NHL News

6:33 PM ET Associated Press KOSICE, Slovakia — Matus Sukel scored early in the first period and Slovakia went on to beat the U.S. 4-1 on home ice Friday night, a stunning result on the opening day of the world hockey championship. Alex DeBrincat had a goal off assists from Patrick Kane and Jack Eichel

7:01 AM ET Emily KaplanESPN The Conference finals are officially underway, as the Boston Bruins used a huge third period to knock out the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1. The bad news? We have to wait a day until the Western Conference series begins on Saturday. Here’s a recap of last night’s action (check out

5:06 PM ET ESPN News Services Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares will miss the world hockey championships for Team Canada after suffering an oblique injury during practice in Slovakia, it was announced Thursday. Hockey Canada said Thursday it contacted the Maple Leafs and it was agreed it was best for Tavares to return to

12:35 PM ET Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares suffered an oblique injury preparing for the world hockey championships with Team Canada in Slovakia. The Maple Leafs made the announcement, saying Tavares will return to Toronto for evaluation. His status for Team Canada is uncertain. Canada opens play in the world championships on Friday against

Pavelski leads Sharks past Avalanche 3-2 in Game 7 Captain Joe Pavelski made a triumphant return from a gruesome head injury by posting a goal and an assist in the first period that helped send the San Jose Sharks into the Western Conference final with a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche in Game…

1:43 PM ET Greg WyshynskiESPN In St. Louis, there are two words that have come to indicate whether the Blues were victorious this season: “Play ‘Gloria.'” As in Laura Branigan’s 1982 disco classic “Gloria,” a certified platinum smash hit that has unexpectedly become the team’s victory song. The Blues won Game 7 against the Dallas

12:48 AM ET Patrick Maroon‘s goal at 5:50 of the second overtime pushed the St. Louis Blues past the Dallas Stars — and into the Western Conference finals — with a historic 2-1 win in Game 7 of their conference semifinals series Tuesday night in St. Louis. It was the third series this postseason to

12:44 PM ET Emily KaplanESPN Longtime Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland was named the new GM and president of hockey operations of the Edmonton Oilers Tuesday, and he got right to work. At his introductory press conference, he said he had already informed Ken Hitchcock that he will not return as coach of

12:50 AM ET Emily KaplanESPN COLUMBUS — The Columbus Blue Jackets shocked the NHL this season by doing something few teams do: they went all-in. Instead of selling off soon-to-be unrestricted free agents like goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and winger Artemi Panarin, the Blue Jackets kept both players on the roster as their own “rentals.” They

7:00 AM ET Emily KaplanESPN COLUMBUS, Ohio — When coach John Tortorella first came to Columbus four years ago, he wasn’t sure Nick Foligno could lead the Blue Jackets. Foligno was too nice. “I basically told him after my first year that I don’t think he can be a captain,” Tortorella said. “[That] I don’t

7:21 PM ET ESPN News Services Stars goalie Ben Bishop exited early from Sunday’s Game 6 home loss to the St. Louis Blues, but Dallas coach Jim Montgomery said Bishop is “fine.” The Blues’ Colton Parayko unleashed a shot in the third period that hit Bishop on the left shoulder. Bishop went down, clutching his

7:46 AM ET Greg WyshynskiESPN The San Jose Sharks won a tightly played game against the Colorado Avalanche. It looked like the Boston Bruins were going to win the same way, and then things got wild in the third period against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Here’s what happened in the NHL last night (check out

10:59 PM ET Greg WyshynskiESPN The Tampa Bay Lightning were embarrassed in a first-round NHL playoff elimination this postseason, but they’re still the heavy favorite to win the Stanley Cup in 2020. The SuperBook at Westgate Las Vegas on Saturday opened the Lightning at 6-1 to win it all next season, the clear-cut favorite. The

8:34 AM ET Emily KaplanESPN COLUMBUS — When Blue Jackets winger Nick Foligno first arrived in Columbus in 2012, he instantly bonded with goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. After every win, the team skated over to congratulate the goaltender. Usually guys tapped Bobrovsky on the helmet or shoulder. Foligno usually lurked by the end of the line

9:36 PM ET Associated Press SEATTLE — NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly says Seattle remains in contention to host the 2021 draft despite arena construction delays. Daly told The Associated Press on Friday that the league would like to decide on the host at least a year out. Seattle officials have been hoping the city’s

12:22 PM ET Greg WyshynskiESPN It’s an annual rite that seemed to skip a year: Where was the usual outrage over the NHL Awards nominations? The nominations seemed to arrive and then leave the public consciousness faster than that “Hellboy” remake with Chief Hopper from “Stranger Things.” Part of me hopes that it’s because the

7:06 PM ET Associated Press TORONTO — Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews underwent a procedure Thursday to remove hardware from a 2014 surgery. The team said the procedure won’t affect Matthews’ offseason training. The Maple Leafs did not give further details on why Matthews required surgery in 2014, but he had a broken femur