1:06 AM ET Associated Press CHICAGO — Cale Makar tried to downplay his game-winning goal Tuesday night, calling the sequence “a little bit lucky.” Colorado Avalanche teammate Erik Johnson offered a much different description. “Yeah, it was sick,” Johnson said. Makar scored on a slick move 2:38 into overtime, lifting the surging Avalanche to a

10:16 PM ET Associated Press TAMPA, Fla. — Nikita Kucherov had a pair of nifty assists in his return from a lengthy injury during Tampa Bay’s three-goal third period, and the Lightning beat the Calgary Flames 4-1 on Thursday night. Corey Perry, Brayden Point, Ondrej Palat and Alex Killorn scored to help Tampa Bay (23-8-5,

9:00 AM ET Here’s the scenario: You’re at your job, toiling away for the bosses, trying to do your best work. Over in the corner is the person who previously held your job for 12 years. Someone who, based on the statistics, performed your job more successfully than anyone in your company’s history. He doesn’t

7:00 AM ET The moment Jack Hughes stepped off the ice in the New Jersey Devils‘ season opener — after he dangled through three Chicago Blackhawks, and scored on his backhand for an absurd overtime winner, then tossed his stick into the crowd in a moment of euphoric celebration — he turned to a team

8:53 PM ET Edmonton Oilers star forward Connor McDavid has tested positive for COVID-19, coach Dave Tippett announced after practice Tuesday. Forward Derek Ryan also tested positive, and neither participated in practice, with Tippett telling reporters that the two were scheduled for another test later Tuesday, and the struggling team will just have to “see

1:57 PM ET Associated Press CHICAGO — The Chicago Blackhawks acquired forward Sam Lafferty in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday in exchange for forward Alex Nylander. Lafferty is slated to join the slumping Blackhawks in Arizona. The 26-year-old Lafferty, who is signed through this season with a $750,000 salary-cap hit, has no

7:00 AM ET As the NHL’s 32 teams all work their way back from the holiday break — and various postponements due to COVID-19 — it’s time for another round of the power rankings. And this week, we’re also laying out the most pivotal situations for every club by identifying one big question for 2022.

6:04 PM ET ESPN News Services BOSTON — New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton is scheduled to have surgery Wednesday on his broken jaw, three days after taking a puck to the face early in the team’s game at the Washington Capitals. The Devils did not give a timetable for his return. They put Hamilton

12:25 PM ET Since their inception, the Seattle Kraken pushed back on comparisons to the Vegas Golden Knights, who rewrote the rules for NHL expansion teams by making the Stanley Cup Final in their first season. “From day one, we’ve said we’re not Vegas,” Kraken general manager Ron Francis said on Monday. There’s no debating

3:00 PM ET Every week, we’ll mine the waiver wire for less-rostered players to help your squad, whether you favor dynasty or the redraft format, and we’ll also toss in some tips for DFS players out there. Finally, we will look at some former go-to fantasy players who may be overvalued — in the short-