Yahoo Sports AM: The 4 Nations Face-Off

In his NHL debut, 19-year-old Ivan Demidov scored for the Montreal Canadiens, but the team lost 4-3 to the Chicago Blackhawks, marking their third consecutive defeat. Demidov, the No. 5 pick in the previous draft, contributed a goal and an assist, becoming only the third teenager in Canadiens history to score in his opener. Despite the loss, Demidov received a warm ovation from fans, reflecting the excitement surrounding his arrival after leading his Russian club...

The 2024-25 NHL regular season is nearing its end with 12 teams set to play, including the Florida Panthers hosting the New York Rangers. The Panthers are aiming to secure a top-four spot, while the Rangers have been eliminated from playoff contention. The SportsLine Projection Model suggests player prop bets like Connor Bedard Under 2.5 shots on goal, Chris Kreider Over 1.5 shots on goal, and Connor McDavid Under 1.5 points as potential valuable options...

The Carolina Hurricanes have assigned defense prospect Dominik Badinka to the AHL after his season with the Malmo Redhawks in Sweden’s SHL, where he recorded five points in 57 games and improved his plus-minus from minus-nine to minus-five. Drafted 34th overall in 2024, Badinka is known for his physicality and defensive skills, which should translate well to the AHL with the Chicago Wolves. In other news, the San Jose Sharks have clinched the last spot...

Alex Ovechkin became the NHL's all-time goal-scoring king by scoring his 895th career goal, surpassing Wayne Gretzky's record. Gretzky, who was present at the game where Ovechkin broke the record, congratulated him during an on-ice ceremony. Ovechkin's remarkable career includes multiple milestone achievements, such as being a nine-time Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner and becoming the 10th member of the 1,600-point club with a single NHL franchise. Full Article

In the NHL Star Power Index, San Jose Sharks rookie forward Macklin Celebrini made history by scoring his first hat trick in a high-scoring game against the Minnesota Wild, becoming the first 18-year-old in franchise history to do so. Celebrini has been impressive lately, with six goals and 14 assists since March, trailing rookie points leader Lane Hutson by just two points. Meanwhile, Boston Bruins star winger David Pastrnak reached 100 points for the third...