Valeri Nichushkin had three goals for his first career hat trick and the Colorado Avalanche took a commanding lead in their first-round series with a 5-1 win over the visiting Winnipeg Jets on Sunday in Denver. Colorado has won the last three games to take a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference best-of-seven series, with Game 5 on Tuesday night in Winnipeg. The Avalanche have outscored Winnipeg 16-5 since losing the first game, 7-6. Cale

Wyatt Johnston scored at 16:23 of overtime to give the Dallas Stars a 3-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 3 of their Western Conference first-round series on Saturday night in Las Vegas. Johnston roofed a sharp-angled wrist shot from the bottom of the right circle over the left shoulder of Vegas goaltender Logan Thompson for the game-winner and his second goal of the game. “Tried a couple (shots) low and it didn’t

Mathew Barzal scored 1:24 into the second overtime Saturday for the host New York Islanders, who avoided elimination in an Eastern Conference first-round series with a 3-2 win in Game 4 in Elmont, N.Y. The Hurricanes lead the best-of-seven series three games to one. Game 5 is scheduled for Tuesday night in Raleigh, N.C. “Live to see another day,” Islanders forward Anders Lee said. “Fun to get in here and get back to work in

Zach Hyman, Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid scored in the first period and the visiting Edmonton Oilers finished with the three power-play goals in a 6-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings in Game 3 of a first-round Western Conference playoff series on Friday. Hyman and Draisaitl each finished with two goals, and Draisaitl also had an assist as the Oilers took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series while rebounding from a 5-4 defeat

Nathan MacKinnon and Valeri Nichushkin scored power-play goals 2:28 apart early in a five-goal third period, and the Colorado Avalanche rallied to beat the Winnipeg Jets 6-2 in Game 3 of their first-round series in Denver on Friday night. Colorado took a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference quarterfinal series, with Game 4 in Denver on Sunday afternoon. Winnipeg led 2-1 entering the third period, but two quick penalties turned the momentum. Mason Appleton went

Jonathan Marchessault and Jack Eichel each had a goal and an assist as the Vegas Golden Knights produced a second consecutive road victory over the Dallas Stars, prevailing 3-1 on Wednesday. Vegas holds a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference first-round playoff series while heading home for Game 3 on Saturday. Noah Hanifin also scored and Logan Thompson made 20 saves for Vegas, which extended its winning streak against the Stars to six games

Anthony Beauvillier and Filip Forsberg each collected one goal and one assist to pace the visiting Nashville Predators to a 4-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday and even their Western Conference first-round playoff series at one win apiece. Colton Sissons and Kiefer Sherwood also scored for the Predators. Nashville goaltender Juuse Saros made 17 saves, including a few highlight-reel efforts while the Canucks pushed frantically in the third period to draw even. Collectively,

Alexandar Georgiev made 28 saves and the visiting Colorado Avalanche beat the Winnipeg Jets 5-2 in Game 2 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series on Tuesday. The Avalanche evened the best-of-seven series at 1-1. Game 3 is in Denver on Friday. Artturi Lehkonen had a goal and an assist for the Avalanche, who rallied from a 2-1 deficit with three goals in the final 5:44 of the second period. Georgiev bounced back after allowing

Logan Thompson made 27 saves in his NHL playoff debut as the visiting Vegas Golden Knights began their Stanley Cup title defense with a 4-3 victory over the Dallas Stars on Monday night in Game 1 of a Western Conference first-round series. Brayden McNabb scored what proved to be the winning goal, putting home a slap shot just 1:06 into the second period to give Vegas a 4-2 lead. Mason Marchment halved Dallas’ deficit at