NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×Coaching Changes & Injuries
The Los Angeles Kings fired coach Jim Hiller espn.com after two seasons, naming associate head coach D.J. Smith as interim. Los Angeles sits three points out of a wild-card spot. Meanwhile, Golden Knights captain Mark Stone left his game vs. the Penguins espn.com with an undisclosed injury, adding to the team's challenges.
Olympic Celebrations Continue
The Panthers hosted a celebration espn.com for their first post-Olympic game, featuring a ceremonial faceoff between Matthew Tkachuk and Auston Matthews. Columbus Blue Jackets fans honored Zach Werenski espn.com before their game against the Islanders for his role in Team USA's gold medal victory. The celebration extended beyond the ice, as Meredith Gaudreau thanked U.S. men's hockey espn.com following their Olympic gold, reflecting on her trip to the games.
Player Updates & Season Impact
Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin has been ruled out for the season espn.com with an ACL injury, a significant blow to the team's playoff hopes. The injury news comes as teams prepare for the stretch run, with fantasy hockey players already strategizing for March lineups and looking to hack the schedule to their advantage espn.com.
Upcoming Matchups
ABC's NHL doubleheader features playoff-implications games between the Penguins-Rangers and Bruins-Flyers. The network provided a detailed preview with key stats espn.com for viewers to watch, highlighting the importance of these matchups as the regular season winds down.