National Hockey

MONTREAL — After weeks of anticipation following the Montreal Canadiens’ last-place finish, the interim tag is off and the man behind the bench is finally here to stay. Martin St.

Canadian television broadcaster Chris Cuthbert suggested they raised the speed limit for the Western Conference final series as it took less than six minutes for the high-flying offences to produce two goals and a number of near misses on the startin

DENVER (AP) — J.T. Compher scored twice, Cale Makar had a goal and two assists and the Colorado Avalanche held off the Edmonton Oilers 8-6 on Tuesday night in a fast-paced, no-lead-felt-safe Game 1 of the Western Conference final.

DENVER — The Oilers have seen this script play out before. This opponent, however, is a different beast. And if Edmonton doesn't solve its defensive issues, the Western Conference final could be over quick.

Andrei Vasilevskiy has won a Vezina Trophy and two Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Brayden Schenn described how he came away with broken ribs: an unlucky stick in one of his skates the first time and an elbow and forearm into his back the second time. Along the way, he tore an oblique muscle.

St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington acknowledged Tuesday he threw an empty water bottle at Colorado Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri after Game 3 of the second-round series between the Western Conference rivals.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes are facing the challenging stretch of building a perennial Stanley Cup contender.

DENVER — Josh Manson wants to do everything he can to beat the Edmonton Oilers. That doesn't mean the Colorado Avalanche defenceman will be cutting off communication with his dad during the NHL's Western Conference final.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Nothing is fazing these New York Rangers, not multigame series deficit nor playing in a building where no road team has won in the Stanley Cup playoffs.