DALLAS — Jake Oettinger will never again take his health for granted. Professional athletes — especially the younger ones — often have a feeling of invincibility. The Dallas Stars goaltender knows what that's like. And the sinking, helpless feeling when it's taken away. It was abruptly decided last July a lingering ankle injury Oettinger played through during the 2022-23 campaign and playoffs required surgery. The procedure cost him most of his summer workout schedule. He only started skating ri

NEW YORK (AP) — The Florida Panthers are on the verge of going back to the Stanley Cup Final for the second straight year and third time in franchise history because they are finding ways to win the tight ones. Anton Lundell broke a tie with 9:38 left and the Panthers beat the New York Rangers 3-2 on Thursday night in Game 5 of an Eastern Conference final where the teams have been separated by one goal the past four games. Unlike the previous three, this one didn't need extra time. Gustav Forsli

CHICAGO (AP) — Angel Reese is ensuring some of the glare from the bright spotlight on the WNBA shines squarely on the Chicago Sky. The Sky are embracing all the attention — led by the gregarious Reese. The seventh overall draft pick will remind anyone who will listen that there is a group of rookies helping boost soaring WNBA ratings, attendance and revenue, not just the one who plays in Indiana. However, Reese has repeatedly said she has no animosity toward Caitlin Clark and the deserved attent

New York Rangers (55-23-4, first in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Florida Panthers (52-24-6, first in the Atlantic Division)Sunrise, Florida; Saturday, 8 p.m. EDTSTANLEY CUP SEMIFINALS: Panthers lead series 3-2BOTTOM LINE: The Florida Panthers host the New York Rangers in the third round of the NHL Playoffs with a 3-2 lead in the series. The teams meet Thursday for the ninth time this season. The Panthers won the previous matchup 3-2.Florida is 31-15-3 in home games and 52-24-6 overall. The Pan

Edmonton Oilers (49-27-6, second in the Pacific Division) vs. Dallas Stars (52-21-9, first in the Central Division)Dallas; Friday, 8:30 p.m. EDTBETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Stars -131, Oilers +110; over/under is 6STANLEY CUP SEMIFINALS: Series tied 2-2BOTTOM LINE: The Edmonton Oilers visit the Dallas Stars for game five of the third round of the NHL Playoffs with the series tied 2-2. The teams meet Wednesday for the eighth time this season. The Oilers won 5-2 in the last meeting.Dallas has a 52-21-9

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Rangers won the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's top team in the regular season by mixing talent, with smart play and finding ways to win more often than not. They are facing postseason elimination for the first time because a lot of that has been missing against the Florida Panthers. Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final Thursday night was a perfect example of another very entertaining hockey game that didn't didn't go right for a number of reasons. The Panthers won

Anton Lundell broke a tie on a deflected shot with 9:38 left and the Florida Panthers moved within a victory of returning to the Stanley Cup Final.

The Rangers lost, 3-2, to the Florida Panthers Thursday night in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, meaning the Blueshirts are one loss from elimination.

DALLAS (AP) — There have been wild swings of momentum in the Western Conference Final, and something that has happened only one other time this late in the NHL playoffs. After Edmonton and Dallas both came back from multiple-goal deficits to win while splitting the past two games, this is now a best-of-three for a spot in the Stanley Cup Final. “You look back at this series ... there’s four games that Dallas thought they could have won, and we feel there’s four games that we could have won,” Oil

NEW YORK (AP) — Forward Filip Chytil returned to New York's lineup for Game 5 of the Rangers' Eastern Conference final against the Florida Panthers on Thursday night, replacing Blake Wheeler. Chytil, who missed most of the season with what is believed to have been a concussion, played in the first three games of the series. He was rested in Game 4 and Wheeler played for the first time since breaking a leg in February. Wheeler was called for a penalty early in overtime that led to Sam Reinhart's