First Call: NFL considers onside kick replacement; pitching Tee Higgins to Pats; Connor McDavid pushing Mario-esque pace
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” could Tee Higgins go from one AFC rival of the Pittsburgh Steelers to another? We consider some NFL rules changes. Connor McDavid is on a Mario Lemieux-esque scoring pace. And the Pitt Panthers are enjoying success on the ice as well as the hardwood. Rules are...
Lightning add grit in acquiring Tanner Jeannot from Predators
The slumping Tampa Bay Lightning added an element of grit into their lineup to punch up their late-season playoff push by acquiring forward Tanner Jeannot in a trade with the Nashville Predators on Sunday night. And the Lightning paid a high price in doing so by trading away third-year defenseman...
First Call: Hines Ward gets 1st XFL coaching win; Marc-Andre Fleury has Sidney Crosby comparison for Wild teammateVideo
Monday’s “First Call” tells you how some former Pittsburgh Steelers are doing as coaches in the XFL. Marc Andre-Fleury has a Sidney Crosby comparison for one of his current teammates. A former Penguins player gets his number retired in his original city. Another former Penguins defenseman is getting traded. And...
Devils acquire Timo Meier in blockbuster trade with SharksVideo
The New Jersey Devils acquired Timo Meier from the San Jose Sharks in a blockbuster trade Sunday in advance of the NHL trade deadline. New Jersey sent a 2023 first-round pick, a conditional 2024 first-rounder, forward Andreas Johnsson and prospects Shakir Mukhamadullin, Fabian Zetterlund and Nikita Okhotiuk. In return, the...
First Call: Another big name ILB will hit free agency; Taylor Lewan renews interest in Steelers; Alex Ovechkin returns
Friday’s “First Call” looks at two recently released veterans that could fit positions of need for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Alex Ovechkin is back for the Capitals. Aaron Rodgers has left his darkness retreat. And the Duquesne men’s basketball team hunts for win No. 20 on Sunday. Taking another run? The...
NHL-leading Bruins acquire Orlov, Hathaway from CapitalsVideo
BOSTON — The NHL-leading Boston Bruins acquired defenseman Dmitry Orlov and forward Garnet Hathaway from the Washington Capitals on Thursday, the latest big trade acquisition by an Eastern Conference contender. Boston sent a 2023 first-round pick, a 2024 second-rounder, a 2025 third-rounder and forward Craig Smith to Washington and an...
Alex Ovechkin returns to Capitals following death of father
ARLINGTON, Va. — Alex Ovechkin is back with the Washington Capitals, eager to play hockey again while he and his family are still mourning the death of his father, Mikhail. Ovechkin missed four games over the past week to fly to Moscow. He went straight from the airport to the...
Islanders’ Mat Barzal out indefinitely with lower-body injuryVideo
New York Islanders center Mat Barzal is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury, the team announced Monday, a major blow to its playoff pursuit. He was injured on a hit from Boston’s Craig Smith early in a 6-2 loss on Saturday. Barzal appeared to take a knee-on-knee hit and left...
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...
