Valeri Nichushkin’s game isn’t all the way back, but he’s certainly making a big impact.

Nichushkin scored the lone goal in the fifth round of a shootout Wednesday night to give the Colorado Avalanche a hard-earned 2-1 victory against the Vegas Golden Knights at Ball Arena.

The 29-year-old power forward also had the team’s only goal in...Read more

NASHVILLE, Tenn. —The Philadelphia Flyers were looking for some honky-tonk goodness in the Music City.

For 59 minutes, 48 seconds, the Flyers were playing like a sad country song. But then, in a flash — a streaking flash of Morgan Frost— it turned into a power ballad as he snuck past the Predators’ defense and tipped in a shot to tie ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Things had gotten ugly for the Penguins — and that’s probably putting it mildly.

Losses in eight of 10. An NHL-worst 42 goals allowed during that stretch. Wobbly special teams and a dearth of depth scoring. Tension so strong you could feel it.

Apparently the scent or anticipation of Thanksgiving helps.

Pittsburgh ...Read more

When the Minnesota Wild are down, they have a knack for getting right back up.

They stymied the Buffalo Sabres 1-0 on Wednesday night at KeyBank Center to bounce back from the setback they suffered two nights earlier to the Jets and remain one of only two NHL teams (the Hurricanes are the other) to not drop consecutive games in regulation.

...Read more

NEWARK, N.J. — On this night, the St. Louis Blues didn't have to be perfect in order to stay perfect under new coach Jim Montgomery.

In beating the Devils 3-0 on Wednesday night at the Prudential Center, the Blues returned home with wins in both of Montgomery's games behind the St. Louis bench. But the Blues escaped Newark after managing just...Read more

Hockey is a funny game.

On Tuesday, the Boston Bruins did everything right except put the puck in the net in a 2-0 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. On Wednesday on Long Island, the B’s had all sorts of puck management issues, but they came away with a 6-3 win over the New York Islanders.

The B’s coughed up a two-goal lead and then another ...Read more

BOSTON — You cannot argue that the Bruins have not greatly improved their team defense since the they made their coaching change.

But Joe Sacco cannot wave his wand to create more goal scorers in the B’s lineup. And it also doesn’t help that your best legitimate sniper is going through one of the worst droughts of his career.

The B’s ...Read more

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild couldn’t overtake Winnipeg for the top spot in the NHL, but they could remind the Jets that they have competition for first place, best in the West and the Central Division crown.

That was the message the Wild sent initially before fading for a 4-1 loss on Monday night at Xcel Energy Center to drop ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — One violent outburst from a Colorado Avalanche player with his stick wasn’t enough. It was that kind of night on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

The Avalanche hoped to cap off a perfect four-game road trip. It had to settle for a successful one, albeit with an embarrassing finale, instead.

Tampa Bay outclassed Colorado in every phase...Read more

NEW YORK — The St. Louis Blues are 1-0-0 in the Jim Montgomery era.

During a 5-2 win over the Rangers on Monday night, the Blues did not resemble the team that shuffled through the first 22 games of the young season.

They were active in shooting the puck, launching a season-high 43 on Igor Shesterkin. They were possessing pucks. They were ...Read more

The Vegas Golden Knights rallied from three goals down to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers 5-4 in a shootout at Wells Fargo Center on Monday.

Center Jack Eichel scored for the third straight game, while goaltender Ilya Samsonov made 31 saves for the Knights in their third straight victory. Eichel scored the shootout’s lone goal in the second ...Read more

ELMONT, N.Y.— The Detroit Red Wings essentially pulled off a carbon copy of last week's victory over the New York Islanders.

The Wings scored two third-period goals Monday, this time from Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond, and rallied for a 4-2 victory over the sagging Islanders.

Thursday, the Wings scored twice late in the third period to ...Read more

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Sharks wanted to meet the moment in their game against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday.

After Joe Thornton’s No. 19 was raised to the rafters in a touching and emotional pregame ceremony and in front of a raucous, sold-out crowd, they felt they had no choice.

But the Sharks, after two fairly strong periods, ...Read more

When the Boston Bruins went shopping for some defensive talent in the offseason, they envisioned winning games like they did on Saturday night in Detroit.

The B’s allowed just 19 shots on Jeremy Swayman, got the third-period game-winner from captain Brad Marchand and they choked out the Red Wings for a 2-1 victory.

Since Joe Sacco took over ...Read more

ELMONT, N.Y. — The St. Louis Blues and the New York Islanders each know what their passports look like. They know their origins, they know their identity, and both teams understand that their best hockey comes from playing tight-checking, low-scoring games.

During Saturday night’s 3-1 Islanders win at UBS Arena, both teams verified their ...Read more

SUNRISE, Fla. — The Colorado Avalanche showed off its sublime collection of skill, depth and ability to play beautiful hockey against the defending Stanley Cup champions Saturday night.

Some of the Avs’ early-season flaws were also on display at Amerant Arena. In the end, Colorado needed a great third period from its goaltender and ...Read more