• The Canadian Press

    Leafs star Auston Matthews (illness) briefly skates ahead of must-win Game 5

    BOSTON — Auston Matthews made a brief appearance on the TD Garden ice Tuesday. The sniper's status as he continues to battle an illness with his Maple Leafs facing elimination, however, remains in serious doubt. The three-time Maurice (Rocket) Richard Trophy winner as the NHL's top goal-scorer took a couple twirls alongside teammates ahead of a must-win Game 5 in a cameo appearance at Toronto's optional morning skate with the club trailing its first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins

  • The Canadian Press

    When it comes to NHL player injury transparency, mum's still the word

    DENVER — Upper-body injury? Lower-body injury? Or perhaps the ultimate in vagueness: general body soreness? Much to the chagrin of hockey fans yearning for information on NHL player injuries, teams remain steadfast in keeping such details close to the vest if they say anything at all. "If they said we had to let out the information, I'd let it out," said Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar. "But no one is forcing us to do it. So I'm certainly not going to give out any information that I d

  • The Canadian Press

    Bedard, Faber, Hughes named finalists for NHL's rookie of the year award

    NEW YORK — Chicago Blackhawks centre Connor Bedard, Minnesota Wild defenceman Brock Faber and New Jersey Devils defenceman Luke Hughes are the finalists for this season's Calder Memorial Trophy. The trophy is awarded annually to the NHL's rookie of the year as voted by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. Bedard led rookies and the Blackhawks in with 22 goals and 61 points despite missing 14 games with a broken jaw. His 39 assists also led Chicago and tied him with Faber for f

  • The Canadian Press

    Florida Panthers march on in NHL playoffs after long-awaited series win against Tampa Bay Lightning

    SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Before the final minutes even ticked off the clock at Amerant Bank Arena on Monday night, Florida Panthers fans — clad in red jerseys and waving light-up rally towels in the air — were singing goodbye to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tampa Bay's season ended there, in a 6-1 loss to Florida in the first round of the NHL playoffs. And the Panthers will march on after beating their in-state rivals in a playoff series for the first time in four tries. The Panthers won four of five ga