DALLAS — The American Airlines Center crowd booed Mark Stone each time he touched the puck.

The first two times lasted around two seconds. The third time was much louder.

Stone scored a power-play goal 1:23 into his return to the Knights’ lineup, sparking a 4-3 win against the Dallas Stars in Game 1 of the two teams’ first-round playoff ...Read more

BOSTON — The Bruins stuck with their goalie rotation for Game 2 against the Toronto Maple Leafs and, though they got a very good performance from Linus Ullmark (30 saves), this best-of-seven series is tied at 1-1.

The Leafs earned the split. They were the better team most of the night on Tuesday and they finally forged ahead late in the game ...Read more

RALEIGH, N.C. — There are comeback wins in hockey and then there are great comeback wins.

The Carolina Hurricanes had a great one Monday in Game 2 of their Stanley Cup series against the New York Islanders, erupting for four goals late in the third period for a 5-3 win and a 2-0 lead in the series.

After pulling goalie Frederik Andersen for ...Read more

BOSTON — Jeremy Swayman has a favorite saying. “You can’t buy experience at Target,” the Bruins’ netminder has often said.

Jakub Lauko can attest to that.

Lauko freely admits that when he got his first taste of Stanley Cup playoff action a year ago against the Florida Panthers, his head was swimming.

“Last year I jumped into Game ...Read more

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — The Colorado Avalanche did not make it to Game 2 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs before goaltending became the dominant storyline.

Alexandar Georgiev allowed seven goals on 23 shots, and a fast start by Colorado quickly faded under the weight of an avalanche of goals against in a 7-6 defeat Sunday night at Canada Life ...Read more

As Matthew Tkachuk looked down at the scoresheet from the Florida Panthers’ 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning to begin the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Sunday afternoon, one tidbit stood out above the rest.

“Everyone got a hit,” the Panthers’ star winger said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen that.”

The physicality was expected, ...Read more

SEATTLE — On May 15, 2023, thousands of fans filed into Climate Pledge Arena to watch a hockey game. They came in jerseys and octopus hats and blue hair dye and mermaid fins, looking the playoff part. They came despite the unrelenting 86-degree heat, a Seattle spring outlier. They came with signs and dolls donning custom-made Kraken jerseys, ...Read more

BOSTON — If Bruins coach Jim Montgomery was really thinking about going with a straight goalie rotation for the playoffs like he did all season, Jeremy Swayman made a pretty good argument against it Saturday night at TD Garden.

In Game 1 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, Swayman (35 saves) was excellent, especially early, and ...Read more

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes got just the kind of game they were expecting from the New York Islanders on Saturday as the Stanley Cup playoffs began.

The Hurricanes took a 3-1 victory at PNC Arena in Game 1, which was tight-checking, hard-fought and grinding. Canes goalie Frederik Andersen earned the win with 34 saves.

Stefan ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — By now, he is part of the landscape. Like bridges and beaches, Steven Stamkos is Tampa Bay.

It’s not any one thing, it is everything. He arrived as a teenage savior and somehow exceeded most expectations. He’s had a Hall of Fame career, won two Stanley Cups and walked with dignity no matter the hour or score. And 16 years ...Read more

BOSTON — And so they meet again. The Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs don’t hold their spring clash quite as a frequently as the B’s and Montreal Canadiens once did, but the Blue-and-White have replaced the Bleu, Blanc et Rouge as the B’s chief rival.

This will be the fourth time in 11 years the two Original Six teams will meet in the ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — The Vegas Golden Knights were in control of their own destiny, but couldn’t deliver.

After a wild turn of events, they’re off to Dallas.

The Knights ended the regular season with a 4-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks at T-Mobile Arena on Thursday, and will begin their Stanley Cup title defense as the second wild card in the Western...Read more

DENVER — Nathan MacKinnon’s season for the ages has officially set a new standard for the Colorado Avalanche franchise.

MacKinnon had a pair of assists Thursday night in Game No. 82 at Ball Arena to help the Avs cruise past the undermanned Edmonton Oilers in a 5-1 win. He finished the season with 51 goals and 140 points. That is one more ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — The Golden Knights dropped their final game of the regular season 4-1 to the Anaheim Ducks at T-Mobile Arena on Thursday.

Center Jack Eichel scored, and goaltender Adin Hill made 19 saves for the Knights (45-29-8).

The Knights no longer control their own destiny for playoff seeding. The Los Angeles Kings can clinch the No. 3 seed...Read more

Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith has officially landed a National Hockey League franchise.

Thursday afternoon, the league’s board of governors approved a plan to relocate the Arizona Coyotes to Utah for next season. In an unusual deal that helps the NHL avoid a potential arena crisis in Arizona, Smith and his wife Ashley bought the Coyotes’ ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — No, the top teams in the playoffs weren't "shaking in their shoes" with fear that the Penguins might sneak into the playoffs. And no, the Penguins weren't capable of making some magical Florida Panthers-like run to the Stanley Cup Final had they gotten into the tournament.

And, finally, no, this notion that this core group of old...Read more

TAMPA — Nikita Kucherov isn’t much for the spectacle, and he goes out of his way to shun the spotlight.

But the Lightning right wing couldn’t avoid it on Wednesday night in the regular-season finale, when he capped the best single-season performance in team history by joining one of the most elite clubs in hockey.

Whether Kucherov wins ...Read more

ATLANTA — Whether it happens that the NHL sets up shop in Atlanta for a third time remains to be seen. But the league and the owners of its 32 franchises know beyond a doubt that interest is strong.

Two groups, one based in Forsyth County and another in Alpharetta, are known to have reached out to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman to express ...Read more