Canada

At one point, Chicago general manager Kyle Davidson downplayed the importance of the NHL draft lottery on his team’s off-season plans. Moments later, Davidson allowed himself a wide grin as he pondered the possibilities. “The top of the draft’s good,” he said with a smile. “Yeah, it’s a special top of the draft. There’s no doubt

SEATTLE (AP) — The demands of a seven-game series in the opening round and the immediate transition into the conference semifinals left the Seattle Kraken needing a breather. An extra day off proved wonders for the playoff newcomers. Jordan Eberle sparked a five-goal outburst in the second period with his fourth goal of the playoffs,

LAS VEGAS – Leon Draisaitl continued his torrid playoff scoring pace and Connor McDavid scored twice for the Edmonton Oilers in a 5-1 win Saturday over the Vegas Golden Knights to even their playoff series at a win apiece. Edmonton’s five-goal lead by the midpoint of the game generated skirmishes and plenty of penalty minutes

Leon Draisaitl continued his torrid playoff scoring pace and Connor McDavid scored twice for the Edmonton Oilers in a 5-1 win Saturday over the Golden Knights in Las Vegas to even their playoff series at a win apiece. Edmonton’s five-goal lead by the midpoint of the game generated skirmishes and plenty of penalty minutes for

SEATTLE – Matthew Seminoff and Ryan Hofer each scored twice and Dylan Ernst made 36 saves as the visiting Kamloops Blazers defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 4-2 on Saturday night to stay alive in their Western Hockey League Western Conference final. The Blazers, who entered the game trailing the best-of-seven series 3-1, allowed the first goal,

NORTH BAY, Ont. – Kyle McDonald scored twice as the North Bay Battalion defeated the Peterborough Petes 6-2 on Friday to take the lead in their Ontario Hockey League playoff series. North Bay leads the best-of-seven Eastern Conference final 3-2. Liam Arnsby, Josh Bloom, Owen Van Steensel and Ty Nelson also scored for the Battalion.

Seattle’s Dave Hakstol, Boston’s Jim Montgomery and New Jersey’s Lindy Ruff have been named the finalists for the Jack Adams Award. The Adams is presented to the NHL head coach who has “contributed the most to his team’s success.” Hakstol guided Seattle (46-28-8) to the club’s first-ever berth in the NHL playoffs in just its

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Lightning signed forward Michael Eyssimont to a $1.6 million, two-year contract on Friday. Eyssimont, 26, was acquired on March 1 from San Jose for forward Vladislav Namestnikov. In 15 regular season games with the Lightning, Eyssimont had a goal and two points. He made his Stanley Cup playoff

Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored twice in roughly two-and-a-half minutes during Carolina’s four-goal second period, Frederik Andersen stopped 28 shots and the Hurricanes beat the visiting New Jersey Devils 6-1 on Friday night for a 2-0 lead in their second-round playoff series. Jordan Staal and Martin Necas also scored in that blow-it-open second, which turned a scoreless game between the

TORONTO – The stoic, high-intensity style of hockey coaches who barely blink on the bench after a big goal may be changing somewhat in this NHL post-season. And Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe appears to be leading the way. He just about jumped out of his shoes in Toronto’s first OT win of the playoffs.

Calgary Flames veteran forward Tyler Toffoli and top prospect Adam Fantilli were among 20 players named Friday to Canada’s roster for the upcoming world hockey championship. Toffoli had the best offensive NHL season of the players named, with 34 goals and 39 assists in 82 games. He is one of three Flames named to the

DALLAS (AP) — Joe Pavelski scored his fifth goal in two games since returning from concussion protocol with an assist from Wyatt Johnston, his 19-year-old rookie housemate who also scored a goal, and the Dallas Stars beat Seattle 4-2 on Thursday night to tie the second-round series at a game each. Evgenii Dadonov added a

THURSO, Que. – Quebec is renaming a provincial highway for late Montreal Canadiens legend Guy Lafleur. Highway 50, an east-west route in the greater Montreal area, will now be known as Autoroute Guy-Lafleur. The highway passes through the hockey great’s hometown of Thurso, in western Quebec. Lafleur died in April 2022 at the age of

GATINEAU, Que. – William Rousseau had 30 saves and the Quebec Remparts topped the Gatineau Olympiques 3-1 on Wednesday to book their trip to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League finals. Justin Robidas, Charle Truchon, Vsevolod Komarov, with an empty-net goal, scored for Quebec, which swept the best-of-seven semifinal series. Alexis Gendron had the lone

The Carolina Hurricanes spent the first period swarming the puck and closing just about any fleeting bit of open ice the New Jersey Devils could find. It was a dominating start to their second-round playoff series — and the blueprint the Hurricanes know they must follow going forward. The Hurricanes got goals from Brett Pesce

DALLAS (AP) — Yanni Gourde scored 12:17 into overtime with a quick shot after regathering a loose puck and the Seattle Kraken beat Dallas 5-4 in Game 1 of their second-round series Tuesday night, even as Joe Pavelski scored all four Stars goals in his return to their lineup. Gourde was on the edge of

Sheldon Keefe watched his team commit two mistakes — blunders he didn’t see in the first round of the playoffs — that directly led to goals against. After the Maple Leafs recovered to get back even, another costly error wound up being one too many to overcome. Toronto now finds itself in the exact spot

TORONTO – After a stunning first-round upset win over top-seeded Boston, the Florida Panthers picked up where they left off on Tuesday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs. And just like he did in Game 7 against the Bruins, it was Carter Verhaeghe who delivered the game-winning goal. He converted after being sent in alone