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Athletes who have headaches or any other concussion symptoms should be removed from play immediately, according to tougher standards just issued by neurologists. The move comes in response to research showing short- and long-term damage from head injuries.

The NHL will shuffle its teams before next season, moving from three divisions in both the Eastern and Western Conferences to a total of four divisions. The league's owners approved the plan Thursday; the players' association gave its OK last week.

It's not quite a winning streak, but what the Chicago Blackhawks have done in one half of a lockout-shortened NHL season has been remarkable. Twenty one wins and just three shoot out losses in 24 games. And, as sportswriter Stefan Fatsis tells Audie Cornish, the most amazing thing about Chicago's torrid start? It's got people paying attention to hockey again after yet another lockout almost killed then entire year.

Weekend Edition Sunday host Rachel Martin talks with NPR's Mike Pesca about firing of Lindy Ruff, the longtime coach of the NHL's Buffalo Sabres.

Fans of the National Hockey League's Washington Capitals were likely the first to learn of the meteorite that exploded over central Russia this past week. That's if they were reading the Russian Machine Never Breaks — a website devoted to the hockey team. Weekend Edition Sunday host Rachel Martin talks with Chris Gordon and Peter Hassett, who blog for the site.

Hockey fans are living their lives, going about their business, but their days are a little paler. Commentator Frank Deford says fans deserve a little sympathy when their sport is taken from them.

The NHL lockout has sent many Russian players home to play for a league very much in need of star power as it tries to revive hockey's popularity in a place where the sport was once dominant.

Weekend Edition Sunday host Rachel Martin speaks with Bob McDonald, who sings the national anthem at Washington Capitals games in D.C. His 20th year with the team was spoiled this season by the NHL lockout.

As contract negotiations between management and players continue, the season is in jeopardy. But many expect the two sides will reach agreement in time to get things started by New Year's Day.

Eight years after the National Hockey League lost an entire year to a lockout, the NHL is in labor trouble again. A new lockout has cancelled the preseason and threatens the regular season. Robert Siegel talks to sportswriter Stefan Fatsis to find out why.