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

The Golden Knights scored five times in the second period and cruised to a 6-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre on Saturday.

Right wing Cal Burke scored his first NHL goal, and 11 players scored a point in the middle frame to give the Knights (13-6-2) their second win of a season-long five-game road trip.

Center Jack Eichel had a...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Getting resettled during their recent homestand was precisely what the Seattle Kraken needed to stabilize after teetering toward trouble.

But finding ways to generate points and claim a few wins playing elsewhere than Climate Pledge Arena will ultimately determine what this season becomes for Seattle.

The first test in being ...Read more

CALGARY, ALBERTA – This time last year, the Minnesota Wild were starting over.

Coach John Hynes arrived 20 games into what ended up being an unsalvageable but still significant season: While the Wild never caught up to a playoff spot, they were laying the groundwork for a transformation that finally sunk in during training camp and has ...Read more

SEATTLE — Voices fill the production truck parked behind Climate Pledge Arena, just back from undergoing maintenance. Kraken play-by-play man John Forslund and color commentator Eddie Olczyk are in peak form, their banter emanating from the arena.

The broadcast crew in the truck talks through finding, finally, the replay Olczyk is looking for...Read more

EDMONTON, Alberta — The belief ‘As Kirill Kaprizov goes, so do the Wild’ has taken on a whole new meaning.

After Kaprizov left for the action following a knee-on-knee collision on Thursday night that looked grim based on the pain etched on his face as he lay on the ice, so much instantly became uncertain — from the immediate details ...Read more