National Hockey

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe says backup goaltender Michael Hutchinson will start the first of back-to-back games when Toronto visits the Buffalo Sabres on Friday. No.

MONTREAL — While Wayne Simmonds calls the Akim Aliu-Bill Peters story "extremely disheartening," he hopes it leads to better days for hockey. New Jersey Devils teammate P.K. Subban feels much the same way.

Akim Aliu is not happy with the apology Calgary Flames head coach Bill Peters issued for a racial slur he allegedly used when both were in the minors 10 years ago.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Calgary Flames head coach Bill Peters apologized to his team and general manager in a letter Wednesday night, some 48 hours after a former player alleged he directed racist comments at him when both were in the minors 10 years ago.

New Jersey Devils (8-11-4, eighth in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Montreal Canadiens (11-8-5, third in the Atlantic Division) Montreal; Thursday, 7 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Montreal aims to end its five-game skid when the Canadiens take on New Jersey.

LOS ANGELES — Jonathan Quick seems to have figured things out in goal for the Los Angeles Kings. The same seems to be true for the rapidly improving team in front of him, from the power play to the penalty-kill to the overall record for the Kings.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Sharks entered Wednesday night as the NHL’s hottest team until they were stopped cold by teenager David Gustafsson and the Winnipeg Jets.

Matthew Tkachuk watched Carolina’s Andrei Svechnikov from 20 feet away and knew something special was about to happen.

DENVER — Solid early play combined with one exceptional period carried the Colorado Avalanche past Edmonton.

TAMPA, Fla. — Oskar Sundqvist had two goals before leaving with an injury, and the St. Louis Blues beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 on Wednesday night.