SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — The Prince of Wales Trophy was carried onto the ice when time expired, as an arena filled with Florida Panthers fans roared in delight and dozens of players and staffers rushed over to pose with the prize. Last year, the Panthers touched the trophy. This year, they didn't. The message was clear. The Stanley Cup is the only trophy they want. For the second straight year, they have a chance at hockey's greatest prize. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 23 shots, Sam Bennett and Vladimir

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — The New York Rangers put Jonny Brodzinski back into their lineup for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference final against the Florida Panthers on Saturday night, taking the spot of little-used Matt Rempe. Brodzinski appeared in only two of New York's first 15 games in this post-season, going without a point in Games 1 and 2 of Round 2 against Carolina. He had six goals and 13 assists in 57 games during the regular season. Rempe played only four shifts in Game 5, staying on the ice

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has never been this close to playing for a Stanley Cup since the Edmonton Oilers took him with the first overall draft pick in 2011. It's been even longer for the franchise that has won the Cup five times. Edmonton was right in the middle of a span of 10 consecutive seasons without even making the playoffs when Nugent-Hopkins was drafted. And while the Oilers went into this season considered a Cup contender, they were 5-12-1 in November and already had made a coaching change.

DALLAS — Kris Knoblauch arrived to find a locker room in turmoil. The Edmonton Oilers — among the Stanley Cup favourites when training camp opened — had got off to a disastrous start to the NHL season. The club was in a tailspin, languishing near the bottom of the standings despite a roster led by superstar forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. There were plenty of questions, and not many answers, when Knoblauch took over for the fired Jay Woodcroft in November with the Oilers sitting a st

FRANKENMUTH — The accolades and recognition meant the world to Jagger Firkus.

Dallas Stars (52-21-9, first in the Central Division) vs. Edmonton Oilers (49-27-6, second in the Pacific Division)Edmonton, Alberta; Sunday, 8 p.m. EDTSTANLEY CUP SEMIFINALS: Oilers lead series 3-2BOTTOM LINE: The Edmonton Oilers host the Dallas Stars in the third round of the NHL Playoffs with a 3-2 lead in the series. The teams meet Friday for the ninth time this season. The Oilers won the previous matchup 3-1. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored two goals in the win.Edmonton is 49-27-6 overall and 33

SAGINAW — Easton Cowan's big-game reputation has only grown this season, but he's had some added motivation pushing him to another level.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and the Edmonton Oilers went into Game 5 of the Western Conference Final determined to score if they got a power-play chance. They did twice, and quickly both times, in a 3-1 win over the top-seeded Dallas Stars to take a 3-2 series lead and get within one victory of going to the Stanley Cup Final. “We’ve been pushing and they obviously don’t take a lot of penalties. You don’t have three, four or five opportunities a game to find your rhythm,” Nugent-H

DALLAS — Ryan Nugent-Hopkins lived the Edmonton Oilers' darkest days. The once-proud franchise endured a decade of playoff-less springs, management missteps and coaching blunders. The Oilers were a punchline across the NHL. Now the organization's longest-tenured player and his teammates sit a single victory from the Stanley Cup final. Nugent-Hopkins scored two power-play goals Friday as Edmonton smothered the Dallas Stars 3-1 to take a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference final. "This is why we pl

DALLAS (AP) — Dallas Stars defenseman Chris Tanev was active for Game 5 of the Western Conference Final on Friday night after taking a shot off his right foot in the previous game. Coach Pete DeBoer had said at the morning skate Friday he was optimistic Tanev could play. Tanev got hurt in the second period of Game 4 on Wednesday night, when he was struck on the right foot on a shot by Oilers forward Evander Kane in the second period. Tanev was in obvious pain going to the bench, then had to hobb