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Looking ahead to Week 10, our attention for NFL picks is drawn toward a couple of favorites who are not close to meeting preseason prognostications. While either or both could suddenly rise up and play to previously expected levels, that’s guessing rather than handicapping. In addition, we have a prime-time spot in which we are looking for a live underdog to come through. MORE: Get the latest NFL odds & betting advice at Sportsbook Review...

Among the highlights on the schedule: the Packers are short favorites at the red-hot Vikings in a battle for NFC North supremacy; with Tony Romo expected back, the Cowboys are installed as road chalk against the Dolphins; Bears coach John Fox may be getting his former team, the Broncos, at just the right time; the Bengals and Cardinals clash on Sunday night; and the Rex Ryan/Bill Belichick rivalry resumes Monday night when the Bills visit the Patriots....

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT QUESTIONS DIRECTLY ON GOOGLE+. When the Google+ Hangout begins, a live video window will be placed on this page, so be sure to Like, Favorite or bookmark this page to watch, whether it's live or later, as the broadcast will be archived. MORE SPORTING NEWS NFL COVERAGE ROSS TUCKER: NFL battles worst injury week of the season | What is the key to the Chiefs’ start?...

The Dolphins have insisted all protocols were followed with regards to Tagovailoa, and an investigation into the Week 3 incident didn’t yield any results. NFLPA president JC Tretter, however, isn’t satisfied by that answer and is looking for change to the NFL’s concussion protocol. Tretter wrote in a statement on Twitter: MORE: Tua Tagovailoa injury updates Our job as the NFLPA is to take every possible measure to get the facts and hold those responsible accountable....

Some people spell NGL in all capital letters, while other people spell it with all lowercase letters (ngl). Either way, it means the same thing! Person 1: “NGL, Pepsi is way better than Coke”Person 2: “NGL, you have no taste. Coke is clearly the superior soda 🤔” “NGL cold pizza really does hit different 🍕” “NGL I don’t see a point in showering more than twice a week lol” “Avocados are really disgusting ngl 🤢🥑”...

The Blackhawks star on Wednesday was awarded the Hart Trophy, given to the league’s top player, after winning the vote in a landslide. He is the first United States-born player to capture the honor. MORE: Patrick Kane’s career in photos Kane received 121 of a possible 150 first-place votes (1,395 points). Sidney Crosby of the Stanley Cup-winning Penguins (800 points) and Jamie Benn of the Stars (637 points) finished second and third, respectively....

Ehrhoff, bought out last week by the Buffalo Sabres, signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday a few minutes after free agency opened. He’ll effectively replace Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik on Pittsburgh’s blue line; both are expected to sign with new teams, with Niskanen almost certainly getting huge money and term. — NHL FREE AGENCY: Day 1 live blog, analysis Paul Martin’s future in Pittsburgh could also be in doubt — the Penguins have several top defensive prospects ready to play and now Ehrhoff, Kris Letang, Olli Maatta and Robert Bortuzzo under contract....

Veteran winger Thomas Vanek signed a one-year contract worth $2 million with the Canucks, the team announced Friday. Vancouver will be the seventh stop of Vanek’s 12-year NHL career — his sixth team in four years — after he split last season between Florida and Detroit. MORE: Five teams that should call Jaromir Jagr ​The once-feared scorer, who turns 34 in January, is still capable of contributing depth scoring after potting 17 goals with 48 points in 2016-17....

GMs, out to reduce the number of games that end in a shootout from about 14 percent, are once again looking into Ken Holland's brainchild: four minutes of 4-on-4 hockey, followed by four minutes of 3-on-3, per TSN's Bob McKenzie. That would replace the current five-minute, four-on-four overtime period. MORE: George Stroumboulopoulos to host ‘HNIC,’ Coach’s Corner stays The likelihood of 3-on-3 goals is an interesting point. Justin Bourne summed it up in a 2011 piece (see?...

According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, the investgation concerns the Coyotes allegedly putting draft-eligible Canadian Junior League prospects through fitness testing ahead of the 2019 NHL draft. Dreger initially tweeted out his report of the investigation’s existence Thursday before expanding on it in TSN’s “Insider Trading” segment. Dreger said the three leagues that make up the CHL — the Ontario Hockey League, Western Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League — have sent emails to their respective teams asking them to report any contact between them and the Coyotes organization....

According to the collective bargaining agreement, teams were not permitted to hold practice or conduct any activities from Dec. 24-26. The Orange County Register reported the practice was scheduled and organized by team captain and center Ryan Getzlaf. Ducks general manager Bob Murray said he told the league that Getzlaf paid for ice time at a local rink and hired a local youth coach to conduct the practice. While it’s unclear how many players attended the practice, Murray said no members of the coaching staff or hockey operations personnel were in attendance....

The rumored date for the draft is June 5, giving the league a month to prepare. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly indicated that broadcast networks are on board with the plan; the memo also suggested ways to make the draft as fair as possible. First, the league would propose solutions for conditional trades with the teams, having seven days to either change the deal to include terms acceptable to both or accept the NHL’s solution....

The NHL trade deadline is exactly two weeks away. Nothing of substance has materialized yet, but the chatter and speculation are ratcheting up as teams start to see their needs crystallized. Some names are beginning to pop up, as well, only adding to the intrigue of what’s usually an exciting day in the NHL. But if one thing can deter Feb. 26 from being an entertaining day, it’s the market....

That’s right — the gang of Liam McHugh, Paul Bissonnette, Anson Carter, Rick Tocchet and the Great One, Wayne Gretzky, are back, bringing all the entertainment and hockey insight with them. It all gets started with a doubleheader on TNT on Wednesday, Oct. 12. After a successful first season broadcasting the NHL, TNT will be bringing you more coverage on Wednesday nights, in addition to broadcasting the 2023 Stanley Cup Final in the spring and the 2023 Winter Classic at Fenway Park....

The NHLPA reached a settlement with the state that will return $3.2 million in “professional privilege” taxes to the players, about half the money collected, according to the SportsBusiness Journal. MORE: Lidstrom, Fedorov highlight 2015 Hall of Fame class | Mike Fisher re-signs with Predators Tennessee’s professional privilege tax “is levied on the privilege of having an active license to practice certain professions, businesses or occupations.” The $2,500-per-game tax was imposed on all NHL players who played in Nashville, with a $7,500 annual cap, according to a 2013 CBS Sports report that cited Canadian outlet TSN....

MORE: First-round series prices | Rangers open as Cup favorites Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers Best Pittsburgh line: +162 (Westgate)Best New York line: -170 (MGM) Total: 5 (over -135) Analysis: The Rangers opened the series as a favorite of more than 2-to-1 and are getting plenty of love from the books in Game 1. They’re the largest first-game favorite in any of the eight series. The Penguins slumped down the stretch and played the last two games of the season with just five defensemen because of injuries and salary cap constraints....

NHL PLAYOFFS: Live scores | Video highlights Let’s take a look at our predictions for each first-round matchup of the NHL playoffs. You can also check out the updated odds to win the 2017 Stanley Cup. NHL playoff bracket: Eastern Conference Capitals (M1) vs. Maple Leafs (WC2) Fresh off a second consecutive Presidents’ Trophy, the Capitals are Stanley Cup or bust and hopeful the depth at defense and throughout the NHL’s second-highest scoring forward group can once and for all cure their playoff ills....

It’s a tough 82-game stretch on just advancing to the postseason and then a grueling, heavy campaign to reach the pinnacle. Who will advance is anyone’s guess — hello, St. Blues. NHL 2019-20 PREDICTIONS:SN staff projects final standings, awards, Stanley Cup winner Stanley Cup predictions for 2019-20 Despite the pitfalls and hurdles, Sporting News’ hockey experts decided to take a leap and give you their picks for who will take home hockey’s most coveted prize....

“It’s like you in a nightclub,” Ovechkin said. “It’s like a party. Everybody dancing over there. It’s like, ‘Holy Jesus, are we in a hockey game or is this like a pool party out there?’ They’re very, very tough to play against. They jump in right away. They have tremendous skill and tremendous speed. When you’re not ready, you’re going to be in a tough position.” Now, the Capitals are four wins away from their first Stanley Cup in the franchise’s history, and are again traveling to Vegas, with the Golden Knights the final hurdle to clear before Ovechkin can lift his first Stanley Cup....