Avalanche veteran Erik Johnson, rookie Bowen Byram form tight bond
DENVER — There’s a 13-year age gap in the pairing of Colorado Avalanche defensemen Erik Johnson and Bowen Byram. They play different styles, too. But their chemistry on the ice is undeniable and their stories have another link, too, as both have dealt with the lingering effects of concussions. Longtime...
Avalanche, Lightning set for anticipated Stanley Cup clash
Steven Stamkos watched the Colorado Avalanche the past few years and figured he and the Tampa Bay Lightning would see them in the Stanley Cup Final before this. The Lightning are back, looking for the NHL’s first three-peat in almost 40 years, and the Colorado core led by Nathan MacKinnon...
Steven Stamkos leads Lightning past Rangers into Stanley Cup Final
TAMPA, Fla — Steven Stamkos scored two goals and the two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning are headed to the Stanley Cup Final for the third straight year after beating the New York Rangers, 2-1, in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference final on Saturday night. Stamkos put the Lightning...
Lightning say it won’t be easy to dispatch resilient RangersVideo
TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Lightning know what type of effort it will take to finish off the New York Rangers. The two-time defending champions are one win away from a third straight trip to the Stanley Cup Final, where they would continue their bid to become the first...
Colorado Avalanche ride 2 goalies into Stanley Cup FinalVideo
Matt Murray stepped on the ice on the first day of the 2017 NHL playoffs ready to lead the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins to the Stanley Cup again. He didn’t make it to puck drop. An injury during warmups sidelined him for a month and turned the job over to...
Mikhail Sergachev scores 2, Lightning beat Rangers in Game 5
NEW YORK — Mikhail Sergachev scored his second goal of the game with 1 minute, 50 seconds remaining to break a tie and lead the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 3-1 victory over the New York Rangers on Thursday night for a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference final. Brandon...
Avalanche remain in holding pattern, start early prep for final
DENVER — There were quite a few big names missing from the ice for the Colorado Avalanche’s practice Thursday: Captain Gabriel Landeskog, defensemen Devon Toews and Josh Manson, forward Andre Burakovsky. No need for concern, though. Just a maintenance day for that particular group of Avalanche players as they rest...
Rangers in familiar spot, back home after 2 road lossesVideo
The New York Rangers have been in a similar position before in this postseason: looking to reverse the momentum back home after dropping two games on the road. In the first round against Pittsburgh, they returned home after falling into a 3-1 series hole and won three straight to advance....
Lightning beat Rangers in Game 4 to even East final
TAMPA, Fla. — Nikita Kucherov scored on a breakaway and Andrei Vasilevskiy had 33 saves Tuesday night, helping the Tampa Bay Lightning shut down the New York Rangers 4-1 and even the NHL’s Eastern Conference final at two games apiece. Kucherov took a pass from Ondrej Palat in the middle...
Avalanche win battle of attrition to reach Stanley Cup final
With Nazem Kadri out with an injury, Colorado’s Mikko Rantanen shifted to center to take his spot and was on the receiving end of a few chops on the back of his leg from Edmonton’s Duncan Keith that sent him to the ice. Rantanen rose to his feet, shoved Keith...
Avalanche finish sweep of Oilers in OT to advance to Stanley Cup Final
EDMONTON, Alberta — Artturi Lehkonen scored 1:19 into overtime, and Colorado rallied to beat the Edmonton Oilers, 6-5, on Monday night, completing a four-game sweep in the Western Conference final and sending the Avalanche to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2001. Colorado will take on the...
Jets’ Kyle Connor wins Lady Byng for gentlemanly conduct
NEW YORK — Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor won the Lady Byng Trophy, given to the NHL’s most gentlemanly player. The league announced the honor Monday night before Game 4 of the Western Conference final between Colorado and Edmonton. Connor tied for the second-fewest number of minor penalties during the...
First Call: Ex-Steeler pans Devin Bush; Pittsburgh prospect impresses at NHL scouting combine
Monday’s “First Call” has a scathing critique of Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Devin Bush. Former Pirate Cole Tucker signs with a new team. The Cleveland Browns retain a piece of their puzzle at a position of need for the Steelers. And a local product impresses at the NHL scouting combine. Hoge...
Palat’s late goal lifts Lightning over Rangers, back into seriesVideo
TAMPA, Fla. — Just when it appeared the New York Rangers might be ready to push Tampa Bay to the brink of elimination, the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Lightning showed they were nowhere near finished. Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos scored to wipe out a two-goal deficit, and Ondrej...
Bruins’ Patrice Bergeron wins Selke Trophy for record 5th timeVideo
Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron won the Selke Trophy as the NHL’s best defensive forward for a record-breaking fifth time. The honor unveiled Sunday before Game 3 of the Eastern Conference final could be Bergeron’s last if he decides to retire on the verge of his 37th birthday. He does...
Avalanche win again, push Oilers to brink of elimination
EDMONTON, Alberta — J.T. Compher came out of the penalty box to give Colorado the lead with 7:18 left and the Avalanche beat the Edmonton Oilers, 4-2, on Saturday night to take a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference finals. Called for tripping Leon Draisaitl just three minutes after Ryan...
Rangers beat Lightning in New York for 2-0 series lead
NEW YORK — Mika Zibanejad scored in the third period, Igor Shesterkin stopped 29 shots and the New York Rangers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning, 3-2, on Friday night to take a 2-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference finals. K’Andre Miller and Kaapo Kakko scored in the first period,...
Avalanche shut out Oilers for 2-0 series lead
DENVER — Nazem Kadri had three assists in a 2-minute, 4-second span in the second period, backup Pavel Francouz stopped 24 shots for his second career playoff shutout and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Edmonton Oilers, 4-0, on Thursday night to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals....
‘Kid Line’ helping Rangers get first series lead this playoffsVideo
The New York Rangers’ third line has been making valuable contributions all season, and the trio’s success in Game 1 against Tampa Bay is a big reason the team finally has a lead during a postseason series. Dubbed “The Kid Line” because of their ages — Filip Chytil is 22,...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans pounce on Doug Whaley’s Jack Ham comments; Pirates fans rip roster; reader backs Jacob Trouba hits
Despite a good week out west, fans are still piling on the Pittsburgh Pirates. Criticism of Jacob Trouba’s hits have hockey fans in a snit. And someone was critical of a Super Stiller from the 1970s. Perhaps the ultimate Pittsburgh sin. All that and more in this week’s “U mad,...
Rangers rout Lightning, take Game 1 of Eastern Conference finalsVideo
NEW YORK — Filip Chytil scored twice in the second period, and the New York Rangers routed the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning, 6-2, on Wednesday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. Mika Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin and Frank Vatrano each had a goal and...
Mark Madden: Avalanche-Oilers matchup shows what hockey could be
Colorado beat Edmonton, 8-6, in the first game of the Western Conference final Tuesday. That game is how fans want hockey to be: 14 goals, 84 shots, fast, creative, fun, a ton of prime scoring chances and a fierce comeback by the Oilers that fell just short. The stars delivered:...
Avalanche hold off Oilers for wild 8-6 victory in Game 1
DENVER — In a frenetic game that featured 14 goals, Colorado and Edmonton players came away with the same thought — defense can’t be so optional. J.T. Compher scored twice, Cale Makar had a goal and two assists and the Avalanche held off the Oilers, 8-6, on Tuesday night in...
Vasilevskiy, Shesterkin highlight Lightning-Rangers matchupVideo
Andrei Vasilevskiy has won a Vezina Trophy and two Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Igor Shesterkin is a finalist for the Vezina this year as he leads the New York Rangers in their pursuit of their first championship since 1994 and second in 82 years. The Russian goalies...
Rangers beat Carolina in Game 7 to reach Eastern Conference finals
RALEIGH, N.C. — Chris Kreider scored twice, Igor Shesterkin was strong in net again, and the New York Rangers ended Carolina’s perfect postseason run at home, beating the Hurricanes, 6-2, in the decisive Game 7 of their second-round playoff series Monday night. Shesterkin — a finalist for the for both...
