DENVER — Winnipeg Jets forward Vladislav Namestnikov left Sunday's game against the Colorado Avalanche after taking a slapshot to the side of the head. Nate Schmidt fired a shot from the point that was tipped before it hit Namestnikov in the slot midway through the third period. The Avalanche led 4-1 at the time. Namestnikov was down on the ice for about a minute before heading to the locker-room. The fourth-line centre skated off under his power with trainers at his side. Namestnikov held a tow

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Arturs Silovs is making his NHL playoff debut Sunday in Game 4 for Vancouver as the third different Canucks goalie to start their best-of-seven, first-round series against Nashville. Silovs was in net during warm-ups with Nikita Tolopilo the only other Canucks' goalie on the ice. Tolopilo, who went undrafted out of Belarus, has never appeared in an NHL game. The Canucks started All-Star Thatcher Demko in a Game 1 win, then coach Rick Tocchet announced Demko is week-to-wee

NASHVILLE — Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Vancouver Canucks when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series Sunday. The 23-year-old Latvian led the Canucks out onto the ice for warm ups. He'll be backed up by 24-year-old Belarusian netminder Nikita Tolopilo, who has never played an NHL game. Silovs is the third goalie to play for the Canucks in the best-of-seven series, and has spent much of the season with Vancouver's American Hockey

LOS ANGELES — David Rittich is getting the nod as the Los Angeles Kings look to get even with the Edmonton Oilers in their first-round playoff series Sunday night. Interim head coach Jim Hiller said Rittich will replace goaltender Cam Talbot in the crease with the Kings down 2-1 to the Oilers heading into Game 4 at Crypto.com arena. Talbot started all three games so far. The 36-year-old has a .861 save percentage and a 5.30 goals-against average this post-season. "David is going to go, we feel g

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — David Rittich will be the starting goaltender for the Los Angeles Kings in Game 4 of their first-round NHL playoffs series against the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday night. Rittich replaces Cam Talbot, who had a 5.31 goals-against average and .891 save percentage in the first three games. Talbot allowed 13 goals in the Kings two losses, including Friday night's 6-1 loss that put the Oilers up 2-1 in the series. Kings interim coach Jim Hiller told reporters during Sunday's mo

It's National Superhero and Bravehearts Day, which seems fitting for the NHL teams looking for extra efforts and playoff victories today. The Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers are looking to take 3-1 series leads in Nashville and Los Angeles, respectively, while the Winnipeg Jets will be aiming to level their first-round series against the Avalanche at 2-2 in Mile High City. The host Washington Capitals need a win to avoid a sweep against the Presidents' Trophy-winning New York Rangers. Here

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Wyatt Johnston scored his second goal of the game in overtime to give the Dallas Stars a 3-2 victory over Vegas on Saturday night, cutting the defending champion Golden Knights’ series lead to 2-1. Johnston, who had a team-high eight shots, dragged the puck down the left side to the goal line, drawing goalie Logan Thompson into a low position, and beating him with a high shot 16:23 into the extra period. “What a player,” Dallas coach Peter DeBoer said about the 20-year-old forwa

NEW YORK (AP) — Mathew Barzal scored his second goal of the game on a deflection 1:24 into the second overtime and the New York Islanders beat the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 in Game 4 on Saturday to avoid a sweep in their first-round, best-of-seven NHL playoff series. Jean-Gabriel Pageau also scored and Semyon Varlamov stopped 42 shots — including 18 in the overtimes — to help the Islanders stave off elimination. Seth Jarvis and Stefan Noesen scored and Frederik Andersen finished with 33 saves for

Saturday's Scoreboard NHL Playoffs First Round Boston 3 Toronto 1 (Boston leads best-of-seven series 3-1) Dallas 3 Vegas 2 (OT) (Vegas leads best-of-seven series 2-1) N.Y. Islanders 3 Carolina 2 (2OT) (Carolina leads best-of-seven series 3-1) Tampa Bay 6 Florida 3 (Florida leads best-of-seven series 3-1) --- PWHL Montreal 2 Ottawa 0 Boston 2 Minnesota 1 --- AHL Playoffs Division Semifinals Grand Rapids 3 Rockford 2 (OT) (Grand Rapids leads best-of-five series 1-0) First Round Hartford 3 Charlott

The Bruins' goalie decision for Game 5 should be a no-brainer. Keep riding the hot hand with Jeremy Swayman.