NHL

Florida Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk didn't let a damaged Stanley Cup stop him from a proper celebration ... 'cause the back-to-back champ chugged champagne right from the banged-up trophy after winning it all!!

The partying started Tuesday night after the Panthers took Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final over the Edmonton Oilers at the Amerant Bank Arena.

Tkachuk -- who successfully helped the Panthers defend their title -- got wild in the locker room ... dancing on tables and smokin' cigars with his teammates while listening to Chappell Roan's "Pink Pony Club" -- the Oilers' go-to song throughout the playoffs.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are beating the "Cruel Summer" heat ... staying inside and enjoying an icy atmosphere at the fourth game of the NHL's championship.

The singer and the football star attended Game 4 of the Stanley Cup final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.

Video is circulating online of the pair walking the halls together ... with Travis decked out in red, and Taylor looking angelic in a cream-colored outfit.

Triple H couldn't script a better fight than the one that broke out during Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday ... with Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers players duking it out right on the ice!!

The chaos took place midway through the final period ... when Oilers center Trent Frederic cross-checked Sam Bennett of the Panthers. All hell broke loose at that point ... with four other one-on-one fights unfolding from there.

The officials tried their damnedest to break up the scraps ... with some even finding themselves right in the middle of the action.

Wayne Gretzky now knows of a special place where boys and girls can all be queens every single day ... 'cause the Great One got a lesson in Chappell Roan's hit song, "Pink Pony Club" on live TV -- thanks to TNT co-host Paul Bissonnette.

Biz's session took place after the Edmonton Oilers' overtime win over the Florida Panthers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final ... when the former NHLer started talking about how the popular tune has become an unofficial anthem for the Canadian squad.

The Great One didn't want to be left out -- so he started asking questions.

Drake is attempting to change the narrative following the Toronto Maple Leafs' bad Game 7 loss on Sunday ... claiming he's not the real curse to all his favorite sports teams -- it's actually Justin Bieber.

The Canadian singer and his wife, Hailey, made their way to Scotiabank Arena to catch his beloved squad's clash with the Florida Panthers in person ... electing to rock a fun 'fit instead of Leafs merch.

Unfortunately for Bieber, the Maple Leafs lost the Round 2 game in a 6-1 defeat ... and after the rough outing, his fellow Canadian jokingly pointed the finger at him.

Scary moment on the NHL ice Sunday ... a ref took a stick to the face -- and he was bleeding so profusely, there was some initial concern over the well-being of one of his eyes.

The scene unfolded during the second period of the Panthers vs. Maple Leafs Game 7 playoff matchup at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

Florida defenseman Niko Mikkola went to try to clear the puck away from a hard-charging Leafs player, but as he shoveled it up the boards, the blade of the stick accidentally nicked referee Chris Rooney right near one of his eyes.

Justin and Hailey Bieber look like a happy couple again ... and all it took was some front-row tickets to an important hockey game for his favorite team.

The Biebers are all smiles Sunday night at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, where they are watching Justin's Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Florida Panthers in a win-or-go-home situation.

Justin and Bieber are cheesing from their seats right behind the Maple Leafs' bench ... and she's got on a Maple Leafs jacket while he wears a bucket hat and sunglasses indoors.

Hailey Bieber caused a stir at the Met Gala ... and Justin Bieber watched his hockey team play a stirring playoff game.

Hailey was spotted walking around Monday's big fashion event with a martini glass in hand ... with Justin nowhere to be found.

The Biebs posted on his social media, though ... and he was busy watching his Toronto Maple Leafs win the first game of their NHL postseason series with the Florida Panthers.

Matt Petgrave -- the hockey player arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in connection to former NHL pro Adam Johnson's death in 2023 -- will not face criminal charges ... British officials stated this week.

The Crown Prosecution Service announced the decision Tuesday ... saying after a thorough police investigation, it has opted not to pursue charges.

"We have concluded that there is not a realistic prospect of conviction for any criminal offense and so there will not be a prosecution. Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Adam Johnson," the CPS said.

The Washington Commanders are getting a taste of playoff hockey in the nation's capital -- and beer -- 'cause backup quarterback Sam Hartman drained a cold one in the middle of the Capitals' matchup against the Montreal Canadians ... while Jayden Daniels played cheerleader!!

Washington's quarterback room of Daniels, Hartman and Marcus Mariota -- as well as some members of the offensive line -- were on glass to watch Washington take a 2-0 lead in the series on Wednesday ... and while there was plenty of action on the ice, they also provided some entertainment.

The group was a hit among the fans ... especially after Hartman crushed a beer to rile up the crowd. Hartman joked in an Instagram Story that six years of college had helped prepare him for the moment.

Capitals fans looking for a few more carbs to fuel their fandom during Washington's upcoming postseason run are in luck ... the team just revealed it's offering its supporters a massive pretzel during games -- that's Alex Ovechkin-themed!!

"The Great 8 Pretzel" is making its debut this month at Capital One Arena ... as Washington's NHL squad gets set to face the Canadiens in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Aramark Sports + Entertainment -- which is providing the grub to the arena -- says it's made with homemade dough ... and will come with two sides -- an Old Bay crab dip as well as a spicy cheese dip.

Logan Couture -- one of the best hockey players to wear a San Jose Sharks uniform -- is set to announce his playing days are over later today at a news conference ... all stemming from a painful pelvic injury.

The news, first reported by the Daily Faceoff, comes as the 36-year-old has missed every game this season -- while playing only six games last year.

While his hockey career is over, don't call it a retirement. Couture will reportedly be placed on the long-term injured reserve.

Brooke Hogan has officially shut the door on Orlando living … selling off her place and turning her focus to building her dream family home on a whole new spread, on the Florida coastline, TMZ has learned.

Real estate sources tell TMZ Brooke offloaded her 4-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom Orlando pad at the end of '24 for just over $1 mil -- a spot she and now-hubby Steven Oleksy scooped up back in 2022 to finally live under one roof after doing the long distance thing -- with him in Michigan, and her in Nashville, Tennessee.

At the time, kids weren’t on their radar -- but plans changed fast. Brooke’s since welcomed twins, and now she’s all about giving them a childhood by the water, just like hers was.

Ray Shero -- current front office advisor to the Minnesota Wild and longtime NHL executive -- passed away Tuesday night at the age of 62.

The Wild shared the news Wednesday morning ... saying, "Our hearts go out to his family and friends and the countless people he impacted in the hockey community throughout his successful career."

The cause of death is not currently known.

Prosecutors working the criminal case surrounding the deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau are asking a judge to rule the brothers' BAC levels inadmissible as evidence.

Officials at the Salem County Prosecutor's Office in New Jersey filed court documents on Wednesday ... arguing the Gaudreau bros' intoxication measurements should not be presented to the jury -- stating they're "irrelevant" to the charges levied against the Gaudreau's alleged killer, Sean Higgins.

The authorities stated in the docs, obtained by TMZ Sports, "Multiple witness accounts show that it was the defendant's actions and his actions alone that caused the collision that led to Matthew and John Gaudreau’s deaths."

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent some love to Alex Ovechkin on Monday ... after the hockey superstar broke Wayne Gretzky's longstanding all-time NHL goal record!

"I congratulate you on your outstanding record. You have surpassed legendary masters in the number of goals scored in National Hockey League regular-season games," Putin said of the Moscow-born athlete in a statement released by the Kremlin.

Putin described the historic accomplishment as "not only your personal success, but also a real celebration for fans in Russia and abroad."