John Wall was driven in an SUV-size limo to the Verizon Center, where he stepped onto a red carpet surrounded by scores of fans who cheered, craned their necks and did their best to snap photos of the Washington Wizards' No. 1 overall draft pick.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will open a new arena and the Chicago Blackhawks will unfurl a long-awaited championship banner in the first week of the 2010-11 NHL season.

Goodbye, Alex Ovechkin. Hello, Sidney Crosby.

Say this for Alex Ovechkin's Washington Capitals: They hardly can be accused of hiding their aspirations.

Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa avoided a suspension from the NHL for his hit on Nashville defenseman Dan Hamhuis and will be in the lineup for Game 6 of the first-round, Western Conference series.

Pittsburgh is making a strong push to play host to the NHL's next Winter Classic on Jan. 1, matching the league's two signature stars in the Penguins' Sidney Crosby and the Capitals' Alex Ovechkin at Heinz Field.

Anaheim Ducks defenseman James Wisniewski was suspended for eight games without pay Thursday for knocking Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook out of a game at Anaheim.

Two-time MVP Alex Ovechkin was suspended Monday for the Washington Capitals' next two games because of a reckless hit.