For all the talk about the Rangers’ sharp penalty kill, goaltender Igor Shesterkin was the biggest player in the Rangers’ 3-1 victory in Game 3 in Washington on Friday night

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Backup goalie Casey DeSmith finally has his first postseason victory, and he helped the Vancouver Canucks take back home-ice advantage in the process. DeSmith made 29 saves as the Canucks held off the Nashville Predators 2-1 Friday night for a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven series to open the NHL playoffs. “It couldn’t come at a better time," DeSmith said of his first playoff victory. "I was really disappointed with how I played the other night. I thought the team played

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nothing seems to be able to knock the New York Rangers off their game, certainly not giving up a fluky bounce goal five minutes in or having seven penalties called on them. Again they responded to whatever the Washington Capitals threw at them, and now they're one win away from the second round. Vincent Trocheck had a power-play goal and a short-handed assist, Igor Shesterkin made 27 saves and the Rangers beat the Capitals 3-1 in Game 3 Friday night, taking a 3-0 lead in the be

Igor Shesterkin made multiple marvelous saves after giving up an early soft goal and the Rangers’ special teams squashed the Washington Capitals in a 3-1 win to take a 3-0 series lead.

Igor Shesterkin made multiple marvelous saves after giving up an early soft goal and the Rangers’ special teams squashed the Washington Capitals in a 3-1 win to take a 3-0 series lead.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The problems for Dallas are two-fold — the Stars aren't getting great scoring chances and for long stretches aren't even putting the puck on net. That's primarily why the Golden Knights are back in Las Vegas with a 2-0 lead in the first-round NHL playoffs series. Game 3 is Saturday night (10:30 p.m. EDT, TBS). In Game 1, a 4-3 Dallas loss, the Stars didn't get a shot on goal in the second period until 8:52 into it. Vegas closed out the 3-1 victory in Game 2 by holding Dallas wit

TORONTO — William Nylander took a pass from John Tavares and wheeled towards the net. The Maple Leafs winger then deftly fed the puck against the grain on a tee for Mitch Marner to blast a one-timer from a sharp angle. The power-play sequence was only a practice drill. It was also one of many positive signs for the player — and a team that's opened the playoffs minus one of its key contributors. Nylander appears on course to join the action Saturday for Game 4 against the Boston Bruins with Toro

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Newfoundlanders remember legendary "Hockey Night in Canada" sportscaster Bob Cole as a national star who proved that someone from the country's easternmost province could make it big on the mainland, all without moving away. Cole's connection to Newfoundland and Labrador, including his home in the provincial capital, was "everything" to him, said Megan Cole, his daughter, in a message Friday. "Many times through his career he was asked to move for the job, was offered broadcas

NASHVILLE — Rick Tocchet expects boos to rain down when his Vancouver Canucks take the ice on Friday. That's exactly how it should be, the head coach said. The Canucks will be in hostile territory as their first-round playoff series with the Predators shifts to Nashville for Game 3. Being the despised opponent is a role players should relish, Tocchet said. “I love getting booed," the former NHL forward said. "Nashville’s got great fans, they don’t throw stuff at you. Sometimes it’s nice to be th

Canadian curling champion Brad Gushue first struck up a friendship with Bob Cole some 20 years ago during the NHL lockout. The legendary broadcaster — an elite curler himself in his younger days — would often watch the up-and-coming skip throw stones at the local club in their hometown of St. John's, N.L. "At times during my career, I'd talk to him about how things were going," Gushue said. "The one thing with Bob, he was always very honest with me and very direct. He gave me some good advice."