6:59 AM ET ESPN staff No rivalry has electrified NHL fans during the past 15 seasons quite like Sidney Crosby‘s Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Alex Ovechkin‘s Washington Capitals. But the two superstars are still playing as well as ever, with Ovechkin chasing down Wayne Gretzky’s goal-scoring record and Sid inspiring the league’s next wave of talent.

2:33 PM ET MANALAPAN, Fla. — NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said that participating in the 2022 Winter Olympics is “ultimately going to have to be a players’ decision.” The NHL and NHLPA negotiated to have players participate in the 2022 and 2026 Winter Olympic men’s hockey tournament, per their latest collective bargaining agreement. But concerns

2:43 PM ET Despite having not yet announced where they’ll play next season, and after some embarrassing lapses in payments to the city of Glendale and the state of Arizona, Bettman said “there’s no issue” with the Arizona Coyotes and that the team is not a threat to relocate. “[Owner] Alex Meruelo is committed to

7:00 AM ET Stan Fischler entered the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame on Thursday, enshrined there after a career in sports media that has spanned seven decades and continues on today with a new gig at The Hockey News. “There’s also a sentimental aspect to it that,” said the 89-year-old. “I was an original THN

7:42 PM ET MANALAPAN, Fla. — The NHL announced sweeping initiatives to combat abuse and promote inclusivity in hockey at its board of governors meeting on Thursday. The meeting was the first since the release of an investigation into the Chicago Blackhawks and how the team handled a former player’s allegation that he was sexually

2:21 PM ET The Vancouver Canucks have hired Jim Rutherford as team president and interim general manager, it was announced Thursday. Rutherford will lead the search for a permanent GM. “It is time for a new vision and a new leader who will set a path forward for this team,” Canucks chairman Francesco Aquilini said

9:52 PM ET The Arizona Coyotes appear to be running the risk of losing access to their arena even sooner than expected. The City of Glendale informed the team that it plans to lock the Coyotes out of Gila River Arena if the club does not pay its delinquent tax bills and unpaid arena charges

6:28 PM ET Associated Press PITTSBURGH — Jake Guentzel‘s scorching start for the Pittsburgh Penguins has come to an abrupt halt. The team said Wednesday that the star forward is “week to week” with an upper-body injury. Coach Mike Sullivan did not go into detail about how or when Guentzel was hurt. Guentzel left the

12:01 PM ET Associated Press SEATTLE — Mark Giordano has rejoined the Seattle Kraken at practice following 10 days in a Florida hotel following a positive COVID-19 test. Giordano tested positive on Nov. 26 as Seattle was beginning a road trip at Tampa Bay. The NHL team underwent testing that morning and Giordano’s initial result,

10:34 PM ET ESPN News Services CHICAGO — Chicago Blackhawks forward Jujhar Khaira was stretchered off the ice after he was leveled by New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba on Tuesday night. The Blackhawks said Khaira suffered an “upper-body blow” and was taken by ambulance to Northwestern Hospital for further testing. “He’s up, he’s talking,