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

BOSTON — As far as baby steps go, the Bruins took a pretty good one in Joe Sacco’s first game as head coach on Thursday at TD Garden.

The B’s received a second-period power-play goal from Elias Lindholm and then relied on Joonas Korpisalo (along with his friend the post) to snap a three-game losing streak, with Korpisalo recording 21 ...Read more

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — On Nov. 6, the Pistons were involved in a thriller that resulted in a one-point loss to the Hornets. The game went down to the wire, as second-year forward Brandon Miller recorded a game-winning basket as time expired.

The Pistons continued to dwell on the loss, feeling that a victory slipped through their fingers following...Read more

WASHINGTON — Two games ago, the Colorado Avalanche welcomed back three forwards against the Washington Capitals, but the performance was not the result or process they wanted.

Flash forward six days to Thursday night with a second crack at one of the best teams in the NHL, with their starting goalie back in the lineup, and the Avs looked more...Read more

Bruce Cassidy won his 400th game as an NHL coach in the Golden Knights’ 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday.

Cassidy, in his third season with the Knights, became the eighth active coach to reach the milestone. He won his 108th game with the Knights.

Goaltender Ilya Samsonov made 38 saves, and center Jack ...Read more

DETROIT — Returning home proved to be the tonic the Red Wings needed, at least for one game.

After a disappointing road trip, the Wings were pointing to this stretch of home games to reset their season and Thursday proved to be just the medicine, as Jonatan Berggren and Lucas Raymond scored late goals sending the Wings to a 2-1 victory.

...Read more

PITTSBURGH — How long are we going to do this?

I'm talking, of course, about Penguins coach Mike Sullivan, his job status and why Fenway Sports Group seems allergic to change.

It's hard to imagine how this situation in another city or sport doesn't result in a coach getting fired or substantive changes.

Instead, it's become our own version ...Read more

The Golden Knights were shut out for the first time this season in a 3-0 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday.

Goaltender Adin Hill made 24 saves for the Knights (11-6-2), as they dropped the first leg of their five-game road trip. They play at Ottawa on Thursday.

Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll made 31 saves, ...Read more