WASHINGTON — Logan Thompson stopped 24 shots, and the Washington Capitals kept their slim playoff hopes alive by beating the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-0 Sunday in perhaps the final home game of Alex Ovechkin’s brilliant career. To reach the postseason, the Capitals must defeat Columbus in the ...

NEWARK, N.J. — For the first time in four years, it will soon be a great day for playoff hockey in Pittsburgh. The Penguins clinched a playoff spot Thursday night by beating New Jersey, 5-2, ending their postseason drought that lasted three seasons. They had made 16 postseason appearances in ...

PITTSBURGH — It might be a stretch to say that the rivalry between Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin saved the NHL. There is no doubt their arrival ushered in a new era for a league desperately in need of a jolt after losing the 2004-05 season to a lockout. Separated by a year in the NHL draft ...

NEW YORK — Rick Tocchet understood the stakes, so the Philadelphia coach didn’t want to make his players nervous before stepping onto the ice. “They know,” Tocchet said. “They see the standings.” The standings in the Eastern Conference look a lot different than they did in late ...

PITTSBURGH — Rickard Rakell scored twice, Sidney Crosby had a goal and two assists and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Florida Panthers 5-2 on Sunday. The teams faced off Saturday night and the Penguins beat them 9-4, eliminating the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions from playoff ...

TAMPA, Fla. — Anthony Cirelli registered his second career hat trick, Nikita Kucherov had a goal and three points, and the Tampa Bay Lightning moved into first place in the Atlantic Division after a 6-3 victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night. Zemgus Girgensons scored his ...