Becky Sullivan

6 days ago | kpbs.org | Becky Sullivan

WASHINGTON — Hockey's Stanley Cup Playoffs begin Saturday. It's a tall order to live up to last year's dramatic seven-game final. But the pieces are in place for an entertaining playoffs, with contenders for first-time Stanley Cup winners and generational stars looking for a last trophy to cap off their career. The puck drops on the first round with a pair of games on Saturday and three more to follow Sunday.

2 weeks ago | tpr.org | Becky Sullivan

One final court hearing is all that stands between big-time college sports and a major legal settlement that is poised to open the door to a new era. The case, known as House vs. NCAA, or simply the House settlement, offers a sweeping reimagination of how high-level college athletics should work: Schools sharing revenue with student-athletes. Team sizes governed by roster limits, rather than scholarships. A third-party clearinghouse for marketing deals.

2 weeks ago | tpr.org | Becky Sullivan

For Alex Ovechkin, the goal in Sunday's game came just like so many before it did — on the power play, from the top of the left faceoff circle, a powerful shot right to the goal. But this one was history. For the Washington Capitals star, this 895th goal of his regular season career makes him the NHL's new all-time scoring leader after Wayne Gretzky, the "Great One," held the record for more than 30 years.

1 month ago | wamu.org | Becky Sullivan

Transcript:AYESHA RASCOE, HOST:Enter the Washington Capitals Arena, and everywhere you turn, you see the numbers 894. The legendary player Wayne Gretzky put the puck in the net 894 times in his regular season career. It’s one of the biggest records in the sport’s history, and it’s about to fall as Capitals star Alex Ovechkin knocks on the door. NPR’s Becky Sullivan reports that with the end of the regular season just a few weeks away, the race for 895 is very much on.

1 month ago | opb.org | Becky Sullivan

Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals celebrates after scoring against the Philadelphia Flyers on April 16, 2024, in Philadelphia. He's now in his 20th season in the NHL. Step into Washington’s Capital One Arena, and the number 895 pervades every curve of the concourse — there’s even a stack of exactly that many pucks, topped by a goal horn waiting for a certain historic moment to blare.