• The Canadian Press

    Dallas Stars clinch playoff spot with 3-1 win over Vancouver Canucks

    VANCOUVER — Special teams proved to be the difference in a key matchup between the Vancouver Canucks and Dallas Stars on Thursday. The Stars capitalized on their power-play chances and clinched a spot in the NHL playoffs with a 3-1 win. The Canucks struggled with the man advantage and will have to wait to secure their post-season berth. “This is the kind of hockey it’s probably going to be the rest of the way, the kind of hockey it is around the league right now," said Canucks goalie Casey DeSmi

  • The Canadian Press

    NHL roundup: Malkin reaches 20 goals for 15th time, Penguins edge Columbus 3-2

    PITTSBURGH (AP) — Evgeni Malkin scored twice to reach the 20-goal milestone for the 15th time and Pittsburgh extended their mastery over Columbus with a 3-2 win on Thursday night. The Russian became the 31st player in league history to score 20 goals in 15 seasons, doing it with a pair of power-play blasts — one from the right circle, one from the left circle — that erased one-goal deficits. Drew O’Conner’s 12th goal 35 seconds into the third period put Pittsburgh in front to stay. Sidney Crosby

  • The Canadian Press

    Disputed foul tip that put Rangers behind in opener not reviewable. Heim makes up for miscue

    ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim was going down to block a low pitch when he heard the ball tip off the bat and saw it change directions. Home plate umpire Chad Fairchild didn't hear or see the same thing in the ninth inning of the season opener for the World Series champions, and the Chicago Cubs took the lead on that disputed play before Texas rallied to win 4-3 on Heim's game-ending RBI single in the 10th inning Thursday night. As the ball rolled behind the plate, Heim

  • The Canadian Press

    Tyler O'Neill homers for record-setting 5th straight opening day as Red Sox top Mariners 6-4

    SEATTLE (AP) — Tyler O’Neill homered in his fifth straight opening day game to set a major league record, this time against the organization that drafted him, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 6-4 on Thursday night. Rafael Devers homered and doubled off Seattle ace Luis Castillo, but it was O’Neill’s homer on the first pitch from Cody Bolton in the eighth inning that gave the Red Sox a 6-4 lead and made history. O’Neill homered the previous four opening days with St. Louis, tying