Normally the NHL is coming out of the dog days of the regular season in late February as teams begin the final push for a playoff berth. However, most are hoping after a thrilling 4 Nations Face-Off that hockey can continue its momentum.
One of the first tests will be Saturday night when ESPN carries the Stadium Series matchup between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings from Ohio Stadium.
“The season feels very different to me this year,” said ESPN's Steve Levy, who will host the outdoor game. “I think the players that were involved or those not involved were energized by watching. The NHL has a ton of momentum really at a perfect time, and it has kick-started the final quarter of the season.”
It also doesn't hurt that the league has plenty of storylines coming off 4 Nations. Washington’s Alexander Ovechkin needs 11 goals to surpass Wayne Gretzky’s career NHL record of 894 while the league’s trade deadline is less than one week away.
ESPN announced this week that it has added seven additional games, including two featuring Ovechkin and the Capitals.
“That keeps the hockey interest going overall, and that helps motivate us internally as well as externally. So 4 Nations into Ovechkin into Stadium Series, that’s a great position for all of us to be in right now,” said Linda Schulz, who oversees ESPN's NHL production.
The Stadium Series usually has significance due to the location, but it carries huge implications in the Eastern Conference playoff race. After Thursday night's 5-2 victory, Columbus is tied with Detroit for the first wild-card spot. Both have 66 points, and are four points clear of Ottawa, Boston and the New York Rangers.
The Red Wings haven't been to the Stanley Cup playoffs since 2016 while the Blue Jackets are in contention even while mourning the deaths of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew in August. Columbus has been to the playoffs only six times in 24 previous seasons, with its most recent trip being in 2020.
Besides the Ohio-Michigan rivalry being manifested on ice, Ohio Stadium should provide a great backdrop because college stadiums seem to be more conducive to NHL Stadium Series games with not a lot of sideline room. The fans are also more on top of the rink and closer to the ice compared to when the outdoor games have taken place in baseball parks.
“The NHL does a really good job of finding these iconic settings. And ‘The Horseshoe’ just screams that," Levy said. “If you’re naming five iconic college football stadiums, this is one. Just like ‘The Big House’ in Michigan (which has also hosted an outdoor game) is on that list.”
With the game being outdoors, ESPN will use a drone to capture some of the views as well as testing some new virtual graphics.
While Canada's 3-2 overtime victory over the United States in the 4 Nations championship averaged a record 9.3 million viewers, Levy and ESPN are hoping that some stick around for the rest of the season and going into the playoffs.
“We’re not going to keep them all. But what percentage of those same fans who were wowed by 4 Nations can we keep a little longer? Because everybody in this sport knows once we get to the Stanley Cup playoffs, you can get them to that point. They’re going to stick around regardless of what teams are in just because the postseason so intense and crazy,” Levy said.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin celebrates his goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames as he skates towards the bench, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Tom Wilson scored his career-best 33rd goal of the season and the Washington Capitals wrapped up the top spot in the Eastern Conference by beating the Carolina Hurricanes 5-4 in a shootout Thursday night.
Pierre-Luc Dubois scored the shootout winner after the Capitals rallied from a 2-0 deficit, then blew a 4-2 lead with Carolina's Jordan Martinook and Seth Jarvis scoring in the third period to tie it. That came after Washington's scoring spree in the second, with Dylan Strome, Nic Dowd and Tom Wilson all putting goals past Frederik Andersen.
Alex Ovechkin assisted on Strome's goal, his 26th of the season, after getting being in a pregame ceremony for scoring his 895th career goal to break Wayne Gretzky's NHL record on Sunday at the New York Islanders.
Dubois also scored in regulation, while Charlie Lindgren made 31 saves and stayed in the game after a nasty collision seven minutes in on Carolina’s second goal.
The Hurricanes, who are locked into second place in the Metropolitan Division and a first-round matchup against New Jersey, got to overtime but lost their fourth in a row. Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake also scored, and Andersen allowed four goals on 28 shots in regulation.
Brandon Duhaime and Jalen Chatfield dropped the gloves early to settle a score from the teams’ game last week. The Capitals were unhappy with Chatfield’s takedown of Connor McMichael at the end of their fight.
Hurricanes: Goaltending may be an issue, and coach Rod Brind’Amour may need to consider Pyotr Kochetkov over Andersen in the playoffs.
Capitals: After moving past Ovechkin getting the record, this was more the kind of hockey they want to be playing this late in the regular season.
Lindgren did not allow a goal in the shootout.
Ovechkin has 23 points in his past 19 games dating to March 1.
Hurricanes host the New York Rangers on Saturday, just after the Capitals play at Columbus.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Washington Capitals center Lars Eller (20) tries to get the puck past Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) and Mark Jankowski (77) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) waves to the crowd as he takes part in a pre-game ceremony to honor him for scoring 895 career NHL goals before an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren reaches for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) stands next to one of his gifts as he takes part in a pre-game ceremony to honor him for scoring 895 career NHL goals before an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals right wing Brandon Duhaime (22) and Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield, right, fight during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals center Nic Dowd (26) celebrates after his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Pierre-Luc Dubois, center, celebrates his goal with left wing Andrew Mangiapane (88) next to Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Dmitry Orlov (7) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
