There are 10 games scheduled across the National Hockey League this evening. My NHL player props for all the action will include Quinn Hughes, Cole Caufield, and Rasmus Dahlin.
Quinn Hughes has been fantastic since coming over to the Minnesota Wild, and he’s riding an eight-game point streak. However, there’s not a lot of value in the Over for his points prop, so I’m focusing on Hughes’ ability to put pucks on net.
The defenseman is averaging 2.72 SOG this season, and he’s cashed the Over in back-to-back contests. Hughes had three shots on target in a 7-3 win over the Oilers on Saturday and had another four last Thursday against the Flames.
Hughes is averaging 3.08 SOG at home this season, and the Wild will welcome the Montreal Canadiens to Saint Paul this evening.
We shift over to the Habs for my second prop. Cole Caufield is having another fantastic campaign for Montreal, which looks poised to make the playoffs. The American has scored 32 goals, which leads the team.
Caufield ranks third in the league in scoring, and he’s found the back of the net in seven of his last eight appearances, including twice in a victory against the Sabres on Saturday.
January was huge for the 25-year-old, as he scored 13 goals. He also netted against the Wild last month and will keep it rolling.
Rasmus Dahlin continues to impress as a playmaker for the Buffalo Sabres. He’s registered 33 helpers in 2025-26, and in January, the 25-year-old handed out nine assists. He’s hit the Over in three consecutive outings.
During that span, Dahlin has four helpers. He had an assist in a loss to the Canadiens on Saturday, and also handed out another helper a couple of days before that against the Kings.
The Sabres take on the Florida Panthers tonight, and Dahlin has two assists against them this season across two meetings. He’s also tallied 17 helpers on the road.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Boston Bruins coughed up a 5-1 lead in Sunday’s 2026 Stadium Series outdoor game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Raymond James Stadium.
After giving up the first goal 11 seconds into the game, the Bruins then scored five unanswered goals. But then the Bruins couldn’t stop taking penalties, and that gave the high-powered Lightning power play a chance to get back into the game.
Four unanswered Lightning goals — including three on the power play in the second period (two of which resulted from a lengthy 5-on-3 advantage) — forced overtime, and Tampa Bay ultimately won 6-5 in a shootout.
The Lightning score two goals back-to-back to get within ☝️
To be clear, the officiating was pretty bad in this game. Yes, many of the Bruins’ penalties were legitimate, but the Lightning got away with plenty. Tampa Bay should not have had an 8-3 advantage in power-play opportunities.
“We had complete control of the game, and then you give a team with that kind of power play a 5-on-3 for I don’t even know how long it was, you’re just asking for it,” Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy said postgame.
It was a frustrating loss for the Bruins, and one that highlighted the need for them to stay out of the penalty box if they’re going to give themselves a chance to beat quality opponents the rest of the regular season and potentially in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Bruins had a 26-23 edge in shots, a 23-16 advantage in scoring chances, a 9-4 lead in high-danger scoring chances and outscored the Lightning 4-2 during 5-on-5 action. The difference for the Bruins was taking so many penalties.
“We didn’t have our composure, I would say,” Bruins head coach Marco Sturm told reporters postgame. “It started with Charlie’s penalty there. They were just better than us after the whistle. I don’t think they were better than us today hockey-wise. But they were better than us after the whistle.
“They’re not tougher than us. But they did a good job. We just lost our composure a little bit, and it cost us a point, unfortunately.”
This was not a unique occurence for the Bruins. They have been taking too many penalties all season.
The B’s lead the league with 279 penalties taken — at least 21 more than any other team. Their minus-49 penalty differential is the worst in the league.
Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov has taken a league-leading 40 penalties. Veteran center Mark Kastelic is fourth with 29.
No team has been shorthanded more than Boston’s 209 times, and the penalty kill’s 77 percent success rate ranks 27th out of 32 teams. The Bruins’ penalty kill probably isn’t as bad as that 77 percent would suggest, but Boston could lessen the burden on that group by being more disciplined.
The Bruins did get a point from Sunday’s defeat, giving them a 7-2-1 record in their last 10 games. They occupy the first wild card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference standings with a 32-20-4 record (68 points) as of Monday.
The Bruins have done a great job improving in most facets of their game since dropping to the third-worst record in the East on Dec. 30. Since then, they have the league’s second-best record (12-2-2) while ranking No. 1 in goals scored (67), No. 6 in fewest goals allowed (44) and No. 2 in power-play percentage (33.3).
But the Bruins also have taken the most penalties and have been shorthanded the second-most times in that span, too. Boston has shown an impressive ability to fix different aspects of its performance all season. One area that hasn’t seen any improvement is the discipline to not take a ton of penalties.
If the Bruins can get that under control and play with more composure, they could actually become a tough out come playoff time — assuming they qualify.
It’s been less than a year since the Toronto Maple Leafs shipped Fraser Minten, along with a top-five protected first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, to Boston for veteran defenseman Brandon Carlo. While the Leafs certainly needed a player like Carlo, a right-handed shutdown defenseman who could play alongside Morgan Rielly, few would have predicted that Toronto would find themselves on the short end of the deal so quickly.
With the Leafs appearing bound to miss the playoffs for the first time in ten years, Minten has excelled with his new team. He was named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for January after scoring eight goals and adding six assists in 14 games. Recently, he was promoted to the club’s first line to play alongside Morgan Geekie and David Pastrnak before moving back to the second-line center position.
“He was a steal for us,” Bruins head coach Marco Sturm said regarding the acquisition. Perhaps more impressive is that all eight of Minten’s goals came at even strength, as he was not slated to receive significant power-play time.
“I’m very, very happy with the way he’s been playing all year long,” Sturm added. “I put him in different situations from the fourth line to pretty much the first line, and you could see he can do it all. He definitely has something a lot of players don’t have”.
Meanwhile, Carlo has missed 23 games this season due to an ankle injury that required a corrective procedure. While injuries have contributed to Toronto’s struggles, handing Boston a high first-round pick is a tough pill to swallow—unless, of course, that pick remains in the top five.
Marco Sturm on Fraser Minten: "[He] was a steal for us."
As Minten thrives, the trade is shaping up to be another lopsided Toronto-Boston transaction. History offers a grim reminder: in 2006, the Leafs traded goaltending prospect Tuukka Rask for Andrew Raycroft. Rask became a franchise icon, winning a Vezina Trophy and serving as a backup for the 2011 Stanley Cup-winning team before making two more Final appearances as a starter. He retired as the winningest netminder in Bruins history. Raycroft, by contrast, spent only two seasons in Toronto with mediocre results, despite a 37-win debut season.
The #OverDrive crew look back on the Brandon Carlo/Fraser Minten trade.
Similarly, in 2009, the Leafs acquired Phil Kessel from the Bruins. While Kessel led the Leafs in scoring for six seasons, the acquisition cost Toronto two first-round picks and a second-round pick. Those first-rounders became Tyler Seguin (2nd overall) and Dougie Hamilton (9th overall)—both high-end talents who have enjoyed long, successful careers.
Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper will be making his Olympic debut for Team Canada at the Milan Cortina Winter Games. (Julio Cortez / Associated Press)
Think of Mike Buckley as a kind of double agent.
Not the sinister kind, who give away state secrets for money or revenge; Buckley is privy to much lower-level intelligence. But that doesn’t mean it’s not just as valuable to the people involved.
Buckley is the Kings’ goaltender coach and his chief pupil is Darcy Kuemper, who will be playing for Team Canada in the Milan Cortina Olympic hockey tournament. Buckley will be in Milan coaching for Team USA. And if the competition goes to form, Canada and the U.S. will meet in the final.
You can see where this is going.
So would Buckley give up the goods on his NHL goalie if it meant helping his national team win a gold medal?
“I probably have a little bit more insight being with him on a day-to-day basis. But at the end of the day, the players still have to execute,” said Buckley, like Kuemper, a first-time Olympian. “So if I tell someone to shoot somewhere at a certain time or a certain spot, they're going to have to be able to execute that.”
The answer then is maybe.
Still, that’s a dilemma Buckley will probably never face since Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues, who was spectacular in goal in last year's Four Nations Face-off, will probably start for Canada in Milan. But with the Kings sending four other players (defenseman Drew Doughty, Canada; and forwards Adrian Kempe, Sweden; Kevin Fiala, Switzerland; and Joel Armia, Finland) plus Canadian equipment manager Darren Granger to the Olympics, there’s a good chance guys who have shared a dressing room since September will be competing against one another.
Kings forward Kevin Fiala controls the puck while playing for Team Switzerland at the 2025 world championships. (Michael Campanella / Getty Images)
The same goes for the Ducks, who are sending four players — goalie Lukas Dostal and defenseman Radko Gudas, Czechia; forward Mikael Granlund, Finland; and defenseman Jackson LaCombe, U.S. — to Milan. Ducks star Leo Carlsson, who was expected to start for Sweden, will miss the Games after undergoing surgery to repair a rare injury in his left thigh last month.
So while the Olympics may bring countries together, it also has the potential to turn teammates against one another — at least temporarily.
In the group stage of the tournament, for example, Armia and Finland will play against Kempe’s Sweden. And Canada, with Kuemper and Doughty, will face Switzerland, which is led by Fiala.
“It’s obviously going to be a little strange,” Gudas said. “It’s only for a few games. For that amount of time, you can put things aside a little bit.”
Those kinds of match-ups were rare in the last two Olympic tournaments since NHL players didn’t take part, sidelined by a dispute over insurance, travel costs and scheduling issues. This year 147 NHL players are on the 12 Olympic rosters, with all 32 NHL clubs represented.
Not all the top NHL players will be in Milan, however. Russia has been banned from the tournament because of the country’s invasion of Ukraine, meaning Alexander Ovechkin, the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer, won’t play.
Granlund, who won a bronze medal with Finland in 2014, the last time NHL players participated in the Olympics, is glad to be back.
“It was such a cool experience,” he said. “It’s one of the biggest honors I can have as a hockey player, playing for a country in the Olympics. There’s no player in the NHL who wouldn’t go.”
That’s due in large part to the rush that comes with wearing your country’s colors on your chest.
“It’s tough to explain how much it means,” he said. “You grow up in a country like Finland, watching the national team play. As a kid you’re dreaming to play for that team.
“Every single time you put that jersey on, it’s such a pride you feel.”
Doughty, who already has two gold medals, agreed, saying the only time he sings along with the Canadian anthem is at the Olympics.
Kings defenseman Drew Doughty controls the puck while playing for Canada in the Four Nations Face-Off last year. (Maddie Meyer / Getty Images)
“When we hear it in the NHL, I’m not singing,” he said. “But when you’re wearing a Canadian jersey, that’s one of the biggest moments you can have.”
Not just for the guys on the ice. Granger, the equipment manager, will be making his third trip to the Olympics with Canada. And the journey never gets old.
“It’s not something that you apply for. It’s something that you’re asked to do,” he said. “So I don’t take that lightly. It’s an honor.”
The equipment managers may have the most difficult job in the Olympic hockey tournament since they must prepare and maintain the sticks, skates, gloves and uniforms for 25 players, some of whom they’ve never met. That means checking in with the equipment managers of rival NHL teams to get prepared.
“We have quite a few players that are particular about certain things,” he said. “After a while, you just kind of get used to what those things are. If it’s a player that likes to use three sticks a game, then making sure he has that. If it’s a guy that likes to change gloves every other game, making sure you have enough.”
Yet if Canada wins the tournament, Granger’s reward won’t be a gold medal. Olympic rules say medals only go to the players, leaving the equipment managers, trainers and coaches — even coaches with inside information like Buckley — out in the cold.
“That’s OK,” Buckley said. “I just want the players to get one.”
NEWARK, NJ - JANUARY 27: Jack Hughes #86 of the New Jersey Devils skates during the first period of the game against the Winnipeg Jets on January 27, 2026 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
The Devils went 0-for-5 on the power play and could only muster a single Timo Meier goal on Saturday as the Senators took a 4-1 win. [Devils NHL]
Jack Hughes missed the Senators game:
Jack Hughes is not ready to play versus Ottawa tonight. He's out.
But #NJDevils received positive news on his injury.
The #NJDevils are back down to 15th in the East in points and goal differential — ahead of only the Rangers — and have scored fewer goals than every team in the Conference.
They have played almost 70% of their schedule; it’s getting *very* late.
“Put a pitchfork in the New Jersey Devils’ season. Well, most likely. Let’s not beat around the bush. This team is not good enough to make the playoffs, and the math shows that it’s increasingly unlikely to get back in the picture.” [Devils on the Rush ($)]
Hockey Links
The Lightning took the Stadium Series game in dramatic fashion on Sunday:
Well this seems good! Seems like the sort of guy a team should try to add:
Looking around the league at trade deadline needs for every NHL team: [The Athletic ($)]
“There are really no positives to point to. There are a lot of questions surrounding the Devils right now, but goaltending might be the biggest one. And as it stands, they are probably regretting the two-year extension they gave Markström in November.” Assessing Jacob Markstrom and the NHL’s 31 other starting goalies: [The Hockey Writers]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.
PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 29: Connor Dewar #19 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates his first period goal against the Chicago Blackhawks at PPG PAINTS Arena on January 29, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Here are your Pens Points for this Monday morning…
The Pittsburgh Penguins welcomed old running mates to remember and honor the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Stanley Cup-winning team before Saturday’s game against the New York Rangers, including that team’s fourth line of Eric Fehr, Matt Cullen and Tom Kuhnhackl. Those players (among the rest of the bottom-six) made key contributions on the scoresheet, which helped round out that championship side. Fast forward 10 years, and we’re seeing that trend emerge again. [Trib Live]
Penguins defenseman Kris Letang is expected to miss a minimum of four weeks and was placed on injured reserve due to a fracture in an unspecified foot. [Trib Live]
Updates from around the NHL…
The International Olympic Committee is “absolutely certain” that the Olympic ice rink is good to go. [Sportsnet]
The Edmonton Oilers have placed veteran goaltender Calvin Pickard on waivers, the team announced on Sunday. [TSN]
Gavin McKenna, the projected No. 1 overall pick in this summer’s draft, had a day to remember in front of 74,000-plus people inside Penn State’s Beaver Stadium over the weekend, recording a goal and two assists for the Nittany Lions in their 5-4 overtime loss against Michigan State. [NHL]
The Tampa Bay Lightning rallied from a four-goal deficit to beat the Boston Bruins 6-5 in a shootout at Raymond James Stadium during the latest Stadium Series game on Sunday night. [Associated Press]
Plus there have been not one but two goalie fights.
Plenty still remains this season before the Stanley Cup is finally hoisted in June, starting when NHL players head to Milan, Italy, to play in the Olympics for the first time since 2014.
Here are the key dates for the rest of the 2025-26 season, starting with the upcoming Olympic break:
When is the Olympic break?
The NHL will take a break from Feb. 6-24 for the 2026 Winter Olympics. There are seven games on the schedule on Feb. 5. No trades can take place during the Olympic break.
When is the Olympic men's hockey tournament?
The tournament starts on Feb. 11 with two games. The USA opens play on Feb. 12 against Latvia. All teams will play three games during the round robin, which runs through Feb. 15. The top four teams get byes to the quarterfinals.
Playoff qualification games are on Feb. 17 for teams ranked fifth through 12th, quarterfinals are Feb. 18 and semifinals are Feb. 20.
The bronze medal game is Feb. 21 and the gold medal game is Sunday, Feb. 22.
Fantasy hockey managers looking to tinker with their rosters will benefit from zeroing in on specific categories. Whether you are looking for long-term fits or short-term options, there should be a plethora of potential pickups to help your squads. Due to the Olympic Break, Week 18 in Yahoo leagues will go from Monday, Feb. 2, to Sunday, March 1. Weekly transaction limits will not change during that period.
Let's get into this week's suggestions for your consideration.
Akira Schmid, G, Golden Knights (31% rostered) for Starts/Wins
Schmid has a 15-6-6 record this season with two shutouts and a 2.55 goals-against average. He has been working in a timeshare with Adin Hill, as both netminders have struggled recently. Schmid has lost his last three outings (0-2-1) while allowing 10 goals on 77 shots, but he had a four-game winning streak before that, with 88 saves on 96 shots. He could get back on track against the last-placed Canucks if he starts on Wednesday in the first half of a back-to-back for the Golden Knights. Vegas also concludes Week 18 with three games after the Olympics.
Gustav Forsling, D, Panthers (31% rostered) for Assists/Points/Shots/Blocks
Forsling is on pace to reach at least the 30-point plateau for a fifth straight regular season. While he continues to struggle with offensive consistency, he has chipped in four assists in the last four games. He has four shots on goal, three blocked shots and one power-play helper over that span. The 29-year-old defender has 64 shots, 59 blocks and 38 hits through 54 outings this campaign. Florida plays three times before the break and has another three-game week after the Olympics.
Anthony Mantha, LW/RW, Penguins (29% rostered) for Goals/Points/Shots
Mantha has amassed five goals, 11 points and 15 shots on net over his past eight appearances. He has netted five goals on eight shots while adding three helpers and a plus-6 rating during his four-game point streak. He has three multipoint efforts and an incredibly unsustainable shooting percentage over that span, but he has been a valuable middle-six forward this campaign. He ranks second on the team with 19 goals and 31 even-strength points through 53 appearances. Pittsburgh plays three times this week and has another three matches after the break to finish Week 18.
Claude Giroux, LW/RW, Senators (26% rostered) for Assists/Points/Shots/Hits
Giroux has accounted for one goal, five assists (two on the power play), 11 shots on net, five blocked shots and 12 hits in his last eight games. He has reached the scoresheet in two straight outings while posting one goal on five shots and one helper. The veteran forward sits third on the team with 28 assists. He has been skating on the top line with Tim Stutzle and Drake Batherson, who rank first and second, respectively, on the club in scoring. Ottawa plays five times in Week 18, including three before the break.
Justin Sourdif, C/RW, Capitals (13% rostered) for Goals/Points/Shots/Hits
Sourdif has generated nine goals, 16 points, 31 shots on net and 14 hits in his last 14 appearances. Despite missing three games due to injury, he is tied with Dylan Strome for the most points (14) among Washington forwards since the calendar flipped to 2026. Sourdif has three goals, three assists, 16 shots, four blocks and seven hits in the past six matches. He has been superb in the team's middle six this campaign while developing chemistry with Tom Wilson, who leads the Capitals in goals and points. Washington plays six times in Week 18, including three contests before the break.
Alexander Wennberg, C, Sharks (10% rostered) for Assists/Points/Shots/Blocks/Faceoffs
Wennberg hasn't gone more than two straight games without picking up at least one point in his last 24 appearances. He has five goals and 18 assists during that span, including five power-play points (three goals, two assists). He also has accumulated 37 of his 70 blocked shots during that stretch. He sits third among all forwards in blocks this season. Wennberg leads the Sharks with 415 faceoff wins, albeit with a 44.8 winning percentage. He is averaging a career-high 20:48 of ice time per game while skating on the second line and occupying a first-unit power-play spot. He's on pace to reach the 55-point plateau for the second time in his NHL career. San Jose has two games this week and three more after the Olympics to complete Week 18.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau, C/RW, Islanders (10% rostered) for Goals/Points/Shots/Hits/Faceoffs
Across his past eight contests, Pageau has compiled five goals, seven points, 13 shots on target and 13 hits. He has notched 12 goals and 24 points through 47 appearances this season. He also sits second on the team with 413 faceoff wins and has a career-best 60 winning percentage. The third line of the Islanders is leading the charge offensively recently, making Pageau a solid option. The Islanders play six times in Week 18, including three contests before the Olympics.
Jack Quinn, RW, Sabres (8% rostered) for Assists/Points/Shots/PP
Over his last 12 games, Quinn has collected five tallies and 12 points. His four-game point streak ended in Saturday's 4-2 loss to Montreal, but he logged 17:28 of ice time, including 5:23 on the man advantage. He is producing from the second line, and his promotion to the first power-play unit should boost his fantasy value. Buffalo plays six times during Week 18, including three times before the break.
Max Domi, C/LW, Maple Leafs (6% rostered) for Assists/Points/Shots
After a slow start this season, Domi ramped up his production in January. He has generated five goals on 27 shots and 13 points in his last 16 outings. The 30-year-old forward has three goals and four helpers during his five-game point streak. He has been effective on the top line skating alongside Auston Matthews, but he does not have a spot on the first power-play unit. Still, Domi could be a worthy pickup for at least Toronto's final two games before the break. The team also plays three times in four nights after the Olympics to wrap up Week 18.
Barrett Hayton, C, Mammoth (3% rostered) for Assists/Points/Shots/Faceoffs
Across his last nine outings, Hayton has three goals, seven points, 25 shots on target, five blocked shots and five hits. He has landed on the scoresheet in four of the past five games while earning five points (two goals, three assists). The 25-year-old center also has one tally and two helpers during his three-game point streak. Hayton ranks second on the team with 301 faceoff wins and has won 53.1% of his draws this campaign. He skates on the second line and works with the top power-play unit. Utah plays twice this week and three more times immediately following the break.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 30: The Boston Bruins logo is seen behind a skeleton prior to the 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series game between the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning at Raymond James Stadium on January 30, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Oy.
1st Period
Things did not start well at all. Brandon Hagel ended up getting the opening goal within the first 11 seconds of the game after beating his defender clean on body position, and put the puck straight past Swayman for the Lightning to go up 1-0.
Mercifully, the Bruins managed to take advantage of their foes being a bit off-kilter, and Alex Steeves got a centering feed from Michael Eyssimont to tie the game up! 1-1 Everybody.
Not too long after this, a significant amount of nonsense occured. There were mass scrums, there was a goalie fight after Jeremy Swayman decided he needed to take out Brandon Hagel…
…and there were penalties. Oh man, were there penalties.
Those penalties came up big for the Lightning. Very big.
First, Oliver Bjorkstrand got a rebound out of a net-front scramble…
While there will be much discussion of the second period and the validity of the penalties called, the sad reality is that the Bruins had plenty of opportunity at even strength during this period to respond, and unfortunately the team that met the moment was the Lightning, and Nikita Kucherov in specific. No penalties, no man disadvantages, just a great pass and a good shot. 5-5 Everybody.
Your TOI Leader was Charlie McAvoy, who logged 30:19 tonight.
This was a winnable game that the Boston Bruins got suckered into giving away. The Bruins got up big thanks to good hard work and an early command of the unusual ice, which seemed to flummox the Lightning and seemingly caused Vasilevskiy to have trouble with tracking the puck. Things were looking really, really good, and then the Lightning started drawing some attention, and that attention turned into violence, which turned into a series of penalties that were either inexplicable to call or completely avoidable. Regardless of what you think of the Lightning, they are still full of extremely talented players, and those talented players made mincemeat of the B’s 5-on-3 PK, which allowed them a chance to get back into this one, and for all the hemming and hawwing we’ve done and will continue to do about those penalties, the game tying goal and the game-starting goal were even strength tallies made by forwards beating the backcheck in front of them fair and square and in extremely inconvenient times. OT wasn’t much better, and while Swayman did what he could in the shootout, Jake Guentzel was just too much. Boston falls to 4-2-0 in Outdoor games.
The refereeing in this game was, to put it nicely, complete and total buttcheeks. Granted, and given how unhappy we are right now I think we can admit some of the penalties that Boston got through the 2nd and 3rd period were genuine, reckless, and frankly idiotic to take, others were just bizarrely enforced or late whistled or just missed entirely. The Lightning went 3-for-8 tonight where Boston only went 1-for-3 on the power play, and Tampa was only short-handed during the 1st period. That should say everything.
I will stop short at calling this game rigged or something like that. Boston made a hard pivot towards a more conservative, defensive shell game after the nightmarish 2nd period and allowed the Lightning to slowly find cracks in their defense; not exactly hard to do given the talent on display. They might’ve been let back in after a major kerfuffle, but the refs are just bad at their jobs, and the Lightning are great at gaming bad refs. Sometimes this becomes enormously apparent like tonight. Right now, the Bruins aren’t good enough to overcome that. The longer term goal is getting to the point where you can. B’s
Jeremy Swayman faced almost 45 shots tonight; a vast majority of which happened in the second half of the second period. That’s as much an indictment on the defense in front of him as it is the fact he had a truncated version of that defense in front of him for most of the 2nd period. That .891 SV% does not even begin to tell the whole story; he made some heroic saves to keep this team in a truly frustratingly wonky game. He also fought Andrei Vasilevskiy tonight, which I’m sure he enjoyed. Maybe if you wanna goalie fight you should have a couple of practice rounds in your pads at Warrior. Just to get the form.
I had to watch the NHL in ASL broadcast and I highly recommend it; the ESPN broadcast was miserable as it usually is, and the ASL broadcast by comparison was nothing but crowd noise, basic information, and only occasionally some missed shots but that was a function of the main camera. I can’t vouch for the ASL commentators’ performance, but they both seemed pretty engaged with what was going on and updated the viewer frequently.
Tonight, the Bruins lost. They played out on dogs#!t ice, got up big, lost it all thanks to bad penalties and even worse refereeing, and still pulled a point off of the division leaders and are rapidly coming for Colorado’s hide in the race for the President’s Trophy. Last time, the B’s were the ones to come back and nearly make it an extra time game. They now know they can at least hang, at least for a little bit. Now they have to start thinking about whether or not they can survive a playoff series against this team; because if things hold as they are, the Bruins will face the Lightning again in April; both in the regular season and playoffs. Plenty of decisions to be made; pre-Olympic deadline is almost here, and the post-Olympic deadline isn’t that far off afterwards. Much to consider here, and let’s hope Don Sweeney is ready to make the best decision for the long-term health of this squad.
Still just two points at the beginning of February. The game was dramatic and stupid but you gotta get on the bus to Sunrise anyway.
The Bruins have their final game before the Olympic break on Wednesday, when they take on the Florida Panthers. That game drops the puck at 7pm EST. It’s a TNT/HBO game, so adjust your watching accordingly.
Following a five-game road trip, the Anaheim Ducks returned to Honda Center on Sunday to host the Vegas Golden Knights in a Pacific Division matchup, Anaheim’s penultimate game before the extended Olympic break.
The Ducks were hoping to return to the win column, as they’ve dropped out of a playoff spot entering Sunday and following back-to-back losses against the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers.
This game was Vegas’ second in as many days, and they came in with their top spot in the Pacific on the line, desperate for a win, having gone winless in their previous four games, and having only won one of their previous seven.
The Ducks saw the return of a pair of star forwards, as Troy Terry re-entered the lineup after missing 11 games with an upper-body injury, and Mason McTavish re-entered after missing five.
Leo Carlsson remains out with a thigh lesion and was placed on IR earlier on Sunday. Ryan Strome, Sam Colangelo, and Drew Helleson served as the Ducks' healthy scratches, and they lined up like this:
Killorn-Granlund-Sennecke
Kreider-Poehling-Terry
Viel-McTavish-Harkins
Johnston-Washe-Harkins
LaCombe-Trouba
Mintyukov-Moore
Zellweger-Gudas
Lukas Dostal got the start in the Ducks’ net and saved 28 of the 31 shots he faced. He was opposed by Adin Hill in the Knights’ crease, who stopped 19 of 22.
“Across the board, I thought we did a lot of good things, Dosty was solid in net, and we got that good start in the first period,” Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville said after the game. “Then you see some of the plays they (Vegas) can make. It’s a heck of a test and a good challenge for us, and we knew we had to be at our best. We played hard and eliminated some of their possession game. When you see what they can do at the end of the game, we’ll take it.”
Game Notes
Anaheim set the tempo early, controlling game flow and possession time, and generating quality chances off the rush and cycle. Vegas pushed back heavily in the second and even more heavily in the third, but the Ducks’ lead was too great, their defense stingy in the hard areas of the ice, and Dostal rose to whatever challenge he was presented with.
The last two periods didn’t favor the Ducks in any respect, as a combination of them sitting on their lead and Vegas’ push flipped possession numbers. It wasn’t likely a sustainable way to tally standings points, but a big two points went their way nonetheless.
Defensive Zone Coverage: With the return of two potent offensive players in Terry and McTavish, there was a question of whether the Ducks would or could continue to play the same brand of detailed, relatively conservative, defense-first hockey that they’d established and had success with without them.
Remarkably, against an offensive powerhouse, they were able to (for the most part) pressure along the perimeter without overcommitting. When they found themselves drifting too far from the middle of the ice and vulnerable, they tracked back through the middle and broke up several seam pass attempts.
Centers, especially, stayed low in coverage, reading when to support defensemen and wingers, allowing teammates to pressure, and covered to tie up opponents or pounce on rebounds around the crease.
Penalty Kill: An area of weakness on the penalty kill this season, until recently, had been the awareness of the weak side forward to cover the crashing flank toward the back post. Vegas attempted several backdoor, cross-crease passes on their two power plays, but that weak-side forward broke them up deftly.
Ryan Poehling: During the absence of Leo Carlsson, Poehling has been centering lines with more offensive talents than he’d been early in the season, when the roster was at full strength. It’s allowed him to have the puck on his stick more, and in this game with Terry and Kreider, he was afforded more time and space with it. He’s gained noticeable confidence, both on the rush and cycle, even driving play during several shifts. If this continues, the Ducks will have a rare luxury on their roster: a bottom-six center who can provide instant and consistent offense.
Chris Kreider: “Chris Kreider’s made a living being in front of the net,” Troy Terry said of his linemate after this game. Three of Anaheim’s four goals (two of which went to Kreider) came with him parked right in front of Adin Hill, taking away visibility, getting tips on perimeter shots, and crashing while on the rush. He’s more than just a body at the blue paint; he is a distinguished communicator, often directing linemates where to go or where to place pucks from his spot in front of the opposing goal.
The Ducks will play their last game before the extended Olympic break on Tuesday, when they’ll host the Seattle Kraken in yet another critical Pacific Division bout.
Feb 1, 2026; Tampa Bay, Florida, USA; Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) makes the save on Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) during overtime in the 2026 Stadium Series ice hockey game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
TAMPA, Fla. — Nikita Kucherov scored the tying goal in the third period, Jake Guentzel scored the only goal in the shootout, and the Tampa Bay Lightning rallied from a four-goal deficit to beat the Boston Bruins 6-5 in front of 64,617 fans at an NHL Stadium Series game at Raymond James Stadium.
Kucherov finished with a goal and three assists, Brandon Hagel had a goal and two assists, while Oliver Bjorkstrand, Darren Raddysh and Nick Paul all scored power-play goals after Tampa Bay fell behind 5-1 in the second period.
Andrei Vasilevskiy finished with 29 saves.
Tampa Bay’s four-goal comeback is the largest in NHL outdoor game history and the largest comeback victory in franchise history.
Morgan Geekie had a pair of goals and three points for the Bruins. Viktor Arvidsson, Alex Steeves and Matthew Poitras also scored for Boston, which improved to 10-1-2 in the past 13 games. Charlie McAvoy had a pair of assists while Jeremy Swayman finished with 41 saves.
Kucherov completed Tampa Bay’s comeback with a one-timer from the left circle with 8:10 left in the third period.
The game featured the first goalie fight in outdoor game history when Vasilevskiy and Swayman exchanged blows at center ice in the second period. The Lightning pointed to the goalie fight as a spark to their comeback when they were down 5-2.
“That was a game-changing moment for our team, and that’s what we needed,’’ Guentzel said. “That was definitely cool to watch.’’
With an opening puck drop temperature of 41.8 degrees Fahrenheit (5.44 Celsius), Hagel fired up the crowd with a goal just 11 seconds in — the fastest goal in NHL outdoor game history and tying a franchise history for fastest goal to start a game.
The Bruins scored the next five as Steeves, Geekie and Arvidsson all scored within a span of 7:39 to give Boston a 3-1 lead after the first. Poitras scored on a backhander at 2:22 of the second period while Geekie notched his second of the game at 8:18.
“We came out strong, obviously they scored right away but we got to our game right after,’’ Geekie said.
Bjorkstrand scored at 10:28 to make it 5-2.
The Lightning scored a pair of five-on-three power-play goals 23 seconds apart. Raddysh scored a goal for the fourth consecutive game to set a franchise record for a defenseman. Paul then tapped in a pass from Guentzel to make it 5-4.
“It was the game had everything,’’ Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said. “It had the weather in a state which doesn’t usually get weather like this. It was a phenomenal atmosphere, perfect ice hockey playing conditions. You had goalie fights, you had 11 goals, you had a shootout. It had everything. That one’s going to go in the memory bank. It was a special occasion.’’
Everyone loves a goalie fight — and it might be even better outdoors.
In front of a packed Raymond James Stadium, the home of the Buccaneers, Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman and Lightning netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy dropped the gloves during Sunday night’s NHL Stadium Series game in Tampa.
Andrei Vasilevskiyof the Tampa Bay Lightning fights against goalie Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins during the second period during the 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series game at Raymond James Stadium on February 1, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. NHLI via Getty Images
The fight began with 8:59 left in the second period, after Brandon Hagel took one too many pokes at the puck after the whistle — leading to a pair of Bruins players giving him a shove and then Swayman trying to rough him up a bit.
After the refs attempted to cool things down, Swayman noticed Vasilevskiy making his way from the Lightning net toward the action at the other end of the ice, and the two goaltenders squared up.
The fight didn’t last long as Swayman never got his skates under him and Vasilevskiy quickly got the upper hand in the fight, landing a few punches on the Bruins goaltender.
According to HockeyFights.com, a site that tracks hockey players’ fight records, Sunday’s tilt was the first time either Swayman or Vasilevskiy had gotten into a fight.
Neither seemed to hold a grudge as the two smiled and laughed as they shook hands after the game.
The scrap was the first goalie fight in an outdoor NHL game.
The Lightning defeated the Bruins 6-5 in the shootout after erasing a 5-1 hole that Tampa found itself in midway through the second period.
At the time of the fight, the Lightning had trailed 5-2 and a little more than four minutes later, defenseman Darren Raddysh scored to cut the Boston lead to two.
Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) and Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) exchange punches as officials Kyle Flemington and Julien Fournier look on during the second period in the 2026 Stadium Series ice hockey game. Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn ImagesAndrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning fights against goalie Jeremy Swayman #1 of the Boston Bruins during the second period during the NHL Stadium Series game NHLI via Getty Images
Nick Paul and Nikita Kucherov scored to eventually even the score, and Jake Guentzel scored the only goal in the shootout for the win.
A crowd of more than 64,000 fans was in attendance and they witnessed the largest comeback in an outdoor NHL game; the four-goal rally was the biggest in Lightning franchise history.
Swayman and Vasilevskiy’s fight was the second goalie fight in the NHL in less than a month after another
Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky and Sharks goalie Alex Nedeljkovic fought in a game between the two teams back on Jan. 19.
After missing the entire 2025-26 season up to this point, a Pittsburgh Penguins' prospect finally made his professional debut on Sunday.
Left wing Tanner Howe - selected 46th overall by the Penguins in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft - made his debut in professional hockey for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins of the AHL Sunday against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. He registered his first professional point - a secondary assist on a third-period goal by Owen Pickering - en route to a 6-2 for the WBS Penguins.
He played on the second line with Aaron Huglen and Avery Hayes.
Went 1-on-1 w/ Tanner Howe post-game & the boys were sure to give Howe the rookie treatment in his first interview of the year
Joel Blomqvist reached with a water bottle from an exercise bike.
Howe, 20, sustained an ACL tear late last season that caused him to miss the remainder of his WHL season with the Calgary Hitmen as well as all of the 2025-26 season up to this point. In 47 WHL games between the Regina Pats and Hitmen last season - he was traded midseason - Howe registered 18 goals and 46 points.
He also had the opportunity to share the ice with Ben Kindel last season, the Penguins' 11th overall pick in 2025 who is making an impact at the NHL level this season at the age of 18. Howe is a physical winger who is known for being a menace on the forecheck and excels at playmaking in tight spaces, and he also plays a pretty responsible two-way game.
The 5-foot-11, 183-pound forward will likely spend the rest of the season with Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate, barring performance.
It's been less than a full calendar year since the Pittsburgh Penguins missed the playoffs for a third consecutive season.
They finished the 2024-25 season with a 34-36-12 record and sold off some of their players before the 2025 trade deadline closed, including Michael Bunting, Cody Glass, Anthony Beauvillier, Drew O'Connor, and Marcus Pettersson.
It was a necessary step for Penguins president and general manager Kyle Dubas, as he continued to stockpile more future assets for the next few years.
He was tasked with replacing those players over the offseason, and part of his plan was signing some players to short-term contracts when free agency opened on July 1. Anthony Mantha, Justin Brazeau, and Parker Wotherspoon were three of the players he signed when free agency opened.
Mantha felt like the Beauvillier replacement after Dubas got a second-rounder back for the latter at the deadline. Going into this season, I figured Mantha would score double-digit goals before being flipped to a contender, since I didn't think this would be a playoff team.
Well, the Penguins are on pace to make the playoffs this season, and Mantha's play is a big reason why. He's been an incredible signing by Dubas and already has 19 goals and 40 points in 53 games. He has five goals and eight points in his last four games, and two of those goals came on Saturday against the New York Rangers.
He's done a great job going to the net for some greasy goals, but has also shown off some silky moves with the puck on his stick. He started the season on a line with Evgeni Malkin and Brazeau, and those three were humming together before Malkin hurt his shoulder in December and missed a full month.
Lately, Mantha has been skating on the third line with Brazeau and Ben Kindel since Malkin has found some great chemistry with Tommy Novak and Egor Chinakhov, and has fit like a glove. Mantha and Brazeau read each other well, and when you combine that with Kindel's hockey sense and strong playmaking ability, you get a pretty good third line. I don't see any way Dubas moves Mantha unless the Penguins completely collapse before this year's trade deadline.
Jan 31, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Justin Brazeau (16) handles the puck against New York Rangers defenseman Matthew Robertson (29) during the second period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Brazeau was brought in after splitting last season with the Boston Bruins and Minnesota Wild. I had him penciled in for a bottom-six role, but that changed quickly when he scored four goals in four games to open the season on the second line.
He even scored the Penguins' first goal of the 2025-26 season, showcasing some soft hands in front of the net to bury a puck past Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin. He also added an empty-net goal later in the game to help seal the win for the Penguins.
He showed off another move in front of the net two days later against New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin for the game-winning goal.
Brazeau has already set a career-high in goals (14) and points (25) this season. He's a threat to score from anywhere in the offensive zone, and I think he'll score more clutch goals for the Penguins as the games get bigger down the stretch.
Jan 29, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Oliver Moore (11) moves the puck against Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Parker Wotherspoon (28) during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Wotherspoon was by far the best defenseman the Penguins had on the left side heading into the season and was paired with Erik Karlsson right away. The two have been inseparable ever since and have been a great pair for the Penguins this year.
Wotherspoon and Karlsson have played 689 minutes at 5v5 this season and have been on the ice for 54.5% of the shot attempts, 53.2% of the expected goals, 55.1% of the scoring chances, and 56% of the high-danger chances. They carry play every time they're on the ice.
The best part about Wotherspoon is how steady he is. He's a rock in his own end and has allowed Karlsson to do his thing in the offensive zone. He's good at skating the puck out of trouble and has an active stick in the neutral zone. He also brings a physical element to the blue line, something the Penguins have severely lacked over the last few seasons.
He was a great find by Dubas after posting some really good underlying numbers for the Bruins in a more reduced role last year.
As my colleague Kelsey Surmacz wrote in January, you can make a very strong case for Dubas to win the General Manager of the Year award right now, and his odds will improve even more if the Penguins reach the postseason. If he wins the award, these three signings will be a big reason why.
The Buffalo Sabres five-game winning streak came to an end on Saturday, as the Montreal Canadiens scored three third period goals in a 4-2 victory. The Sabres held a 2-1 lead on goals by Owen Power and Noah Ostlund, but could not contain Montreal sniper Cole Caufield, scored the game-tying and game-winning goals.
With the win, the Habs moved into sole position of third place in the Atlantic Division, and on Sunday, the Bruins moved ahead of Buffalo, with a loser point in a 6-5 shootout loss to Tampa Bay in the Stadium Series. With three games to go until the Olympic break, the Sabres now reside in the second wildcard spot, six points ahead of the surging Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals.
Other Sabres Stories
Is Rasmus Dahlin a future Norris Trophy candidate?
While most who have observed the Sabres magical run in December and January – where they have gone 20-4-1 – believe the club has finally turned the corner, the final third of the season will be the greatest challenge for Buffalo.
The nearly three-week Olympic break is coming at the worst possible time for the Sabres. The positive aspect that it will allow injured players such as Josh Norris, Jordan Greenway, Justin Danforth, and Jiri Kulich to work their way to get back in the lineup is outweighed by the fact that Buffalo has been the hottest club in the league.
There is no way to know how the break will affect the Sabres. They may continue on their winning ways where they left off, but there is also the possibility of them going back returning to the club that struggled through October and November.
Quinn Hughes Over 2.5 SOG
Cole Caufield anytime goal
Rasmus Dahlin Over 0.5 assists
