Colorado Avalanche win third Stanley Cup title, beating two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Game 6

NHL experiencing sustained growth with female, younger fans

One of the biggest stories in the NHL this season has been the increase in viewers in the league's first year of its television contracts with ESPN and TNT. The league is also seeing unparalleled growth in female and younger fans that should have a big impact for years to come. ...

Avalanche's Burakovsky a "possibility" to return for Game 6

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The status of a couple of key players remains uncertain for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. Colorado coach Jared Bednar says there’s a chance Game 1 overtime hero Andre Burakovsky could return Sunday night following a three-game absence from the best-of-seven...

Palat is money for Lightning, could cash in as free agent

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — If this is Ondrej Palat’s final playoff run with the Tampa Bay Lightning, he’s certainly making it count. Soon he could be counting in the tens of millions of dollars on a new contract. A pending free agent with a knack for scoring big goals to...

Road test at Lightning stands between Avalanche, Stanley Cup

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Josh Manson still had his bags half-packed from the Colorado Avalanche’s last time on the road, when they returned home with the chance to win the Stanley Cup. That didn’t happen, and now he and his teammates are confronted with Game 6 Sunday night against...

Lightning win Game 5, deny Avs chance to take Stanley Cup

DENVER (AP) — The Stanley Cup was in the building and just waiting to be paraded around the ice. Pack it up. It's heading back to Florida. The resilient Tampa Bay Lightning spoiled Colorado's party to stay in the hunt for a third straight Stanley Cup title, beating...

Avs can't close out Lightning in Game 5 loss at Ball Arena

DENVER (AP) — Keep the champagne chilled. It's back to the slushy ice of Amalie Arena for the Colorado Avalanche after they failed to close out the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup Final. The Lightning overpowered Colorado with tougher physicality, clogged the neutral zone...

AP source: Chicago aims for Canadiens assistant Richardson

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Blackhawks are nearing a deal with Luke Richardson to become their next coach, turning to the former NHL defenseman to help lead their already painful rebuilding process. Richardson and the Blackhawks are working on a contract, according to a person...

NHL officiating back under microscope in Stanley Cup Final

Jon Cooper backtracked and shifted a possible missed call to the rearview mirror with the expertise of a coach who has been here before. Counterpart Jared Bednar, on the verge of his first NHL championship, sought to settle the issue once and for all and move on. Still, the Stanley...

Maurice took an unusual path to becoming Florida's coach

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Paul Maurice’s journey toward becoming the new coach of the Florida Panthers included a fortuitous flick of the remote control, plus was aided by a college admissions department. He was watching games one night in January, a month or so after he stepped aside...