• The Canadian Press

    History with Maple Leafs could help Bruins snap short playoff slump

    BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Bruins may have found just the solution to their playoff slump: A first-round matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Bruins haven't lost a playoff series to Toronto since 1959, winning six straight series that have helped extend their Original Six rival's Stanley Cup drought to more than half of a century. Boston won all four regular-season matchups with the Leafs during the regular season — all motivation, no doubt, for Toronto to turn things around. “I think just wi

  • The Canadian Press

    Alberta spring signals another Oilers-Kings NHL playoff showdown

    EDMONTON — There are a few sure signs of spring in Alberta. The snow turns to slush, the Canada geese return to the ponds, lakes and streams, and the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings face each other in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs. The two rivals will meet in the first round for the third season in a row, with the Oilers looking to make it a hat trick of victories. The Oilers rebounded from a 3-2 series deficit to win a seven-game thriller two seasons ago. In 2023, the

  • The Canadian Press

    NHL PLAYOFFS: West best Dallas vs. defending champion Vegas headlines 1st-round matchups

    All eight first-round matchups in the NHL playoffs are set after the last day of the regular season flipped two of the biggest series in the West. The defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights will open against West top seed Dallas. Connor McDavid’s Edmonton Oilers will face the Los Angeles Kings, a team they’ve defeated each of the past two years in the same round. In the East, the Presidents’ Trophy-winning New York Rangers begin their championship pursuit against Washington. Cup fav

  • The Canadian Press

    GM Staios taking cautious approach to off-season after Sens miss playoffs again

    OTTAWA — Another season out of the playoffs has left Ottawa Senators players frustrated and disappointed, but a complete overhaul doesn't appear to be in Steve Staios's plans. In his media availability with media Friday morning, the Senators general manager acknowledged his players' feelings — captain Brady Tkachuk said Thursday as players cleaned out their lockers that he was “sick and tired of losing" — but was cautious in revealing plans for next season. “I think the word frustration comes fr