Avalanche beat Lightning in OT to open Stanley Cup Final
DENVER — Andre Burakovsky scored 1 minute, 23 seconds into overtime, and the Colorado Avalanche opened the Stanley Cup Final with a 4-3 victory over the two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday night. Burakovsky ended it after the Avalanche failed to score on a power play that began...
Commissioner Gary Bettman says NHL projected to set revenue record this seasonVideo
DENVER — NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said the league is projecting record revenue this season, an increase he credits to more scoring leading to higher television ratings and more interest in the game. Bettman at his annual state of the league address Wednesday before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup...
First Call: Former Steeler makes ‘All-Underrated’ list; Derek Shelton on near no-hitter; ex-Penguin’s coaching achievement
Wednesday’s “First Call” features some praise for a few current Pittsburgh Steelers and a former Super Bowl champion. Derek Shelton reflects on Cal Mitchell’s at-bat to break up last night’s no-hit bid in St. Louis. And a former Penguin hauls in a coaching honor. No complaints here Former Steelers linebacker...
Avalanche try to finally break through with Cup title, but 2-time champ Tampa Bay stands in wayVideo
Nathan MacKinnon wouldn’t have it any other way. He and the Colorado Avalanche have stubbed their toe many times in the playoffs over the past several years, never getting past the second round. Now that they have broken through to reach the Stanley Cup Final, naturally, they need to beat...
Rangers hope to build on deep playoff run for future successVideo
Two days after being eliminated in the Eastern Conference Final, the New York Rangers still haven’t gotten over their loss. “You go on a great run like that, so many people reach out to tell you how proud they are of you, of your group, but right now it stings,”...
Winnipeg brewery to Trotz: Free beer for life to coach JetsVideo
A Winnipeg brewery says it will give Barry Trotz free beer for life if he returns to his native province to coach the Jets. Little Brown Jug Brewing Company and a local sports talk show launched the campaign Monday, several months into the NHL club’s coaching search. Trotz became available...
Avalanche have high expectations in Stanley Cup FinalVideo
Expectations for the Colorado Avalanche have not diminished since the start of the playoffs. They were favored to win the Western Conference and reach the Stanley Cup Final, and now that they’re here, oddsmakers think they have an edge over the Tampa Bay Lightning, who have won the last two...
Mark Madden: NHL is its own worst enemy, allowing stars and skill to be neutralized
The New York Rangers have been eliminated from the NHL playoffs. It’s a sad day. Hockey without heads getting targeted just isn’t hockey. But the Rangers gave themselves a proper send-off in their Game 6 exit at Tampa Bay: Jacob Trouba didn’t quite get nine heads in a duffel bag...
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,...
