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Predators are winners and players seeking long contracts are among the losers in NHL free agency
Read full article: Predators are winners and players seeking long contracts are among the losers in NHL free agencyThe Nashville Predators, defensive defenseman Ryan Graves and some top goaltenders are among the winners in NHL free agency.
Hurricanes and Rangers turn their divisional rivalry into NHL free agency signing frenzy
Read full article: Hurricanes and Rangers turn their divisional rivalry into NHL free agency signing frenzyThe Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers are taking their on-ice Metropolitan Division rivalry to paper.
Nashville Predators hire Andrew Brunette as coach a day after firing John Hynes
Read full article: Nashville Predators hire Andrew Brunette as coach a day after firing John HynesThe NHL coaching shuffle in Nashville is complete, with Andrew Brunette officially hired as the Predators coach a little over 12 hours after the team announced that John Hynes was fired.
Semyon Varlamov, Islanders beat Lightning 2-1 in Game 1
Read full article: Semyon Varlamov, Islanders beat Lightning 2-1 in Game 1Semyon Varlamov made 30 saves and the New York Islanders got goals from Mathew Barzal and Ryan Pulock to beat the defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 on Sunday in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup semifinals.
Bruins coach Cassidy fined $25,000 for criticizing refs
Read full article: Bruins coach Cassidy fined $25,000 for criticizing refsThe NHL has fined Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy $25,000 for his criticism of the officials after Game 4 of Boston’s second-round playoff series against the New York Islanders.
Sorokin, Islanders beat Penguins 4-1 in Game 4 to tie series
Read full article: Sorokin, Islanders beat Penguins 4-1 in Game 4 to tie seriesIlya Sorokin stopped 29 shots, Oliver Wahlstrom and Ryan Pulock each had a goal and an assist and the New York Islanders beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1 in Game 4 Saturday to even the first-round series.
Palmieri's OT winner lifts Isles by Penguins 4-3 in Game 1
Read full article: Palmieri's OT winner lifts Isles by Penguins 4-3 in Game 1Kyle Palmieri’s second goal of the game 16:30 into overtime lifted the New York Islanders to a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 1 of their first-round series.
Sunshine State showdown: Lightning-Panthers in NHL's Round 1
Read full article: Sunshine State showdown: Lightning-Panthers in NHL's Round 1There used to be a thing called the Governor’s Cup, a trophy presented to whichever team won the annual regular season series between the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.
Islanders beat Rangers 3-0 to clinch playoff spot
Read full article: Islanders beat Rangers 3-0 to clinch playoff spotAnthony Beauvillier scored twice and Semyon Varlamov stopped 28 shots for his league-leading seventh shutout of the season as the New York Islanders beat the New York Rangers 3-0 to clinch a playoff spot for the third straight season.
Ovechkin scores twice, red-hot Capitals shut out Devils 4-0
Read full article: Ovechkin scores twice, red-hot Capitals shut out Devils 4-0Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his goal with the bench during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils, Friday, March 26, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)WASHINGTON – Alex Ovechkin scored twice, Ilya Samsonov made 24 saves and the Washington Capitals rode their best players to a 4-0 victory Friday night and two-game sweep of the New Jersey Devils. Ovechkin has scored 10 times in his past 10 games and has a team-best 17 goals this season. Nicklas Backstrom scored his 13th goal of the season, while Evgeny Kuznetsov and Tom Wilson each had two assists. With Ovechkin rolling, the Capitals have won nine of their past 10 games and are back atop the East Division.
Barzal shines as Islanders beat Sabres for 4th straight win
Read full article: Barzal shines as Islanders beat Sabres for 4th straight winUNIONDALE, N.Y. – Mathew Barzal and Scott Mayfield each had a goal and an assist and the New York Islanders beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 on Saturday for their fourth straight victory. New York beat Buffalo for the fifth straight time this season, outscoring the Islanders 19-7 in those five meetings. Cal Clutterbuck extended the lead at 8:45, sending a wrist shot past Hutton for his second goal this season. AdMayfield made it 4-1 with his second goal of the season at 15:29, firing another high shot past Hutton. IRON MENThe Islanders have three players with consecutive game streaks of last 250 games: Lee 292, Brock Nelson 269 and Barzal 256.
'Sloppy' hockey is the name of the game early in NHL season
Read full article: 'Sloppy' hockey is the name of the game early in NHL seasonSan Jose's Erik Karlsson (65) handles the puck against Minnesota Wild's Nick Bjugstad (27) in the third period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021, in St. Paul, Minn. San Jose won 5-3. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)With an outbreak delaying the Dallas Stars' opener, Rick Bowness got to watch a lot of hockey in the first couple of nights of the NHL season. “It was entertaining hockey, but it was a little sloppy,” Bowness said. “We’re staying in 5-star hotels, get to play hockey, so I can’t complain,” defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic said. Ad___Follow AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SWhyno___More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Familiarity breeds respect among NHL East playoff teams
Read full article: Familiarity breeds respect among NHL East playoff teamsTORONTO, ONT Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper took exception to the Columbus Blue Jackets being referred to as a blue-collar team. Is that a positive or a negative? Cooper said Monday, a day before his Eastern Conference second-seeded Lightning open the first round of the NHL playoffs against the seventh-seeded Blue Jackets. Thats in the history books forever, Cooper said, noting how both teams have made various changes to their lineups. Id call them a really good team.Familiarity is breeding respect among the East opponents entering the first round. The Islanders hold a 5-2 playoff series edge over Washington.
2016 World Cup of Hockey provides lessons for NHL restart
Read full article: 2016 World Cup of Hockey provides lessons for NHL restartFILE - In this Sept. 29, 2016 file photo, Canada's Sidney Crosby hoists the trophy following his team's victory over Europe in the World Cup of Hockey finals, in Toronto. The closest comparison to the NHL's summer restart is the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. You kind of have a short, abbreviated training camp and then youre right into it. It was early September 2016, and the Pittsburgh Penguins captain stepped on the ice in Ottawa for Canadas training camp ahead of the World Cup of Hockey. New York Islanders coach Barry Trotz, who was an assistant when Canada won the World Cup, considers that tournament the closest comparison because he anticipates the same frantic shifts of momentum.
NHL's older coaches debate wearing masks, taking precautions
Read full article: NHL's older coaches debate wearing masks, taking precautionsIn this photo provided by the Dallas Stars NHL hockey team, interim head coach Rick Bowness watches practice in Frisco, Texas, Tuesday, July 14, 2020. You get out there and you miss it, the Dallas Stars coach said. You realize how much you enjoy being out there.The NHLs oldest head coach still worries about COVID-19 but not enough to stop doing his job. Im going to have to adjust to it, there is no question. The average age of the 24 head coaches in the playoffs is just under 54, the second-oldest behind the NBA among North Americas four major professional sports leagues.
Illness and injury uncertainty abound as NHL camps open
Read full article: Illness and injury uncertainty abound as NHL camps openVoluntary player workouts have been going on for more than a month, but full NHL teams will be together Monday for the first time since March. (Its about) trying to make sure that when you come back your hips and groins are all right, Copp said. Its a two-week sprint from home cities to Toronto for Eastern teams and Edmonton, Alberta, for their Western counterparts. The NHL is prohibiting teams from revealing injury or illness information as a way to project player privacy with the novel coronavirus. But I think everyone is just kind of amped and ready to go.___For more AP NHL coverage: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Giroux, Flyers rout Capitals and keep Ovechkin at 698 goals
Read full article: Giroux, Flyers rout Capitals and keep Ovechkin at 698 goals(AP Photo/Nick Wass)WASHINGTON, D.C. – Preventing Alex Ovechkin from reaching 700 career goals was high on the Philadelphia Flyers' priority list Saturday night. Claude Giroux recorded three points to reach 800 for his career, Sean Couturier scored twice and Brian Elliott made 25 saves to help Philadelphia blow out the first-place Washington Capitals 7-2. The Flyers held Ovechkin to two shots and kept him stuck on 698 goals in one of their best all-around games of the season. Really detailed and strong effort from a lot of guys.”Reirden called timeout and lit into his players after the Flyers' goal spree. Taking the play to the Capitals in such dominant fashion could restore some confidence that the Flyers are indeed a playoff team.