Associated Press Apr 19, 2024, 12:52 AM ET Open Extended Reactions DENVER — Valeri Nichushkin scored twice, Nathan MacKinnon added two assists to break the franchise’s single-season points mark and the Colorado Avalanche cruised into the playoffs behind a 5-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night. MacKinnon wrapped up the regular season with
NHL
Open Extended Reactions The NHL has whittled down from 32 teams to 16 that remain in the hunt for the Stanley Cup. With the playoffs set to begin on Saturday, it’s time for our annual ranking of the top 50 players who will participate in the postseason. The playoff edition of ESPN NHL Rank seeks
Open Extended Reactions Thursday is the final night of the 2023-24 NHL regular season, with the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs set to begin Saturday. Although the identity of all 16 playoff teams is known, the eight matchups are not all locked in. So which games matter most? Editor’s Picks 2 Related Sadly for those with
Associated Press Apr 18, 2024, 02:33 AM ET Open Extended Reactions TEMPE, Ariz. — Mullett Arena buzzed like few times in the two years since the Arizona Coyotes moved in, the fans amped for one last desert hurrah. For 60 minutes, they got one last chance to watch the team they came to love before
Neil PaineApr 17, 2024, 07:50 AM ET Close Neil Paine writes about sports using data and analytics. Previously, he was Sports Editor at FiveThirtyEight. Open Extended Reactions When the NHL playoffs start Saturday, they’ll be dropping the puck on the most wide-open race for the Stanley Cup in four decades — if not longer. Comparing
Greg Wyshynski, ESPNApr 17, 2024, 10:00 AM ET Close Greg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer. Open Extended Reactions Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning deserves to win the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player this season. The beautiful thing about making that kind of declarative statement about the 2023-24 MVP race?
Associated Press Apr 16, 2024, 10:17 PM ET Open Extended Reactions PHILADELPHIA — T.J. Oshie shot the puck into an empty net and, in the process, scored one of the more improbable game-winning goals in recent NHL history and sent the Washington Capitals to the playoffs. Oshie’s empty-net goal with 3 minutes left helped the
Open Extended Reactions A certain sequence of events had to happen on Monday night for four teams to remain in the running for the second Eastern wild card — and that sequence of events occurred. So where do things stand heading into Tuesday? It’s a little complicated! But here is the path to the postseason
Kristen Shilton, ESPN NHL reporterApr 16, 2024, 07:30 AM ET Close Kristen Shilton is a national NHL reporter for ESPN. Open Extended Reactions The 2023-24 NHL trade season was a fruitful one for most NHL teams. Whether adding players for a playoff run or picks and prospects to build their next contender, there was certainly
Greg Wyshynski, ESPNApr 16, 2024, 12:32 AM ET Close Greg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer. Open Extended Reactions Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid notched his 100th assist this season against the San Jose Sharks on Monday night, becoming just the fourth player in NHL history to hit triple digits for helpers. McDavid returned to
Open Extended Reactions The final day of the 2023-24 NHL regular season is Thursday, but the Eastern Conference teams will close things out by Wednesday. And it may take that long before we know the identity of all eight playoff teams in that conference. Monday is a big night in the race for the second
Multiple Contributors Apr 15, 2024, 07:35 AM ET Open Extended Reactions The Arizona Coyotes are on the verge of relocating to Salt Lake City. The NHL board of governors has to approve the transaction, but all signs point to Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith acquiring the beleaguered franchise, which began its run in the desert
ESPN News Services Apr 14, 2024, 08:27 PM ET Open Extended Reactions ANAHEIM, Calif. — Cutter Gauthier, who scored the most goals in the NCAA in the past 25 years during Boston College’s run to the Frozen Four, signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday. Gauthier is likely to make his
ESPN News Services Apr 14, 2024, 02:58 PM ET Open Extended Reactions The NHL has fined Boston Bruins defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk $2,734.38 for unsportsmanlike conduct after he hit Pittsburgh Penguins winger Michael Bunting with his stick from the bench during Saturday’s game. Shattenkirk was not penalized for his action with 19:37 left in the first
Open Extended Reactions As we’ve written previously in this space, the winner of the Presidents’ Trophy is by no means guaranteed a Stanley Cup championship. Since the trophy was first awarded in 1985-86, only eight teams have won the regular-season points race and the Cup in the same campaign, the most recent being the Chicago
ESPN News Services Apr 13, 2024, 09:54 PM ET Open Extended Reactions ST. PAUL, Minn. — Jared Wright and Rieger Lorenz scored second-period goals, Matt Davis had 35 saves and Denver beat No. 1 overall seed Boston College 2-0 Saturday night to win the 10th national championship in program history. No. 3 seed Denver (32-9-3),
Associated Press Apr 13, 2024, 06:59 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Washington Capitals say defenseman Nick Jensen is conscious, alert and using his extremities after being stretchered off the ice following a scary collision. Jensen’s head hit the boards and his body went limp after being shoved by Tampa Bay’s Michael Eyssimont late in the
Open Extended Reactions By this time next week, the 2024 Stanley Cup playoff bracket will be finalized. And by the end of Saturday’s 13-game schedule, a number of playoff fates — division titles, seeds and playoff spots in general — could officially be in the books. And perhaps the best news for hockey fans? The