First Call: Doubts about Justin Fields from Chicago; Tyler Huntley could’ve been a Steeler? Penguins’ playoff outlookVideo
Monday’s “First Call” has a rough review of new Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields. We learn who the Steelers may have tried to acquire on the quarterback market if not for the Fields trade. The Penguins’ playoff picture is coming into focus. And we look at the next opponent for...
All 10 skaters brawl off opening faceoff at start of Devils-Rangers gameVideo
NEW YORK — The New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils started Wednesday night’s game with a brawl involving all 10 players on the ice off the opening faceoff. The main event was Rangers forward Matt Rempe taking on New Jersey’s Kurtis MacDermid, with the two having history from the...
First Call: Mike Tomlin meets with 3 Alabama draft prospects; ex-Penguin keeps scoring in ColumbusVideo
Tuesday’s “First Call” has an interesting list of names that the Pittsburgh Steelers are speaking with in advance of the NFL Draft. We have an update on the Cameron Sutton situation, and a former Penguin continues to light the lamp in Columbus. ‘Welcome to tahn’ It looks like Malachi Corley...
Alex Ovechkin scores twice as the Capitals beat the Jets 3-0 to move back into playoff position
WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin scored twice to reach 26 goals this season, Charlie Lindgren stopped all 27 shots he faced and the Washington Capitals beat the Winnipeg Jets 3-0 on Sunday to move back into a playoff position. The Capitals have won four of their past five games, a stretch...
T.J. Oshie returns to the Capitals’ lineup and is honored for playing in 1,000 NHL games
WASHINGTON — T.J. Oshie returned to the Washington Capitals’ lineup Sunday, getting back just in time for the ceremony honoring his milestone of playing in 1,000 NHL games. And, more importantly, at a crucial juncture of the season, with his team trying desperately to make the playoffs. Oshie was back...
Rangers’ Matt Rempe suspended 4 games for elbowing Devils’ Jonas Siegenthaler in the headVideo
NEW YORK — New York Rangers forward Matt Rempe was suspended four games for elbowing New Jersey Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler in the head. The NHL’s department of player safety announced the ban after a disciplinary hearing Tuesday, handing the well-known rookie his first suspension 10 games into his career....
First Call: Former Bronco rips Russell Wilson, praises his fit in Pittsburgh; rumored Steelers’ DL free agent target retires
Monday’s “First Call” has a scathing review of quarterback Russell Wilson. He reportedly agreed to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday night. The trade market is soft for Bears quarterback Justin Fields. A potential veteran addition along the Steelers defensive line is off the table. And we look at the...
Flyers coach Tortorella suspended 2 games for refusing to leave bench after game misconductVideo
NEW YORK — Philadelphia Flyers coach John Tortorella was suspended for two games and fined $50,000 by the NHL on Sunday for unprofessional conduct directed at the officials by refusing to leave the bench area after a game misconduct. Tortorella reluctantly left the bench Saturday night after receiving the game...
Defending Cup champs Golden Knights acquire Hertl; Hurricanes, Panthers dominate deals in the EastVideo
Leave it to the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights to pull off what could be the biggest deal at the NHL’s trade deadline Friday. After the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers slugged it out in adding talent to shore up their respective rosters with offense and experience, the...
The new pro women’s hockey league allows more hitting. Players say they like showing those skills
LOWELL, Mass. — With an early-season PWHL game between Montreal and Boston winding down, the speakers blared the 1980s hit that had Olivia Newton-John singing “Let’s get physical.” And that’s just what the players did. In a break from previous top professional women’s hockey leagues, the PWHL has written into...
Maple Leafs join NHL trade deadline party; Oilers, Avalanche make more moves
With one sleep left before the NHL trade deadline, the Toronto Maple Leafs joined the party Thursday by bulking up on defense, while two Western Conference Stanley Cup contenders made more moves to improve in crucial areas. Colorado acquired a pair of versatile forwards from Central Division rivals, Brandon Duhaime...
Contenders Florida, Colorado, Edmonton make moves ahead of NHL trade deadline
Stanley Cup contenders aren’t waiting until the NHL trade deadline day to shore up depth for what they hope is a long playoff run. The league-leading Florida Panthers got deeper on the wing Wednesday by acquiring Vladimir Tarasenko from Ottawa, Connor McDavid’s Edmonton Oilers added a pair of centers in...
Mark Madden: Rempe-mania is grabbing headlines, but his showbiz act doesn’t belong in NHL
The NHL’s newest sensation is a 6-foot-7 slug who handles the puck like he’s trying to beat a snake to death with a tree branch. But he fights and plays in New York City. So welcome to stardom, Matt Rempe. It’s Rempe-mania. A stupid version of Lin-sanity. (Remember him? Nah,...
First Call: Dueling reports on Steelers’ QB plans; Antonio Brown mocks Kenny Pickett; another Jaromir Jagr return
Tuesday’s “First Call” features some split reporting on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback situation. Antonio Brown can’t help but take a social media swat at Kenny Pickett. Jaromir Jagr is already heading back to Pittsburgh again. A recent former Penguin posted a hat trick. It’s an important night on the local...
Devils fire coach Lindy Ruff, name Travis Green interim replacement
The New Jersey Devils fired coach Lindy Ruff on Monday and named assistant Travis Green as the interim replacement for the rest of the season. General manager Tom Fitzgerald made the surprising move with just over 20 games left to play. The Devils have lost five of seven to fall...
Flurry of trades are expected with NHL playoff berths at stake
Last Friday’s game between the Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Capitals had the potential to upend not only the playoff race in the Eastern Conference but the NHL trading market with the deadline coming up fast. Despite the 5-2 Capitals win, Washington is now expected to sell after falling flat in...
Gary Bettman calls on Jets, Winnipeg fans to find solution to falling attendance
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — NHL commissioner Gary Bettman called Winnipeg a strong market where “hockey matters,” and said he believes the team’s falling attendance will be resolved. Bettman spoke Tuesday, before the Jets hosted the St. Louis Blues. The Jets say Winnipeg’s season-ticket base has decreased 27% in three years, from...
20 years since record-setting brawl, fighting is down across NHL but not going anywhereVideo
Minnesota’s Marcus Foligno took a hit, delivered one of his own to Chicago’s Jarred Tinordi, and the two big guys dropped the gloves. Outdoors in front of 82,000 people in the Meadowlands, it took even less for Matt Rempe and Matt Martin to spice up the Rangers-Islanders showdown with a...
Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews on pace to join exclusive 70-goal club
The offensive artistry of Auston Matthews has reached the point where even hyperbole seems almost plausible. “Everything he’s shooting,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said recently, “is going in the net.” It sure does feel that way. With 52 tallies through 56 games, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ goal-scoring marvel is on...
Many players from the 2022 Beijing Olympics are making an impact in the NHLVideo
Just two years ago, hockey at the Beijing Olympics went ahead without NHL players because of covid-19 pandemic-related scheduling issues. “Gosh, that feels like so long ago,” said Matthew Knies, who played for the United States. “It’s crazy.” Crazy that since then, more than two dozen of those 2022 Winter...
Artemi Panarin rallies Rangers over Islanders in OT in outdoor game
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Artemi Panarin scored 10 seconds into overtime, and the New York Rangers rallied from three goals down to beat the rival New York Islanders, 6-5, in a Stadium Series game Sunday at MetLife Stadium. Panarin knocked in the puck off Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson and goalie...
NHL tops 40 outdoor games with showdowns at MetLife Stadium
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The two Stadium Series games at MetLife Stadium this weekend increased the NHL’s total of outdoor games to 41. Each of the four teams featured five players who previously played in a pro game in the open air. “Outdoor experiences, it’s great,” said forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau,...
Western Conference wheeling and dealing is well underway long before the NHL trade deadlineVideo
Rick Tocchet and Rick Bowness were together at NHL All-Star Weekend when news broke that the Winnipeg Jets traded for Sean Monahan. Bowness’ team made a big addition less than 48 hours after Tocchet’s Vancouver Canucks acquired Elias Lindholm, considered the top center on the market. “It’s a great trade...
Wife’s decision not to testify ends domestic violence case against Bruins’ Milan Lucic
BOSTON — Prosecutors dropped a domestic violence charge against Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic on Friday, saying the decision by his wife to invoke marital privilege made it impossible for them to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. The Bruins said he will not return from his leave of...
Rangers’ Blake Wheeler is out for the rest of the regular season because of injury, AP source saysVideo
Blake Wheeler’s regular season is over after injuring his right leg falling to the ice, and it might take the New York Rangers going on a lengthy playoff run to open the door for a possible return this spring. Wheeler was placed on injured reserve Friday and is out for...
