Blackhawks' Brandon Saad benefits from Quenneville’s confidence in rookies

Joel Quenneville must remember when he was a rookie defenseman on the 1978-79 Toronto Maple Leafs.

Rask stays in touch with predecessor Thomas

BOSTON | Just imagine what Tuukka Rask and Tim Thomas chat about when the present and past Boston Bruins goalies, and friends, have time to talk.

LA Kings stumble home to host surging Blackhawks

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. | The Los Angeles Kings have been in all types of jams during the past two postseasons. Just a few weeks ago, they even escaped the same 0-2 deficit they're now facing in the Western Conference finals.

Blackhawks try to stay sharp during playoff break

CHICAGO | Practice was long over when Joel Quenneville was stopped by two young boys waiting to get on the ice. They asked if he would sign their sticks, and the former NHL defenseman happily obliged.

Blackhawks extend streak to 19 games

CHICAGO | Marian Hossa scored 1:44 into overtime and the Blackhawks beat the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 on Monday night to stretch their NHL-record opening points streak to 19 games.

Blackhawks set NHL record with win over Sharks

CHICAGO | For 17 games, nobody has been able to beat the Blackhawks in regulation.

Blackhawks beat Kings, get point in 15th straight

CHICAGO | Call them the Goldilocks Blackhawks.

AL HAMNIK: Today's sports headlines much to do about nothing

The Philadelphia Eagles want Brian Kelly as their new coach. Alas, Notre Dame football is doomed.

Blackhawks are only bystanders as lockout damages their franchise, NHL

CHICAGO | Patrick Kane revels in October, almost as much as he did for the month of June two years ago, when his tough-angle overtime goal in Philadelphia snared an uncommon pro sports championship for his adapted city.

Hossa helps Hawks top Senators

OTTAWA | The Ottawa Senators were done in by a couple of former teammates.

Blackhawks send Scott to Rangers, pick up Oduya

CHICAGO | The Blackhawks shuffled their defense Monday, picking up veteran Johnny Oduya from the Winnipeg Jets and sending John Scott to the New York Rangers.

Chelios leads class of 5 into US hockey hall

CHICAGO | Mount Carmel product Chris Chelios led a class of five inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday night.

A hockey heritage: Andy Bathgate's grandson

TORONTO | The coach is more than happy to get someone with a strong work ethic and good skills. The coach also wouldn't mind hearing a few stories.

Burrows readies for Cup finals with lots on mind

VANCOUVER, British Columbia | Alex Burrows took a day off from hockey, but not from his thoughts as he gets ready to play in the Stanley Cup finals for the first time.

Tampa Bay scores 3 goals in 1:25 to beat Bruins

BOSTON | The swift-skating Tampa Bay Lightning wasted little time taking control of the Eastern Conference finals.

Canucks grab 3-1 series lead over Predators

NASHVILLE, Tenn. | Ryan Kesler broke a tie with a power-play goal at 7:28 of the third period, and the Vancouver Canucks beat the Nashville Predators 4-2 on Thursday night to take a 3-1 lead in their Western Conference semifinal series.

Lightning backup Smith shuts out Blackhawks

CHICAGO | Backup Mike Smith made 31 saves for his first shutout in more than a year, and Vincent Lecavalier scored a power-play goal in the first period before leaving with an injury in the Tampa Bay Lightning's 2-0 win over the Blackhawks on Sunday night.

NHL GMs to discuss why concussions are on the rise

NEW YORK | Blindside hits to the head are down in the NHL, yet concussions are up. Now general managers have to decide if more rules are needed to make pro hockey safer.

Air Canada threatens to pull NHL sponsorship

DALLAS | In an unusually public faceoff between a pro sports league and one of its major sponsors, Air Canada has threatened to pull support for the National Hockey League, saying that violent play on the ice hurts the airline's brand image.

Premier, sponsor assail NHL for on-ice violence

MONTREAL | Criticism of the NHL's handling of on-ice violence mounted Friday, with Quebec's premier and another major sponsor joining those who already have told the league that it needs to do more to protect its players.