It had been nearly 10 years (April 2016) since the Montreal Canadiens were able to win a game on the road against the Carolina Hurricanes, and Martin St-Louis’ men decided it was time to break the curse. It certainly wasn’t easy, however, as the young Habs took their fans on yet another rollercoaster ride.

When he was asked about his team’s resolution for the New Year, the bench boss said they wanted to continue with good starts and score early, thereby avoiding playing catch-up hockey. The Sainte-Flanelle seemed determined to stick to its resolution with a fast and furious start that saw it score twice in less than a minute, barely four minutes into the game, but they couldn’t keep up the pace. Before the end of the first frame, the Canes had stormed back to a 3-2 lead, which they improved on early in the second.

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Taming A Demon

The Habs have struggled mightily in the second frame this season, but this time, they actually had a strong middle stanza. After conceding a fourth goal, the Canadiens shook it off and scored three unanswered goals to roar back to a 5-4 lead.

Interestingly, this three-goal effort in the middle frame came against the team that had allowed the fewest goals in the second frame this season. Before Thursday night’s tilt, the Canes had only allowed 29 goals in that period while generating 34 for a plus-five differential, much better than Montreal’s minus-13.

If the Habs have finally tamed their second-period demons, St-Louis could be in for some much easier third frames for the rest of the season.

Tough Night on Defense

While Mike Matheson was meant to play, it was announced shortly before the game that he wouldn’t suit up due to an upper-body injury. That was hardly surprising considering the elbow he took to the head from Brad Marchand in the 3-2 win over the Florida Panthers, but it was nonetheless a big blow.

As always, when Matheson is missing, the Canadiens’ defence struggled mightily. Through 60 minutes of hockey, Noah Dobson had six giveaways, Jayden Struble had two, and Lane Hutson had two as well. The Hurricanes are the kind of team against whom it’s dangerous to do that. Their transition game is insanely fast, and they always have plenty of players near the opponent’s net to screen the goalie and tip some shots.

In the defeat, Sebastian Aho put up five points and was an absolute poison to deal with for the Habs’ defence corps.

A Real Team Effort

While St-Louis won’t like the fact that his team committed 23 giveaways, he will surely appreciate the fact that each line produced at least a goal tonight. Captain Nick Suzuki got the Habs rolling before Olympics hopeful Oliver Kapanen scored the second goal. In the second frame, Samuel Blais and the fourth line produced the third lamplighter (the grinder had two points and seven hits on the night), before Cole Caufield tied up the game and Josh Anderson gave the Habs the lead. Juraj Slafkovsky doubled the lead in the third, and Hutson put the icing on the cake with an empty-netter.

While the scoring came from everywhere, it’s worth noting that it was Caufield’s first career goal against the Hurricanes, the only team he hasn’t scored on now is the Winnipeg Jets. After scoring the go-ahead goal late in the second frame, Anderson left the game and didn’t return. While the power forward isn’t the Canadiens’ most productive forward, his physical impact will surely be missed if he has to miss some time.

Kirby Dach was initially set to miss four to six weeks, and it’s been six weeks, but there’s still no set date for his return. Given his injury history, it’s understandable that Montreal is being cautious; still, with the injuries piling up, he can’t come back soon enough.

Even though the game was far from a masterpiece by the Tricolore, they’ll gladly take the two points, which help them consolidate their third place in the Atlantic Division. With the Buffalo Sabres being on a fantastic 10-game winning streak, they are fast approaching the Habs’ rearview mirror. With 46 points, they are now in the second wild-card spot, and they do have a game in hand on the Canadiens. Needless to say, the two duels between the two sides coming up this month will be pivotal in the playoff race.

Montreal will now need to get ready for a couple of back-to-back matinees this weekend against the St. Louis Blues and the Dallas Stars. While the former are 29th in the league right now, the latter are second in the standings and will present quite a challenge.

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At around the midpoint of the first episode of Heated Rivalry, just after Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov – one Canadian, the other Russian, both hockey’s top prospects – have had their first tryst, Hollander sits at the side of his hotel bed and says: “So. You’re not going to tell anyone about this, are you?” Rozanov, lying naked beside him, replies sarcastically: “Me? Yes, Hollander, I’m going to tell everyone.” Hollander reinforces the point: “Because no one can know,” he says. Rozanov utters something under his breath in Russian, then: “Hollander. Look, I’m not going to tell anyone, OK?” Hollander replies: “OK.”

No one can know. If hockey were to have an unofficial slogan, this might be it. Heated Rivalry, the surprise 2025 hit series from Crave and HBO, is layered drama, prompting timely questions about the barriers to acceptance that persist within sport even as they are lowered elsewhere across society. But it may be that hockey’s existential battle with its culture of silence is the show’s deepest target.

Related: Minnesota Wild go all-in with blockbuster trade for Norris winner Quinn Hughes

Hockey culture presents a paradox, simultaneously welcoming yet exclusive. When the NHL launched its Hockey Is For Everyone initiative in 2017, the league was making a point about attracting new fans from groups that did not typically see themselves reflected on the ice, including members of the LGBTQ+ community. It was a savvy business move, if nothing else. “Diverse representation within inclusive environments is proven to advance innovation, creativity, and decision-making – all of which are important to the growth of the sport and our business,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman wrote in his introduction to the league’s first report on diversity and inclusion in 2022. Inclusion, Bettman wrote, is a “driver for performance … individuals and organizations grow stronger from uniting across differences”. Times were changing, lessons were being learned. Briefly, anyway. The 2022 “annual” report has since been scrubbed from the NHL’s website (it remains available elsewhere). And while the league continues to work on inclusivity initiatives and claims it is attracting more women fans, there has not been another report since.

Just a few months after that diversity report’s release, in January 2023, Ivan Provorov, then a defenseman for the Philadelphia Flyers, refused to wear a Pride-themed jersey during a pre-game warm-up, saying it conflicted with his religious beliefs. The jerseys had been introduced as part of the Hockey Is For Everyone initiative and were typically auctioned afterwards to raise money for local charities. In the weeks that followed, more players refused to wear their team’s Pride jersey. Rather than push back or make the jerseys a requirement like any other aspect of a team’s uniform, the NHL officially walked away from it all, eliminating the jerseys. The whole thing had “just become more of a distraction from really the essence of what the purpose of these nights are,” Bettman said that summer.

In hockey, nobody wants to be a distraction. “[The players told me] it doesn’t matter if you’re gay, or concussed, or you’ve been sexually abused or have mental health issues, none of those are OK because you are a distraction,” Cheryl MacDonald, former co-chair of the western Canadian board of You Can Play, said of her interviews with a handful of gay hockey players in 2019. MacDonald had wondered why more gay players did not choose to come out. “You don’t want to risk it not being OK, because the perception is someone who is just as good at your job but isn’t gay is going to take your spot,” she said at the time. Better to say nothing at all.”

In the penultimate episode of Heated Rivalry, another gay player unexpectedly invites his boyfriend on to the ice to help celebrate a championship win. They kiss in front of tens of thousands of fans and, presumably, millions of viewers at home. It is a public coming out. The show pivots immediately to how this impacts Hollander and Rozanov and offers very little sense of how the kiss was received more broadly, but amid the on-ice embrace, the crowd appears enraptured, not appalled. The TV announcer simply says: “You don’t see that every day.” Well, no. But if we did?

In the same 2019 study, MacDonald also found that once gay players did come out, their teammates generally reacted positively – and the typical homophobic jibes that persist in hockey locker rooms were muted. Moreover, the banter eventually incorporated their orientation, with straight players more respectfully making light of the gay players’ sexuality. “The gay players said the acknowledgement was nice … it seems there is room for consensual humor,” MacDonald noted. Likely, few in the hockey world would find that surprising either; just part of the frustrating paradox at the heart of its culture.

Heated Rivalry’s popularity has prompted plenty of speculation about whether it will attract new fans to hockey and to the NHL. But they are already here – watching, spending, supporting. Playing. And learning, often from a young age, what part of themselves they should keep quiet because, y’know, no one can know. As for the NHL, in December, a spokesperson told the Hollywood Reporter that “there are so many ways to get hooked on hockey and, in the NHL’s 108-year history, this might be the most unique driver for creating new fans. See you at the rink.” The line is cheerful, harmless and, in typical fashion, empty. Even when the conversation is unavoidable, the NHL still has little to say. It seems that for the league, this is not about hockey. It is still just a distraction.

An early three-goal deficit was too much for the Nashville Predators to get out of in a 4-1 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Thursday at Climate Pledge Arena. 

The Predators' first game of the 2026 calendar year was the fifth straight game that they were tasked with having to battle back. 

"We had our looks in the the third, but obviously the starts have been an issue here," Roman Josi said. "It's hard to be behind, especially against a good, defensive team. We have to figure out our starts and come out like we did in the second and part of the third." 

Matty Beniers scored nearly four minutes into the game, tipping in a shot from Ryker Evans, which he picked up off a Nick Perbix turnover. 

Halfway through the period, Jamie Oleksiak scored on a long wrist shot to make it 2-0. It took the Kraken 10 seconds after the Oleksiak goal to find the back of the net again as Beniers netted his second goal of the game off a Jordan Eberle rebound. 

Seattle found the back of the net three times on just six shots. Juuse Saros stayed in the net, making 19 saves on 22 shots on the night. 

Roman Josi got the Predators on the board in the second period on the power play. Nashville has now scored at least one power play goal in three straight games.

The Predators would pull Saros with around four minutes left in the game and Jared McCann capitalized, sealing the Kraken victory. 

Nashville had the shot edge 25-23 and took just two penalty minutes. It also converted on one of the two power-play opportunities. 

In the loss, the Predators fall to 18-18-4 on the season and fifth in the Central Division. Utah, which the Predators defeated on Monday, beat the New York Islanders to move ahead of Nashville.

The Predators have two more games left in their seven-game road trip, taking on the Calgary Flames on Saturday and the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. 

"Calgary has been really good at home and we know how Edmonton plays at home," Josi said. "We know when our game is right by the way we play. We didn't do that in the beginning tonight and we need to do that right away."  

All of a sudden, the Pittsburgh Penguins are starting to win hockey games again.

They beat Montreal before a bit of a dud prior to the holiday break, then they came out of the break with a 7-3 rout of the Chicago Blackhawks and a statement 5-1 win against the Metropolitan Division-leading Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday.

At times, it didn't look like the Penguins were going to come away with yet another win against the Atlantic Division-leading Detroit Red Wings on Thursday. They shot themselves in the foot by taking penalties, and Detroit appeared to score a third-period goal to take the lead that got called back. 

But, they perservered - and it was a big night for defenseman Kris Letang. 

Playing in his 1,200th career game, Letang took an overtime feed from Sidney Crosby in the slot and put it home to give the Penguins a 4-3 victory over the Red Wings. Crosby notched two first-period goals and had three points, while Blake Lizotte scored in the third period after a hard-working shift by the fourth line. 

Goaltender Arturs Silovs was solid, stopping 24 of 27 Detroit shots, and with two assists, Erik Karlsson earned his 900th career point, which puts him in rarified air in NHL history. 

The Penguins didn't make things easy for themselves in this game, but they were the better five-on-five team throughout, and they had a way of responding when things didn't go their way. 

Crosby opened the scoring a little more than four minutes into the first period when he clapped one from the point on the power play for his 22nd of the season. And just a minute and a half later, Crosby was all over a turnover near the offensive blue line, deked around Moritz Seider, carried the puck into the slot, and fired it home for his second of the game and 23rd of the season, which now puts him on pace for 48 goals. 

Sidney Crosby, folks. pic.twitter.com/yQLgxDJyQp

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 2, 2026

Then, a string of penalties eventually cost the Penguins. Late in the period, Tommy Novak took a double-minor for high-sticking, and James van Riemsdyk capitalized during the first part of the double-minor to cut the lead to 2-1. 

The Penguins killed off the remainder of the penalty leaking into the second period, but shortly after that - just a minute into the middle frame - Detroit dumped the puck into the Pittsburgh zone along the boards. Silovs went behind the net in preparation of playing the puck, but the puck took a crazy bounce off the wall in the left corner and squirted right out to the net front, where Andrew Copp was waiting. He buried the puck in the empty net and tied the game, and the game remained tied until late in the third.

Takeaways: Big Second Line Powers Penguins To 5-1 Win Over HurricanesAfter an eight-game losing streak threatened to derail their season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have begun to get back on track a little bit.

With around seven minutes remaining in the third, Lucas Raymond appeared to break the tie off a two-on-one tap-in opportunity for Detroit. However, the play was deemed offside, and the goal was called back, giving the Penguins an opportunity to respond.

And Lizotte did respond with his fourth of the season after Karlsson shot one from the point, it rebounded near Lizotte at the net-front, and he just chopped the puck toward the net, where it hit off a Detroit defender and in. But, unfortunately, defenseman Jack St. Ivany took a delay of game penalty just 23 seconds later when he flipped a puck over the glass, and Alex DeBrincat tied the game late to force overtime, where Letang ended it less than a minute in. 

OUR GAME-WINNING GOAL HERO IN HIS 1,200TH @NHL GAME! pic.twitter.com/tYMgS9GmxQ

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 2, 2026

Penalties aside, it was a solid team win for the Penguins, who are looking more like the team from earlier this season in recent games - even if there is room for improvement in their five-on-five game, which has been generally positive in the last couple of games.

"We're getting in the offensive zone a fair amount, and every game's been a little bit different if you're talking about those games so far coming out of the break," head coach Dan Muse said. "I still think that there's some layers there that we've got to add in regards to just some of the details within the offensive zone and creating quality. But I do like the fact that we're there more, and for the most part, in order to get there, you've got to be doing the right things - exiting your zone, coming throughout, making sure that you're not spending too much time in the d-zone. Those are things that we've talked about and will look to continue to improve. 

"And I think it's taking steps, but at the same time, there's plenty of room there that we can continue to work with."

'You Can Never Be Satisfied In This League': McGroarty Taking Strides At NHL Level With PenguinsPittsburgh Penguins' forward Rutger McGroarty is learning every day at the NHL level - and he only figures to get even better with more experience at the highest level of hockey.

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Here are some takeaways and thoughts from this one:

- Regardless of the result on Thursday - or what folks thought of the officiating - the Penguins spent way, way too much time in the box against the Red Wings, and it burned them.

Crosby took an offensive zone penalty 20 seconds into the game. Novak's double-minor cost them in the first period. St. Ivany's delay of game cost them late. They were shooting themselves in the foot by continuously finding themselves in the box - eight times, to be exact - and they kept allowing Detroit to regain momentum in this game.

And this isn't new, either. There have been several instances this season where the Penguins piled on penalties in a game. Playing shorthanded for a large amount of time does no one any favors, it shifts momentum, and it doesn't allow the Penguins to ice their best players nearly enough.

The Penguins were the better five-on-five team in this one. But they have to be more disciplined if they expect to string together some wins.

2️⃣ POINTS. pic.twitter.com/4DhuqVmOSL

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 2, 2026

- I feel like a broken record at this point, but the Penguins' fourth line with Lizotte, Noel Acciari, and Connor Dewar on it has truly been a difference-maker this season for the Penguins.

There were several energy shifts after Detroit's fluke goal from the fourth line that gave the Penguins some momentum, which paved the way for them to respond well to that moment of adversity - a moment that may have buried them during their eight-game losing streak in December.

This line has been rock-solid for the Penguins this season, and when they can contribute on the scoresheet, it amplifies their value even more. If I'm the Penguins, I'm not touching that line - regardless of who comes in and out of the lineup.

Bonuses 🟰 unlocked.@BetMGM players score on NHL casino games tonight. Don’t forget to play weekly for your chance to win. Learn more: https://t.co/XK3NWfPOj0pic.twitter.com/SGxSYiUIyF

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 2, 2026

- Good for Kris Letang. What a moment that was. 

A lot of people - myself included - have put a heavy emphasis on the negative with Letang this season. He's made a lot of mistakes, and that's no secret. Even if he can still be an effective player on the offensive side of the puck, his defensive miscues have largely outshone that. 

But he was good in this game, and that goes for both sides of the puck. Still, he needed this one. And it was a big one.

I can honestly say I haven't seen Letang as happy as he was post-game in a long time. Games played milestones mean a lot to him given all he's been through, and scoring the overtime winner in his 1,200th game is a nice cherry on top. 

Every Trade And Signing By The Pittsburgh Penguins In 20252025 was a busy year for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and we take a look back at every move the Penguins made in the calendar year.

- Don't overlook Karlsson's milestone, either. 

By earning his 900th point, he became the ninth-fastest defenseman in NHL history to reach the mark and only the 14th NHL defenseman, period, to hit it. He also made a key defensive play in overtime to stymie a two-on-one for Detroit early on.

Even if he hit a bit of a rough patch during the Penguins' eight-game losing streak, he has largely been a very good player for the Penguins this season. He has four points in his last two games and 30 points on the season, which puts him on a 63-point pace. And - given how he hit a rough patch - there's a good chance he can surpass that if he can sustain his level of play.

Penguins' Star Defenseman Hits Big Career MilestonePittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson hit a significant career milestone on Thursday night.

- Muse said that it was a tough game to assess Yegor Chinakhov - who was playing in his first game as a Penguin - because of the Penguins being shorthanded so much.

Chinakhov only got a little more than 10 minutes of ice time. But I thought he made it count.

There were several plays where his skill and his speed were on display. He is crafty with the puck and is able to stickhandle in tight spaces. His shot has jump. He was able to beat some guys to loose pucks on a few occasions. And he also didn't shy away from physicality, as he had a team-leading three hits in this game. 

It's a small sample, and it's too early to make any kind of determination on what kind of player he's going to be for the Penguins. But I can see why Kyle Dubas and the Penguins' front office coveted his services. There is some serious puck skill there, and I look forward to seeing him get more ice time.

Chinakhov Trade Shows Penguins Are Starting To Shift GearsKyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins traded for Yegor Chinakhov from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday, and it could be a sign of things to come over the next several months.

- I'd like to see a bit more from Rickard Rakell right now. This was his 10th game back from a broken hand that kept him out more than a month and a half, so it's understandable if he's still shaking off the rust. And he did tie for the team lead in shots Thursday with four. 

All that said, he's a bit too trigger-shy right now, and I haven't loved his play away from the puck, which is usually a strength in his game. He also hasn't been particularly good defensively, which isn't the norm for him. 

He has one goal and five points in these 10 games. There is a lot of lineup competition right now, and if he wants to hold his spot on that top line, the production needs to come sooner rather than later. But, I'll give it a few more games before the concern starts to set in. 

Rakell seems a little too hesitant to shoot the puck right now.

Just one goal in his 10 games since returning from injury. You feel one coming, though.

— Kelsey Surmacz (@kelsey_surmacz4) January 2, 2026

- This was a big win for the Penguins. Suddenly, they've won four out of their last five games, and they're just one point out of a playoff spot with games in hand on most teams ahead of them. 

They have won two consecutive games against division-leading opponents. They're controlling large stretches of five-on-five play. And they're doing all of this without Evgeni Malkin.

The Penguins - right now - look like the team we saw in October. If they can keep this up heading into the Olympic break, it should make things very interesting for Dubas and company at the trade deadline this year. 

Pittsburgh Penguins' New Year's Resolutions: 2025 EditionThere were some ups and downs for Pittsburgh Penguins' players in 2025. So what can they resolve to accomplish in 2026?

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The Chicago Blackhawks took on the Dallas Stars at the United Center on Thursday night. This New Year's Day matchup was the second between these two teams in less than a week. 

Last Saturday, the Blackhawks defeated the Stars in Dallas via the shootout. Despite having the second-best record in the NHL entering play on Thursday, the Stars haven't won a game since December 21st, when they beat the Toronto Maple Leafs at home 5-1. 

In Chicago's most recent game, a shootout loss to the New York Islanders, Artyom Levshunov was brilliant. He defended well, used his speed to create chances, hit a couple of posts, and had an assist. He followed that up with a strong game against the Stars on Thursday. 

Levshunov opened the scoring. After a net-mouth scramble in front of Jake Oettinger, the puck made it to Levshunov a bit farther away from the net, and he picked a corner. 

Just under three minutes later, Mikko Rantanen made a great move to beat Spencer Knight and tie the game. From there, the Blackhawks started to take over. 

At the end of the first period, Nils Lundkvist took a two minute minor penalty for cross checking Oliver Moore. This promised the Hawks a power play with a clean sheet of ice to open the second. 

Just 13 seconds into the middle frame, the Blackhawks took advantage of this man-advantage. A nice play by Tyler Bertuzzi and Andre Burakovsky allowed Teuvo Teravainen to find the puck wide open in front of the net. He didn't miss with his shot. 

With 9:14 gone in the second, Ilya Mikheyev scored as nice a goal as you'll see in the NHL this season. This put the Blackhawks up 3-1, which is a score that held into the third.

At the 3:58 mark of the third, Mikheyev scored his second of the game to make it 4-1. It wasn't as impressive as the first goal he scored, but it counts just the same. When Jake Oettinger watches the replay of that one, he won't love it. 

Later in the period, with under five minutes remaining in regulation time, the Stars scored one with Oettinger on the bench for the extra attacker. Jason Robertson scored to cut the deficit to two. 

With the goalie pulled again, Ilya Mikheyev attempted to have his first career hat trick and seal the game from his own blue line, but it hit the inside of the post. The Stars then came down the ice and scored again to make it 4-3 with 17 seconds remaining. Matt Duchene took a perfect pass from Wyatt Johnston and beat Spencer Knight. 

The Blackhawks were able to hang on and win 4-3 from there. The game ended up being much closer in the end, but that doesn't take away from the fact that this was Chicago's best game since Connor Bedard went down with an injury. 

Chicago is now 2-1-1 since the holiday break. Both of the wins are against Dallas, who is one of the best teams that they will play all year long. Whether it's Artyom Levshunov's emergence, Ilya Mikheyev getting hot, or the other young players making a difference, things seem to be turning back in the right direction again as they were earlier in the season. 

Watch Every Chicago Goal

Levshunov on the power play🔥 pic.twitter.com/LM2JH4UYcx

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 2, 2026

turbo timeeeeeee⏰ pic.twitter.com/Jk1UX1cR0l

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 2, 2026

are you kidding me🤯 pic.twitter.com/YqjOCk6EW4

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 2, 2026

a sneaky goal from 95👀 pic.twitter.com/hLQPKpazJb

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 2, 2026

What’s Next For The Blackhawks?

The Blackhawks are back in action on Saturday night. They will hit the road for one game as they will face the Washington Capitals in the nation's capital. 

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While the good news for the Detroit Red Wings picked up a point in the standings to maintain their lead in the Atlantic Division, the bad news is that they only scored twice on seven power-play opportunities in what was ultimately a 4-3 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday evening. 

Rematch Saturday afternoon in Detroit. pic.twitter.com/NPBEPa1pwg

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 2, 2026

Kris Letang blasted a one-timer past the blocker of goaltender Cam Talbot in the extra session after receiving a feed from Sidney Crosby, who scored twice in the first period in short order. 

The Red Wings, who came into the contest with the NHL's fourth-best power-play, were given multiple chances thanks to the undisciplined play of the host Penguins, but only converted twice.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features.  

It was Crosby who gave the Penguins a quick 2-0 lead in the opening 20 minutes of play, as he scored twice in less than two minutes. 

Detroit got back into the contest thanks to the 10th goal of the season from James van Riemsdyk, who scored while Tommy Novak was in the box with a double-minor for high sticking. 

Andrew Copp then knotted the score early in the second period, taking advantage of a friendly bounce off the boards and beating goaltender Arturs Silovs for his fifth tally of the season.

Detroit appeared to take a 3-2 lead with less than 10 minutes left in regulation, but what would have been Lucas Raymond's first goal in five games was taken away after Dylan Larkin was ruled to have been offside by an inch.

Pittsburgh then took advantage of an advantageous bounce of their own, as Blake Lizotte's shot deflected off the chest of defenseman Simon Edvinsson and past Talbot. However, they put the Red Wings right back on the power-play soon afterward, thanks to a delay of game penalty for flipping the puck over the glass in their defensive zone.

"They're Helping Us Along": Red Wings Praise Fans For Energizing Little Caesars Arena The Detroit Red Wings have won six of their last seven games on home ice at Little Caesars Arena, an important aspect of their winning record so far in their centennial campaign.

Alex DeBrincat scored his 21st goal of the campaign on the ensuing man-advantage, backhanding the puck past a sprawling Silovs after collecting the rebound off the boards of a shot from Raymond. 

Talbot finished with 24 saves, while Silovs countered with 27 saves.

Both teams will once again face off on Saturday afternoon, this time at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. 

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The Los Angeles Kings (16-14-9) played host to the Tampa Bay Lightning (24-13-3) in what proved to be a riveting New Year's Day clash. It seemed as if the Kings were going to manage to fend off one the Eastern conferences best. Until a late third period nightmare led to two points being squandered. 

There aren't too many positive takeaways from a game that ends as poorly as tonight's game did, but there were a few standout moments. Corey Perry picked up three assists, Darcy Kuemper played a very solid 90% of this game, and most importantly, the LA power play managed to score not one, but two goals with the man advantage.

Fast Start

Things got off to a blistering start in Los Angeles with both the Kings and Lightning firing on all cylinders out of the gate. Both teams were given a power play opportunity early which factored heavily into the eventful beginning to the game.

Just under four minutes into the opening frame, the Lighting took the lead thanks to a Brayden Point goal on the man advantage. Kings captain Anze Kopitar was assessed a tripping penalty which led to Point's eighth goal of the season. 

However, the Kings did not squander after falling behind quickly. Jeff Malott scored his third goal of the season to knot things up at 1-1. Thanks to an effective forecheck, Malott was able capitalize off of a Lightning giveaway caused by Corey Perry.

Shortly after evening the score, the Kings would take the lead on the power play after Lighting defender Max Crozier was sent to the box for holding. On the ensuing power play, Andrei Kuzmenko buried a loose puck off of a rebound past Jonas Johansson to give the Kings a 2-1 lead, which they would bring into the second period.

Kings' Doughty and Kuemper Named To Canada's Olympic RosterAfter months of speculation, Team Canada's Olympic roster was finally announced on Wednesday afternoon. Los Angeles Kings veterans Darcy Kuemper and Drew Doughty were given the honour to represent their country.

Ugly Period Leads To Tie Game

After a positive opening two minutes the Kings failed to duplicate their effort in the middle frame. Tampa Bay outshot Los Angeles 7-1 in the second period, if not for Darcy Kuemper, the score could've looked a lot different heading into the third period.

Despite the ugly effort, it looked like the Kings were going to get out of the second period with the lead. That was until Point scored his second of the game to tie things up at 2-2.

On The Board Early In The Third

After a second period to forget, the Kings got back on track early in the third. Tampa Bay blue liner Darren Raddysh was sent to the box for cross checking just under a minute into the final frame. 

It didn't take long for LA to capitalize on the man advantage as Kevin Fiala scored his 14th of the season off of a beautiful feed from Corey Perry who found Fiala off of the rush. Perry picked up his third assist of the game on the Kings 3-2 goal.

An Epic Collapse

It seemed as if Fiala's goal might be enough to fend off a dynamic Lighting squad as the Kings were outshooting their opponent 8-3 until the collapse began to take shape.

All the Kings had to do was hold on for dear life as they prepared for the inevitable Lightning storm coming their way. Unfortunately, it seemed to be too much for the Kings to handle. With just over 3 minutes remaining, Olympian Anthony Cirelli tied the game at 3-3 after winning a puck battle out front and beating Kuemper with a backhand shot.

A Franchise at an Impasse, a Pipeline with LeverageLOS ANGELES, CA — Whether you look at each pipeline asset or a current roster piece, there isn't a whole lot for the Los Angeles Kings to work with. There's an ongoing predicament with this franchise: where it's headed and what it has accomplished. Its current state is one of decay and ambivalence on whether a maligned focus and direction of schema and construction can break through when it matters most.

Not long after, the Lighting found the back of the net once again, this time giving them their first lead since way back in the first period. After entering the LA zone with speed, Tampa Bay forward Gage Concalves carried the puck towards the net, which didn't amount to a high danger chance. However, he did stay with the play and found the loose puck after some lucky bounces and tucked it into the open Kings net as Kuemper couldn't get over in time.

To add insult to injury, Nikita Kucherov scored an empty net goal with 45 seconds remaining, confirming the Kings shocking demise.

Final from LA.#GoKingsGopic.twitter.com/wUGPTsTx6e

— LA Kings (@LAKings) January 2, 2026

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When the Pittsburgh Penguins traded for Rutger McGroarty in the summer of 2024 - sending their top forward prospect in Brayden Yager the other way - they knew they were getting a talented, cerebral player that could help the NHL team both in the short-term and the long-term. 

Well, 22 games into his NHL career, the 14th overall pick of the Winnipeg Jets in 2022 has shown some flashes - and he's only going to keep getting better.

Injured to begin the 2025-26 season, the 21-year-old forward from Lincoln, Neb. took a while to get back into game action. He missed all of training camp and the first month and a half of the season before a five-game AHL stint in which he recorded four goals and seven points in five games. 

Now, he has played 14 NHL games this season, with two goals and three points in those 14 games, and he likes where his game is beginning to trend, especially since he is developing more comfortability at the highest level of hockey. 

"I think I'm continuing to get more comfortable," McGroarty said. "Overall, I think my game is going up, and I'm getting better and better. I still think that there's a lot more to give as well.

"You can never be satisfied in this league. Just continuing to have that day-by-day mindset and just kind of stack the positives and learn from the negatives."

And his 22 NHL games have taught him a lot so far. He's not only learning the game at NHL speed, he's also learning to take every day in stride and steadily keep improving. 

Pittsburgh Penguins' New Year's Resolutions: 2025 EditionThere were some ups and downs for Pittsburgh Penguins' players in 2025. So what can they resolve to accomplish in 2026?

For McGroarty, developing consistency is the biggest thing. It's something he's continuously working to achieve, and he's learned to be able to take a step back both when things aren't going his way and when it's going really well for him. 

"I think the main thing is just consistency," McGroarty said. "Game in, game out, shift by shift, I mean, you're not going to win the game on every shift. But you can definitely do your job and be attentive, and just kind of be in the moment on every shift - just not trying to win the game in one shift.

"It's the best league in the world. There's going to be ups, there's going to be downs, but kind of just staying in the middle, staying even, not getting too high, and not getting too low."

And McGroarty is beginning to find consistency in all three zones. His all-around toolset is one of the biggest reasons the Penguins acquired him in the first place, and it's something that separates him from a lot of other young players.

RUTGER'S GOT HIS FIRST OF THE YEAR!

PENS UP, BABY 🐧 🆙 pic.twitter.com/95EbvYZXQe

— SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) December 13, 2025

His ability to help create in the offensive zone and finish plays as well as his capability in the defensive zone - which, also, extends to the third line he's been playing on with Ben Kindel, Ville Koivunen, and a few others sprinkled in - has not gone unnoticed by his head coach, either. 

"I think he's playing well," coach Dan Muse said. "I think you see a lot of time in the o-zone as a line. I still think that they're continuing to work to just generate more of those chances from the inside, and I think that's going to come. Good work away from the puck as well, though. I think he's shown the responsibility there on the defensive side."

The Penguins' third line has certainly helped them in a lot of hockey games this season, even if they haven't quite found the scoresheet with the frequency that they'd, ideally, like to. But they're doing a lot of good things on both sides of the puck, even being counted on for some defensive zone starts in key situations.

And the trust that the coaching staff has in the line - especially as a line of what's mostly been three rookies - is something that McGroarty said they take a lot of pride in. 

"I mean, we want to be out there for those situations," McGroarty said. "I feel like those d-zone faceoffs are just as important, if not more important, than o-zone draws or whatever it is. Just managing the puck in your own end, getting the puck out of your own end, and setting up the next line for an o-zone shift - whatever it is - I think that we've done a good job of that.

"My mom always says you lose trust in buckets and gain it in drops. So, just continuing to stack good shifts, continuing to stack good d-zone shifts, and just continuing to gain trust."

McGroarty believes that if he, Kindel, and Koivunen - or, even, Yegor Chinakhov, who was acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Dec. 29 and was iced with Kindel and McGroarty against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday - keep sticking to the process, the points will come, too. They are learning how to read each other in each zone, and it has contributed to a chemistry that has been palpable early on.

Chinakhov Trade Shows Penguins Are Starting To Shift GearsKyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins traded for Yegor Chinakhov from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday, and it could be a sign of things to come over the next several months.

"I think we're learning what we like to do in the o-zone," McGroarty said. "And then, d-zone routes, filling space for each other... I think the more you play with a player, obviously, you're going to learn their routes more, and you're going to gain more chemistry no matter what. But I think that we've really done a good job of adapting to each other's games and not changing who we are, either, for anybody.

"I think we've really had some really good o-zone shifts, some really good o-zone looks, and we've really been good defensively as well. There's been a couple of bad bounces, a couple ones I definitely want back. But I think, overall, we've done really well in the d-zone for three rookies. And then in the o-zone, I think changing sides, protecting the puck, the little slip passes, have been great. And they're only going to continue to get better."

And so, too, will McGroarty, as he continues to gain NHL experience. He hasn't nearly scratched the surface of what he is capable of as a regular NHL player, and if he can reach his potential, the Penguins will be counting on him to be a key piece of their future core.

The Five Best On-Ice Moments For The Penguins In 20252025 is about to end, so let's look at the five best on-ice moments for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

---

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The Chicago Blackhawks have been going through some major struggles as the season rolls on. After winning just two out of their last 10 games, the Blackhawks now have a 14-18-7 record and are seventh in the Central Division. The Winnipeg Jets are also the only team in the NHL that has fewer points than the Blackhawks at the time of this writing, so things are not going well for Chicago right now. 

If the Blackhawks do not turn things around quickly and find themselves out of the playoff race near the deadline, they will likely be sellers. If this ends up coming to fruition, defenseman Connor Murphy should be a very popular trade target around the NHL. 

Murphy is a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA), so he will certainly be a player to keep an eye on near the deadline. This is especially so when noting that the Blackhawks have multiple promising young defensemen in their system. With this, the Blackhawks certainly could end up shopping Murphy.

With Murphy being a big right-shot defenseman who can play plenty of minutes and has a ton of experience, there should be several playoff clubs in the mix for his services near the deadline. He is the kind of steady stay-at-home defenseman that contenders love to add for the post-season. 

In 39 games so far this season with the Blackhawks, Murphy has recorded five assists, 40 hits, and 55 blocks. 

The San Jose Sharks have been one of the NHL's top surprises this season. After finishing with just 20 wins this past season, the Sharks have a 20-17-3 record in just 40 games so far this campaign. With this, they are currently fourth in the Pacific Division and have the top wild card spot in the Western Conference.

With the Sharks being in a good position with the new year here, it is fair to wonder if they could look to add to their roster at the 2026 NHL trade. According to a new report, the Sharks have their eye on one of the NHL's top trade candidates. 

During a recent episode of The Fan Hockey Show for Sportsnet, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported that the Sharks are interested in Vancouver Canucks forward Kiefer Sherwood. 

"I've actually kind of wondered a little bit about San Jose in the Western Conference," Friedman said. "They've gone from being nowhere at the beginning of the year to being very much in the race. They got a lot of UFAs. I think they've had some interest in Sherwood from Vancouver."

The Sharks reportedly having interest in Sherwood is understandable, as they certainly could use another top-nine winger who not only can score but also plays a heavy game. Sherwood would give the Sharks a player who is built for intense playoff hockey, which would have the potential to benefit a young team on the rise like the Sharks tremendously. 

Sherwood has appeared in 39 games so far this season with the Canucks, where he has recorded 16 goals, four assists, 20 points, and 184 hits. With numbers like these, he undoubtedly would give the Sharks more scoring and bite if acquired. 

With Sherwood in the middle of a strong year and having a bargain $1.5 million cap hit, there is no question that the Canucks want a good return for him in any potential trade. The Sharks have trading assets to work with, so it will be interesting to see if they end up being the club that lands Sherwood from here. 

NEW YORK (AP) — Dylan Guenther had his first career hat trick and added an assist and the Utah Mammoth topped the New York Islanders 7-2 on Thursday.

Nick Schmaltz scored twice and added an assist, Clayton Keller and Mikhail Sergachev each had a goal and two assists, while Lawson Crouse and Barrett Hayton each had two assists. Karel Vejmelka returned from a two-game absence and finished with 20 saves as the Mammoth snapped a two-game skid.

Cal Ritchie and Matthew Schaefer scored for New York, and Max Shabanov had two assists. David Rittich made nine saves on 14 shots, but was replaced by Marcus Hogberg 5:41 into the third period.

Guenther scored his second goal of the game when he buried a backhand feed from Crouse to give Utah a 2-1 lead midway through the second period. He also opened the scoring just 36 seconds into the middle period.

The Islanders briefly tied it 1-1 early in the second period when Ritchie fired a wrist shot over the glove of Vejmelka.

Schmaltz beat Rittich with less than four minutes remaining in the second period to extend Utah’s lead to two goals.

Mammoth forward Alex Kerfoot took a four-minute high-sticking penalty late in the second, but the Islanders didn’t capitalize on the ensuing power play.

Sergachev and Keller scored in the first six minutes of the third period to stretch Utah’s lead to 5-1 and prompt the Islanders to change goaltenders.

Guenther completed the hat trick and scored his 20th goal of the season by sliding the puck between the legs of Hogberg with less than seven minutes remaining.

Schaefer scored a power-play goal midway through the third period for his 10th of the season.

Up next

Mammoth: visit the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.

Islanders: host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.

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The Detroit Red Wings closed out the calendar year of 2025 on a winning note, defeating the Winnipeg Jets by a 2-1 final score at Little Caesars Arena in their annual New Year's Eve game in downtown Detroit. 

For the Red Wings, it was their sixth victory in their last seven outings on home ice, improving their overall record to 14-7-1 in front of the home fans. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Red Wings forward Mason Appleton, who collected his second goal in as many games in the victory over the Jets on Wednesday evening, explained that Detroit wants to be a club that their opposition fears when they arrive at Little Caesars Arena. 

"You want to be a team that's feared when someone comes into your building," he said. "To kind of establish something like that and build toward it, it goes a long way, because you want teams to fear you and have that doubt in their heads before you even drop the puck." 

Head coach Todd McLellan can feel the energy in the building from the routinely sold out crowds in the venue, noting that the team feeds off it. 

"I think maybe we don't talk about it enough, and maybe we should, but you can feel the energy (in the building) build with each game," McLellan said. "I feel like when we come now, it's there, and there's excitement. The games are tight, and we may not always win them, but they're competitive games."

One of the most passionate fan bases in the NHL, the fans have remained with the Red Wings through thick and thin and have brought the energy night in and night out at Little Caesars Arena, which has yet to host a Stanley Cup Playoff game since opening in 2017.

"It Feels Good" Former Jet Mason Appleton Relishes In Scoring For Red Wings Former Winnipeg Jets forward Mason Appleton scored what proved to be the game-winning goal against his former club as part of the Detroit Red Wings' 2-1 victory on Wednesday evening.

However, if the Red Wings continue on their current path, playoff hockey could very well be returning to the Motor City for what would be the first time since 2016. While the energy in the venue from the fans has been strong, the playoffs would bring an entirely new level of spirit and passion.

"When I can feel it, I'm sure the players can, too," McLellan said of the fans. "So, they're helping us along, they really are, and we appreciate it." 

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St. Louis Blues forward Zach Dean has been cleared by the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program and will return to the Springfield Thunderbirds in the AHL.

Prior to the start of the season, the 22-year-old was placed in the program and has yet to play any games. Dean played just 11 games with the Thunderbirds last year, scoring one goal and four points. 

The previous season was his first playing professionally. He skated in nine NHL games with the Blues but failed to record a point. In his rookie AHL season, he scored nine goals and 14 points. 

Dean was originally a first-round pick (30th overall) in 2021 by the Vegas Golden Knights, but was acquired by the Blues in a trade that sent Ivan Barbashev the other way. Standing 6-foot, 176 pounds, Dean plays at a high pace, blending slick puckhanding skills and playmaking vision. 

Dean is set to become an RFA at the end of the season and is due for a contract extension. It's been challenging to access Dean's play due to the missed time, but the Blues hope he can improve his play in the AHL and earn another call-up to the NHL. 

The Thunderbirds are currently in sixth place in the Atlantic Division with an 11-12-4-2 record. 

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Fabian Zetterlund’s goal with less than three minutes to play lifted the Ottawa Senators to a 4–3 victory over the Washington Capitals on Thursday afternoon, snapping the Sens' three-game losing streak and starting the New Year on a positive note.

The goal was Zetterlund’s 10th of the season, and perhaps the easiest he’ll score all year, as he buried a gorgeous backhand feed from Thomas Chabot. It was a strong response after Aliaksei Protas had tied the game at the three-minute mark, less than two minutes earlier.

Leevi Meriläinen earned the win for the Senators, who outshot the Capitals 32–29 on the afternoon. Shane Pinto paced Ottawa’s offense with two assists.

Just 13 hours after the ball dropped on 2026, the Senators got their New Year off to a sluggish start in this one. Tom Wilson, fresh off a Gordie Howe hat trick and a Canadian Olympic selection the day before, opened the scoring with his 22nd goal of the season, cashing in on a rebound.

Dylan Strome added to the lead on the power play. Strome dangled past a stick check from Claude Giroux at the blue line, then walked down main street and beat Meriläinen with a strong, low wrist shot with just over a minute remaining in the first period.

But for Auld Lang Syne, a former Capital then pushed back against his old team.

Nick Jensen scored his second goal of the season right after Jake Sanderson rang one off the crossbar. The rebound kicked out to Jensen, who beat Logan Thompson with a wrist shot. It was a timely goal for Jensen, who had lost his man on the opening goal and had been a rare healthy scratch in the previous game.

Then, with 29 seconds left in the second, Ridly Greig, battling in front, knocked in his fifth goal of the year to tie the game at two after 40 minutes.

Early in the third, less than three minutes in, veteran David Perron scored to give the Senators a 3–2 advantage. Nick Cousins did some strong work behind the Washington net to free up the puck for Stephen Halliday, who made a great pass out front to Perron. Perron one-timed it past Thompson.

A few minutes later, the Sens celebrated what they thought was a Shane Pinto goal. Either the whistle had gone first, or officials ruled Pinto pushed Thompson’s pad with his stick. There wasn’t much discussion, they announced 'no goal' and that was that.

The Capitals pushed hard in the final 90 seconds with the goalie pulled but the Senators weathered the storm. 

The Sens improve to 19-15-5 and will be back at it on Saturday night, hosting the Winnipeg Jets.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News - Ottawa

It’s going to be a fun day in and around loanDepot park ahead of the 2026 Winter Classic on Friday.

In the hours leading up to the big game between the Florida Panthers and New York Rangers, there will be plenty for hockey fans to do to enjoy the event.

The NHL has already announced a special pregame festival taking place in the West Plaza and West Lot 3 of loanDepot park.

The 2026 Enterprise NHL Pregame will feature a wide variety of activations and interactive experiences, which will be open to all Winter Classic ticket holders.

Additionally, the NHL announced that fans will have the opportunity to welcome the players from each team to the ballpark when they arrive for the big game.

The Rangers are scheduled to get there around 4:45 p.m. and the Panthers at approximately 5:15 p.m.

Both teams are also expected to be wearing matching, themed attire for their arrivals to the ballpark, which is something that has become a tradition in recent years for outdoor games.

Fans interested in welcoming the players during their arrivals should gather on Sixth Street between 14th Avenue and 16th Avenue.

Former Panthers defenseman and NHL media personality Jason Demers will be on hand to welcome and interview players as they enter the ballpark.

The outdoor festival will run from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m., when the puck drops on the big game inside.

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