BOSTON -- The Boston Bruins stood around their bench, paralyzed by defeat.It was Game 7 of their 2023 Eastern Conference first-round series against the Florida Panthers. The Bruins were the most successful regular team in NHL history, setting new standards for wins (65) and points (135) in a single season. The 2022-23 NHL Awards would confirm that they had the…

NHL playoff hockey has one absolute, and it's this: There are none. At least when it comes to teams populating the postseason field.Every new season inevitably produces teams putting the league on notice (we've arrived!) while simultaneously issuing eviction notices (you're out!) to previous postseason incumbents.Who doesn't love a little parity? And maybe a little hope: Could this season end…

CHICAGO -- Connor Bedard played in his first preseason game with the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night, and fans of the Original Six franchise were ready.So was Bedard, who had two assists in Chicago's 2-1 overtime win over the St. Louis Blues."I felt pretty good and comfortable and stuff, but I think I could do a lot better," Bedard said.…

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy is expected to miss the first two months of the regular season after having back surgery Thursday.Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois announced Vasilevskiy, a five-time NHL All-Star and the 2019 Vezina Trophy winner, underwent a successful microdiscectomy Thursday morning to repair a lumbar disc herniation.BriseBois said Vasilevskiy informed the team in August that he…