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Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad will not play in the team’s Thursday game against the Arizona Coyotes because of a sore neck, coach Tom Rowe told reporters. Ekblad returned to the lineup Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes after a four game absence due to a concussion suffered on March 11. Continue to Article

March 23, 2017 11:36:am EST

The New York Islanders won a huge game on Wednesday night, defeating the New York Rangers and moving two points out of the last wild card spot (80 points) behind the Boston Bruins (82 points). The problem is that they also have two more really, really difficult games surrounding that showdown: Friday night at Pittsburgh, with the Penguins in the thick of the conference championship race. Then on Monday they face the Nashville Predators, who are in their own playoff tangle in the West. Continue to Article

March 23, 2017 10:56:am EST

After getting off to a slow start, the New York Islanders rallied with a strong third period to get a big win in their playoff push. Andrew Ladd scored the tiebreaking goal with about 7 1/2 minutes remaining to lift the Islanders to a 3-2 victory over the crosstown-rival Rangers on Wednesday night. Anders Lee had a goal and an assist, and Nikolay Kulemin also scored for the Islanders, who pulled two points behind Boston for the Eastern Conference's second wild-card spot. Continue to Article

March 23, 2017 12:42:am EST

The Pittsburgh Penguins and the Ottawa Senators will be out to challenge for first place in their divisions on Thursday when they meet at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Penguins clinched a playoff berth for the 11th straight season with a 3-1 win against the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday and moved to within a point of the Metropolitan Division-leading Washington Capitals. The Penguins are one point ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets for second place in the Metropolitan Division. Continue to Article

March 23, 2017 12:19:am EST

For the Ottawa Senators, snapping a four-game losing streak seemed almost secondary to the way they did it. The Senators appeared ready for a return to the playoffs, ending an untimely skid with a 3-2 victory over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night. ''We wanted to see this as a seventh game because we want to be able to manage pressure,'' coach Guy Boucher said. Continue to Article

March 22, 2017 2:35:am EST