Similar Islanders, Bruins face off in 2nd-round mirror matchVideo
When the Boston Bruins look in the mirror, they see the New York Islanders. “We’re playing ourselves a little bit,” Boston coach Bruce Cassidy said of the Bruins’ second-round opponent in the playoffs. “They have a lot of our attributes: They want to be structured. They want to play with...
Golden Knights host a Game 7 for 1st time against Minnesota
LAS VEGAS — The payoff for sharing the NHL’s best record comes Friday night for the Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas will host a Game 7 for the first time when it plays the Minnesota Wild, who have staved off elimination by winning the past two games. “This is what it’s...
Wayne Gretzky will be part of Turner’s NHL studio
“The Great One” is headed from the front office to a cable television studio. Turner Sports has reached a multi-year agreement with Wayne Gretzky to be a studio analyst when its coverage of the National Hockey League begins in October. He will appear during key moments in the regular season...
First Call: Are Browns a fit for Steven Nelson?; NFL clears a hurdle for Steelers’ return to Saint Vincent; ex-Penguin shines
Wednesday’s “First Call” has some positive signs when it comes to the prospect of the Pittsburgh Steelers getting back out to Saint Vincent College for training camp. The Browns could be a fringe landing spot for former Steelers cornerback Steven Nelson. At least one Ravens player appears to be stepping...
Beginner’s puck: Rookies making early impact in NHL playoffsVideo
For all the talk about how much playoff experience goes into winning the Stanley Cup and the guys with gray in their beards who have been there before, rookies are stealing the show early in this NHL postseason. Three rookie goaltenders have won a game, the defending Stanley Cup champions...
Gretzky leaves Oilers front office, citing ‘life changes’
EDMONTON, Alberta — Wayne Gretzky is leaving as vice chairman of the Edmonton Oilers, citing “the pandemic and other life changes.” The 60-year-old hockey great announced the decision Tuesday on Twitter. He said he will not be able to “dedicate the time nor effort needed to support this world-class organization.”...
Alex Ovechkin confident he will sign extension with CapitalsVideo
ARLINGTON, Va. — Alex Ovechkin said Tuesday he is confident he will sign an extension and play again next season for the Washington Capitals franchise he led to the Stanley Cup in 2018. Evgeny Kuznetsov and T.J. Oshie also hope to be back. After a third consecutive first-round exit following...
Virus positives play role in 1st round of NHL playoffs
Players testing positive for the coronavirus late in the regular season and at the start of the playoffs affected multiple teams around the NHL despite a high rate of vaccinations. The St. Louis Blues were swept in the first round by Colorado after three players who said they were vaccinated...
Bruins solve Capitals in all facets to move on in NHL playoffs
WASHINGTON — Moments after embracing former Boston captain Zdeno Chara in the handshake line, Patrice Bergeron acknowledged he hadn’t thought much about what was different about winning his first series with the “C” on his chest. For Bergeron and the Bruins, it was just another step forward. “We’re a team...
Patrice Bergeron, Bruins finish off Capitals in 5 gamesVideo
WASHINGTON — Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak dazzled on offense, Tuukka Rask was rock solid in net and the Boston Bruins are moving on to the second round of the playoffs. Bergeron scored twice at crucial times after Pastrnak’s highlight-reel goal, Rask made 40 saves and the Bruins eliminated the...
Predators beat Hurricanes in double OT again to tie series at 2Video
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Luke Kunin scored his second goal at 16 minutes, 10 seconds of the second overtime, and the Nashville Predators beat the Carolina Hurricanes, 4-3, on Sunday to tie the first-round series 2-2. Kunin broke his stick and went to the bench for another. He then skated up...
Alex Killorn, Nikita Kucherov pace Lightning’s rout of PanthersVideo
TAMPA, Fla. — Alex Killorn scored a pair of second-period goals, and the Tampa Bay Lightning rebounded from its first postseason loss to rout the Florida Panthers, 6-2, and take a commanding 3-1 lead in the first-round Central Division playoff matchup Saturday. The reigning Stanley Cup champions pushed their intrastate...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Unwritten rules are height of stupidity
Nothing in sports is dumber than the unwritten codes. Example No. 1: The NHL playoffs have specialized in stupid since the puck dropped. Violence and dirty play are heightened as the league continues its descent back to thuggery. A particularly idiotic example occurred Thursday in the series opener between Montreal...
Bruins score 3 PPG, beat Capitals for 3-1 series lead
BOSTON — The Boston Bruins had to cut short one goal celebration to skate to the defense of a teammate, who was taking some abuse from oft-suspended Capitals forward Tom Wilson. They didn’t fight back. They just kept scoring. After 15 periods of neck-and-neck hockey, the Bruins finally broke one...
Avs’ Nazem Kadri suspended 8 games for head shot
NEW YORK — Colorado Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri was suspended for eight games by the NHL on Friday night for a head shot on St. Louis Blues defenseman Justin Faulk in Game 2 of a first-round playoff series. The NHL announced the punishment during Game 3 in St. Louis. The...
Maple Leafs captain John Tavares leaves hospital; out indefinitely
TORONTO — Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares was discharged from the hospital Friday, one day after leaving the ice on a stretcher following a knee to his head. The team said he will be out indefinitely. Tavares was kept overnight at St. Michael’s Hospital and is now resting at...
First Call: Early hype for young Steelers; Derek Shelton on run of no-hitters; another Penguins classic moment
Friday’s “First Call” gives us some praise for a pair of young Pittsburgh Steelers skill-position players. Pirates manager Derek Shelton wonders why we are seeing so many no-hitters this year in Major League Baseball. We have another reason why Friday is special in Penguins history. And Bruce Arians said he...
Avalanche’s Nazem Kadri suspended for hit vs. Blues pending hearingVideo
Nazem Kadri’s head shot on Justin Faulk could send shockwaves through the playoffs for the Colorado Avalanche and the rest of the Stanley Cup contenders. Kadri was suspended indefinitely Thursday pending a video hearing with the league’s department of player safety for his illegal check to the head of St....
Craig Smith scores in 2nd OT as Bruins take 2-1 series lead on Capitals
BOSTON — Craig Smith has a mantra that he pulled out after scoring the winning goal against Washington on Wednesday night: “I love winning, but I hate waiting.” The Bruins forward took care of the first part after he’d had plenty of the second, scoring 25:48 into overtime to give...
NHL clears Blues, Golden Knights after virus testing errorsVideo
DENVER — Game on for the St. Louis Blues and Colorado Avalanche after a coronavirus testing scare. The NHL said it had investigated multiple positive covid-19 test results from the Blues and Vegas Golden Knights from the same laboratory. The league said the results had “peculiarities and similarities” and found...
Red Wings stay with coach Jeff Blashill in long-term rebuild, lose Dan Bylsma
The Detroit Red Wings are sticking with coach Jeff Blashill for their rebuild. General manager Steve Yzerman made the announcement Tuesday, giving Blashill a contract extension despite a five-year postseason drought and a career record of 172-221-62. Two years ago, Yzerman returned to Detroit as a former Hall of Fame...
Brad Marchand scores in OT, Bruins beat Capitals to even series
WASHINGTON — Brad Marchand scored 39 seconds into overtime after teammate Taylor Hall tied the game late in regulation, and the Boston Bruins rallied to beat the Washington Capitals 4-3 Monday night, tying the East Division first-round playoff series at a game apiece. Marchand was Boston’s OT hero in a...
NHL playoff format could end Canada’s long Stanley Cup droughtVideo
Nick Foligno was 5 when his father made his longest playoff run with Toronto, and he remembers it like it was yesterday. The festive atmosphere in the streets after winning Game 7 to advance to the conference final. The questionable missed call against Wayne Gretzky and the searing pain of...
First Call: Free agent idea for Steelers; John Harbaugh praises Al Villanueva; Marc-Andre Fleury, McCutchen flash in defeat
Monday’s “First Call” has an idea for the Pittsburgh Steelers to investigate when it comes to bolstering its offensive line. The Ravens are excited about adding a former Steeler. Marc-Andre Fleury and Andrew McCutchen flash in defeat. OK with Okung? Free-agent tackle Russell Okung is still without an NFL team....
Nic Dowd scores in OT, Capitals beat Bruins in Game 1
WASHINGTON — T.J. Oshie’s goal song, John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” echoed through Capital One Arena and its 25% capacity crowd. It turned out the credit technically belonged elsewhere, but Capitals fans were in no mood to nitpick. Nic Dowd’s deflection of Oshie’ shot from the blue line...
