NHL News

4:59 PM ET Even the Boston Red Sox recognize that there will be only one game in town on Wednesday night. The Red Sox moved up the start of their Wednesday game to accommodate the Boston Bruins, who will face the St. Louis Blues in the decisive Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final across

7:01 AM ET Emily KaplanESPN On Sunday, the city of St. Louis was buzzing. More than an hour before puck drop of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, more than 30,000 fans packed a downtown square around the arena. Inside, the crowd was loud as ever. The Blues had a chance to capture their

3:09 PM ET Greg WyshynskiESPN ST. LOUIS — In a letter published by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Sunday, St. Louis Blues owner Tom Stillman thanked his fans after “the elation of breaking through and bringing St. Louis its first-ever Stanley Cup.” One problem: The Blues haven’t actually won the Stanley Cup yet. The letter,

8:00 AM ET Greg WyshynskiESPN Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final is scheduled for Sunday night between the Boston Bruins and the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center. The Blues, who lead the series 3-2, can win the first Stanley Cup in franchise history with a victory. What can we expect as the Bruins

5:53 PM ET Associated Press BUFFALO, N.Y. — Forward Jeff Skinner is both grateful and motivated by the new contract he signed to remain a member of the Buffalo Sabres for the next eight seasons. He’s impressed by the faith the Sabres showed by making him the team’s second-highest-paid player behind captain Jack Eichel. And

10:41 PM ET Greg WyshynskiESPN Jeff Skinner, who would have been one of the most coveted free-agent wingers this summer, is officially off the market. Skinner, 27, signed an eight-year, $72-million contract extension with the Buffalo Sabres on Friday. Skinner had a career-high 40 goals in his first season in Buffalo, who acquired him last

6:51 PM ET Emily KaplanESPN St. Louis Blues forward Ivan Barbashev has been suspended for one game for an illegal check to the head on Boston’s Marcus Johansson in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, the league announced. Barbashev was not penalized on the play. Barbashev has three goals, three assists and is plus-1

7:05 AM ET Emily KaplanESPN With a 2-1 win in Game 5 — the lowest-scoring game of this series — the St. Louis Blues are on the cusp of their first-ever Stanley Cup, and have a chance to win it at home. The Boston Bruins? They’ll have to summon some composure (a la what the

11:47 AM ET Emily KaplanESPN BOSTON — Bruins captain Zdeno Chara was back on the ice — in a full shield — on Thursday morning ahead of Game 5, and will be a game-time decision, according to coach Bruce Cassidy. Defenseman Matt Grzelcyk, who has been out since Game 2 with a concussion, is also

6:59 AM ET Greg WyshynskiESPN Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final is scheduled for Thursday night between the Boston Bruins and the St. Louis Blues at TD Garden, with the series tied 2-2 after the Blues’ 4-2 home win against Boston on Monday night. What can we expect in this critical matchup in Boston?

5:45 PM ET Associated Press SAN JOSE, Calif. — San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson has undergone groin surgery before becoming eligible for free agency this summer. The Sharks said Wednesday that Karlsson had the operation last week and has already started rehabilitation. The team says Karlsson is expected to recover fully in the offseason

7:00 AM ET Emily KaplanESPN The Stanley Cup Final between the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues has gone back and forth between games. Each offensive spurt has been met with a counterpunch. Each loss is followed by a necessary adjustment. No real fireworks (yet), though plenty of players trying to antagonize opponents (exactly how

6:35 PM ET Associated Press CHICAGO — The Chicago Blackhawks have hired Marc Crawford as an assistant coach on Jeremy Colliton‘s staff. The 58-year-old Crawford was the interim head coach for Ottawa at the end of last season. He also has served as the head coach for Colorado, Vancouver, Los Angeles and Dallas, leading the

6:48 AM ET Emily KaplanESPN Was there any doubt this series was going to be a long one? After laying an egg in Game 3, the St. Louis Blues bounced back with a 4-2 win in Game 4 that left the home crowd singing along to “Gloria,” and the Stanley Cup Final against the Boston

4:52 PM ET Greg WyshynskiESPN ST. LOUIS — After a 7-2 shellacking from the Boston Bruins in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, the St. Louis Blues are making lineup changes for Monday night’s Game 4, trailing the series 2-1. Defenseman Vince Dunn, who has been out of the lineup after taking a puck

7:00 AM ET Greg WyshynskiESPN Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final is scheduled for Monday between the Boston Bruins and the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, with the Bruins leading 2-1 after their 7-2 rout of the Blues on Saturday. What can we expect in this critical matchup in St.

1:54 PM ET Emily KaplanESPN ST. LOUIS — Blues coach Craig Berube doesn’t know why his team has been penalized so much in the Stanley Cup Final, but he’s not happy about it. “First of all, we were the least penalized team in the league in the first three rounds, now all of a sudden

10:32 PM ET Greg WyshynskiESPN ST. LOUIS — St. Louis Blues goalie Jordan Binnington was pulled from Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final after getting lit up by the Boston Bruins for five goals Saturday night, the first time all season the rookie sensation has failed to finish a game. Binnington gave up five