Why all eyes will be on Sidney Crosby on Saturday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Winning the Stanley Cup requires 16 victories each postseason, and the Nashville Predators started better than any team in these playoffs by winning their first five. Now the St. Louis Blues are ready to test how the Predators respond to their first loss. ”We knew this was going to be a long series,” Blues goaltender Jake Allen said after a 3-2 win on Friday night tied their Western Conference semifinal at 1-1.

The Washington Capitals signed center Nic Dowd to a three-year, $2.25 million contract extension Thursday, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced. Dowd, 28, set a career high with eight goals this season and tied his career high with 22 points. He recorded three game-winning