NHL

ESPN News Services Dec 28, 2024, 10:39 PM ET Open Extended Reactions TORONTO — Alex Ovechkin scored an empty-net goal in his return to action, and the Washington Capitals upended the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 on Saturday night. In posting his 869th career goal, Washington’s captain is now within 25 of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL

ESPN News Services Dec 28, 2024, 07:36 PM ET Open Extended Reactions OTTAWA, Ontario — Notre Dame forward Danny Nelson scored twice, Western Michigan’s Hampton Slukynsky made 25 saves and the defending champion United States defeated Latvia 5-1 on Saturday in the world junior hockey championship. The U.S. improved to 2-0 in Group A play,

Kristen Shilton, ESPN NHL reporterDec 28, 2024, 12:53 PM ET Close Kristen Shilton is a national NHL reporter for ESPN. Open Extended Reactions TORONTO — Alex Ovechkin will continue his pursuit of the NHL’s career scoring record when he returns to the Washington Capitals‘ lineup Saturday against the Maple Leafs. The Capitals winger has been

ESPN News Services Dec 28, 2024, 04:41 PM ET Open Extended Reactions SUNRISE, Fla. — Jakub Dobes became the first goaltender to record a shutout against the defending Stanley Cup champion in his NHL debut since 1985, stopping 34 shots as the Montreal Canadiens beat the Florida Panthers 4-0 on Saturday. Dobes, a 23-year-old from

Open Extended Reactions After breaking the 800-goal barrier during the 2022-23 season, Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin now has his sights set on breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goals record of 894. Ovechkin began the 2024-25 season with 853 goals, and now has 861. Follow along here as we chronicle each subsequent goal Ovechkin scores

ESPN News Services Dec 27, 2024, 11:49 PM ET Open Extended Reactions OTTAWA, Ontario — Eriks Mateiko scored the lone goal of a shootout in the eighth round to give Latvia a stunning 3-2 victory over host Canada on Friday night in the world junior hockey championship. Mateiko beat Jack Ivankovic to the blocker side

ESPN News Services Dec 27, 2024, 09:44 PM ET Open Extended Reactions DALLAS — Stars forward Mason Marchment was helped off the ice late in the first period of Friday night’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild after being hit in the face by a puck. Marchment was stationed near the crease during a

ESPN News Services Dec 27, 2024, 08:56 PM ET Open Extended Reactions The Toronto Maple Leafs likely will be without captain Auston Matthews for at least the next two games as the star center continues to nurse an upper-body injury. Matthews, 27, has missed Toronto’s past two games and sat out Friday’s 5-2 win at

Greg Wyshynski, ESPNDec 27, 2024, 06:12 PM ET Close Greg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer. Open Extended Reactions Every year at the IIHF world junior championships, the best under-20 players represent their countries in battling for hockey gold. But they have another mission as well: picking the perfect song for goal celebrations. Editor’s Picks

Associated Press Dec 27, 2024, 05:45 PM ET Open Extended Reactions DETROIT — Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman knew his team needed a change. So did his captain, Dylan Larkin. That’s why Yzerman and Larkin addressed the media on Friday — the day after Yzerman fired head coach Derek Lalonde and replaced him