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Mara Iverson

Hockey editor covering systems, player development and the moments that decide close games.

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Two hockey players facing off at centre ice as an official prepares to drop the puck.

The opening faceoff sets a tone the scoreboard remembers

Mara Iverson September 1, 2026

One draw does not win a game. It does decide who spends the first ninety seconds defending.

A hockey defender sliding across the ice to block a shot as the puck leaves an opponent’s stick.

The shot block is a decision, not a sacrifice

Mara Iverson September 1, 2026

Going down in a lane is a calculation about time, distance and what happens in the second after the puck stops.

A hockey player finishing a legal body check against an opponent along the boards.

Board battles are where possession is decided

Mara Iverson August 31, 2026

Contact along the wall is not about punishment. It is about separating a player from a puck and leaving with it.

Hockey players celebrating a goal against the boards as the opposing goaltender kneels behind them.

Inside a playoff night: the shifts that decide a series

Mara Iverson August 31, 2026

By the middle of a series both teams know everything. What is left is execution, matchups and the willingness to change.

A hockey player shooting on goal with a glowing trophy graphic behind the net.

What a goal-scoring award actually measures

Mara Iverson August 31, 2026

Finishing is a skill. So is being on the ice, on the right line, in the right minutes, for a whole season.

A hockey player skating in front of a rising bar chart and a playoff bracket graphic.

How a standings table is actually built

Mara Iverson August 31, 2026

Two clubs on the same number of points can be having very different seasons. The columns beside the total explain why.

A hockey player carving a hard turn with snow spraying from the edges of his skates.

Edge work is the quietest advantage on the ice

Mara Iverson August 31, 2026

Skating is usually described as speed. Most of what separates players happens in the turns, not the straight lines.

A dark map of North America with glowing markers on the cities that host hockey clubs.

The map is part of the schedule

Mara Iverson August 30, 2026

A continental league is a travel problem before it is a hockey problem, and the calendar decides more games than anyone admits.

Editorial illustration of a glowing North American hockey league map with club markers.

The NHL map: 32 clubs across four divisions

Mara Iverson August 20, 2026

The current NHL dataset contains 32 clubs: 16 per conference and eight in each of four divisions.

Two ice hockey players skating in an indoor arena.

The 2026–27 NHL schedule expands to 84 games per club

Mara Iverson August 19, 2026

The official 2026–27 schedule contains 1,344 games, with every club playing 42 at home and 42 away.

Editorial illustration of a Carolina hockey player leading an Eastern standings graphic.

Carolina tops the Eastern Conference with 113 points

Mara Iverson August 18, 2026

The Hurricanes finished 53–22–7 for 113 points, the highest total in the Eastern Conference.

Editorial illustration of a Colorado hockey player beside a points-race graphic.

Colorado closes 2025–26 with 121 points

Mara Iverson August 17, 2026

The Avalanche finished 55–16–11 with 121 points and a plus-99 goal differential.

Editorial illustration of Montreal and Toronto hockey players facing off on opening night.

Canadiens visit Maple Leafs on the NHL’s opening night

Mara Iverson August 16, 2026

Montreal visits Toronto at Scotiabank Arena at 7 p.m. ET on September 29.

Hurricanes and Panthers open the 2026–27 season in Raleigh

Mara Iverson August 15, 2026

Carolina hosts Florida at Lenovo Center at 5 p.m. ET on September 29 to open the NHL season.

Editorial illustration of a hockey defenseman blocking a shot in front of goal.

Jake McCabe blocks 190 shots in 80 games

Mara Iverson August 14, 2026

McCabe’s imported 2025–26 line records 190 blocked shots and 104 hits over 80 games.

Editorial illustration of a hockey player delivering a legal body check along the boards.

Yakov Trenin records 413 hits across 82 games

Mara Iverson August 13, 2026

Trenin’s imported 2025–26 line contains 413 hits, 39 blocked shots and 23 points in 82 games.

Editorial illustration of a Colorado hockey player celebrating a goal-scoring title.

MacKinnon earns the Rocket Richard Trophy with 53 goals

Mara Iverson August 12, 2026

Nathan MacKinnon scored 53 goals in 80 games to finish first in the NHL goal race.

Editorial illustration of an Edmonton hockey player celebrating a league points title.

McDavid wins the Art Ross Trophy with 138 points

Mara Iverson August 11, 2026

Connor McDavid posted 48 goals and 90 assists in 82 games to lead NHL scoring with 138 points.

Editorial illustration of Carolina and Vegas hockey players contesting Stanley Cup Final Game 5.

Hurricanes take a 3–2 Final lead with a 4–2 Game 5 win

Mara Iverson August 10, 2026

Carolina beat Vegas 4–2 at Lenovo Center and moved within one win of the Stanley Cup.

Hurricanes finish the Stanley Cup Final with a 3–0 Game 6 win

Mara Iverson August 9, 2026

Carolina shut out Vegas 3–0 at T-Mobile Arena to complete a six-game Stanley Cup Final.

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