NEW YORK (AP) — From one former New York Rangers to a current one, Jacob Trouba was selected as the winner of the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award, the league announced on Tuesday. The award winner is selected personally by Messier and presented since 2007 to a player who “exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice, during the regular season and who plays a leading role in his community growing the game of hockey.” Trouba is the first Rangers’ player to earn the hono

DENVER (AP) — The nameplate above the locker for Valeri Nichushkin has already been removed at the Colorado Avalanche's practice facility. It could be just for now — or possibly for good. For a second consecutive year, the Avalanche are on the brink of elimination from the playoffs with Nichushkin, one of their top players, unavailable due to circumstances away from the ice. This may be the last straw for the Avs when it comes to the talented 29-year-old Russian forward. Nichushkin was suspended

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — The Edmonton Oilers will start Calvin Pickard in net for Game 4 of their playoff series with the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night. The 32-year-old journeyman netminder replaces Stuart Skinner, who was pulled in the third period of Edmonton’s 4-3 loss to Vancouver on Sunday after giving up four goals on 15 shots. Edmonton trails Vancouver 2-1 in the best-of-seven second-round playoff series. “I’m expecting what I’ve seen from Calvin all season — a goaltender who’s compe

Wyatt Johnston accomplished a lot for the Dallas Stars before his 21st birthday. He has already appeared in 30 NHL playoff games, with four game-winning goals over those two postseasons, and matched a single-game mark accomplished only by Wayne Gretzky. “It's unreal for sure. It's a lot of fun to watch,” Dallas defenseman Miro Heiskanen said. “He amazes us every time.” Johnston turned 21 on Tuesday, when the Stars flew home from Colorado with a 3-1 series lead in their second-round Western Confe

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes kept losing close games to come within 60 minutes of exiting the NHL playoffs in an embarrassing sweep. Yet coach Rod Brind'Amour kept insisting his team was playing well in key areas and they had to stick with things. Somehow, what sounded like little more than a hopeful assessment at the time has brought the Hurricanes back to life in their second-round series with the Presidents' Trophy-winning New York Rangers. The Hurricanes have gone from down 3

TORONTO — Emphasizing the entertainment in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment is the main reason for significant renovations to Toronto's Scotiabank Arena. Keith Pelley, president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, swung a sledgehammer through a wall on the 100-level concourse on Tuesday morning as part of a ceremonial groundbreaking at the home of the NHL's Maple Leafs and NBA's Raptors. Pelley said that how fans experience in-person sporting events has changed since the COVID-19 pand

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Bruins captain Brad Marchand will not play in Game 5 of Boston’s Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night, coach Jim Montgomery said. Marchand travelled with the team to Florida but is “not an option tonight,” Montgomery said after the team’s morning skate. Marchand, the team’s leading scorer in this year’s playoffs before he was injured, was staggered on a hit to his head from Panthers forward Sam Bennett in the first period of Game

Brad Marchand won't play for the Bruins in Game 5. Check out the projected lineups for both teams ahead of a must-win matchup for Boston.

DENVER (AP) — Wyatt Johnston scored twice on the eve of his 21st birthday as the Dallas Stars pushed Colorado to the brink of elimination Monday night with a 5-1 win in Game 4 that came hours after Avalanche standout Valeri Nichushkin was suspended for at least six months. Johnston had short-handed and power-play goals for the Stars, who grabbed a 3-1 lead in the second-round, best-of-seven series. Dallas can close it out at home in Game 5 on Wednesday. “He (Johnston) came out possessed tonight,

Colorado Avalanche (50-25-7, third in the Central Division) vs. Dallas Stars (52-21-9, first in the Central Division)Dallas; Wednesday, 8 p.m. EDTBETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Stars -145, Avalanche +122; over/under is 6.5NHL PLAYOFFS SECOND ROUND: Stars lead series 3-1BOTTOM LINE: The Dallas Stars host the Colorado Avalanche in the second round of the NHL Playoffs with a 3-1 lead in the series. The teams meet Monday for the ninth time this season. The Stars won the previous matchup 5-1. Wyatt Johnston