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...
Wild sign Matt Boldy to $49M, 7-year contract extension
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild signed forward Matt Boldy to a seven-year, $49 million contract extension on Monday, making him the latest young player in the NHL to cash in early off his entry-level deal. Boldy will count $7 million against the salary cap through 2029-30 on the...
First Call: Steelers LB Devin Bush sends curious tweet; Ravens RB grumbles about carries after playoff loss; Pens need a winVideo
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Devin Bush sent an eyebrow-raising tweet over the weekend. A Baltimore Ravens running back is unhappy with his role in his team’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. The Penguins have a Monday game against a struggling opponent they need to beat. And we share an honor for...
First Call: Decisions in New England may impact Steelers coaching staff; Penguins face tough challenge; Pitt looks to rebound
Friday’s “First Call” has an update on a job hunt that involves a Pittsburgh Steelers assistant. The Metropolitan Division in the NHL had an interesting night. The Penguins were aided by some old friends. Also, the Winnipeg Jets are at PPG Paints Arena on Friday. And the Pitt hoops team...
Montgomery, Brind’Amour, DeBoer, Cassidy to coach NHL All-Stars
Boston’s Jim Montgomery will coach the Atlantic Division, Carolina’s Rod Brind’Amour the Metropolitan, Dallas’ Peter DeBoer the Central and Vegas’ Bruce Cassidy the Pacific at NHL All-Star Weekend. They were chosen because each of their teams is atop the division at the midway point of the season. The league announced...
First Call: Ben Roethlisberger wants this Steelers TE to get more involved; Ravens keep Roquan Smith; crazy night in Metro
Ben Roethlisberger wants a certain Pittsburgh Steelers pass catcher to have an increased role next season. Former Steeler James Washington may have a new home soon. Tuesday night was on tilt in the NHL’s Metropolitan Division. Pitt and Duquesne are both on the men’s basketball stage Wednesday. And the Baltimore...
Cardiac events a frightening, familiar sight in the NHL
The horror that swept across the NFL when Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin collapsed and went into cardiac arrest during a game this week in Cincinnati was all too familiar to members of the hockey community. Five players in the NHL over the past 25 years who collapsed during...
First Call: Fellow former Pitt player comes through for Damar Hamlin; huge day for Metro Division rivals
Wednesday’s “First Call” features a first-hand account of how a fellow Pitt Panthers alum aided Damar Hamlin’s mother in her time of need. An ESPN analyst had a very odd take on what happened to Hamlin Monday night. The Duquesne men’s basketball team looks to build on its conference home...
NHL Winter Classic to feature Seattle hosting Vegas in 2024
SEATTLE — Selling the NHL on bringing the 2024 Winter Classic to the Pacific Northwest required the purchase of a protection plan — a retractable roof. Next year’s version of the NHL’s New Year’s Day showcase will be played outdoors in Seattle with the Kraken hosting the Vegas Golden Knights...
First Call: Update on Miami QBs; checking Deshaun Watson’s progress before Steelers game; Winter Classic preview
Part of the path for the Pittsburgh Steelers to make the playoffs is getting a win against the Cleveland Browns and seeing a loss from the Miami Dolphins. In Monday’s “First Call,” we check on the Dolphins’ quarterback situation and how Deshaun Watson is doing under center in Cleveland. We...
Alex Ovechkin scores twice, passes Gordie Howe for 2nd in NHL history
WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin has passed Gordie Howe for second on the NHL career goals list. Ovechkin scored his 801st goal during the first period of the Washington Capitals’ game against the Winnipeg Jets on Friday night. He received a drop pass from Dylan Strome at the top of the...
First Call: Minkah Fitzpatrick tops AFC free safety voting; Ravens deal with more injuries; Pens-Rangers renew rivalryVideo
Tuesday’s “First Call” tells us which Pittsburgh Steeler is tops among his peers in Pro Bowl votes. Meanwhile, a few Ravens are dealing with bumps and bruises on the defensive side of the ball. On the hockey front, the Penguins finally get a crack at avenging last year’s playoff loss...
West Miffin’s Logan Cooley selected to United States’ team for IIHF World Junior Championship
Forward Logan Cooley, a native of West Mifflin, was selected to play for the United States’ team in the upcoming International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship tournament later this month. USA Hockey announced the roster of 25 players on Friday evening. It marks the second time Cooley has been...
Alex Ovechkin hits 800 career goals with hat trick in Capitals win over Blackhawks
CHICAGO — Alex Ovechkin scored three times to become the third NHL player with 800 career goals, and the streaking Washington Capitals beat the lowly Chicago Blackhawks, 7-3, on Tuesday night. Ovechkin scored on his first two shots, beating Petr Mrazek 24 seconds into the game before stuffing one home...
First Call: Steelers need to fix run defense before facing Panthers; ex-Pens help Wild win; Robert Morris hockey eyes return to ice
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” the Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for a Carolina Panthers team that has a very specific playoff path. And they are looking to get there by staying on the ground. Carolina may also have dodged an injury concern at wide receiver. A pair of former Penguins helped...
Tage Thompson’s 5-goal outing showcases his sizeable ability
BUFFALO, N.Y. — It was only fitting Tage Thompson got to celebrate the NHL’s most productive goal-scoring outing of the season with Don Granato, who was busy pulling one puck after another out of his pockets before the Sabres coach stopped at five in the visitor’s locker room in Columbus....
Christmas may be new Thanksgiving as NHL playoff barometer
For the better part of two decades since the NHL instituted a salary cap, enjoying turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes were synonymous with feeling pretty good about making the playoffs. Dating to 2005-06, with lockout- and pandemic-related seasons excepted, 76% of teams in a playoff spot by the U.S. Thanksgiving...
Hockey’s history shows handful of non-white pioneersVideo
Taffy Abel carried the American flag at the 1924 Olympics, where his team earned silver in hockey. Henry Elmer “Buddy” Maracle played 11 games in the early-1930s NHL. Paul Jacobs might have played in the league’s second season in 1918-19. But in the commonly known history of hockey, a predominantly...
