Lightning benefit from exploiting cap loophole with Nikita Kucherov
Nikita Kucherov would have much rather grinded through the season with his Tampa Bay Lightning teammates than sit out all 56 games while recovering from hip surgery. “Missing a whole year, you ask any player, you don’t want to be that guy,” Kucherov said. Kucherov was that guy. The leading...
First Call: Tyrann Mathieu claps back at Le’Veon Bell; Tyler Glasnow injured; Marc-Andre Fleury outduels Carey Price
Former Pittsburgh Steeler Le’Veon Bell is now getting heat from ex-teammates in Kansas City after ripping Chiefs coach Andy Reid. Super Bowl winner Chris Godwin looks back on how his Penn State days aided his career. Marc-Andre Fleury claims Game 1 in his goalie duel against Carey Price. Tyler Glasnow...
Vegas opens Stanley Cup semifinal with win over Montreal
LAS VEGAS — Shea Theodore had a goal and an assist, Marc-Andre Fleury made 28 saves and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Montreal Canadiens, 4-1, in the first game of the Stanley Cup semifinal. Vegas’ fifth-straight victory in the playoffs ended Montreal’s postseason win streak at seven. Game 2...
AP: New York Rangers hiring Gerard Gallant as coachVideo
Gerard Gallant is set to join one of hockey’s oldest organizations instead of the NHL’s newest franchise after reaching an agreement to coach the New York Rangers. Gallant and the Rangers have a deal for him to be their next coach, a person with direct knowledge of the decision told...
Semyon Varlamov, red-hot Islanders beat Lightning in Game 1Video
TAMPA, Fla. — Semyon Varlamov and the New York Islanders are on a roll. The veteran goaltender made 30 saves to outplay Andrei Vasilevskiy, and the Islanders got goals from Mathew Barkov and Ryan Pulock to hold off defending champion Tampa Bay, 2-1, in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup...
Islanders-Lightning, Knights-Canadiens in uncertain final 4
If the teams left in the NHL playoffs are sick and tired of facing the same opponents over and over, they are in luck in the semifinals. After exclusively divisional play this season and through the first two rounds, the hockey playoffs are down to a final four of teams...
Cole Caufield, college stars add ‘young energy’ to NHL playoffsVideo
When the Montreal Canadiens were one goal away from being eliminated in the first round, and then again when they were one goal away from reaching the Stanley Cup semifinals, Cole Caufield set up the overtime winner each time. Caufield was dominating college hockey just two months earlier and suddenly...
‘New York Saints’ moniker catches on during Islanders runVideo
Seth Tierney got chills hearing Islanders fans at a jam-packed Nassau Coliseum chant, “New York Saints! New York Saints!” By then, Tierney had figured out it wasn’t about the now-defunct indoor lacrosse team by the same name he played three seasons for. The NFL’s New Orleans Saints knew it wasn’t...
Brad Larsen gets first NHL head-coaching job with Blue Jackets
When Brad Larsen went from old player to young coach and earning an NHL head job became a goal, he spent time on a hockey database website looking up the paths of those who came before him. Larsen found many of the most successful coaches took their time and embraced...
First Call: Ravens looking at Todd Gurley; Browns DBs getting healthy; Robert Morris rink negotiations appear dead
Steelers fans will be interested in Friday’s “First Call” as we have updates on two AFC North rivals. The Cleveland Browns are getting healthy in the secondary, and the Baltimore Ravens’ deep group of running backs may be adding another familiar name. Meanwhile, we celebrate the present and the past...
Vegas ousts top-seeded Colorado in 6 games
LAS VEGAS — Alex Pietrangelo scored his first goal of the postseason to break a tie late in the second period, and the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Colorado Avalanche 6-3 in Game 6 of their second-round series on Thursday night to advance to the Stanley Cup semifinals. Nick Holden,...
Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, Nathan MacKinnon finalists for NHL MVP honors
NEW YORK — Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews and Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon have been named the finalists for the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP. McDavid, considered the likely winner of the award, dominated the 2020-21 scoring race with 105 points in 56...
First Call: Steelers’ Devin Bush ‘100%’ sure he can cover Browns’ Jarvis Landry; Ray Shero’s new job; Dave Parker turns 70
Thursday’s “First Call” features a bold Devin Bush, as the Steelers linebacker talks about tough tasks in coverage. There are a few newsworthy items about some former Penn State stars. A familiar Penguins face is heading out to Minnesota to reunite with Bill Guerin. Plus, we wish a happy birthday...
Islanders finish off Bruins in 6 games
UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Brock Nelson scored twice in another big second period by New York, Semyon Varlamov stopped 23 shots, and the Islanders beat the Boston Bruins 6-2 in Game 6 on Wednesday night to advance to the Stanley Cup semifinals for the second straight year. Kyle Palmieri, Trais Zajac,...
Minnesota GM Bill Guerin hires Ray Shero as senior advisor
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild hired longtime NHL general manager Ray Shero on Wednesday as a senior advisor to general manager Bill Guerin, who played for and worked under Shero with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Shero was fired last year by New Jersey, midway through his fifth season as...
Officiating takes center stage midway through NHL playoffs
Officiating has been on center stage midway through the NHL playoffs. Star forward Connor McDavid didn’t draw a single penalty when Edmonton got swept in the first round. Tampa Bay dominated a second-round series against Carolina thanks to a potent power play. And a war of words between coaches Barry...
Stone scores early in OT, Knights beat Avs 3-2 in Game 5
DENVER — Mark Stone blocked a shot on the defensive end and by the time he spun around, a pass was waiting for him with nothing but clear sailing ahead. A burst of speed — even as tired as he was — and a wrist shot later, he was being...
First Call: Minkah Fitzpatrick wanted fifth-year option for Steelers’ teammate; Gerrit Cole’s awkward Spider Tack response
Wednesday’s “First Call” features interesting comments by Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick on some recent front office decisions. Gerrit Cole gives a bizarre explanation about Spider Tack. Levon Kirkland sees a lot of himself in a potential NFL star linebacker. And yet another entertaining game out west between the Colorado...
Robert Morris hockey players withholding transfer announcements to show solidarity with Colonials programs, ex-teammates
With every passing day, it’s getting harder and harder to resuscitate the Robert Morris hockey programs. It’s been almost two weeks since the university abruptly eliminated the successful men’s and women’s teams. While supporters and alumni are scurrying to come up with funds to keep them alive — or plans...
Lightning eliminate Hurricanes, advance to Stanley Cup semifinals
RALEIGH, N.C. — Andrei Vasilevskiy was at his best again with the Tampa Bay Lightning in position to close out a playoff series. Throw in a couple of timely goals from Brayden Point and Ross Colton, and the reigning Stanley Cup champions are a step closer to playing for another...
Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy fined $25,000 for criticizing refs
BOSTON — The NHL fined Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy $25,000 on Tuesday for his criticism of the officials after Game 4 of Boston’s second-round playoff series against the New York Islanders. The Islanders scored three power-play goals on four chances in a 5-4 victory on Monday night while being called...
Tyler Toffoli scores OT goal as Canadiens complete sweep of Jets
MONTREAL — Tyler Toffoli scored at 1:39 of overtime, lifting the Montreal Canadiens to a 3-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Monday night and a four-game sweep of their second-round playoff series. Toffoli took a cross-crease pass from Cole Caufield and beat Connor Hellebuyck with a one-timer for the...
Islanders win 5-4 to take 3-2 lead in series over Bruins
BOSTON — With five minutes left and his New York Islanders bleeding away their three-goal lead, coach Barry Trotz called a timeout and told his players to breathe. “He just calmed everyone down,” said forward Josh Bailey, who had a goal and an assist in the 5-4 victory that gave...
Marchessault’s hat trick lifts Vegas to 5-1 win over Avalanche
LAS VEGAS — After the Vegas Golden Knights lost the first two games of their second-round series against the Colorado Avalanche, captain Mark Stone said no team is out of a series until it loses at home. After sweeping two in Vegas, the Golden Knights are back in business. Jonathan...
First Call: How Julio Jones trade may impact Steelers; no Selke for Sidney Crosby; curtain call for Andrew McCutchen
Monday’s “First Call” tells us how the Julio Jones trade will impact the Steelers. Andrew McCutchen is getting hot. Sidney Crosby is shut out of the Selke voting. And local product Brandon Saad is back on the score sheet in the NHL playoffs. But he was one-upped by someone on...
