Blackhawks’ Jonathan Toews dealing with long covid-19 symptomsVideo
CHICAGO — Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews announced Sunday he is dealing with symptoms of long covid-19 and chronic immune response syndrome. Toews hasn’t played since Jan. 28. The Blackhawks placed the 34-year-old center on injured reserve Wednesday with what they said was a non-covid-19-related illness. “It has been really...
Hurricanes’ outdoor game marks another Sun Belt push for NHL
RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes were days away from hosting an NHL Stadium Series outdoor game and Don Waddell was feeling the stress of hoping that everything goes smoothly and the thrill of the opportunity ahead. It’s the same mix of emotions for NHL organizers, too. “It’s very exciting...
Alex Ovechkin away from Capitals due to death of his father
Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin says his father, Mikhail, has died at age 71. Ovechkin delivered the news Wednesday on social media along with family photos and video. “Today my father passed away,” Ovechkin posted in Russian on his Instagram account. “I thank everyone for their support but ask that...
First Call: JuJu Smith-Schuster ignites Twitter spat with Eagles; Steelers AFC rival loses QB; Alex Ovechkin out in D.C.
Former Pittsburgh Steeler JuJu Smith-Schuster ignited a post-Super Bowl Twitter spat with some angry Philadelphia Eagles. The Steelers will meet a frequent AFC rival with a new quarterback next year. The Capitals are facing a stretch of games without Alex Ovechkin. And it was a wild night in the Metropolitan...
Bruins’ Linas Ullmark NHL’s biggest goalie surprise this seasonVideo
Linus Ullmark moved to the Boston area in summer 2021 with his wife, their two young children and their dogs after signing with the Bruins. Settling in with his new team didn’t happen right away. Fresh off signing a $20 million, four-year contract, Ullmark shared the net with rookie Jeremy...
Blackhawks F Patrick Kane unsure about possible trade
CHICAGO — While Patrick Kane is deciding if he is OK with leaving the Chicago Blackhawks — his only NHL home — the veteran forward is keeping track of the rest of the league. So, yeah, he definitely noticed the New York Rangers trading for fellow winger Vladimir Tarasenko on...
Rangers acquire Vladimir Tarasenko in trade with BluesVideo
Vladimir Tarasenko is going to the New York Rangers in a trade that answers another big move by a rival and sets the stage for more to come before the March 3 deadline. The Rangers acquired the prolific scoring winger and defenseman Niko Mikkola from the St. Louis Blues on...
Devils All-Star Jack Hughes out with upper-body injuryVideo
NEWARK, N.J. — New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes has an upper-body injury and is considered week-to-week. Coach Lindy Ruff gave the injury update after the Devils morning skate ahead of their home game Thursday night against the Seattle Kraken. Hughes left practice early Wednesday. “He’s a young guy —...
Avalanche’s Cale Makar out with head injury after collision with Penguins’ Jeff CarterVideo
TAMPA, Fla. — Colorado Avalanche star defenseman Cale Makar will miss the final two games of a current road trip with a head injury. Colorado coach Jared Bednar announced the news before Thursday night’s game at the Tampa Bay Lightning. Makar will also miss Saturday’s matchup at Florida and will...
First Call: Former Steelers coach goes to Patriots; Tom Brady’s future open-ended; big hits, fights between Rangers-Flames
Tuesday’s “First Call” sees a former Pittsburgh Steelers coach return to the NFL after a short stint in college. Tom Brady seems to want to keep all of us guessing. There was madness at the Garden as hockey resumed after the All-Star break. Pitt should be in a good position...
Bruins rolling, rest of NHL making final push for playoffsVideo
SUNRISE, Fla. — Bruce Cassidy’s Vegas Golden Knights lost eight of 10 games going into the All-Star break after leading the Pacific Division at the midway point of the NHL season. They’re still safely in a playoff spot in the Western Conference, but they can’t keep it up. “We’re still...
MVP Matthew Tkachuk lifts Atlantic to NHL All-Star Game winVideo
SUNRISE, Fla. — Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk was right at home at the NHL All-Star Game. Again. Detroit’s Dylan Larkin had a hat trick, Toronto’s Mitch Marner had three assists and the Atlantic Division topped the Central Division, 7-5, in the All-Star Game final on Saturday. All-Star Game MVP Tkachuk —...
Sidney Crosby dunked, Alex Ovechkin’s son takes ice at NHL skills competitionVideo
SUNRISE, Fla. — Sidney Crosby got dunked into a tank of water, Nick Suzuki holed a golf ball with a hockey stick and the NHL made hockey an outdoor sport for its skills showcase in South Florida. Two new events outside in the sun highlighted the league’s annual skills competition...
Support growing in NHL for longer 3-on-3 OT, fewer shootouts
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Troy Terry made his name in hockey with his shootout heroics for the U.S. in the 2017 world junior championship against Russia, much like T.J. Oshie did at the Olympics a few years earlier. Still, the Anaheim Ducks All-Star wouldn’t mind seeing fewer of them decide...
All-Star festivities showcase next generation of NHL stars
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. — New Jersey Devils players watch from the bench often and marvel at some of the things Jack Hughes can do on the ice. “Every game, at least a couple times, I’ll be like, ‘Oh my God, that guy’s amazing,’” forward Michael McLeod said. “He just gets...
Hall of Famer Bobby Hull, the Golden Jet, dies at age 84
CHICAGO — When Bobby Hull got the puck, he was tough to stop. He had blazing speed, a hard slap shot and tons of confidence. Long before today’s biggest stars took the ice, “The Golden Jet” put on quite a show. Hull, a Hall of Fame winger and two-time NHL...
Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews out at least 3 weeks with knee injury
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews will miss at least three weeks with a sprained knee. The team announced the reigning MVP’s anticipated absence Friday, two days after Matthews was injured in Toronto’s victory against the New York Rangers. Matthews is expected to miss at least six games and could...
U mad, bro?: Readers angry about Steelers criticism, Tremaine Edmunds speculation, Ivan Provorov column
Pittsburgh Steelers fans are still trying to rationalize another season without a playoff win. We’re already making excuses for the team chumping out in free agency. Some Pirates fans are dubious of Andrew McCutchen’s return. And my Ivan Provorov column was a big hit! What I mean by that is...
NHL All-Star skills to feature golf event, beach dunk tank
NEW YORK — The NHL All-Star Skills Competition is set to feature two new outdoor events in South Florida: a mix of hockey and golf and a dunk tank on the beach. The league announced details Tuesday for the opening of All-Star Weekend, which is set for Feb. 3-4 in...
Indigenous hockey cards shed light on First Nations playersVideo
Ted Nolan finally has his rookie card more than 40 years after making his NHL debut. Better late than never, particularly because it includes a nod to his First Nations heritage. Upper Deck this month unveiled a “First Peoples Rookie Cards” set featuring eight Indigenous hockey players who did not...
Canucks fire coach Boudreau, hire Tocchet as replacement
Bruce Boudreau has been fired as coach of the Vancouver Canucks, who are again on track to miss the playoffs with another underachieving season. The team announced the change Sunday, less than a week since president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford said “major surgery” was needed to fix the Canucks,...
Mark Madden: Ivan Provorov situation yet another example of why politics don’t belong in sports
When quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem, the left supported and the right got angry. When Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov refused to wear a pride-themed jersey during warmups, the left got angry and the right supported. Each man did the same thing, namely exercising freedom...
Flyers coach John Tortorella defends Ivan Provorov’s Pride boycottVideo
PHILADELPHIA — Flyers coach John Tortorella defended Russian defenseman Ivan Provorov’s decision to cite religious beliefs as his reason to boycott the team’s pregame Pride celebration. “Provy did nothing wrong,” Tortorella said Thursday. “Just because you don’t agree with his decision doesn’t mean he did anything wrong.” Before Tuesday’s game...
Flyers’ Ivan Provorov cites religion for boycott on Pride night
PHILADELPHIA — Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov cited his Russian Orthodox religion as the reason he did not participate in pregame warmups when the team wore Pride-themed jerseys and used sticks wrapped in rainbow Pride tape. The 26-year-old Provorov boycotted the pregame skate with his teammates before Tuesday night’s game against...
Vegas goalie Robin Lehner files for bankruptcy, cites $50M debtVideo
LAS VEGAS — Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner and his wife have filed for bankruptcy in Nevada, citing up to $50 million in debts to dozens of creditors. The Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing offers a glimpse into the couple’s financial problems, including money owed to no fewer than 50...