Penguins rout Senators 7-3, take 3-1 series lead (Yahoo! Sports)

OTTAWA (AP) -- Sidney Crosby was careful not to get too far ahead of himself after helping the Pittsburgh Penguins rout the Ottawa Senators for a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Canucks fire Alain Vigneault as coach (Yahoo! Sports)

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- The Vancouver Canucks fired coach Alain Vigneault on Wednesday.

Bruins-Rangers Preview (Yahoo! Sports)

NEW YORK (AP) -- The Boston Bruins are on the brink of the Eastern Conference finals, and they got there on the backs of their suddenly offensive defensemen and a potent fourth line of forwards.

Blackhawks, Red Wings have 2 of NHL's top coaches (Yahoo! Sports)

DETROIT (AP) -- Joel Quenneville has accomplished a lot in the NHL, hoisting the Stanley Cup once and with as many postseason victories as any active coach.

Sharks-Kings Preview (Yahoo! Sports)

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) -- Kings goalie Jonathan Quick sometimes seems to be the only obstacle between San Jose and the Western Conference finals while the Sharks dominate much of their 2-2 series with the defending Stanley Cup champions.

Avs mum on report Patrick Roy may be next coach (Yahoo! Sports)

DENVER (AP) -- Patrick Roy and Joe Sakic formed a productive partnership on the ice during their playing days, leading the Colorado Avalanche to two Stanley Cup titles.

15-year vet defenseman Sutton retires (Yahoo! Sports)

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) -- Veteran defenseman Andy Sutton has retired, ending a 15-year career beset by injuries.

Predators hire Phil Housley to replace Horachek (Yahoo! Sports)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The Nashville Predators have hired Phil Housley as an assistant coach to fill the spot left open by the firing of associate coach Peter Horachek after nine seasons with the franchise.

With winning comes tickets boost for Blue Jackets (Yahoo! Sports)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Winning makes everything easier, particularly selling tickets.

Ducks' Beauchemin has reconstructive knee surgery (Yahoo! Sports)

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Anaheim Ducks defenseman Francois Beauchemin has undergone successful reconstructive surgery on a ligament in his right knee.

Senators relish chance to tie series vs. Pens (Yahoo! Sports)

OTTAWA (AP) -- After a win in Game 3, the Ottawa Senators are confident they can tie their series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Sharks tie series with 2-1 win over Kings (Yahoo! Sports)

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- Joe Thornton set the tone for the San Jose Sharks with a dominant first period. After that, the Sharks did their best to hang on and tie up their playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings.

Paille's goal puts Bruins on verge of East finals (Yahoo! Sports)

NEW YORK (AP) -- It took 40 years for Original Six rivals Boston and New York to face off again in the playoffs.

Blackhawks-Red Wings Preview (Yahoo! Sports)

DETROIT (AP) -- Jimmy Howard's cat-quick reflexes in net and easygoing nature out of it are big reasons the Detroit Red Wings are on a roll.

Sabres re-sign John Scott to 1-year contract (Yahoo! Sports)

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -- The Buffalo Sabres have re-signed rugged fourth-line forward John Scott to a one-year contract.

Sweden wins world hockey title (Yahoo! Sports)

STOCKHOLM (AP) -- Sweden became the first home team to win the world hockey championships in 27 years, beating Switzerland 5-1 on Sunday for its ninth title.

Kings-Sharks Preview (Yahoo! Sports)

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- For all that the San Jose Sharks accomplished with their overtime victory over Los Angeles in Game 3, they know it will mean very little if they don't back that win up with another at home against the defending Stanley Cup champion Kings.

Bruins-Rangers Preview (Yahoo! Sports)

GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) -- Don't judge the New York Rangers by the scores of their two losses to the Boston Bruins.

Net gain: Craig Anderson gives Senators a chance (Yahoo! Sports)

OTTAWA (AP) -- Craig Anderson has his game back, and just in time to give the Senators a chance.

Red Wings top Blackhawks 3-1, take 2-1 series lead (Yahoo! Sports)

DETROIT (AP) -- The young Detroit Red Wings have made the mighty Chicago Blackhawks look vulnerable, beating them two straight times to gain an advantage in their last playoff matchup as Western Conference rivals.

Sharks fined $100,000 for GM's comments (Yahoo! Sports)

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- The NHL fined the San Jose Sharks $100,000 on Saturday for general manager Doug Wilson's comments criticizing the league for forward Raffi Torres' suspension for the rest of the second round of the playoffs.

Staal to miss 3 offseason months with sprained MCL (Yahoo! Sports)

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- The Carolina Hurricanes say they expect captain Eric Staal to be ready to start next season after suffering a scary-looking knee injury during an international tournament.

Report: Patrick Roy may be next Avalanche coach (Yahoo! Sports)

DENVER (AP) -- The Denver Post is reporting the brother of Patrick Roy says the Hall of Fame goalie is close to returning to the Colorado Avalanche as the team's coach.

Blackhawks-Red Wings Preview (Yahoo! Sports)

DETROIT (AP) -- The Detroit Red Wings got much younger this year, rebuilding with rookies and prospects pushed onto the ice.

Logan Couture emerges as leader on Sharks (Yahoo! Sports)

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- When Logan Couture limped off the ice in the middle of a tied game San Jose desperately needed to win, it looked as if he was taking the Sharks' playoffs hopes with him.

LA Kings return home between road playoff games (Yahoo! Sports)

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) -- With two days off in an all-California series, the Los Angeles Kings seized the opportunity to fly home for two days of practice before Game 4.

Boudreau, MacLean, Quenneville up for Jack Adams (Yahoo! Sports)

NEW YORK (AP) -- Joel Quenneville, Bruce Boudreau and Paul MacLean are finalists for the Jack Adams Award, given to the head coach who has contributed most to his team's success.

Greening's goal in 2nd OT lifts Sens over Pens (Yahoo! Sports)

OTTAWA (AP) -- Colin Greening wore six stitches on his left cheek, and a wide smile, after Ottawa's double overtime playoff victory against Pittsburgh.

Boychuk breaks Game 2 tie, Bruins top Rangers 5-2 (Yahoo! Sports)

BOSTON (AP) -- Claude Julien wanted his Bruins to play more aggressively in the third period. The Boston coach got his wish with the help of some shaky defense by the New York Rangers.

Islanders re-sign Eric Boulton (Yahoo! Sports)

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) -- Forward Eric Boulton re-signed with the New York Islanders on Friday, agreeing to a one-year contract.