Hockey

BOSTON (AP) — Boston coach Jim Montgomery, who led the Bruins to the greatest regular season in NHL history but never got them past the second round of the playoffs, was fired Tuesday, a day after the below-.

Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is closing in on the NHL career goals record of 894 held by Wayne Gretzky. Ovechkin has 868 goals after scoring 15 in the first 18 games this season. He needs 27 to set a new record.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Vancouver Canucks center J.T. Miller is taking an indefinite leave from the team for personal reasons, the team announced Tuesday.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The NHL referee who was stretchered out of a game following a violent collision with Colorado defenseman Josh Manson was back home Tuesday and expected to make a full recovery.

TORONTO — Auston Matthews boarded a plane and crossed an ocean. The Maple Leafs are hoping the trip provides some answers — and gets their best player back on the ice.

VANCOUVER — Vancouver Canucks centre J.T. Miller is taking an indefinite leave from the team for "personal reasons.

EDMONTON — The Edmonton Oilers claimed forward Kasperi Kapanen off waivers from the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday. The 28-year-old right-winger had one goal in 10 games with the Blues this season.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas is returning to the lineup for Tuesday night’s contest against the Minnesota Wild after missing 12 games with a fractured right ankle . “It’s obviously frustrating being out,” Thomas said.

Alex Ovechkin is considered week-to-week after injuring his lower left leg in the Washington Capitals’ most recent game at Utah, an absence that is expected to slow down his pursuit of Wayne Gretzky's NHL career goals record .

New York Rangers forward Filip Chytil does not have a concussion and is expected to rejoin the team in Calgary, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.