Devils oust Rangers in OT win

By The Associated Press

NEWARK, N.J. | Adam Henrique scored off a wild scramble in front at 1:03 into overtime and the New Jersey Devils defeated the New York Rangers 3-2 to advance to their first Stanley Cup finals since 2003.

Torts expects best from Rangers in must-win game

By IRA PODELL

Whether the New York Rangers truly believed they could overcome a 3-2 playoff series deficit earlier this year doesn't matter now.

Devils outlast Rangers, 5-3, take 3-2 series lead

By IRA PODELL

The New Jersey Devils never could have imagined they would have a three-goal lead on the New York Rangers less than 10 minutes into Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals at hostile Madison Square Garden.

Canucks extend contract Vigneault's contract

The Vancouver Canucks signed coach Alain Vigneault to a contract extension, ending speculation that the team's playoff loss to Los Angeles might cost him the job.

Kings edge Coyotes 4-3 in overtime to win West

By JOHN MARSHALL

A great road playoff run has the Los Angeles Kings in a place they haven't been since the Great One was skating in Southern California.

Coyotes out after 4-3 loss to Kings in West finals

By JOHN MARSHALL

The Phoenix Coyotes avoided a sweep with a gutty performance in Los Angeles. They couldn't do it again back home in the desert, though the disappointment shouldn't linger too long.

Coyotes beat LA Kings 2-0, avoid West final sweep

By GREG BEACHAM

Cancel the coronation, or at least postpone it. The Phoenix Coyotes are still hanging around.

Tom Renney out as coach of the Edmonton Oilers

Tom Renney is out as coach of the Edmonton Oilers.

NHL questions: Can the Rangers go all the way?

By DAN GELSTON

The NHL's conference finals opened over the weekend without some of the top teams and big stars that highlighted the regular season.

Column: 'If we're tired, something's the matter'

By JIM LITKE

Coach John Tortorella's postgame news conference was so short you might think that just like the rest of the Rangers, he was trying to conserve energy.

Dale Hunter quits as coach of Washington Capitals

By HOWARD FENDRICH

For quite some time, Washington Capitals general manager George McPhee tried to persuade former player Dale Hunter to return to the team as its coach. This season, McPhee finally got his man _ just not for very long.

US tops Finland 5-0 at ice hockey worlds

Max Pacioretty of the Montreal Canadiens opened the scoring and the United States rolled to a 5-0 victory over defending champion Finland at the ice hockey world championships on Sunday.

Caps eliminated with 2-1 Game 7 loss to Rangers

By IRA PODELL

Although the Washington Capitals were officially eliminated from the playoffs by the New York Rangers in a Game 7 squeaker, the upstart club out of the No. 7 seed knows it let this series get away in what it thought was the final seconds of Game 5.

Rangers hold off Caps 2-1 in Game 7

By IRA PODELL

Henrik Lundqvist went from shaking his head in disgust to raising his arms in celebration when time finally ran out on the Washington Capitals.

76ers beat Bulls 79-78 and advance to 2nd round

By DAN GELSTON

Andre Iguodala made the go-ahead free throws with 2.2 seconds left and the Philadelphia 76ers rallied for a 79-78 victory over the top-seeded Chicago Bulls in Game 6 on Thursday night, advancing to the second round of the Eastern Conference p…

Bettman: Blues status brighter with new ownership

By R.B. FALLSTROM

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman gave his stamp of approval to new St. Louis Blues ownership, saying the franchise's financial picture is much improved.

Rangers, Capitals headed to another Game 7

By HOWARD FENDRICH

It makes perfect sense that the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals are heading to a Game 7.

NHL Board of Governors OKs sale of St. Louis Blues

By JIM SALTER

The NHL Board of Governors has approved the sale of the St. Louis Blues to a group headed by St. Louis beer distributor Tom Stillman, the league announced Wednesday.

Brodeur, Devils eliminate Flyers with 3-1 win

By DAN GELSTON

Martin Brodeur has taken this path to the Stanley Cup championship before.

Brodeur, Devils eliminate Flyers with 3-1 win

By DAN GELSTON

Martin Brodeur missed all the postseason fun a year ago. One of the game's all-time greats, the veteran goaltender considered retirement and the New Jersey Devils were absent from the playoffs for the first time since 1996.

Phoenix moves on with 2-1 win over Nashville

By JOHN MARSHALL

The Phoenix Coyotes had been waiting so long for a new owner that they barely blinked when NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced a tentative deal was in place.

Coyotes a step closer to having an owner

By BOB BAUM

The Phoenix Coyotes are a step close to having an owner after three years of waiting.

Flyers' owner sued over Winter Classic tickets

Lawyers for a Philadelphia Flyers season ticket-holder have sued the team's owner over its policy for tickets to the outdoor Winter Classic. The team calls the lawsuit frivolous.

LA Kings sweep St. Louis, advance to West finals

By GREG BEACHAM

The St. Louis Blues threw everything they had at the Kings in the final two periods of Game 4, desperate and determined to avoid a series sweep. Although Los Angeles bent to an alarming degree, Jonathan Quick never broke.

Parity reigning in NHL playoffs

By John Marshall AP Sports Writer

GLENDALE, Ariz. | The Phoenix Coyotes roused a dormant fan base with an energetic season-ending burst that carried into the playoffs.

Hawks changes seem certain after 2nd straight first-round knockout

By George Castle Times Correspondent

CHICAGO | Vacation time appears limited this spring and summer for Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman and his hockey operations staff.

Smith again turns away Hawks, and turns off season in Game 6

By George Castle Times Correspondent

CHICAGO | The Blackhawks threw the kitchen sink at Phoenix Coyotes goalie Mike Smith.

BLACKHAWKS GAME 6 NOTEBOOK: Teammates welcome Shaw back from suspension

By George Castle Times Correspondent

CHICAGO | Blackhawks rookie Andrew Shaw's energy has been missed since he turned the voltage up a bit too high in his collision with Phoenix Coyotes goalie Mike Smith in Game 2, resulting in Shaw's three-game suspension.

Hawks even go OT in their travels home Sunday

BY GEORGE CASTLE Times Correspondent

CHICAGO | The Blackhawks punched in for overtime in all five of their Western Conference quarterfinals games — but couldn't start to collect comp time on their travel day/off day Sunday.

Blackhawks win in overtime to extend playoff series

By John Marshall AP Sports Writer

GLENDALE, Ariz. | The Blackhawks have been oh-so-close throughout their series against the Phoenix Coyotes, lamenting their missed chances while falling into a two-game hole.

Another shock in overtime

By George Castle For The Times

CHICAGO | Shock, by all measurements, for the Blackhawks. More of a shove than a shot, for the Phoenix Coyotes' Mikkel Boedker, who for the second straight game broke the Hawks' hearts in overtime by scoring the game-winner.

Hawks relieved at Torres' banishment, happy Hossa is recovering

By George Castle Times Correspondent

CHICAGO | The Blackhawks' noontime mood Wednesday was more upbeat than 12 hours previously.

Coyotes' Raffi Torres suspended indefinitely for hit on Hossa

By The Associated Press

CHICAGO | Phoenix Coyotes forward Raffi Torres was suspended indefinitely Wednesday for a hit that knocked Chicago's Marian Hossa out of Game 3 in the teams' opening-round playoff series.

Hawks livid about Torres' knockout of Hossa in OT loss

By George Castle Times Correspondent

CHICAGO | Showing through their utter exhaustion, anger at repeat-offender Raffi Torres' knockout of star Marian Hossa was the Blackhawks' prevailing emotion late Tuesday night after their 3-2 overtime loss to the Phoenix Coyotes.

NHL players head for the penalty box at rapid rate

By Dan Gelston AP Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA | Sid the Kid could use a new nickname. How about, "Sugar" Sid Crosby. Or "Bonecrusher" or "Marvelous."

Hawks' Shaw suspended for 3 games by Shanahan

By George Castle Times Correspondent

CHICAGO | Andrew Shaw's Blackhawks teammates think he had been punished enough with five-minute major and game misconduct penalties for ramming his shoulder into Phoenix Coyotes goalie Mike Smith's head in Game 2.

Hawks can't afford any more last-second heroics for Game 3

BY GEORGE CASTLE Times Correspondent

CHICAGO | Like the clock ticking down to zero with a bomb going off, the concept is dramatic -- but not recommended.

Late-scoring Blackhawks head home with series tied

By Rick Gano AP Sports Writer

CHICAGO | For two straight games, the Blackhawks trailed the Phoenix Coyotes in the final stages of regulation and pulled goalie Corey Crawford for a late desperation surge with six attackers.

Coyotes knock off Hawks in OT

By John Marshall AP Sports Writer

GLENDALE, Ariz. | The confidence could have, maybe should have been down after Phoenix gave up a goal in the closing seconds of regulation. Instead, the players looked around the room during intermission, called for someone to become a hero.

Toews' return can counter stingy goalie, Coyotes

By George Castle Times Correspondent

CHICAGO | The Blackhawks might have hoped they'd avoid the Nashville Predators in the first round of the playoffs and instead face the Phoenix Coyotes or a similar Western Conference perceived lesser.

Blackhawks may get Toews back for playoffs

By Rick Gano AP Sports Writer

CHICAGO | Jonathan Toews skated swiftly up the ice as the center on a star-filled line with Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa. And when it was time to work on the power play, Toews' familiar No. 19 was camped in front of the net.

Hawks top Wings in shootout

By The Associated Press

DETROIT | The Blackhawks got the win, but not the kind they wanted.

Wild beat Blackhawks 5-4 in shootout

By The Associated Press

CHICAGO | Devin Setoguchi and Erik Christensen scored in a shootout to help the Minnesota Wild beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-4 on Sunday night for their third straight victory.

Devils beat Hawks in shootout

By Tom Canavan AP Sports Writer

NEWARK, N.J. | Martin Brodeur stole a game from the Blackhawks with a little unexpected help Adam Henrique and a surprise participant for the New Jersey Devils in the shootout — Travis Zajac.

Shaw scores twice as Hawks top Capitals

By The Associated Press

CHICAGO | Rookie Andrew Shaw recorded his first two-goal game, and the Blackhawks defeated the Washington Capitals 5-2 on Sunday night for their third straight win.

Bolland, Sharp lift Blackhawks over Stars

By The Associated Press

DALLAS | Sluggish starts have been a recent problem for the Blackhawks, and coach Joel Quenneville wanted it fixed as soon as possible.

Blackhawks rally, beat Blues in shootout

By Rick Gano AP Sports Writer

CHICAGO | Corey Crawford was on the bench for a sixth straight game when the Blackhawks took the ice Tuesday night. In the end, he was in front of the net, raising his hands in triumph after helping Chicago beat the NHL-leading St. Louis Blues.