Carolina looks to finish off Islanders in Eastern Conference semifinal
RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes haven’t made the playoffs often. When they do, they stick around for a while. This is just their fourth postseason appearance since 2002, but they reached the Eastern Conference final — at least — in each of their last three appearances and are one...
Blue Jackets seek more history with every playoff game
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Blue Jackets continue to journey deeper into uncharted territory with each win in these playoffs. Among the franchise firsts so far: Winning a playoff series (they swept Tampa Bay in the opening round), first appearance in the second round, first second-round game played — and...
Sergei Bobrovsky leads Blue Jackets to series lead against Bruins
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Sergei Bobrovsky kept up his impressive postseason play, making 36 saves as the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Boston Bruins, 2-1, on Tuesday night to take a 2-1 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series. Boone Jenner and Matt Duchene scored for the Blue Jackets, who won...
Islanders not worried they finished off Penguins too quickly
The New York Islanders doesn’t seem to be worried that they finished off the Pittsburgh Penguins too fast. After completing a four-game sweep of the Penguins on April 16, the Islanders will begin their second-round series with Carolina on Friday night. The 10-day break between games is tied for the...
First call: Antonio Brown, Ryan Clark clash; NHL apologizes to Golden Knights
In “First Call” Friday, Antonio Brown and Ryan Clark clash on Twitter again. Also, an umpire magic trick. A four-man outfield. A worry for the Pirates. And an apology for the Golden Knights. Was that a threat? Former Steelers safety Ryan Clark is in another dust up with Mr. Big...
Rested Islanders ready to go against Hurricanes in 2nd round of Stanley Cup
NEW YORK — The New York Islanders are rested and ready to go. The Carolina Hurricanes haven’t had a chance to relax after outlasting the defending champions in a marathon seven-game series. More than a week after finishing off a sweep in the first round, Mathew Barzal and the defense-first...
NHL apologizes to Golden Knights; Refs won’t work next round
LAS VEGAS — The owner of the Vegas Golden Knights said Thursday a senior NHL executive phoned him to apologize for a penalty called during Game 7 of his team’s loss to the San Jose Sharks. Owner Bill Foley said the call came the morning after Vegas lost 5-4 in...
Hurricanes bounce Capitals in Game 7 double overtime win
WASHINGTON — Jordan Staal tied it in the third period, Brock McGinn scored in the second overtime and the Carolina Hurricanes stormed back to stun the Washington Capitals, 4-3, in Game 7 on Wednesday night to eliminate the defending Stanley Cup champions. McGinn dived to prevent a goal in the...
John Tortorella drives Blue Jackets into showdown with Bruins
COLUMBUS, Ohio — John Tortorella was being battered on social media a month or so ago by doubters who thought his act had gotten stale in Columbus. The 60-year-old Tortorella, the argument went, was having trouble getting his message across to a team that had loaded up with new talent...
Analysis: Refs’ major meltdown mars wild Sharks-Golden Knights Game 7
The Game 7 win for San Jose over Vegas Tuesday night was one of the most memorable hockey games I’ve ever witnessed. If you went to bed before the Sharks won 5-4 in overtime, you missed one of the greatest finishes in NHL playoff history. For a while, it looked...
Sharks cap comeback with overtime win over Golden Knights in Game 7
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Barclay Goodrow scored 18:19 into overtime to send San Jose into the second round of the playoffs with a 5-4 win Tuesday night, capping a wild Game 7 that featured the Sharks erasing a three-goal deficit by scoring four times on a disputed major penalty in...
Bruins beat Maple Leafs, advance to Eastern Conference semis
BOSTON — Joakim Nordstrom and Sean Kuraly each had a goal and assist, Tuukka Rask stopped 32 shots and the Boston Bruins beat the Toronto Maple Leafs, 5-1, in Game 7 on Tuesday night to wrap up their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series. Marcus Johansson added his first goal of...
Defending champion Capitals to face ‘Mr. Game 7’ and Hurricanes
ARLINGTON, Va. — Justin Williams doesn’t lose in Game 7. Except that one time. The player who earned the “Mr. Game 7” moniker for going 7-0 with seven goals and seven assists in winner-take-all situations lost in a Game 7 for the first time with the Washington Capitals in 2017....
Vegas’ Gerard Gallant calls San Jose’s Peter DeBoer a ‘clown’ as NHL coaches trade barbs
The first war of words between coaches of the Stanley Cup playoffs has broken out, and to the surprise of many, Columbus’ John Tortorella wasn’t involved. Hours before his Vegas Golden Knights took on the San Jose Sharks in Game 7 of a first-round playoff series Tuesday night, Gerard Gallant...
69 years ago, Lower Burrell native scored among most dramatic goals in NHL history
Sixty-nine years ago Tuesday, Lower Burrell native Pete Babando scored perhaps the most dramatic goal in NHL history. Babando scored 8 minutes, 31 seconds into the second overtime to give the Detroit Red Wings a 4-3 victory over the New York Rangers in Game 7 of the 1950 Stanley Cup...
First call: Andrew McCutchen could move back to center; Jordan Staal helps lift Hurricanes
In “First Call” Tuesday, Alex Ovechkin and Bryce Harper both melt down. Jordan Staal scores. Andrew McCutchen may wind up back in center field. A lot to like Penguins fans had to love watching the Capitals lose Monday night in Game 6 against the Hurricanes. The final score was 3-2....
Alex Ovechkin melts down during Capitals’ Game 6 loss to Hurricanes
After having an apparent third-period goal waved off by officials, Alex Ovechkin was sent to the locker room early as the Washington Capitals suffered a 5-2 loss in Game 6 of a first-round playoff series against the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday night. With the Hurricanes leading 3-2 with less than...
First call: Steelers take CB in this mock draft; Marc-Andre Fleury to Game 7; wild MLB plays
In “First Call” Monday, the NFL Network has the Steelers thinking cornerback in Round 1. Three head-scratching plays over the wall across baseball on the same afternoon. And Marc-Andre Fleury falters in double overtime. Maybe Murphy The NFL Network had a big mock draft party over the weekend. Network host...
Jake Muzzin, Maple Leafs eye elimination of Bruins in Game 6
BOSTON — Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Muzzin has extra motivation to beat Boston on Sunday and eliminate the Bruins in six games: It would mean extra time to spend with his baby daughter. Muzzin’s wife, Courtney, gave birth to a girl, Luna, on Thursday, the off day between Games 4...
Red Wings to name Steve Yzerman general manager
DETROIT — The Captain is coming home. Hockey Hall of Famer Steve Yzerman will be named general manager of the Detroit Red Wings, two people familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Friday. Ken Holland will become the team’s senior vice president after being its general manager for...
Maple Leafs fans wondering whether ‘Drake Curse’ is to blame for loss
The Toronto Maple Leafs dropped Game 4 in their playoff series against the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night, losing 6-4. But was it the Bruins’ hard hitting, their solid goalie, or was it something else. Something sinister, something celebrity? Some fans are wondering whether their team suffered from the “Drake...
First call: Le’Veon Bell gets Jets bobblehead; top-seeded Flames on the ropes
Thursday’s “First Call” features NFL schedule-reveal creativity. The Le’Veon Bell bobblehead. And a Major League Baseball statistic you’ve never seen before. Bell bobblehead Well, it’s official now. It wasn’t before. But it is now. Le’Veon Bell is no longer a Pittsburgh Steeler. He is a New York Jet. Why is...
NHL-best Lightning ousted in record speed by Columbus
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Tampa Bay Lightning ended up on the wrong side of NHL history, getting swept in the first round of the playoffs after one of the best regular seasons ever. The Columbus Blue Jackets capped a stunning sweep of the Presidents Trophy winners with a 7-3 victory...
Flyers hire Alain Vigneault as coach in pursuit of turnaround
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Flyers hired Alain Vigneault as coach, hoping the veteran can help lead them to their first Stanley Cup since 1975. Vigneault has led the New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks to the Stanley Cup Final and takes over a Flyers team that missed the playoffs for...
First call: Miles Sanders to Steelers?; Tiger wrecks bookies; Lightning nearly fried
In “First Call” Monday, there’s a chance the Steelers could draft Miles Sanders. Le’Veon Bell continues to illustrate Twitter schizophrenia. Tiger Woods killed bookies. The Lightning are about to fall just as hard as the Penguins. Sounds good to me USA Today’s Draft Wire site updated its five-round mock draft....
