And now Phil Kessel stands alone. Kessel became the NHL’s new “iron man” on Tuesday — and did so in style, scoring his 400th career goal in the Vegas Golden Knights‘ 4-2 win over the Sharks in San Jose. The 35-year-old winger has now appeared in 990 consecutive games, a streak that started Nov. 3, … Read more
Anytime the New York Rangers play, their fans’ derogatory chant toward New York Islanders Hall of Fame defenseman Denis Potvin can be heard. It begins with a fan whistling from the stands, repeating the same five notes three times. Then three staccato whistles. Then the chorus: “POTVIN SUCKS!” The tune has existed for decades, whether … Read more
Phil Kessel tied the NHL record for consecutive games played when he hit the ice for the Vegas Golden Knights against the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday night. Kessel, 35, played in his 989th straight NHL game, a streak that began on Nov. 3, 2009, when Kessel was a member of the Leafs. That … Read more
7:05 AM ET ESPN staff ESPN’s slate of exclusive broadcasts continues on Friday with the first matchup in the Battle of Florida for 2022-23. The Florida Panthers are hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning, with coverage beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+ and Hulu. As an added bonus, there will be a Star Watch alternate … Read more
As everyone but the St. Louis Blues have played at least three games, we’re already getting a signal of the fantasy haves and have-nots. This isn’t about overreacting to a slumping asset and giving them the all-too-hasty boot in a fit of panic; there’s a big difference between early and premature. And there’s nothing impetuous … Read more
The NHL’s Reverse Retro jerseys were a sensation two years ago, creating significant sales and conversation among hockey fans. Adidas felt the pressure of creating a sequel to that blockbuster with its 2022-23 season retro sweaters. “How many amazing remix combinations are out there?” said Dan Near, senior director at adidas hockey. “We spent a … Read more
1:41 PM ET Jeremy WillisESPN.com It is a great time to be a fan of Philadelphia sports. The city’s teams just keep winning. Let’s start with the Philadelphia Phillies. They are three wins from reaching the World Series for the first time since 2009. Philadelphia took Game 1 of the NLCS Tuesday, beating the San … Read more
7:00 AM ET ESPN staff The top 100 NHL players for the 2022-23 season are difficult to rank, given the incredible depth of talent at almost every position. To create our annual ranking of the NHL’s top 100 players, we asked an ESPN panel of more than 50 hockey experts to rate players based on … Read more
The NHL said it found no evidence to substantiate sexual misconduct allegations against Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Ian Cole and considers the matter closed. Cole was immediately reinstated by the Lightning, who had suspended him with pay. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to respond to and refute the anonymous allegations made against me, which I … Read more
JAKE OETTINGER FELT INVINCIBLE. The Dallas Stars were in a Game 7 overtime against the Calgary Flames in the first round of last season’s playoffs. They were there because of Oettinger, the second-year goaltender who had stopped 208 of the 218 shots he had faced in the previous six games. The finale against the Flames … Read more