PHILADELPHIA — The Flyers were desperate to pick up momentum heading into the Olympic break, especially against the Washington Capitals, a Metro Division opponent that they’re chasing in the standings.

The Flyers got out to a strong start, building a 2-0 lead in the first before conceding two Capitals goals to tie the game. But the Flyers ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Coming off a listless home loss Monday, the Penguins headed to Long Island for a massive Metropolitan Division showdown one night later.

The Ottawa defeat was among the worst performances of the season for Pittsburgh, despite the 3-2 final score.

They needed a response — and they largely got it.

But the Penguins’ overtime ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Lightning had a couple of days to come off the high of their comeback win over the Boston Bruins in the Stadium Series before jumping right back into the gauntlet of the Atlantic Division Tuesday night at Benchmark International Arena.

Against a Buffalo team that had been nearly as hot as them — the Sabres ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — The Lightning’s Stadium Series win over the Boston Bruins Sunday at Raymond James Stadium was the most-viewed regular season NHL game ever on cable television and the most-viewed regular season NHL game overall in seven years.

The national ESPN broadcast averaged 2.1 million viewers, reaching a peak of 2.4 million, making it ...Read more

CHICAGO – The San Jose Sharks started slowly then allowed four goals in a wide open second period in what became a potentially costly 6-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks Monday at the United Center.

The Sharks allowed a first period power play goal to Connor Bedard then gave up three goals in a span of 8:22 before coach Ryan Warsofsky pulled ...Read more

The St. Louis Blues extended their road losing streak to nine games with a perplexing 6-5 loss to the Predators Monday night in Nashville in which St. Louis blew a four-goal lead.

The Blues opened up a 5-1 lead in the second period, but the Predators stormed back to made it a 5-4 game just 2:02 into the third period, and then tied it 7:14 into ...Read more

MIAMI — The Florida Panthers were fully aware just how critical this week is for their Stanley Cup playoff chances.

They have three games against division opponents, including two against teams they’re directly competing against for either wild-card spots or the third seed in the Atlantic Division, with a lot of ground to make up.

Those ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — After a six-game winning streak full of beautiful play, the Pittsburgh Penguins endured an ugly night at PPG Paints Arena.

They lost 3-2 to the Ottawa Senators Monday in a game that didn’t feel that close.

Claude Giroux’s third-period goal as he crashed into the Penguins’ net late in the game finally created the separation...Read more

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Minnesota Wild two weeks ago on a last-minute goal.

They almost won again with the same strategy.

Montreal scored near the end of the first and second periods before a first-minute finish in the third forced the Wild to rally 4-3 in overtime Monday at Grand Casino Arena for their fourth ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — A night that was more than a decade in the making — one that many believed would never happen — was certainly worth the wait.

From the upper deck of Raymond James Stadium, players might have looked like blue and yellow dots for Sunday’s long-awaited Stadium Series game between the Lightning and Bruins, the first outdoor ...Read more

RALEIGH, N.C. — On a snowy day in the Triangle, another sheet of ice provided some heated action.

The Carolina Hurricanes and Los Angeles Kings went at it Sunday at the Lenovo Center in a game decided more on hustle, grit, defense and goaltending than speedy transition plays or dazzling individual moves.

It took overtime to decide it.

...Read more

Jesper Wallstedt had to be perfect to defeat the Edmonton Oilers 1-0 earlier this season.

The goaltender had a much bigger lead to work with in the rematch.

The Wild blitzed Edmonton 7-3 at Rogers Place on Saturday, Jan. 31, to sweep the Oilers 3-0 and extend their current win streak to three games after scoring a season high in goals.

Quinn ...Read more

The Seattle Kraken got through a tense final minute and logged a fourth straight victory Saturday, winning a Pacific Division tussle with first-place Vegas 3-2.

Afterward the Kraken remained in third place but only three points behind the leaders.

Both of Seattle’s Finnish Olympians got a goal at T-Mobile Arena. Eeli Tolvanen kicked off the ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — On a day when the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrated their 2016 Stanley Cup title, the spotlight was on Sidney Crosby, Mike Sullivan and the other big names from that championship squad.

But it quickly became the Anthony Mantha and Noel Acciari show.

The two veteran wingers scored twice apiece to help the Penguins beat the New York ...Read more