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“Due to the concern about cross-border travel and, given the fluid nature of federal travel restrictions, effective on Monday, all games involving a Canadian-based team playing a U.S.-based team from Monday, Dec. 20 through the start of the holiday break on Dec. 23 will be postponed and rescheduled,” a statement from the players’ union read. Here are the affected games this week: Monday, December 20 Montreal at New York Islanders Anaheim at Edmonton...

But did your team do enough at the deadline to make that dream a reality? Or — if your favorite squad is on the other end of the spectrum — enough to fuel hopes for next season? This week’s power rankings focus on what key moves general managers made when it was crunch time (beginning Feb. 1) and how it could impact the home stretch. MORE: Last week’s power rankings...

Contact Standoff Continues Between Leafs, Nylander Barely a week into the 2018-19 NHL season, William Nylander’s contract impasse with the Toronto Maple Leafs dominates the rumor mill. A restricted free agent completing an entry-level contract, Nylander has no leverage in negotiations with the Leafs other than withholding his services. On Saturday, Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos reported the 22-year-old still wants a long-term agreement. Kypreos’ colleague Chris Johnston said the Nylander camp initially sought a deal comparable to the $8....

Could Karlsson land in the Big Apple? When the San Jose Sharks acquired defenseman Erik Karlsson from the Ottawa Senators last September, it was assumed they would sign him before his eligibility for unrestricted free agency on July 1. Immediately after acquiring the two-time Norris Trophy winner, Sharks general manager Doug Wilson indicated his club was comfortable with re-signing the 28-year-old to a long-term contract extension. To date, however, that deal has yet to materialize....

The former Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman remains the best player still available on the open market. His status continues to be a topic of discussion among pundits during the dog days of summer. Last week, TSN’s Brian Hayes and Mike Johnston examined reasons why Gardiner is still unsigned. Hayes believes the 28-year-old would fill a top-four role on most teams. While Gardiner was hampered by a back injury last season, Hayes doubts it’s affecting his efforts to get a new contract....

The Maple Leafs were the last team to clinch. They secured their first playoff berth in four years after beating the Penguins 5-3 on Saturday, eliminating the Lightning and Islanders in the process. MORE: NHL playoffs first-round schedule, dates, times, TV The NHL’s 2016-17 regular season ended Sunday; the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs will begin Wednesday, April 12. NHL standings: Eastern Conference y- clinched division title z- clinched conference p-clinched Presidents’ Trophy...

The announcement comes a day after the NBA indefinitely postponed its entire slate of games , with Utah Jazz players Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell reportedly testing positive for the virus. “In light of ongoing developments resulting from the coronavirus, and after consulting with medical experts and convening a conference call of the Board of Governors, the National Hockey League is announcing today that it will pause the 2019‑20 season beginning with tonight’s games,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement ....

Toronto was in the market for a bottom-six center, and reportedly had interested in Red Wings center Riley Sheahan. Boyle has 13 goals and nine assists in 54 games this season but more importantly is regarded around the league as a tough, defensive-minded center who is solid on faceoffs. Boyle has plenty of postseason experience that the Maple Leafs, the the second-youngest team in the NHL, can desperately use as well....

Headed to Anaheim: defenseman Simon Despres. Returning to Pittsburgh: Ben Lovejoy, who the Penguins sent to Anaheim for a fifth-round pick in 2012. MORE: Analysis of the deadline’s biggest moves The move, combined with the acquisition of Ian Cole for Robert Bortuzzo, leaves Pittsburgh with a rebuilt, theoretically more reliable defensive corps. Giving up Despres, who’s big, mobile and 23 with a growing resume, isn’t ideal — but Lovejoy, GM Jim Rutherford implied, couples lower upside with increased reliability....

Tynan, 17, had tweeted out a thank you to his supporters just one day after undergoing surgery for injuries that IceDogs general manager Joey King told reporters were at one point considered life threatening. “Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for the kind words, truly they mean more than anyone can ever know,” Tynan wrote on Twitter on Friday. “An unfortunate situation, looking forward to recovering and coming back stronger and healthier than before....

You see, Garcia had just crushed a three-run moonshot to break a 0-0 deadlock between Nicaragua and Panama in the Little League World Series. And he just had to admire his work, flipping his bat to a height that would put Jose Bautista and Tim Anderson to shame. That wasn’t all for Garcia, though. As he rounded third base, he knew he had to add a little more panache to his home-run trot....

The Texans have already parted ways with DeAndre Hopkins and JJ Watt. With constant rumors swirling that quarterback Deshaun Watson could also soon be traded, it seems the next big name to be moved could possibly be David Johnson. Could the Houston Texans trade David Johnson before Week 1? How did David Johnson’s name get on the trade block? Well, most recently it was Baltimore Ravens’ running back JK Dobbins who tore his ACL in the third and final preseason game, and is expected to miss the entire 2021 season....

Kay Cabot reported Saturday the Browns are seeking a third-round pick in exchange for Osweiler and a fifth rounder. If the Browns can’t find a suitor, the team will release him. The Browns are also willing to eat “as much as half” of Osweiler’s $16 million contract in a trade scenario. Kay Cabot noted. MORE: How Browns’ ‘Moneyball’ strategy could land right franchise QB While that seems like a smart move by the Browns, it’s unlikely....

Sarcasm aside, the designs of NFL uniforms in this Nike era, which began in 2012, are increasingly artistic and bold. The new threads the Jets debuted last year are a perfect example, as was the Titans’ new look unveiled a couple years ago. In 2020, the Browns, Buccaneers, Falcons, Chargers, Patriots and Rams are on the board with new looks. All of these changes are factored into our NFL uniform rankings for 2020....

Chicago's landmark football stadium was struck by a severe storm shortly after noon, and nasty weather threatened again early in the second half of the Chicago Bears' game against the Baltimore Ravens. Play resumed under sunny skies after delay of about two hours in the first quarter. There was no report of injuries from the storm's first strike. Temperatures reportedly dropped 30 degrees after kickoff. Rain returned and wind gusts were strong, reported to be 40 mph and more....

With bye weeks starting, we are down one football betting opportunity against the NFL odds, yet there remain several live underdogs with not only a chance to cover the spread, but conceivably win outright. In our travels to find underdogs with considerable value for NFL picks, we will start in the Motor City, head to the Deep South before ending up in the Windy City. Time to lock down some Sunday winners for NFL Week 4....

The lawsuit, consolidated in federal court in Minnesota, was by far the largest facing the league. The NHL, as it has for years, did not acknowledge any liability for the players’ claims in the proposed settlement and can terminate the deal if all 318 players or their estates don’t elect to participate. The settlement is significantly less than the billion-dollar agreement reached between the NFL and its former players on the same issue of head injuries....

Not surprisingly, quite a few names associated with the red-hot, league-leading Tampa Bay Lightning show up in our awards discussion 20 or so games into the season. NHL Mixed Bag: Trade winds blowing in direction of hapless Canadiens Let’s take a look at the top three candidates – listed in order – for the NHL’s major hardware: Hart Trophy Steven Stamkos (Tampa Bay Lightning) Seriously splitting hairs here for the top spot as the league’s MVP with teammate Nikita Kucherov....

But this year’s trade winds have been at gale force for weeks. Thanks to the never-ending drama in Ottawa, the Canadiens’ perennially doomed pursuit of a No. 1 center — scratch that, ANY center — and this week’s revelation Artemi Panarin is reluctant to re-up with the Blue Jackets, it seems there are more stars than usual involved in the rumor mill. Sporting News will keep tabs on the latest trade buzz from the floor of American Airlines Center, with full details and grades on every completed deal....

Why? Look no further than the Lightning. Nikita Kucherov? He was the No. 58 pick a decade ago. Ondrej Palat went at No. 208 the same year. Brayden Point was picked 79th overall in 2014. Anthony Cirelli went in the 72nd slot in 2015 and Stanley Cup-clinching goal-scorer Ross Colton was No. 118 in 2016. None of these picks appeared perfect on draft day. But those sleeper swings look a lot like home runs now after back-to-back Cups....