TAMPA, Fla. -- About a minute and a half into the second period of Saturday's game at Amalie Arena, Antti Niemi removed his mask and took a drink of water, as Lighting winger Nikita Kucherov zoomed past following a whistle.

It would have been perfectly understandable for Niemi to peer into his net, fearful there was a puck there, the same thing...Read more

WASHINGTON -- When days pass in the NHL season, the calendar can blend together, merging weekends with weekdays and rendering cities nameless. The schedule creates a sense of rhythm, an inkling of routine when day-to-day life can feel the same.

But there was no mistaking the Florida Panthers' 4-1 win in Washington on Saturday night for any of ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA -- The Flyers have five victories, and Wayne Simmonds has the game-winner in four of them.

The latest came with 2:15 left in their 2-1 victory over Edmonton at the electric Wells Fargo Center on Saturday afternoon.

Simmonds took a feed from Val Filppula and whipped a shot past Cam Talbot for his sixth goal of the young season.

...Read more

ANAHEIM, Calif.--Finally, seven games in, the Anaheim Ducks found the start they were looking for.

One by one, the bodies hit the ice as the Ducks set the tone with two crushing hits on the opening shift, one delivered by Josh Manson that sent Ales Hemsky crashing to the ice.

Moments later, the Ducks were on the board after Dennis Rasmussen's ...Read more

WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- As threadbare as the Wild roster may be, coach Bruce Boudreau doesn't believe that should have any impact on its ability to play effectively in its own zone. "No matter who's in the lineup, you can play defense," he said.

The question remained, though, whether the Wild would actually follow through with a better defensive ...Read more

DETROIT -- Tomas Tatar scored twice as the Detroit Red Wings salvaged a point at home.

The Wings scored short-handed, at even strength and on a power play but were beaten on power-play goal in overtime to lose, 4-3, Friday to the Washington Capitals at Little Caesars Arena.

Petr Mrazek had made a handful of big saves before giving up a goal to...Read more

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Six minutes into this one, the Penguins looked so sloppy that it seemed like they might need former coach Michel Therrien to venture down from the press box and install some sense of responsibility.

Fortunately for Therrien's ex-employer, this group snapped out of its funk.

Then did it once more for show.

With their former ...Read more

NEWARK, N.J. -- Martin Jones carried the momentum of his sensational performance Tuesday into the opening game of the Sharks five-game East Coast road swing, putting together his best performance of the season by making 28 saves against the NHL's second-highest scoring offense.

Jones pitched his first shutout of the 2017-18 campaign as the ...Read more

Andreas Athanasiou has red tape to clear but he is at last headed back to the Detroit Red Wings.

The stalemate between the sides is all but officially over as Athanasiou agreed Friday to a one-year deal worth $1.3875 million. The Wings will have to clear that amount off their salary cap before the contract becomes official, but that is not the ...Read more

DENVER -- The Blues survived a wild -- no make that bizarre -- third period, holding off the Colorado Avalanche, 4-3, to boost their Central Division-leading record to 6-2 Thursday at the Pepsi Center.

The Avalanche scored two third-period goals into an empty net -- once when Blues goalie Carter Hutton was trapped under defenseman Robert ...Read more

CHICAGO -- Normally the Blackhawks don't hold a skate the morning in which they play the second of back-to-back games, especially if they travel the night before.

But after the Hawks put on what coach Joel Quenneville called a "brutal" effort in a loss to the Blues on Wednesday, he called an optional morning skate at the United Center on ...Read more

LOS ANGELES -- Michael Cammalleri's smile was subtle. Adrian Kempe's could be seen from space.

Together they helped the Los Angeles Kings overcome what could have been a big bummer.

It's been that type of start to the season for the Kings that their one area of offensive concern -- the third line -- sprung alive Wednesday in a 5-1 win against ...Read more

TORONTO -- The Detroit Red Wings couldn't overcome poor goaltending as they faced the top offense in the NHL.

Jimmy Howard gave up three goals on the first four shots he faced Wednesday at Air Canada Centre, and Petr Mrazek got beat on the first shot he saw. Detroit's skaters played well as they attempted a rally, but the Wings came up short in...Read more

TORONTO -- While the Detroit Red Wings went to work in Toronto, restricted free agent Andreas Athanasiou is still searching for work overseas.

His agent, Darren Ferris, told the Free Press on Wednesday morning that Athanasiou is still in Switzerland, where he has been for more than 10 days. Ferris did not respond when asked if Athanasiou has an...Read more

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- San Jose Sharks captain Joe Pavelski might have been a bit fortunate to see a puck that he partially deflected early in the second period wind up behind Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price.

Pavelski had a clearer idea of what was going to happen when he came up with his second point Tuesday at SAP Center.

Pavelski kicked ...Read more

NEW YORK -- For the first 20 minutes, the Penguins' game against the Rangers Tuesday night went mostly to script.

Penguins stars breaking out, the two-time defending champions overwhelming a Rangers team struggling to find its footing on the season.

The final 40 minutes -- and then some -- didn't quite follow suit, but it ended with two points...Read more