ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) The Anaheim Ducks have hired veteran NHL assistant and AHL head coach Greg Cronin to be their new head coach.

Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek announced the decision Monday to hire the 60-year-old Cronin, who will be a first-time NHL head coach.

Cronin has 12 years of experience as an NHL assistant with the Toronto Maple Leafs and in two stints with the New York Islanders. The Massachusetts native has been the head coach of the AHL's Colorado Eagles since 2018, and he spent six years as a collegiate head coach at Northeastern.

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MONTREAL (AP) Cole Caufield picked up the phone and called his mother after agreeing to a lucrative extension with the Montreal Canadiens.

She couldn't answer because she was busy at work, teaching. But once she called him back, the two shared a moment over the amount of money that's not just life-changing for Caufield, but for his family, too.

Despite losing Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, the Florida Panthers aren't ready to hit the panic button.

Far from it, in fact.

LAS VEGAS (AP) Alex Pietrangelo spoke of sacrifice Sunday, and what it takes for a hockey player to continue his journey this far into an NHL season.

With the Vegas Golden Knights up 1-0 in the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers, all the players' personal lives are put on hold for the moment. Summer vacation can wait.

LAS VEGAS (AP) The joy Paul Maurice felt on the morning of the start of the Stanley Cup Final was also tinged with sadness. The veteran coach knew there were only at most seven more games left to play.

He had developed a greater appreciation for this moment with the Florida Panthers, 21 removed from his first trip to the final. Bruce Cassidy felt the same way being back as coach of the Vegas Golden Knights three years after falling one win short with Boston.

LAS VEGAS (AP) Without a goal all playoffs, Shea Theodore found the net just when the Vegas Golden Knights needed it.

With Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final tied at 1 midway through the second period, Theodore took a pass at one side of the blue line, skated to the other side, circled back to dangle Florida Panthers forward Anthony Duclair and move into the slot before firing a wrist shot past Sergei Bobrovsky.

LAS VEGAS (AP) Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice might have been channeling his inner Aaron Rodgers when he told the assembled media Saturday night to "breathe."

The Panthers had minutes earlier lost Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final 5-2 to the Vegas Golden Knights, giving up three goals in the third period.

LAS VEGAS (AP) Commissioner Gary Bettman says the NHL is still committed to Arizona after Tempe voters rejected a referendum for a Coyotes arena.

Bettman said the team is looking at other areas around Phoenix for a long-term home.

KAMLOOPS, British Columbia (AP) Connor Bedard became the first player in Canadian Hockey League history to sweep the Player of the Year, Top Prospect and Top Scorer awards Saturday night at the Memorial Cup.

Expected to be selected first overall in the NHL draft by the Chicago Blackhawks, the 17-year-old Regina Pats star had 71 goals and 72 assists in 57 regular-season games in the Western Hockey League. He added 10 goals and 10 assists in a seven-game first-round playoff loss Saskatoon.

LAS VEGAS (AP) Jack Eichel didn't know what to expect when the NHL playoffs began in April.

He just knew he was eager to experience the postseason for the first time in his eight-year career - and what a time it's been for him. Eichel is a major reason why the Vegas Golden Knights are in the Stanley Cup Final.