NHL

TORONTO – Amid new reports linking the NHL to expansion, most notably to Las Vegas, Gary Bettman again downplayed the league’s plans to add more teams in the near future.

TORONTO – Maple Leafs forward Phil Kessel often appears shy, quiet, reserved — at times almost uncomfortable when talking in a media scrum.

TORONTO – A few months ago, Line Burns was driving to see a friend and just happened to stop in Gilmanton, N.H., where she used to live with her husband Pat. She was gassing up her car and getting something to eat when her phone rang. On the other end were Pat Quinn and John Davidson from the Hockey Hall of Fame telling her that Pat Burns would finally be enshrined four years after his death.

TORONTO – Martin Brodeur isn’t burning up his phone trying to find a place to play. While he lets his agent do that leg work, the legendary goaltender keeps working out and skating as much as he can in the hopes that his NHL career isn’t over.

TORONTO – With every goal and assist, Filip Forsberg is helping the Nashville Predators continue their hot start, and making a 2013 deadline trade look more lopsided by the day.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – After the Vancouver Canucks missed the playoffs last spring, they overhauled their front office and revamped the roster of a team that won just about everything except the Stanley Cup over the previous half-decade.

MONTREAL – The Montreal Canadiens wanted to prove they could go toe-to-toe with one of the best NHL teams — but the attempt fell flat.

WINNIPEG – Jets centre Mathieu Perreault was happy to see Winnipeg’s offence catch up to its defence.

TORONTO – Toronto Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf summed up his team’s latest loss in one word: “unacceptable.”

CALGARY – Things didn’t look too good for Jonas Hiller playing against his old team for the first time.

EDMONTON – The Vancouver Canucks have made the most of their games against the Edmonton Oilers this season.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman Jack Johnson has filed for bankruptcy while earning millions under a $30.5 million contract in his ninth NHL season.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Kings defenceman Slava Voynov was charged with felony domestic violence on Thursday by the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.