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USA forward Abbey Murphy celebrates at the end of the women's semifinal ice hockey match against Sweden. The U.S. takes on Canada in the gold medal final Thursday.

NPR

The U.S. and Canada set to square off in Olympic women’s ice hockey gold medal match

by Becky Sullivan February 19, 2026February 19, 2026

Canada was long the top dog of Olympic women’s hockey. But with a win Thursday, the Americans could do more than earn a third gold medal — they could prove the sport’s balance of power has shifted.

Brady Tkachuk #7 of Team United States celebrates after scoring a goal with Matthew Tkachuk #19 in the first period during the Men's Preliminary Group C match between Latvia and United States on day six of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 12, 2026 in Milan, Italy.

NPR

They have their haters back home. But at the Olympics, the Tkachuk brothers are stars

by Becky Sullivan February 18, 2026February 18, 2026

The NHL stars Matthew and Brady Tkachuk are elite at getting under their opponents’ skin. But at the Olympics, where they are crucial to Team USA’s hockey hopes, fans are pressing pause on the

A hat tossed onto the hockey rink after a hat trick was scored.

NPR

From gifting a hat to tossing them onto the rink, a history of hat tricks in sports

by Juliana Kim February 11, 2026February 11, 2026

Hat tricks have a rich history in hockey, but it didn’t start there. For NPR’s Word of the Week, we trace the term’s some 150-year-history and why it’s particularly special on the hockey rink.

Montreal Canadiens goalie Ken Dryden, pictured in 1977, died Saturday. The Hall of Famer helped the Canadiens win six Stanley Cup titles.

NPR

Ken Dryden, Hall of Fame goalie for the Montreal Canadiens, dies at age 78

by The Associated Press September 6, 2025September 6, 2025

Dryden backstopped the NHL’s most successful franchise to championships in six of his eight seasons in the league from 1970-71 to ’78-79. He died after a fight with cancer.

Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk helps raise the Stanley Cup trophy after defeating the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday.

NPR

Florida Panthers repeat as Stanley Cup champions by beating the Oilers in 6 games

by The Associated Press June 18, 2025June 18, 2025

The Florida Panthers repeated as Stanley Cup champions, becoming the NHL’s first back-to-back winners since Tampa Bay in 2020 and ’21 and the third team to do it this century.

Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals celecrates after scoring against the Philadelphia Flyers on April 16, 2024, in Philadelphia. He entered the NHL in 2005 and is now in his 20th season.

NPR

As Ovechkin nears the NHL goals record, the hockey world leans in to savor the moment

by Becky Sullivan March 23, 2025March 23, 2025

For years, Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894 career regular-season goals was widely thought to be untouchable. Now, the Washington Capitals star has just a handful to go to claim the record as his own.

NPR

Canada beat the U.S. 3-2 in overtime to win the contentious 4 Nations Face-Off

by The Associated Press February 21, 2025February 21, 2025

The North American hockey rivals turned what had been a tune-up for the 2026 Olympics into an geopolitical brawl over anthems and annexation as much as international hockey supremacy.

NPR

NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother are killed on bicycle ride

by Bill Chappell August 30, 2024August 30, 2024

The player, nicknamed “Johnny Hockey,” and his younger brother, Matthew, were struck and killed by an SUV one day before they were to appear in their sister’s wedding.

Episode, On Sports