10:14 PM ET Jamal Collier Beginning Friday, the Toronto Raptors and Maple Leafs will host home games without selling tickets to fans for the next three weeks following a decision by the province of Ontario to limit venue capacities. Ontario’s government capped attendance at concert venues, arenas and theaters to 1,000 people or 50% (whichever

4:49 PM ET Associated Press EDMONTON, Alberta — When Brigette Lacquette first heard from the Chicago Blackhawks, she didn’t think the message was real. It was, and it arrived at a perfect time. Lacquette became the first Indigenous woman to scout for an NHL team when she was hired by the Blackhawks this year. Making

10:24 AM ET Associated Press ST. PAUL, Minnesota — The Minnesota Wild signed coach Dean Evason and his staff to multiyear contract extensions Thursday, a reward for keeping them as one of the top teams in the Western Conference. Evason, 57, is in his second full season as Minnesota’s coach after replacing Bruce Boudreau in

4:00 PM ET The IIHF announced on Wednesday that it has canceled the remainder of its 2022 World Junior Championship because of a rising number of COVID-19 cases among players. IIHF officials met Wednesday afternoon to discuss how to keep the tournament going despite COVID issues, but those present decided cancellation was the best path.

6:05 PM ET Associated Press TORONTO — Montreal Canadiens first-round pick Logan Mailloux will be reinstated to the Ontario Hockey League on Saturday. Mailloux was suspended indefinitely by the OHL on Sept. 2 because of an incident that took place while the London Knights’ defenseman was on loan to SK Lejon in Sweden in November

12:26 PM ET The NHL is modifying its COVID-19 protocols, shortening the standard isolation period for players who test positive for the virus from 10 days to five days, according to a memo obtained by ESPN on Wednesday. The updated protocols align with new CDC recommendations. Players will be allowed to leave isolation after five

Dec 29, 2021 The Winter Classic has been the NHL’s signature outdoor event since 2008, when the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres played through picturesque snow and launched an institution. The game between the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild scheduled for Target Field on Jan. 1, 2022, will be the 13th edition of the

12:57 AM ET Associated Press EDMONTON, Alberta — Connor Bedard became the youngest player to score four goals in a world junior hockey championship game, leading Canada to an 11-2 win over Austria on Tuesday night. The 16-year-old joined Mario Lemieux (1983), Simon Gagne (1999), Brayden Schenn (2010), Taylor Raddysh (2016) and Maxime Comtois (2018)

6:06 PM ET ESPN News Services Sixteen months after choosing Canada as the safest place to complete its season, the NHL now faces a series of hurdles north of the border that complicate its bid to power through the pandemic all over again. The league postponed nine more games Tuesday — all of them in

7:40 AM ET ESPN staff Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images The NHL returns to action Tuesday after the league took an extended holiday break due to increased COVID-19 cases. There haven’t been any games played since Dec. 21. The ESPN+ exclusive schedule continues on Tuesday with the Tampa Bay Lightning hosting the Montreal Canadiens and