National Hockey

The Nashville Predators are proof anything is possible in the NHL playoffs. History suggests they are up against quite a challenge.

ASQUITH, Sask. — An ice rink in Saskatchewan that had a signed Gordie Howe jersey stolen has received so many sports items it is having an online auction.

VANCOUVER — It's not hard to get a read on Jacob Markstrom when things aren't going well.

Auston Matthews and William Nylander are showing no signs of any sophomore slump so far through the pre-season.

EDMONTON — Scott Darling wasn't sorely tested in his debut in net for the Carolina Hurricanes.

WINNIPEG — Patrik Laine made sure the Winnipeg Jets' power-play unit measured up to its standards on Monday.

TORONTO — With nine days remaining before the regular season starts, the Toronto Maple Leafs seem to be clicking at a good time.

SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Pavel Zacha scored two power-play goals in the first period as a split-squad New Jersey Devils team defeated the Ottawa Senators 8-1 in NHL pre-season play on Monday.

A handful of Pittsburgh Penguins players whose names are on the Stanley Cup, some of them twice or even three times, are gone. The same goes for core players from the back-to-back Presidents' Trophy winning Washington Capitals.

CALGARY — The president of the Calgary Flames says the team is not swimming in money. Ken King told Calgary's chamber of commerce Monday that the team has gone from a giver to a taker in NHL revenue sharing.