Patrice Bergeron
Montreal Canadiens players and coaching staff look on from the bench against a backdrop of empty seats during during second-period NHL hockey game action against the Philadelphia Flyers in Montreal, Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
NHL shuts down 2 more teams for a week amid COVID surge

By Stephen Whyno Dec. 17, 2021 06:17 PM EST

Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) and Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) meet in the handshake line after Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Sunday, May 23, 2021, in Washington. The Bruins won 3-1. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Boston Bruins at Washington Capitals 5/23/2021

May. 25, 2021 02:48 PM EDT

Boston Bruins' Patrice Bergeron (37) battles Washington Capitals' Evgeny Kuznetsov (92) and Ilya Samsonov (30) for control of the puck during the first period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Friday, May 21, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Washington Capitals at Boston Bruins 5/21/2021

May. 25, 2021 01:16 PM EDT

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) blocks a shot by Minnesota Wild left wing Jordan Greenway (18) while Golden Knights' Shea Theodore (27) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, May 5, 2021, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)
'No secrets' and no certainty in one-of-a-kind NHL playoffs

By Stephen Whyno May. 14, 2021 04:54 PM EDT

New York Islanders right wing Cal Clutterbuck, left, can't control the puck to get a shot off as Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask, center, and Bruins left wing Taylor Hall, right, protect the goal after a flurry in the first period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, May 10, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Hall scores 2, Bruins beat Islanders to clinch 3rd in East

By Ken Powtak May. 10, 2021 10:42 PM EDT

Buffalo Sabres forward Casey Mittelstadt (37) celebrates his goal against the Boston Bruins with forward Tage Thompson (72) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 23, 2021, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Sabres snap Bruins' season-best 6-game win streak in 6-4 win

By John Wawrow Apr. 23, 2021 10:07 PM EDT

Hockey fans sit socially distanced in TD Garden before an NHL hockey game between the Boston Bruins and the New York Islanders, Thursday, March 25, 2021, in Boston. This is the first game of the 2021 season allowing limited fan attendance in the arena. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Islanders rally, disappoint Bruins fans with 4-3 OT victory

By Jimmy Golen Mar. 25, 2021 10:16 PM EDT

Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) and Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) battle for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Ovechkin returns, scores in OT as Capitals beat Bruins

By Stephen Whyno Jan. 30, 2021 10:44 PM EST

Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask (40) watches the puck cross the line on what would be ruled no goal due to goalie interference as Carolina Hurricanes' Teuvo Teravainen (86), Hurricanes' Jordan Martinook (48) and Bruins' Torey Krug (47) look on during third-period NHL hockey first-round Stanley Cup playoff action in Toronto, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Hamilton helps Carolina beat Boston 3-2, tie series 1-1

Aug. 14, 2020 12:09 AM EDT

Security guards stand by at a section of the street outside Toronto's Royal York hotel, which is closed off as NHL teams arrive at the "bubble" ahead of the return of the league's season following a disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in Toronto, Sunday, July 26, 2020. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Bubble hockey begins: NHL playoff teams adjust to quarantine

By Stephen Whyno Jul. 27, 2020 07:19 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 14, 2020, file photo, New York Rangers' Artemi Panarin, of Russia, plays against the Columbus Blue Jackets during an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio. The Edmonton Oilers’ sudden resurgence placed Connor McDavid back in the NHL MVP conversation, along with teammate Leon Draisaitl. Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon and Boston’s David Pastrnak made their case, too, during a pandemic-shortened season. And don’t forget New York Rangers' Artemi Panarin, a late entry in the discussion. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, FIle)
Oilers have Hart? McDavid, Draisaitl are NHL MVP candidates

By John Wawrow Jun. 18, 2020 02:07 PM EDT

FILE - This Dec. 23, 2019 file photo shows Florida Panthers center Brian Boyle (9) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Tampa, Fla. The predominantly white sport of hockey has a checkered history of racism and a culture of not standing out from the team or speaking out. The death of George Floyd in Minnesota has shattered that silence. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
'Long overdue': White NHL players find their voice on racism

By Stephen Whyno Jun. 14, 2020 11:58 AM EDT