We’re officially on to the second week of the 2021-22 NHL season and two early-season marquee matchups are on the ESPN schedule on Tuesday. At 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+ and Hulu, the Colorado Avalanche will visit the Washington Capitals, while the Chicago Blackhawks will host the New York Islanders at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. To help get you […]

Greg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer. San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane has been suspended for 21 games without by the NHL for an “established violation” of the NHL/NHLPA COVID-19 protocol. Sources confirmed earlier this month that Kane was being investigated over allegations that he submitted a fake COVID-19 vaccination card to the NHL and the Sharks. While the […]

The Avalanche will be without six players in Saturday night’s game against the visiting St. Louis Blues. Defenseman Jack Johnson became the fourth loss in the opening week of the season when the team announced he has joined star center Nathan MacKinnon in COVID protocol. Forwards Gabe Landeskog (suspension) and Valeri Nichushkin (upper-body injury) are also unavailable against the Blues. […]

Tonight is the first game of the 2021-22 NHL season that will be broadcast exclusively on ESPN+ and Hulu, and it should be a great one. We’ve got a captivating early-season matchup as reigning Calder Trophy winner Kirill Kaprizov and the Minnesota Wild head out west to take on the feisty Anaheim Ducks at 10 p.m. ET. To help get […]

The Ottawa Senators have signed forward Brady Tkachuk to a seven-year, $57.5 million contract, the team announced Thursday. The deal was reached with the restricted free agent hours before the Senators’ season opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Tkachuk did not play for Ottawa during the preseason. Tkachuk, 22, has led the Senators in scoring the past two seasons, including […]

Emily Kaplan is ESPN’s national NHL reporter. WHEN ELVIS MERZLIKINS HEARD the Columbus Blue Jackets had another Latvian goalie in the organization, he was excited — but also confused. “My first question was: Who the hell is this guy?” Merzlikins says. “I had never heard about him, never knew about his existence.” That goalie was Matiss Kivlenieks, who came to […]

Charles Barkley is many things: A Basketball Hall of Famer, a former NBA MVP, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and, as he reminded everyone on TNT on Wednesday night, a massive hockey fan. Barkley has talked about his fandom for the sport before numerous times, which he says began in the 80s. As such, he was called upon to help […]

A new NHL season is upon us, with all the excitement, storylines and intrigue that come with it. It all gets started Tuesday with a doubleheader on ESPN. At 7:30 p.m. ET, the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning take on the Pittsburgh Penguins, then at 10:15 p.m., the Vegas Golden Knights will host the expansion Seattle Kraken […]

It’s October. The leaves are falling. The weather is getting getting chillier and when you flip on the TV there will be hockey on it. Yes, the NHL is back and the 2021-22 season is officially here.  Beginning on Oct. 12 with the Lightning raising their latest Stanley Cup banner to the rafters and the Golden Knights hosting the league’s 32nd […]

The NHL returns to the ice on Tuesday night, and for the first time since the 2003-04 season it’s back on ESPN! At 7:30 p.m. ET, we’ll watch the Tampa Bay Lightning raise another Stanley Cup banner before taking on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Then at 10:15 p.m., the Vegas Golden Knights will welcome the expansion Seattle Kraken to the NHL. […]