The NHL and international officials are now in wait-and-see mode after reaching an agreement to send players to the Beijing Olympics this winter.

FILE - Nashville Predators head coach Peter Laviolette answers questions during a news conference Thursday, June 1, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. The Washington Capitals hired Peter Laviolette, who won the Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006, as coach on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, FIle)WASHINGTON – The Washington Capitals hired Peter Laviolette as coach Tuesday, turning to an NHL veteran who won the Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006 and saw a successful run with Nashville end with his firing in January. Laviolette also led the 2010 Philadelphia Flyers and 2017 Predators to the Stanley Cup Final. “Peter is a successful NHL head coach who has won a Stanley Cup and brings a wealth of experience to our team,” Capitals GM Brian MacLellan said in a statement.

(AP Photo/Nick Wass)WASHINGTON, D.C. – Preventing Alex Ovechkin from reaching 700 career goals was high on the Philadelphia Flyers' priority list Saturday night. Claude Giroux recorded three points to reach 800 for his career, Sean Couturier scored twice and Brian Elliott made 25 saves to help Philadelphia blow out the first-place Washington Capitals 7-2. The Flyers held Ovechkin to two shots and kept him stuck on 698 goals in one of their best all-around games of the season. Really detailed and strong effort from a lot of guys.”Reirden called timeout and lit into his players after the Flyers' goal spree. Taking the play to the Capitals in such dominant fashion could restore some confidence that the Flyers are indeed a playoff team.