NHL News

7:00 AM ET The big news of the week in the hockey world was Alex Ovechkin scoring a hat trick against the Chicago Blackhawks to reach 800 goals, becoming the third player in NHL history to do so. As Ovi has been on this recent goal-scoring heater, his Washington Capitals have won eight of their

7:05 AM ET The NHL trade market has been gummed up by a lack of salary-cap room this season. It also doesn’t help that so many teams are within a reasonable distance of playoff seeds, unable to determine their position in the market. When the NHL trade deadline arrives on March 3, the contenders and

11:50 PM ET ESPN News Services NEW YORK — Mitch Marner‘s franchise-record points streak was snapped at 23 games as the Toronto Maple Leafs fell to the New York Rangers 3-1 on Thursday night. Marner’s streak was the longest in seven seasons and the longest in the 105-year history of the Maple Leafs. He became

9:45 AM ET Spend five or 10 minutes talking with any woman who has been fortunate enough to play for the United States national hockey team. At some point in that discussion, they will share why the need to make time for others remains so important for their sport because they understand the value of

12:48 AM ET Alex Ovechkin has trademarked “THE GR8 CHASE” as he closes in on Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goals record, the star’s marketing team and the Washington Capitals told ESPN. Ovechkin and his family have been working on the multilayered marketing and business platform along with the Capitals, the NHL, the NHL Players’ Association

7:00 AM ET When NHL commissioner Gary Bettman met with the media following the first day of the board of governor meetings at the posh Breakers resort in Palm Beach, Florida, he issued a warning: There’s not much news to report. As Bettman celebrated 30 years in office at these meetings, the league is in

11:06 PM ET Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored the 800th goal of his career Tuesday night, becoming the third player in NHL history — behind Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe — to reach the milestone. He also became the first to do it with a single franchise, and it came as part of a

1:32 PM ET PALM BEACH, Fla. — NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said he recently met with actor Ryan Reynolds about potentially being involved with the Ottawa Senators‘ new ownership group. “[Reynolds] very much impressed us,” Bettman said at the NHL’s board of governors meetings on Tuesday. “If we can figure out a way to have

12:04 AM ET ESPN News Services MONTREAL, Quebec — Flames defenseman Chris Tanev was helped off the ice after taking a slap shot to the head in the second period of Calgary’s 2-1 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Monday. During a 5-on-3 penalty kill, Tanev attempted to block a slap shot from Canadiens

6:45 AM ET None of this was planned. It just sort of happened, as bromances often do. Boston Bruins goaltenders Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark would celebrate winning mini-games in practice by hugging it out. They never really talked about it because it just felt natural. So imagine Swayman’s surprise when he won last season’s

3:04 PM ET Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Predators forward Michael McCarron has entered the player assistance program of the NHL and NHL Players’ Association. The league and the union announced the move Sunday without specifying why McCarron entered the program. The NHL and NHLPA started the player assistance program in 1996, giving players access

5:30 PM ET Seattle Kraken defenseman Jamie Oleksiak was suspended by the NHL for three games on Saturday. The league’s department of player safety reviewed Oleksiak’s illegal check to the head on Washington Capitals defenseman Alexander Alexeyev on Friday night, announcing the decision via the department’s Twitter page. The match penalty was called at the

7:05 PM ET Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang returned to the lineup Saturday night, just 12 days after suffering the second stroke of his career Nov. 28. Saying “it means the world to our team,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan drew Letang back in against the Buffalo Sabres after a five-game absence. Earlier in the day,

8:26 PM ET Associated Press NEW YORK — Toronto Maple Leafs forward Pierre Engvall was suspended for a game without pay by the NHL on Friday for high-sticking Los Angeles Kings defenseman Sean Durzi. The incident took place early in the third period Thursday night in Toronto’s 5-0 home victory. Engvall was given a game

12:51 AM ET ESPN News Services TEMPE, Ariz. — Lawson Crouse scored his second goal with 13.5 seconds left in the third period and the Arizona Coyotes returned home to end a 19-game losing streak to the Boston Bruins with a 4-3 victory Friday night. It was the second-longest win streak against a single opponent

7:00 AM ET The Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils continue to pile up the points, while the defending Stanley Cup champ Colorado Avalanche suffered a major injury blow this week with the news that Nathan MacKinnon would miss time. Recent additions on the ice and behind the bench have done their fair share to

2:33 PM ET Associated Press PITTSBURGH — Penguins defenseman Kris Letang returned to practice with his teammates Thursday, just 10 days after suffering the second stroke of his career. The 35-year-old Letang remains out indefinitely, with the club describing him as “day to day.” Letang said he felt “pretty good” after being greeted by stick