LOS ANGELES — The NHL’s vision rarely extends past the 50 percent of revenue the league is guaranteed under the CBA, so it is no surprise neither the board nor commissioner can recognize the positive global byproduct of continuing to participate in the Olympics in 2018. If it cannot be immediately quantified, the benefit does […]
Read MoreLOS ANGELES — This was tantamount to a Broadway understudy bringing down the house with a bravura performance in his final show before the star with the name above the title on the marquee resumed his starring role. This was Antti Raanta, superb in turning in a 30-save shutout in the Blueshirts’ 3-0 victory over […]
Read MoreLOS ANGELES — Three years later, 11 of the Rangers who suffered an agonizing five-game defeat to the Kings in the Stanley Cup final returned to the scene of the crime for Saturday’s meeting between the two clubs. Backup goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, Ryan McDonagh, Derek Stepan, Chris Kreider, Marc Staal, Rick Nash, Dan Girardi, Mats […]
Read MoreANAHEIM, Calif. — If Henrik Lundqvist wanted to be tested in order to prepare for the playoffs upon returning from a seven-game absence covering nearly three weeks, The King surely was that here on Sunday in a 6-3 empty-net-abetted defeat to the Ducks. “It was a challenging game,” Lundqvist said with a wry smile after […]
Read MoreANAHEIM, Calif. — So the first domino fell in the Rangers’ seven-defensemen-into-six-slots quandary and it was Dan Girardi sitting out to accommodate Kevin Klein’s return to the lineup for Sunday’s 6-3 defeat to the Ducks. Coach Alain Vigneault’s decision seemed to be based as much on the blue-line unit’s performance in Saturday’s 3-0 victory in […]
Read MoreThe US women’s hockey team might be getting support in its quest for equitable pay from the men who wear the same jersey. Allan Walsh, a well-connected hockey agent, disclosed Sunday on Twitter that American NHL players are thinking about refusing to play in their own world championships in solidarity if the women’s dispute with USA […]
Read MoreSAN JOSE, Calif. — So the question to Alain Vigneault off Saturday’s 3-0 victory in Los Angeles where the reunited Michael Grabner-Kevin Hayes-J.T. Miller unit generated a consistent ground game below the hash marks with a quick, effective forecheck that created several glorious opportunities was whether he believes Miller and Hayes are better when together. […]
Read MoreIt did not take long for Andrew Ladd to find out what it’s like to stroll into New York on a big contract and underperform. The Islanders signed the free-agent forward to a seven-year, $38.5 million deal this summer, the annual salary-cap hit of $5.5 million being carried in hopes of filling the void left […]
Read MoreYou can hear it in their voices more than in what they’re saying. You can see it in their play between the whistles more than in the emotion or frustration that boils over after the play. After six weeks of relentless struggle, the Islanders are burned out. The 3-1 loss to the Predators on Monday […]
Read MoreDoug Weight has already seen what an influx of youth and energy can bring to his worn-out Islanders team, and there is a chance that more of that could be coming soon. Following a 3-1 loss to the Predators on Monday night, the interim head coach was asked about bringing up productive players from AHL […]
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