NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×Olympic Break Aftermath
The NHL espn.com returned from its Olympic break with several teams adjusting to the absence of star players. Vegas Golden Knights espn.com are without five players from the Olympic final, including Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin from Team USA, plus Canadian forwards Mark Stone and Mitch Marner and defenseman Shea Theodore.
Coaching Changes
Lightning coach Jon Cooper espn.com is out for two games following the death of his father, Robert. Meanwhile, Ducks coach Joel Quenneville espn.com made history by becoming just the second NHL coach to reach 1,000 wins, joining Scotty Bowman in that exclusive club.
Player Updates
Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin espn.com has been ruled out for the remainder of the regular season and postseason after suffering an ACL injury. Maple Leafs center John Tavares espn.com credits his mental health focus for helping his renaissance this season, using his foundation to drive awareness of mental health conversations.
Upcoming Games
ABC will air an NHL doubleheader Saturday featuring playoff implications, with the Penguins facing the Rangers followed by the Bruins against the Flyers. The Panthers hosted the Maple Leafs espn.com in their first post-Olympic game Thursday night, beginning with a ceremonial faceoff between Matthew Tkachuk and Auston Matthews.
Team Honors
Devils honored Jack Hughes espn.com before their game against the Sabres, celebrating the U.S. Olympic hero. However, Senators captain Brady Tkachuk espn.com expressed frustration over an AI-doctored video released by the White House that made it appear he was disparaging Canadians.
As teams prepare for the stretch run, ESPN's NHL Power Rankings espn.com saw significant movement beyond the top five following the Olympic break. Trade deadline approaches espn.com with many teams seeking to bolster their rosters for a deep Stanley Cup run this spring.