NHL will have a new Stanley Cup champion this century as lengthy droughts take center stage

No matter which team wins the Stanley Cup championship this year it will be a first this century. The Dallas Stars won its lone championship in 1999, months before the world worried computers would malfunction at the start of a new millennium. The New York Rangers haven’t done it...

Oilers beat Canucks 3-2 in Game 7 to advance to Western Conference final

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — The Edmonton Oilers are showing they have more scoring options than just Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a goal and an assist as Edmonton scored three times in the second period and held on to beat the Vancouver Canucks...

Edmonton Oilers beat the Vancouver Canucks in Game 7 to advance to Western Conference final.

Another deep playoff run for Stars coach Pete DeBoer, who's in NHL 3rd round for 5th time in 6 years

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Pete DeBoer has gotten used to deep runs in the NHL playoffs, even though he never takes them for granted. The only thing that could make that any better for the veteran coach would be to win it all. With the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final for...

The Hurricanes have their deal with coach Rod Brind'Amour, yet more free-agency challenges loom

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes have locked up their biggest free agent in coach Rod Brind'Amour. The work ahead could prove more challenging for president and general manager Don Waddell. The Hurricanes have had six straight playoff trips, including at least one...

Avalanche face hard decisions with Landeskog, Nichushkin in offseason after 2nd round loss to Dallas

DENVER (AP) — The biggest factor in the direction of the Colorado Avalanche's offseason plans may just hinge on trust. Trust in whether captain Gabriel Landeskog can make a comeback after missing two full seasons with a knee injury. Trust also in whether Valeri Nichushkin can be...

Lafrenière continuing his breakthrough season as a solid contributor for Rangers in NHL playoffs

After a breakthrough regular season, Alexis Lafrenière has continued to be a solid contributor for the New York Rangers in their run to the Eastern Conference final. Selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NHL draft, the Quebec native entered the league with high...

Dallas Stars get some needed rest at home after starting to 'run on fumes' in NHL playoffs

The Dallas Stars rested at home Sunday. No game, no practice and no travel for the first time in a month since the start of the NHL playoffs. “We were starting to run on fumes here at the end of this round,” coach Pete DeBoer said. “You can fill your tank up...

Aleksander Barkov, the Panthers' reluctant star, leads without having to say much

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Here’s the list of Aleksander Barkov’s top highlights from the Florida-Boston series: the go-ahead goal that sparked a Game 2 victory, scoring a spectacular game-winning goal to cap a comeback in Game 4, then blocking a shot late in Game 6 to keep things tied about 90...

Canucks must 'want that big moment' vs. Oilers in Game 7, coach says

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — All season long, the Vancouver Canucks have preached resilience. Now comes the ultimate test. After an ugly 5-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday, the Canucks need to once again showcase their ability to bounce back as the two teams...