SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Hockey Club’s inaugural game is in the books — a 5-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks — but there’s one issue remaining.

Will the brain trust behind the UHC pick a new name, like the Yeti? Or perhaps even the Mammoth?

Woolly or won’t they?

As a sports reporter, it’s annoying to keep writing “Utah ...Read more

SAN JOSE — Macklin Celebrini didn’t take long at all to pick up his first career NHL goal.

The San Jose Sharks’ rookie No. 1 overall pick took just 7:01 to put the Sharks up 1-0, getting the puck past St. Louis Blues goaltender Joel Hofer on a deflected pass in the crease. Celebrini’s goal was assisted by William Eklund and Jake Walman....Read more

DETROIT — Mike Sullivan had a simple message for Joel Blomqvist on Thursday.

The Penguins were coming off an ugly loss to the New York Rangers in their season opener and had to rely on their rookie goalie in the second half of a back-to-back, with two more tough road tests looming on the schedule in the coming days.

It would have been panic ...Read more

BOSTON — Now that was better.

The Montreal Canadiens may have represented a sizable drop-down in quality of opponent for the Bruins at TD Garden on Thursday, but the B’s game looked a lot more like the brass envisioned when it assembled this team in the offseason in a 6-4 victory in the home opener. It was not perfection — far from it —...Read more

Florida Panthers captain and top-line center Aleksander Barkov sustained a lower-body injury late in their 3-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Thursday at Canadian Tire Centre to start a four-game road trip.

Panthers coach Paul Maurice did not have an immediate update on Barkov postgame other than Barkov is “going to get looked at here tonight...Read more

The Lightning, who open their season on the road at Carolina on Friday night, will wait a little longer to play at Amalie Arena.

The team announced that Saturday’s home game against the Hurricanes is being postponed while the Tampa Bay region deals with the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.

After Monday’s practice in Tampa, the team evacuated...Read more

TAMPA BAY, Fla. — Makeovers aren’t just for losers. Turns out, even mini dynasties need some freshening up.

So it is for the Lightning. Across the past 10 seasons, there’s not a team in the NHL with more victories than Tampa Bay. No franchise has won more conference titles, and only the Penguins have won as many Stanley Cups. This is what...Read more

SEATTLE — At 10:53 a.m. PDT Tuesday, a DJ bobbed his head and spun records outside Climate Pledge Arena, while cups of complimentary Pepsi and potato chips were prepared for the fans facing First Avenue. They came early — so early — to salute the arriving Kraken, who gamely signed autographs and posed for photos before entering the arena. ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — In one crease Wednesday was a star goaltender who reportedly turned down an $88 million offer from his team — and you could argue was justified in doing so.

In the other was a goalie who might have been starting the 2024-25 season opener only because Pittsburgh’s other goalie suffered an unfortunate preseason injury.

The ...Read more

MIAMI — It was a celebration a long time coming Tuesday night — the first time in 31 franchise seasons the Florida Panthers had ever skated onto the ice in the regular season as reigning NHL champions. And the home fans acted in kind in a packed Sunrise arena ready for a party.

The Stanley Cup was in the house and the championship banner ...Read more

MIAMI — Sam Bennett remains a villain to the Boston Bruins.

If last year’s hit which knocked out Bruins captain Brad Marchand from Game 3 of their second-round playoff series wasn’t enough, Boston had more reason to dislike the Panthers’ 28-year-old center after Tuesday night’s season opener.

This time, Bennett did his damage on ...Read more

SEATTLE — Jessica Campbell tried to fight back a smile as the cheers continued to grow. Eventually a little smirk crossed her face before the cameras moved on to the next member of the Kraken coaching staff.

Tuesday was notable on many levels for the Kraken: The first time opening the season at Climate Pledge Arena. An odd 1:30 p.m. PDT puck ...Read more

SEATTLE — Call it a little early jitters.

After falling behind two goals, the Blues roared back for a 3-2 season-opening win over the Kraken on Tuesday afternoon at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. Jordan Kyrou scored twice for the Blues, and Philip Broberg scored one goal.

Jordan Binnington made 30 saves and has not lost in regulation in ...Read more

SAN JOSE, Calif. — If you look at the NHL standings six months from now, you’ll be forgiven for thinking that things didn’t improve much for the Sharks in the 2024-25 season.

After all, this is still, in all likelihood, the worst team in hockey. That long, unbecoming, playoff drought will reach six seasons come April. Another high draft ...Read more

SEATTLE — Dan Bylsma was an alternate captain for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, but in a 12-year pro career spent only four full seasons at the NHL level. Many times he was called into the coach's office and was told he'd be sent down, before eventually switching to the other side of the desk. He still draws on those experiences.

Roughly ...Read more

TAMPA BAY, Fla. — The Lightning have been forced to evacuate Tampa Bay before due to an approaching hurricane. But the challenge that faces them now with Milton is different than when they relocated training camp to Nashville two years ago to avoid Ian.

Many players had their homes and property damaged by storm surge from Helene less than two...Read more

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — One by one, the Florida Panthers players were called Monday night to the front of the War Memorial Auditorium by team owner Vincent Viola to get a box holding their championship ring, get a hug and a personal message as last season celebrated its final night.

“This guy’s very special to me and my family” Viola ...Read more