Author: Mike Brehm, USA TODAY

ESPN college basketball Dick Vitale said he’ll need surgery for dysplasia and ulcerated lesions of the vocal cords but hopes to be back for 2022-23.

New York Islanders defenseman Zdeno Chara felled Philadelphia Flyers forward Zack MacEwen with a hard punch but checked to make sure he was fine.

Vancouver Canucks equipment manager Brian “Red” Hamilton says fan sitting behind bench at Seattle Kraken’s arena told him mole might be cancerous.

NHL players went to five Olympics from 1998 to 2014 but didn’t go in 2018, when players outside of the NHL suited up for their respective countries.

The league postponed all pre-Christmas games that involve a Canadian border crossing. It said an Olympic decision will be made in the coming days.

The Carolina Panthers said that kicker Zane Gonzalez would miss the game against the Buffalo Bills because of a quad injury suffered during warmups.

With a power-play goal vs. the Chicago Blackhawks, Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin tied Dave Andreychuk’s all-time record of 274.

Brendan Lemieux will have a hearing with the league on Tuesday after Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk said the Los Angeles Kings forward bit him.

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin scored against the Columbus Blue Jackets for his 742nd career goal to pass Brett Hull for fourth place.

Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price said he let himself “get to a dark place” before he entered a residential treatment facility for substance use.