Early goals, historically late goals, once-in-a-century comebacks, overtime games that seemed about to end three, four, 17 times before they did, gorgeous goals and saves ... only four games in, this year’s Panthers-Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup Final rematch already might be the best sequel since “The Godfather, Part II.” Or, at least, “...Read more

If a champion can’t get over a tough loss, it would have to go 16-0 in order to win a Stanley Cup.

Since an undefeated playoff run of four sweeps is highly unlikely, a team will probably have to go the route of showing resilience in the aftermath of hardship along the way to an NHL crown.

The Florida Panthers have done plenty of it during ...Read more

SUNRISE, Fla. — All of a sudden, Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl found the puck on his stick in front of the net, and it didn’t matter that he had only one hand on his stick because anything could happen this game and everything practically did.

Comebacks. Throwbacks. Miracle twists. Unbelievable turns. Now Draisaitl scored the look-ma-one-hand...Read more

SUNRISE, Fla. — Sam Reinhart scored a game-tying goal with 19.5 seconds left in regulation, but Leon Draisaitl scored 11:18 into overtime as the Edmonton Oilers beat the Florida Panthers, 5-4, in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday at Amerant Bank Arena.

The best-of-7 series is now tied 2-2. Game 5 is Saturday at 8 p.m. from Edmonton�...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — For the second straight season, Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov led the league in scoring. And for the second straight season, it wasn’t enough to win the Hart Trophy as the player voted most valuable to his team.

Kucherov, who claimed the scoring title with 121 points, finished a distant third in Hart Trophy voting, ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Near the end of his introductory press conference on Wednesday at PPG Paints Arena, Dan Muse was asked to describe what he thought might've been a separator during the interview process.

It wasn't anything overly complex, the new Penguins coach insisted. It was almost more about what Muse lacked (give-a-darn) than what he ...Read more

The Florida Panthers have a trio of big players in forwards Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand and Aaron Ekblad who are mere weeks away from hitting the open market as free agents.

They’re all thriving as Florida inches closer to repeating as champions.

The group has said throughout the Cup Final, which Florida leads 2-1 heading into Game 4 on ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Penguins icon Mario Lemieux is interested in buying back the NHL franchise from Fenway Sports Group, according to a report from Canadian sports network TSN.

However, FSG said in a statement that it does not wish to sell control of the team.

“We’ve seen the speculation, and as we’ve previously shared with media, Fenway ...Read more

MIAMI — Jonah Gadjovich made a new fan on Monday.

After the Florida Panthers’ 6-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, local ABC affiliate WPLG aired an interview that went viral with a 9-year-old Panthers fan named Sophia who said her favorite part of the game is “the fighting.”

She got to see a lot of it ...Read more

SEATTLE — His résumé was displayed in the corner of the room, and though not awe-inspiring, it was adequate.

A Stanley Cup championship as an assistant with the Capitals. A 61-46-20 record in his season and a half as coach of the Islanders, where his firing two seasons ago came despite being four games above .500.

New Kraken coach Lane ...Read more

MIAMI — There was no close game to worry about, no late comeback, overtime thriller to wait out.

Just simple domination by the Florida Panthers on their home ice that has the potential to flip the Stanley Cup Final fully in their favor.

Florida played its game to a tee and got contributions from throughout the lineup in its 6-1 win over ...Read more

MIAMI — Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final had just ended and most of the Florida Panthers’ went at full speed to celebrate with Brad Marchand, who scored the game-winning goal in double overtime to even the best-of-seven series with the Edmonton Oilers at 1-1.

Nate Schmidt went in a different direction when he got off the bench.

“Just ...Read more

It’s not the baby faces or different hair Aaron Ekblad mentions about a photo from his 2014 draft, the one passed around the Florida Panthers’ plane before this Stanley Cup Final of that year’s top four picks, in order: Ekblad, Leon Draisaitl, Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett.

“We were all laughing about how bad our shoes were,’’ he ...Read more

MIAMI — The Florida Panthers have found a way to thrive on the road during this Stanley Cup playoffs run. It’s a major reason why they’re back in the Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers, why they’re oh so close to repeating as champions.

But with their best-of-seven Cup Final series with the Oilers tied 1-1 after opening the ...Read more

Take a sigh of relief, Florida Panthers fans.

Aaron Ekblad appears to be OK.

Panthers coach Paul Maurice on Saturday said the defenseman was fine after blocking a Darnell Nurse shot with his hand in the second overtime of Florida’s eventual 5-4 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Friday.

The blocked shot ...Read more

EDMONTON, Alberta — Two games into this Stanley Cup Final rematch between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers. Two absolutely thrilling games of hockey, both of which went to overtime.

And, most importantly for the Panthers, a split so far in the series as the games shift to South Florida.

After falling in overtime in the series ...Read more

FORT WORTH, Texas — For the second time this century, the Dallas Stars players got a coach fired.

Pete DeBoer just got Hitchcocked.

On Friday morning, the Stars announced they dismissed head coach Pete DeBoer, who in his three-year tenure led the team to the Western Conference finals each season. It is the most productive stretch in the ...Read more

DENVER — Front office executives know it is better to fall in like with players than fall in love.

The Avs and Nuggets continue to stretch the elasticity of loyalty, determined to run it back with rosters that fell short this spring. This point was driven home Wednesday as the Avs re-signed free agent Brock Nelson to a three-year, $22.5 ...Read more