NHL category, Page 44

If the teams left in the NHL playoffs are sick and tired of facing the same opponents over and over, they are in luck in the semifinals. After exclusively divisional play this season and through the first two rounds, the hockey playoffs are down to a final four of teams...

When Brad Larsen went from old player to young coach and earning an NHL head job became a goal, he spent time on a hockey database website looking up the paths of those who came before him. Larsen found many of the most successful coaches took their time and embraced...

Steelers fans will be interested in Friday’s “First Call” as we have updates on two AFC North rivals. The Cleveland Browns are getting healthy in the secondary, and the Baltimore Ravens’ deep group of running backs may be adding another familiar name. Meanwhile, we celebrate the present and the past...

LAS VEGAS — Alex Pietrangelo scored his first goal of the postseason to break a tie late in the second period, and the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Colorado Avalanche 6-3 in Game 6 of their second-round series on Thursday night to advance to the Stanley Cup semifinals. Nick Holden,...

NEW YORK — Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews and Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon have been named the finalists for the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP. McDavid, considered the likely winner of the award, dominated the 2020-21 scoring race with 105 points in 56...

Thursday’s “First Call” features a bold Devin Bush, as the Steelers linebacker talks about tough tasks in coverage. There are a few newsworthy items about some former Penn State stars. A familiar Penguins face is heading out to Minnesota to reunite with Bill Guerin. Plus, we wish a happy birthday...

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Brock Nelson scored twice in another big second period by New York, Semyon Varlamov stopped 23 shots, and the Islanders beat the Boston Bruins 6-2 in Game 6 on Wednesday night to advance to the Stanley Cup semifinals for the second straight year. Kyle Palmieri, Trais Zajac,...

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild hired longtime NHL general manager Ray Shero on Wednesday as a senior advisor to general manager Bill Guerin, who played for and worked under Shero with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Shero was fired last year by New Jersey, midway through his fifth season as...

Officiating has been on center stage midway through the NHL playoffs. Star forward Connor McDavid didn’t draw a single penalty when Edmonton got swept in the first round. Tampa Bay dominated a second-round series against Carolina thanks to a potent power play. And a war of words between coaches Barry...

DENVER — Mark Stone blocked a shot on the defensive end and by the time he spun around, a pass was waiting for him with nothing but clear sailing ahead. A burst of speed — even as tired as he was — and a wrist shot later, he was being...

Wednesday’s “First Call” features interesting comments by Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick on some recent front office decisions. Gerrit Cole gives a bizarre explanation about Spider Tack. Levon Kirkland sees a lot of himself in a potential NFL star linebacker. And yet another entertaining game out west between the Colorado...

With every passing day, it’s getting harder and harder to resuscitate the Robert Morris hockey programs. It’s been almost two weeks since the university abruptly eliminated the successful men’s and women’s teams. While supporters and alumni are scurrying to come up with funds to keep them alive — or plans...

RALEIGH, N.C. — Andrei Vasilevskiy was at his best again with the Tampa Bay Lightning in position to close out a playoff series. Throw in a couple of timely goals from Brayden Point and Ross Colton, and the reigning Stanley Cup champions are a step closer to playing for another...

BOSTON — The NHL fined Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy $25,000 on Tuesday for his criticism of the officials after Game 4 of Boston’s second-round playoff series against the New York Islanders. The Islanders scored three power-play goals on four chances in a 5-4 victory on Monday night while being called...

MONTREAL — Tyler Toffoli scored at 1:39 of overtime, lifting the Montreal Canadiens to a 3-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Monday night and a four-game sweep of their second-round playoff series. Toffoli took a cross-crease pass from Cole Caufield and beat Connor Hellebuyck with a one-timer for the...

BOSTON — With five minutes left and his New York Islanders bleeding away their three-goal lead, coach Barry Trotz called a timeout and told his players to breathe. “He just calmed everyone down,” said forward Josh Bailey, who had a goal and an assist in the 5-4 victory that gave...

LAS VEGAS — After the Vegas Golden Knights lost the first two games of their second-round series against the Colorado Avalanche, captain Mark Stone said no team is out of a series until it loses at home. After sweeping two in Vegas, the Golden Knights are back in business. Jonathan...

Monday’s “First Call” tells us how the Julio Jones trade will impact the Steelers. Andrew McCutchen is getting hot. Sidney Crosby is shut out of the Selke voting. And local product Brandon Saad is back on the score sheet in the NHL playoffs. But he was one-upped by someone on...

As supporters of Robert Morris ice hockey hold out hope that some sort of 11th-hour development may save the recently eliminated men’s and women’s programs, the coaches are taking on a gut-wrenching job. Men’s head coach Derek Schooley and women’s head coach Paul Colontino are tasked with dismantling their rosters,...

The NHL received an exemption from Canadian health officials allowing cross-border travel for teams starting in the semifinal round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the league announced on Sunday. When in Canada, teams will be required to stay in a bubble and be tested daily for COVID-19, similar to the...