Blue Jackets, Canadiens shut down, 9 of 32 NHL teams paused
More than a quarter of NHL teams have been shut down through at least the weekend, after the Columbus Blue Jackets and Montreal Canadiens became the eighth and ninth to have activities paused because of several positive covid-19 test results among players. The Blue Jackets had games scheduled for Monday...
Covid issues force Red Wings to shut down through at least Dec. 26Video
DETROIT — Given recent developments it seemed inevitable. On Sunday it came to pass. The Red Wings have shut down team operations until at least after the NHL’s holiday break that concludes Dec. 26 due to an uptick in positive covid cases, the league announced Sunday. Sunday, the Wings placed...
NHL shuts down 2 more teams for a week amid covid surgeVideo
Postponements and coronavirus problems for the NHL are coming at a dizzying and disquieting pace not seen since earlier in the pandemic. The league shut down two more teams through the Christmas holiday break Friday, eager to avoid putting all 32 on pause amid worsening covid-19 conditions across North America....
Winnipeg Jets coach Paul Maurice resigns; Dave Lowry gets interim job
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Winnipeg Jets coach Paul Maurice has resigned in a surprise move in his ninth year with the team. The team announced Maurice’s decision on Friday, and said it was effective immediately. Dave Lowry was elevated to interim coach. The Jets (13-10-5) have dropped three of four heading...
Chicago Blackhawks settle lawsuit with Kyle Beach
CHICAGO — The Chicago Blackhawks settled a lawsuit by a former player who said he was sexually assaulted by assistant coach Brad Aldrich during the team’s 2010 Stanley Cup title run. After representatives for the Blackhawks and former first-round pick Kyle Beach met Wednesday with a mediator for the first...
AP source: NHL reintroducing enhanced covid-19 restrictions
With the number of coronavirus cases and game postponements climbing, the NHL is reintroducing enhanced covid-19 protocols that include restricting players to staying in their hotels while on the road in a bid to limit a growing outbreak among players and staff. The enhanced protocols will be put into effect...
Wild’s Bill Guerin promoted to take over as U.S. men’s Olympic GMVideo
Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin was promoted to take over the men’s U.S. Olympic hockey team Tuesday, two months after Stan Bowman’s resignation in the wake of the Chicago Blackhawks’ sexual assault scandal. “Unfortunately, things turned out the way they did, and we’re here today,” Guerin said during a...
Covid-19 outbreak for Hurricanes prompts postponement of game vs. WildVideo
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Carolina Hurricanes became the latest NHL team hit by a coronavirus outbreak Tuesday as four more players were placed in the covid-19 protocol, prompting the league to postpone their game at Minnesota. The call came a little more than five hours before the scheduled start...
Flyers showing early signs of an offensive resurgence under Mike Yeo, and need it to continue
The Flyers’ attack and power play have looked better in three of the four games under interim coach Mike Yeo. Is it a mirage or a product of a new mindset/system under Yeo and the new power-play director, assistant Darryl Williams? “The last couple days, we’ve talked about trusting your...
NHL postpones 3 Flames games because of covid-19 outbreak
NEW YORK — The NHL postponed the Calgary Flames’ next three games after six players and a staff member entered the league’s covid-19 protocol over a 24-hour period. The Flames announced Monday that forwards Elias Lindholm, Andrew Mangiapane, Brad Richardson and Adam Ruzicka and defensemen Chris Tanev and Nikita Zadorov...
Tim Benz: As decision day looms for Robert Morris hockey, fundraising efforts approach goals
Most hockey teams go into extra skater mode in the final minutes of a game. For the Robert Morris Colonials, they’ve been living in that world since May. That’s when university President Dr. Christopher Howard blindsided both the men’s and women’s hockey teams with the news that the programs would...
First Call: Stats indicate Steelers’ run defense against Vikings was worse than we thought, Marc-Andre Fleury wins No. 500
Friday’s “First Call” shows us exactly how easy it was for Dalvin Cook to race all over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night in Minnesota. We preview the latest edition of Penguins-Capitals on Friday night. Marc-Andre Fleury reaches a milestone. And a former NFL Pro Bowl player dies far too...
Coyotes pay overdue bills to avoid arena eviction
GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Arizona Coyotes are all caught up on their bills. No eviction necessary. The hockey team in the desert paid off its overdue bills Thursday, a day after receiving word the city of Glendale was going to lock them out of Gila River Arena if they didn’t...
Toronto’s Spezza suspended 6 games for kneeing Jets’ Pionk
NEW YORK — Toronto Maple Leafs forward Jason Spezza was suspended for six games without pay by the NHL on Tuesday for kneeing Winnipeg Jets defenseman Neal Pionk. In the third period of Sunday’s game between the Jets and Maple Leafs, Pionk had a knee-on-knee hit on Toronto’s Rasmus Sandin....
First Call: 2 Vikings stars sit out practice before Steelers game; Rick Tocchet may fill open Flyers coaching job
The Minnesota Vikings are dealing with significant injury issues as the Steelers get set for a visit Thursday night. A former Penguins fan favorite may be in line to become the Philadelphia Flyers next head coach. Robert Morris is having basketball problems. And some stunning numbers from Monday night’s NFL...
AP source: Flyers fire Vigneault after 8 straight losses
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Flyers have fired coach Alain Vigneault following eight straight losses, two shy of matching a team record of 10 in a row, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Monday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because...
Struggling Canucks name Bruce Boudreau coach amid leadership purge
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The Vancouver Canucks named veteran Bruce Boudreau coach following a leadership purge late Sunday night in which three executives and head coach Travis Green were let go. The Canucks, in a statement, said general manager Jim Benning was fired and assistant manager Jim Weisbrod, Green and...
Devils sign center Jack Hughes to 8-year, $64M extensionVideo
NEWARK, N.J. — The New Jersey Devils have locked up their best player until the end of the decade, signing center Jack Hughes to an eight-year, $64 million contract extension. General manager Tom Fitzgerald announced the signing Tuesday afternoon, hours before the Devils and Hughes were to face the San...
Bruins’ Brad Marchand suspended 3 games for slew-footing
BOSTON — The NHL on Monday suspended Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand for three games for slew-footing Canucks defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson during a 3-2 victory a day earlier. It is the seventh suspension of Marchand’s career. He will lose about $92,000 in pay. Late in the first period of Sunday...
GM Marc Bergevin out in Montreal as Canadiens shake up front office
MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens fired general manager Marc Bergevin and two other executives Sunday amid on-ice struggles just months after advancing to the Stanley Cup Final. The Canadiens announced Bergevin’s dismissal along with those of assistant GM Trevor Timmins and Paul Wilson, senior vice president of public affairs and...
Sharks place forward Evander Kane on waivers
SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Sharks have placed forward Evander Kane on waivers and plan to send him to the AHL if he isn’t claimed by another team. Assistant general manager Joe Will said Sunday that Kane has been placed on waivers before his 21-game suspension for submitting...
NHL postpones 2 Islanders games amid covid-19 outbreakVideo
The NHL postponed two more games for coronavirus-related reasons, making it five this season. Upcoming New York Islanders games Sunday at the Rangers and Tuesday at the Philadelphia Flyers were postponed after additional members of the team went into the NHL’s covid-19 protocol Saturday. General manager Lou Lamoriello said forward...
Dion Phaneuf, 14-year NHL veteran, retires at 36
TORONTO — Dion Phaneuf, a former Calgary Flames star defenseman and Toronto Maple Leafs captain, announced his retirement Tuesday after 14 NHL seasons. Phaneuf, 36, hadn’t played since appearing in 67 games with the Los Angeles Kings in the 2018-19 season. The Edmonton native was selected ninth overall by Calgary...
First Call: Steelers hope to continue minimizing opponents’ top threats; John Harbaugh says Ravens ‘outplayed’ in loss
In Friday’s “First Call,” the Pittsburgh Steelers know where to focus their defensive attention when the Detroit Lions come to town Sunday afternoon. Ravens coach John Harbaugh is upset with someone very specific in the wake of his team’s loss in Miami on Thursday night. The Penguins’ next opponent is...
Jack Eichel ready for surgery, recovery expected to take 3 months
LAS VEGAS — Forward Jack Eichel said Monday he is relieved the blockbuster trade that sent him from the Buffalo Sabres to the Vegas Golden Knights is behind him and he is looking forward to being on the ice with his new team, even though it may take about three...