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Sixteen teams begin the run for the Stanley Cup

Last updated Monday, April 29, 2013 - 2:34pm

Sixteen teams will have a chance to win the Stanley Cup as the playoffs begin. Most, if not all, genuinely believe they can do it. And, if history counts for anything, they should. No postseason tournament is more grueling or unpredictable, and any advantage gained over the course of a regular season can be wiped out by 60 subpar minutes.

Parlaying regular-season excellence to a Stanley Cup can be tougher than translating Finnish to Hindi.

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Bruins must focus on strong end of regular season

Dan Gelston The Associated Press

Last updated Wednesday, April 24, 2013 - 2:19pm

Boston fans and players have mourned, observed moments of silence, and heard rousing chants for the city and its teams.

Even so-called hated rivals have turned down the trash talk and turned up the tributes for the Bruins. The Philadelphia Flyers were the latest team to pitch in with charitable contributions and video clips of marathon first responders and other rescue personnel.

But once you get past the stirring national anthems and cathartic moments, hockey has become the hard part for the Bruins.

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Changes in rules, strategy help to clean up NHL

Will Graves The Associated Press

Last updated Thursday, March 21, 2013 - 7:23pm

PITTSBURGH — The fear is gone. The doubt too for that matter. Ditto the hesitation.

A year into his comeback from the concussion-like symptoms that nearly derailed Sidney Crosby’s career, the Pittsburgh Penguins superstar is back atop the NHL scoring race thanks to his unparalleled mix of artistry, speed and grit.

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NHL’s 40-plus-year-old stars help top teams

Larry Lage The Associated Press

Last updated Saturday, February 23, 2013 - 8:26pm

At 42, Teemu Selanne still has some good days left on the ice.

Plenty.

The NHL’s oldest player is leading Anaheim in scoring headed into its game Sunday against Colorado, and the Ducks rank among the best teams in the Western Conference with about a third of the shortened season finished.

On the other side of North America, 40-year-old goaltender Martin Brodeur has aged so gracefully between the pipes that he has been able to help the New Jersey Devils stay near the top of the East.

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L.A. Kings taking early lumps in NHL title defense

Greg Beacham The Associated Press

Last updated Sunday, February 17, 2013 - 12:57am

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The Los Angeles Kings’ defense of their Stanley Cup title looks a whole lot like their championship season so far.

They just haven’t got to the good part yet.

The club that turned a rocky regular season into the franchise’s first championship last summer is off to another slow start. The Kings climbed out of last place in the Western Conference with a 2-1 win over NHL-worst Columbus on Friday night, winning consecutive games for just the second time this season.

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NHL meets with IIHF again on Olympic issue

Ira Podell The Associated Press

Last updated Friday, February 15, 2013 - 3:31pm

NEW YORK — Two days of talks between the NHL and international hockey officials wrapped up Friday with signs that the league will wind up sending its players to the 2014 Sochi Games.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and International Ice Hockey Federation President Rene Fasel met for about 2½ hours after a 90-minute get-together Thursday night. No new talks were scheduled, but the sides are expected to meet again.

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Proud NHL fans refuse to get iced out of action

Dan Gelston The Associated Press

Last updated Wednesday, January 23, 2013 - 5:52pm

The boycotts were threatened. The irate tweets were posted.

NHL fans were fed up with labor strife updates and they weren’t coming back to the sport they loved once the lockout was lifted.

Except that they did. In most homes and arenas, they came in record numbers, unable to stay away for that first faceoff.

The fans partied in Nashville, Tenn., where $1 hot dogs helped woo Predators fans back to Bridgestone Arena.

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NHL 2013 season: 10 things To know

Dave Campbell The Associated Press

Last updated Friday, January 18, 2013 - 6:35pm

The lockout that lasted 119 days has ended, the new collective bargaining agreement is in place and the NHL is finally about to play games again after hastily arranged weeklong training camps around the league. Here are 10 questions and answers about the upcoming season:

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NHL returns, but TV viewers may come back slower

Rachel Cohen The Associated Press

Last updated Tuesday, January 15, 2013 - 6:56pm

NEW YORK — Hockey fans will click their bitterness or forgiveness over the NHL lockout by whether they tune into the games on TV.

Then again, if the shortened season ends with, say, a Rangers-Red Wings final, even the most aggrieved of them might have a hard time staying away.

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L.A. Kings primed to defend Stanley Cup title

Greg Beacham The Associated Press

Last updated Friday, January 11, 2013 - 3:27pm

LOS ANGELES — Jonathan Quick stood at the edge of the rink and looked up at the Staples Center roof. Several large banners were rolled up tight against the rafters, just waiting to be unfurled.

Although the new ice was chilly, the Los Angeles Kings goalie warmed up at the sight.

“It’ll be good to see those,” Quick said. “And then we can finally put it out of our minds and get back to work.”

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NHL commissioner Gary Bettman speaks during a news conference, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013, in New York. NHL owners ratified the tentative labor deal on Wednesday. All that now remains is player approval to finally start the hockey season. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

NHL owners approve new labor deal; players to vote

Ira Podell The Associated Press

Last updated Wednesday, January 9, 2013 - 5:55pm

NEW YORK — NHL owners have ratified the tentative labor deal. All that now remains is player approval to finally start the hockey season.

The league’s board of governors met Wednesday in a Manhattan hotel and voted on the agreement that was reached early Sunday on the 113th day of the NHL lockout.

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NHL steps onto ice from self-imposed penalty box. Who cares?

Jim Burton Standard-Examiner

Last updated Thursday, January 10, 2013 - 5:24pm

Here’s a deep philosophical question for you, sports fans:

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NHL says 48-game regular season is ‘most likely’

Larry Lage The Associated Press

Last updated Monday, January 7, 2013 - 3:58pm

The NHL appears headed toward a 48-game season for the second time in two decades.

“I think 48 is most likely at this point, unless the players can expedite their ratification process,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly wrote in an email Monday to The Associated Press.

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