TAMPA, Fla. — This seemed inevitable. Not the trade demand, but the petulance.

When you have a legend who is underpaid and in his 30s — in this case, Nikita Kucherov — and a general manager who is unerringly logical and fearless — in this case, Julien BriseBois — the chances of finding ugliness were seemingly greater than a long-term ...Read more

DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche wasted little time Saturday night taking care of business against the Calgary Flames.

Arturri Lehkonen had two goals, Cale Makar had four assists and Mackenzie Blackwood made 25 saves as the Avs cruised to a 5-2 win at Ball Arena. It’s the Avs’ second straight win and they’re now 6-1-1 at home this season...Read more

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Michael Misa chased a loose puck in the neutral zone when Ottawa Senators defenseman Tyler Kleven delivered a hard check that sent the Sharks center crashing into the boards.

As Collin Graf went after Kleven and with Misa slow to get up, the Senators raced up the ice on a 3-on-2 odd-man rush that Ottawa’s leading scorer, ...Read more

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Lightning aren’t usually hockey’s biggest headline in late October, but when the reigning Hart Trophy winner requests a trade you’re suddenly at the center of it all.

Still, the team was focused on the ice during Saturday’s Halloween matinee at Bridgestone Arena. Less than 24 hours earlier, Nikita Kucherov told ...Read more

BOSTON — Hard work and execution were not strong suits for the Bruins on Saturday at TD Garden, but a little late resilience got them two improbable points.

The Bruins erased a two-goal third period deficit and Elias Lindholm scored the overtime game-winner to lift Boston over the Chicago Blackhawks, 5-4. Lindholm caught a long pass from ...Read more

DETROIT — This Red Wings game turned suddenly.

The Wings looked in great shape with a two-goal, third-period lead but watched as St. Louis scored three goals in 4 minutes, 38 seconds, leading the Blues to a 5-4 victory.

Aleksanteri Kaskimaki's goal at the 13:15 mark, his first NHL goal, capped the comeback, just 18 seconds after Justin ...Read more

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Sometimes silence speaks volumes, especially with a Lightning organization that is a vault when it comes to divulging information.

And then sometimes, without notice, a grenade is thrown into the locker room and everyone is suddenly looking for the shrapnel that’s surely about to come.

But with respect to Nikita Kucherov...Read more

DETROIT — Trying to read someone’s body language can be a dangerous game.

But in the case of Dylan Larkin, the erstwhile Red Wings captain, it really wasn’t all that difficult. We’ve been doing it for years now in Detroit, watching the shoulders sag and the eyes grow distant as the Stanley Cup playoff drought worsened, the weight of ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — A day after receiving a standing ovation from the Benchmark International Arena crowd, celebrating Nikita Kucherov becoming the Lightning’s all-time leading scorer, the star right wing reportedly has told the team he will not re-sign and is requesting a trade.

The Lightning and Kucherov, who is in the final season of an eight-...Read more

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Will Smith and Mason Marchment saved the San Jose Sharks from an embarrassing loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday.

With the Sharks trailing by two before the third period, Smith scored goals 2:39 apart to tie the game, with his second coming with 9:21 left in regulation.

Just 11 seconds after Smith’s second goal, ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — You never want injuries to force a switch up of line combinations, but it’s also an opportunity to see how players can slot into other roles. And the injury to Zemgus Girgensons allowed Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper to get a glimpse of forward Pontus Holmberg in a more prominent role.

Holmberg is unquestionably an ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — It was a whirlwind at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday night.

The visiting Utah Mammoth looked like they would cruise to an easy win. Then the Penguins stormed back to take a lead with 25 seconds remaining behind an emphatic return from Ben Kindel.

But that left too much time on the clock for Logan Cooley. He completed his hat trick...Read more

DETROIT — The Detroit Red Wings look ready to go on with the season without Dylan Larkin.

The Wings looked fine without him Thursday hours after it was announced Larkin will not return to the Wings and the team has suspended him without pay, defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1.

Lucas Raymond (power play) and Viktor Arvidsson scored third ...Read more

DETROIT — The Detroit Red Wings suspended Dylan Larkin without pay Thursday after the veteran center informed the team he would no longer play as he awaits a trade.

Interim general manager Shawn Horcoff announced the suspension hours before the Wings' game against the Chicago Blackhawks at Little Caesars Arena.

“Dylan Larkin has informed ...Read more

DETROIT — Has Dylan Larkin actually played his last game with the Red Wings?

Possibly.

Larkin will not be in the lineup Thursday night when the Red Wings face the Chicago Blackhawks at Little Caesars Arena. Interim general manager Shawn Horcoff is expected to address the situation Thursday, likely with a statement.

Larkin's agent Pat ...Read more

DENVER — Eight days ago, the Colorado Avalanche went to Northern New Jersey on the second half of a back-to-back and were overwhelmed by a rested Devils team.

It took a period to really get going, but the Avs exacted their revenge Wednesday night at Ball Arena.

Captain Gabe Landeskog scored a key power-play goal and became the franchise’s ...Read more