It’s funny how two general managers residing in the same conference and owning just one selection in the opening three rounds of the 2011 Entry Draft can have such a different opinion when it comes to evaluating this year’s group of draft-eligible…

MONTREAL — Stephan Lebeau has a novel idea when it comes to teaching kids the game of hockey — let them simply play and explore the game. Lebeau played seven seasons in the NHL, winning a Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens in 1993, and f…

VANCOUVER — The Canucks have scored eight goals in six games in the Stanley Cup Final. It’s still possible that nine in seven gets them the Stanley Cup.   "If we win (Wednesday), we become legends," Ryan Kesler said on the eve of…

VANCOUVER – There was an extra furnished stall in the visiting dressing room when the Bruins reported for Tuesday’s practice at Rogers Arena, the team’s final formal skate before Wednesday’s Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. Injured Boston…

VANCOUVER — It’s been a tale of two cities in the Stanley Cup Final for the Boston Bruins. At home, in front of their boisterous crowd at the TD Garden, Boston has out-scored the Vancouver Canucks 17-3. But on the road, at Rogers Arena, the Br…

NEW YORK — The Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins will face off in Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final Wednesday at Rogers Arena in Vancouver (8 p.m., ET, CBC, NBC, RDS), the pinnacle of a series and post-season typified by intense competition,…

What are the chances as many as two players starring in Finland are taken in the opening round of the 2011 Entry Draft on June 24?   It’s hard to believe the country that has provided such current NHL standouts as Teemu Selanne, Mikko Koivu…

BOSTON — While attempting to somehow spin their 5-2 loss in Game 6 into some sort of positive, the Vancouver Canucks did hit on one positively true fact.   This is why 54 wins and 117 points in the regular season matters. Game 7 of the Sta…

One could certainly make the case that regardless of what happens Wednesday night, Tim Thomas will leave Rogers Arena in possession of the Conn Smythe Trophy. Thomas furthered his case to be the Most Valuable Player of the 2011 Stanley Cup Pl…

BOSTON — Brad Marchand scored a record-setting goal Monday night for the Boston Bruins, and it fueled a record-breaking onslaught in a 5-2 victory against the Vancouver Canucks in Game 6 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final. The Bruins scored four …

All the trends in this crazy, goofy Stanley Cup Final held true on Monday night in Boston. The home team won. The team that scored first won. And, of course, being that the game wasn’t in Vancouver, Roberto Luongo was terrible. The Canucks starte…

BOSTON — The Competition Committee on Monday approved the recommendation from the National Hockey League’s general managers that Rule 48 should be broadened to make targeted head hits from any direction illegal.   The exact language of the…

BOSTON — The Competition Committee on Monday approved the recommendation from the National Hockey League’s general managers that Rule 48 should be broadened to make targeted head hits from any direction illegal.   The exact language of the…

BOSTON — If the Vancouver Canucks can find a way to break the home-ice lock on this Stanley Cup Final series to win Game 6 Monday (8 p.m. ET, NBC, CBC, RDS) here at TD Garden, they will win the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history….

BOSTON — If the Vancouver Canucks can find a way to break the home-ice lock on this Stanley Cup Final series to win Game 6 Monday (8 p.m. ET, NBC, CBC, RDS) here at TD Garden, they will win the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history….

A couple of high-profile, draft-eligible players rebounding from serious injuries this season were in the spotlight at the NHL Scouting Combine earlier this month in Toronto. Even though Peterborough Petes left wing Matt Puempel and defenseman …

As fast as Roberto Luongo’s confidence crumbled in Games 3 and 4, nothing was more impressive than how fast his confidence was recaptured in Game 5. With 31 razor-sharp saves and his second shutout of the series, Luongo bounced back from two bad o…

BOSTON — The 2010-11 season has been a long winding road for Rich Peverley. He’s not ready to see the reach the finish line quite yet, however. If his season ends Monday, it means his dream of winning the Stanley Cup — "the most valuable…

BOSTON — The Bruins have scored more than twice as many goals as the Canucks, including two while being down a man.   That’s only the beginning of it.   Tim Thomas’ goals-against average is more than 100 percent better than Roberto …

BOSTON — A year ago, Tim Thomas had just spent an entire postseason watching from the Boston bench and his future with the Bruins was considered murky at best. Much has changed since then, even if the big change — a much-speculated trade — n…