After special teams play keyed Rangers’ series-opening win, Hurricanes focused on getting better

The Rangers and Hurricanes were among the top special teams units during the regular season. Carolina was second on the power play and first on the penalty-kill, and New York was third in both. After special teams play keyed the Rangers’ 4-3 win in the series opener, the Hurricanes know they will need to be … Read more

Zibanejad has 2 goals and 1 assist, Panarin scores as Rangers beat Hurricanes 4-3 in Game 1

NEW YORK — Mika Zibanejad had two goals and an assist, Artemi Panarin also scored and the New York Rangers beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 on Sunday in Game 1 of their second-round series. Vincent Trocheck had a goal and an assist, and Chris Kreider had two assists as the Rangers, playing for the first … Read more

Bruins taking lessons, sense of fight into 2nd-round matchup with Panthers

BOSTON — Boston Bruins coach Jim Montgomery wanted to do something different with his team heading into a first-round Game 7 matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Bruins were facing the prospect of blowing back-to-back 3-1 leads in the opening round and a sense of impending doom hung over the team. Montgomery hoped a … Read more

Nylander and Woll help Maple Leafs beat Bruins 2-1 to force Game 7

TORONTO — William Nylander scored twice, Joseph Woll made 22 saves and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Boston Bruins 2-1 on Thursday night to force a seventh game in the first-round Eastern Conference series. “We battled and competed,” said Nylander, who sat the first three games of the series because of an undisclosed ailment. … Read more

Draisaitl, Hyman lead Oilers to 6-1 rout of Kings to take 2-1 series lead

LOS ANGELES — Edmonton’s Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl continue to cause Los Angeles nightmares. As if that isn’t enough, the rest of the Oilers’ lineup is beginning to add to the Kings’ frustrations. McDavid and Draisaitl had three-point nights on Friday, but Zach Hyman continued his hot streak at the start of the postseason … Read more

Forsberg and Beauvillier each get a goal and an assist and Predators knock off Canucks 4-1

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Filip Forsberg scored a goal and had an assist, and the Nashville Predators beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-1 on Tuesday night to level their best-of-seven playoff series at 1-1. Anthony Beauvillier — a former Canuck — also had a goal and an assist for the Predators, Colton Sissons and Kiefer Sherwood … Read more

Sabres hire Lindy Ruff as coach. He guided Buffalo to the playoffs in 2011

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Lindy Ruff has some unfinished business in Buffalo. Some 11 years after being fired as the Sabres’ winningest coach, and following head-coaching stops in Dallas and New Jersey, the 64-year-old Ruff is getting his old job back after being hired by the Sabres on Monday. He takes over a team in the … Read more

Dakota Joshua scores 2 goals to help lift Canucks past Predators 4-2 in Game 1 of playoff series

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Pius Suter and Dakota Joshua scored 12 seconds apart in the third period and the Vancouver Canucks stormed back for a 4-2 win over the Nashville Predators in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series Sunday night. Joshua had two goals and an assist, Elias Lindholm also scored and Thatcher Demko … Read more

Panthers score twice in the third period and beat the Lightning 3-2 in Game 1 of NHL playoffs

SUNRISE, Fla. — Here’s a sentence that has never been said: Florida leads Tampa Bay in a playoff series. And for the Panthers, that’s a great way to start. Carter Verhaeghe tapped in a pinpoint pass from Aleksander Barkov for the lead 58 seconds into the third period, Matthew Tkachuk added a goal and an … Read more

Maple Leafs, Jets, Oilers and Canucks carry Canada’s Stanley Cup hopes with drought now at 30 years

Josh Morrissey remembers the city coming to life before his eyes. A nine-year-old Flames fan in the spring of 2004, he was captivated by every Jarome Iginla chance and Miikka Kiprusoff save during Calgary’s run to the Stanley Cup Final. “It was just an awesome experience,” said Morrissey, now a star defenseman for the Winnipeg … Read more