WNCTIMES

HELSINKI (AP) Russia won the world championship Sunday by defeating Slovakia 6-2.

LOS ANGELES (AP) The Clarence Campbell Bowl was in Staples Center for the first time, waiting to be presented by Commissioner Gary Bettman to the NHL's Western Conference champions. The Los Angeles Kings' long-suffering fans gathered downtown shortly after dawn, eager to witness a series sweep and a coronation.

NEW YORK (AP) John Tortorella stood out again at a playoff news conference. Only this time it was because of his feistiness toward the New Jersey Devils and not for his brevity and contentiousness with the media.

SEATTLE (AP) Attempts to build a nearly $500 million arena that could bring the NBA back to Seattle took another step forward on Wednesday.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) For three years now, coach Dave Tippett has kept the Phoenix Coyotes together when they had every off-ice reason to fall apart. When they struggled to fill their rink, when the franchise seemed headed to Winnipeg, Tippett and his players kept improving and winning.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) Rangers forward Brandon Prust could be facing punishment for an elbow to the back of the head of New Jersey Devils defenseman Anton Volchenkov during the second period of New York's 3-0 victory on Saturday in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) Henrik Lundqvist stopped all 36 shots, and Dan Girardi, Chris Kreider and Ryan Callahan scored third-period goals to lead the New York Rangers to a 3-0 win over the New Jersey Devils in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday.

HELSINKI (AP) Russia and Slovakia will meet in the world hockey championship final on Sunday for the first time since the Slovaks won their only title a decade ago against the Russians.