7:39 PM ET Emily KaplanESPN BOSTON — After a 6-2 blowout to the Boston Bruins in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals, Carolina Hurricanes captain Justin Williams said his team needs to rediscover who they are — and that process might not be so palatable. “You spend all this time leading up, with everyone

8:57 AM ET Associated Press KOSICE, Slovakia — The United States rebounded from an upset loss to Slovakia in the opening game at the ice hockey world championship by routing France 7-1 on Sunday. After losing 4-1 to the host, the U.S. was not ready for another upset. Alex DeBrincat scored twice and Frank Vatrano

12:51 AM ET Greg WyshynskiESPN SAN JOSE — St. Louis Blues rookie goaltender Jordan Binnington has been credited with helping to save their season, having earned a Calder Trophy nomination in leading the team from last in the conference to Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. But he can’t save everything. Not when the

6:02 PM ET Associated Press Kaapo Kakko scored a hat trick to lift Finland to a 4-2 victory over host Slovakia at the ice hockey world championship Saturday. Kakko, who led Finland with two goals in an upset 3-1 win over Canada on Friday, netted his first with 3 minutes, 49 seconds to go in

8:01 AM ET Greg WyshynskiESPN SAN JOSE, Calif. — As the San Jose Sharks face the St. Louis Blues in the Western Conference final, much of the attention is on 39-year-old center Joe Thornton, who is chasing his first Stanley Cup championship in a career that began in 1997. Each round, there’s been focus on

6:33 PM ET Associated Press KOSICE, Slovakia — Matus Sukel scored early in the first period and Slovakia went on to beat the U.S. 4-1 on home ice Friday night, a stunning result on the opening day of the world hockey championship. Alex DeBrincat had a goal off assists from Patrick Kane and Jack Eichel

5:17 PM ET Associated Press TORONTO — Family, friends and many of hockey’s most luminous names bid farewell to Red Kelly at the NHL great’s funeral Friday. The eight-time Stanley Cup champion played 20 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs. He died at 91 on May 2, exactly 52 years after

7:01 AM ET Emily KaplanESPN The Conference finals are officially underway, as the Boston Bruins used a huge third period to knock out the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1. The bad news? We have to wait a day until the Western Conference series begins on Saturday. Here’s a recap of last night’s action (check out

12:35 PM ET Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares suffered an oblique injury preparing for the world hockey championships with Team Canada in Slovakia. The Maple Leafs made the announcement, saying Tavares will return to Toronto for evaluation. His status for Team Canada is uncertain. Canada opens play in the world championships on Friday against

5:06 PM ET ESPN News Services Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares will miss the world hockey championships for Team Canada after suffering an oblique injury during practice in Slovakia, it was announced Thursday. Hockey Canada said Thursday it contacted the Maple Leafs and it was agreed it was best for Tavares to return to