Alex Ovechkin scores No. 891, needs 3 to tie Wayne Gretzky
BOSTON — Alex Ovechkin moved four goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record after scoring the 891st of his career in the Washington Capitals’ game against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night. Ovechkin gave Washington a 2-0 lead with about four minutes left in the first period, when the...
Trump tariff tumult has ripples for sporting goods, puts costly hockey gear in price-hike crosshair
MINNEAPOLIS — Calls from the U.S. to Roustan Hockey headquarters in Canada in recent weeks have been anything but routine, as bulk orders of name-brand sticks have suddenly become complicated conversations. “These customers want to know: When their orders ship, will they have to pay an additional 25% tariff? And...
Alex Ovechkin leads entire Capitals team in tribute to Wild’s Marc-Andre Fleury with special postgame handshake line
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Alex Ovechkin didn’t score for Washington, staying at 889 career goals and six away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record. Ovechkin did initiate a memorable moment on the ice in Minnesota on Thursday night, though. The three-time NHL MVP, who has been in the spotlight for...
Flyers fire coach John Tortorella in midst of another losing season
The Philadelphia Flyers fired coach John Tortorella on Thursday with nine games left in another losing season for a franchise that hasn’t been in the playoffs since 2020. The Flyers are last in the Metropolitan Division at 28-36-9 for 65 points under the notoriously brusque Tortorella. The Flyers suffered their...
Capitals re-sign defenseman Jakob Chychrun to an 8-year extension worth $72 million
The Washington Capitals have re-signed defenseman Jakob Chychrun to an eight-year extension worth $72 million. General manager Chris Patrick announced the contract Tuesday, hours before the Capitals played at Winnipeg in a matchup of the top two teams in the NHL. Chychrun will count $9 million against the salary cap...
Capitals are 1st to clinch a playoff spot after being last in last year
WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals became the first NHL team to clinch a playoff spot this season, doing so after winning in their 69th game and getting the help they needed elsewhere around the league. They are the only team since the playoffs expanded to 16 teams...
Commissioner Gary Bettman says the NHL and NHLPA will begin CBA talks in early April
MANALAPAN, Fla. — NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said the league and the Players’ Association will sit down to begin negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement the week of April 1. At his news conference wrapping up the general managers’ annual spring meeting, Bettman said he did not expect either...
Alex Ovechkin scores 887th goal to move within 8 of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s recordVideo
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Alex Ovechkin shook off a rough start to this three-game California swing by scoring his 887th career goal Saturday against the San Jose Sharks to move within eight of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record. Ovechkin had failed to score a goal in the first two games...
Vegas Golden Knights sign goalie Adin Hill to 6-year, $37.5 million extension
Two years since backstopping the Vegas Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup, Adin Hill has become their undisputed No. 1 goaltender. Now he has the contract to show for it. Hill on Friday signed a six-year extension worth $37.5 million. Rather than testing the market as an unrestricted free agent...
Gibsonia’s Brandon Saad bets on himself by joining the Golden KnightsVideo
If you’re going to bet on yourself, Las Vegas is quite the place to do it. That is essentially what Brandon Saad is doing these days. And so far, the Gibsonia native has largely come up aces since he joined the Vegas Golden Knights a few weeks ago. “It’s been...
First Call: Steelers will reportedly offer Sam Darnold a contract; Marc-Andre Fleury’s postgame meeting with ex-teammates
Monday’s “First Call” has news of a Pittsburgh Steelers contract offer to a free-agent quarterback. The team’s former long-time quarterback loves the club’s new trade acquisition. We have behind-the-scenes footage of Marc-Andre Fleury’s meet-and-greet with his former teammates in Minnesota. Alex Ovechkin scored again, as did some former Penguins that...
Avalanche standout Cale Makar breaks franchise record
DENVER — The ever-modest Cale Makar did all he could to downplay his two-goal, four-assist night. It was a performance that just so happened to be the most productive offensive showing by a defenseman in franchise history. “I don’t know if they were really great,” the Colorado Avalanche standout said...
Panthers get Brad Marchand from Bruins
The Florida Panthers closed out the NHL trade deadline Friday with another blockbuster: They are acquiring veteran forward Brad Marchand from the Boston Bruins, according to multiple reports. The Panthers are sending back one draft pick — either a second-round pick in 2027 or a first-round pick in 2028 —...
Rantanen lands 8-year contract with Stars as Hurricanes agree to a trade, AP source says
Mikko Rantanen is heading back to the Western Conference, and the Dallas Stars paid a big price in money and assets, agreeing to acquire the prolific playoff performer from the Carolina Hurricanes before the NHL’s trade deadline on Friday, a person briefed on the deal told the Associated Press. Several...
Devils get Dumoulin, Panthers add Sturm and Golden Knights reacquire Smith as NHL trades pile upVideo
The banged up New Jersey Devils wasted no time filling an area of need ahead of the NHL trade deadline, the defending champion Florida Panthers made an under-the-radar move that could pave the way for another deep playoff run and the Vegas Golden Knights brought back a member of their...
First Call: Christian Kirk courted by Steelers players; watch Alex Ovechkin score againVideo
Thursday’s “First Call” features some Steelers taking to social media as a way to entice a free agent to Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, one AFC veteran is retiring, while another has been released. In the NHL, Alex Ovechkin scores again. And there’s plenty of NCAA postseason women’s basketball on the slate as...
Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon bring out best in each other
DENVER — Nathan MacKinnon’s childhood idol and role model has turned into a training partner and an offseason neighbor back home in the Halifax area of their native Nova Scotia. One of his closest friends, too. MacKinnon and Sidney Crosby have developed a tight bond, which made winning the 4...
Devils star Jack Hughes done for season after having shoulder surgeryVideo
NEWARK, N.J. — New Jersey Devils leading scorer Jack Hughes had shoulder surgery and is out for the season, a blow to the team’s hopes of making a playoff run. The team said Hughes had surgery on his right shoulder in Vail, Colo., on Wednesday after tests and conversations with...
Lightning acquire Gourde and Bjorkstrand and Panthers get Vanecek as NHL trade action heats upVideo
The Tampa Bay Lightning answered the cross-state-rival and defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers’ first couple of additions ahead of the NHL trade deadline with a big move of their own. The Lightning on Wednesday acquired forwards Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand from Seattle in a three-team trade that also...
Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin stays unpredictable as he approaches career goals recordVideo
ARLINGTON, Va. — Wayne Gretzky was so able to control hockey games from behind the net that the area became known as “Gretzky’s office,” as he put up more assists than anyone else in NHL history has points. Alex Ovechkin has scored so many goals with his patented one-timer from...
LA Kings apologize for selling scarves made in Turkey on Armenian Night
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The Los Angeles Kings have apologized for selling scarves made in Turkey during Armenian Heritage Night last month. “We, the LA Kings and our partners at Rank & Rally want to sincerely apologize to all our friends in the Armenian Community and beyond for the oversight...
Wild GM Guerin believes injury-thinned group is good enough to get by until standouts return
The injury-thinned Minnesota Wild could use a boost in their push to return to the playoffs, with their margin for making it slimmed down following a strong start. With the NHL trade deadline approaching Friday, the Wild more than likely will have to find that spark from within. The salary...
First Call: Derek Carr, Sam Darnold named among Steelers’ backup plans at QB; some Rickard Rakell trade options
Justin Fields may be emerging ahead of Russell Wilson as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ top option at quarterback. That said, the team may have some backup plans as well. We have a framework for what Jaylen Warren may cost at running back. And we connect the dots with clubs that may...
U mad, bro?: Fans gripe over NFL player grades for Mike Tomlin; Omar Khan’s quotes; Penguins losing
In this week’s “U mad, bro,” we’ve got some people rolling their eyes at Omar Khan’s quotes about the Steelers roster. We have lots of people fed up with the Penguins. And there are a surprising amount of people agitated about the Eagles’ Tush Push. Ah! Enjoy spring training, Pirates....
First Call: Plaxico Burress sells Super Bowl ring for big money; Penguins prospect loses fight badlyVideo
In Monday’s “First Call,” a former Pittsburgh Steeler had to sell his Super Bowl ring, but the price may have been worth it. Alex Ovechkin bounced back after a quiet game against the Penguins. An ex-Steelers defensive back is hanging up his cleats. And a Penguins farmhand may want to...