11:00 AM ET When Washington Capitals winger Garnet Hathaway scored an empty-net goal on Saturday night, it clinched their win against the Columbus Blue Jackets. But it also extended one of the hottest betting trends in the NHL. Earlier in the period, the Jackets’ Eric Robinson scored, so Hathaway’s tally meant the total in the
NHL
7:00 AM ET ESPN staff The first game of the 2022 Winter Olympics men’s hockey tournament is scheduled for Feb. 9. It’s still not certain that NHL players will be competing in the Beijing Games. Here’s a look at the issues, concerns and challenges facing the NHL and the players just two months away from
2:00 AM ET Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner has told Sweden that he won’t accept their invitation to play in the 2022 Winter Olympics. Lehner is the first high-profile NHL player to announce he won’t participate in the Beijing Games, which will feature restrictive COVID-19 protocols and potentially lengthy quarantines for those who test
9:19 PM ET The Vancouver Canucks fired coach Travis Green on Sunday, a source told ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski Sunday night, confirming an earlier report. With the team stuck in last place, Bruce Boudreau has been hired to replace Green as the Canucks’ 20th coach. Green was promoted to Vancouver’s bench on April 26, 2017, after
2:09 PM ET Associated Press Chicago Blackhawks forward Tyler Johnson on Friday became the second NHL player to undergo an unusual neck surgery. Johnson’s operation was the same artificial disk replacement surgery that Jack Eichel underwent last month, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on
7:00 AM ET Here’s a bold prediction for the 2021-22 NHL Awards: an Edmonton Oilers player will be nominated for the Hart Trophy. Beyond that, the ultimate finalists for these awards are anyone’s guess. Here’s the NHL Awards Watch for December. This is informed speculation, taken from conversations around hockey and with voters, regarding the
3:41 PM ET Associated Press Justin Faulk was scratched minutes before the St. Louis Blues‘ game at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night, and the team confirmed the defenseman had entered the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol. Faulk’s absence came hours after goaltender Jordan Binnington went into protocol and put the Blues in a tough spot
5:02 PM ET Associated Press BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Sabres addressed their suddenly thin depth in goal by acquiring Malcolm Subban in a trade with the Blackhawks on Thursday. The move became necessary when goaltender Dustin Tokarski was placed in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was recalled from AHL Rochester to join the Sabres
12:25 PM ET The Arizona Coyotes say they’re staying put. The team vehemently denied a Forbes report on Thursday citing an unnamed banking source that the Coyotes are up for sale “with the idea of [a] buyer eventually moving the team to a new arena in Houston.” Arizona quickly issued a statement in response. “This
8:30 AM ET The NHL’s 2021-22 season hit the quarter mark last weekend. While that means we have a long way to go, it also means we have some insight into which teams are thriving, which teams are spiraling and which teams have just left us baffled. Here are the Stanley Cup contender tiers —