing most of the season while recovering from blood clots discovered...

Raanta starts 2nd straight game; Lundqvist on Rangers benchCHICAGO (AP) Goaltender Antti Raanta is making his second straight start for the New York Rangers, leaving Henrik Lundqvist on the bench.Raanta made 17 saves in Thursday night's 2-1 victory at Winnipeg, improving to 6-1 with a 2.05 goals-against average...