In a move that will surprise some and likely enrage fans, the NHL and NHLPA agreed to continue the divisional and wild card playoff format for at least another year. That format holds that the top three teams in each division automatically qualify for a playoff berth, and the next two closest teams in the East and West lock up the wild card spots.
The news was first reported by Pierre LeBrun.
By Julia Karron 4 years ago
Sunday morning, the CWHL announced they would cease operations effective May 1, 2019. But it appears that there will be a future for pro women’s hockey in Canada.
The NWHL will expand to Toronto and Montreal starting next season, according the NWHL Commissioner Dani Rylan.
By Julia Karron 4 years ago
Last summer, John Tavares made a free agency splash when he left the New York Islanders, the team that drafted him, in order to pursue his childhood dream of playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Islanders fans were miffed. When the Leafs traveled to play the Islanders earlier this season, Islanders fans chanted “we don’t need you” and burned their Tavares jerseys en route to a 6-1 whooping of the Leafs.
But Tuesday night, the Leafs got their revenge with a 2-1 win, which clinched their spot in the playoffs. Tavares scored the game-winning tally.
Less than one minute after his goal, Tavares served a slashing penalty on Matthew Barzal. An irate Islanders fan next to the penalty box unloaded on Tavares in a rant worthy of a Dear John video.
By Julia Karron 4 years ago
Alex Ovechkin has 51 goals, the Caps have three games left, and the sweet smell of the ‘loffs is in the air. The boys get the Florida Panthers in the Sunshine State tonight, so hopefully they’ll come away with a W and some good ole’ vitamin D.
Tonight’s game begins at 7 PM. If you don’t have a TV readily available, you can stream the game the My Teams app on whatever portable device you choose. Peter’s got you covered for recap.
By Julia Karron 4 years ago
Most NHL teams now have team puppies, which are trained to become service dogs that will help with every thing ranging from help with motor impairments and Autism, to seeing-eye dogs for the visually impaired.
The Dallas Stars have turned that trend on its head, in what I’m assuming to be the most elaborate April Fools Joke to date or the best way to introduce a team pet.
Y’all, the Stars have a team cow. Yeehaw!
By Julia Karron 4 years ago
During the Winter Olympics in 2018, I stayed up way past my bed time to watch the US Women’s National Hockey Team beat Canada in a shootout for their first gold medal since 1998. That game garnered 3.0 million views on NBC Sports Network and 3.7 million across all platforms. The NBCSN-only audience exceeds all but five of the network’s total NHL telecasts according to Sports Media Watch.
There is always an appetite for more hockey, and particularly women’s hockey. This year’s Clarkson Cup had 175,000 viewers, and the NWHL’s All-Star Game and Skills Competition had a combined 945,000 viewers. But early on Sunday morning, the CWHL announced they were folding after 12 seasons.
The news came as a shock to players and reporters alike, leaving the NWHL as the only paying professional women’s league in America, and forcing the hockey community to ask itself what the future of women’s hockey looks like.
By Julia Karron 4 years ago
While the Washington Capitals’ opponent for the first round of the playoffs is unknown, we do know they’ll get home ice advantage.
To that end, the Capitals announced that a limited number of individual game tickets for all four home games will go on sale Tuesday at 1 pm.
By Julia Karron 4 years ago
With five minutes remaining in the third period, Nick Jensen kept the puck in at the blueline. With a quick wrist shot towards the net, Nic Dowd tipped the puck past Curtis McElhinney, giving the Caps a 3-2 lead.
That goal meant the Caps clinched a playoff spot. Neither Jensen nor Dowd have been to the playoffs before.
By Julia Karron 4 years ago
This season, the Carolina Hurricanes have typically reserved their Storm Surge celebrations only for wins.
But Canes captain Justin Williams announced that tonight would be the final Storm Surge of the season, win or lose.
By Julia Karron 4 years ago
A day after it was announced that a sportsbook is coming to Capital One Arena, the NHL has furthered its interest in sports betting.
Thursday morning, Gary Bettman announced a new partnership with sportsbook operator William Hill US. The move comes after the NHL has already partnered with MGM Resorts and FanDuel.
By Julia Karron 4 years ago
