National Hockey

TORONTO — The Buffalo Sabres will select first overall at the NHL Draft for the first time in 31 years after winning Saturday's lottery. Buffalo entered the lottery with the best odds at 18.5 per cent and become the 16th team to win the sweepstakes.

TORONTO — The Latest on the NHL draft lottery (all times local): 10:15 p.m. The Buffalo Sabres followed a season filled with losses by finally winning something — the NHL draft lottery — and landing the No.

TAMPA, Fla. — Tuukka Rask tossed a broken skate blade up the ice in frustration, but hardly lost his cool. "I didn't throw it at anybody," the Boston goaltender said Saturday. "If I threw it at somebody, I'd like to apologize, but I didn't.

NASHVILLE — Heading into the much-anticipated Western Conference semifinal between Nashville and Winnipeg, a lot of talk centred around the high-powered offences that helped the Predators and Jets finish 1-2 in the NHL's overall standings.

The road back to the Stanley Cup Final took two very different turns for the Penguins and Predators at the start of the second round.

NASHVILLE — It wasn't their best, but thanks to Connor Hellebuyck, the Winnipeg Jets took the early series lead.

NEW YORK — New Jersey left wing Taylor Hall, Los Angeles centre Anze Kopitar and Colorado centre Nathan MacKinnon are the finalists for the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player.

NEW YORK — New Jersey Devils left-winger Taylor Hall, Los Angeles Kings centre Anze Kopitar and Colorado Avalanche centre Nathan MacKinnon were named the three finalists for the Hart Memorial Trophy on Friday.

LAS VEGAS — The San Jose Sharks made it a priority to get faster following a loss in the Stanley Cup Final to Pittsburgh two years ago.

NEW YORK — San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane has been suspended for Game 2 against Vegas because of a cross-check to the head of Pierre-Edouard Bellemare. The NHL announced the ban Friday.