The Boston Bruins' Jeremy Swayman and the Tampa Bay Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy squared off in the second period with Boston up 5-2 and tensions high.
During the Lightning's second consecutive power play, a scrum broke out as Tampa Bay's Brandon Hagel slashed Boston's Charlie McAvoy. Swayman jumped into the fray, which led Vasilevskiy to start skating down the ice.
Swayman noticed and skated toward Vasilevskiy. Once the gloves and masks were off, the two threw a few punches at each other at center before the on-ice officials intervened.
As part of the centennial season celebration for the Detroit Red Wings, the iconic No. 91 jersey of three-time Stanley Cup champion and Hall of Fame forward Sergei Fedorov was raised to the rafters at Little Caesars Arena.
One of the most exciting and dynamic players not only in Red Wings history but in the NHL as a whole, Fedorov electrified fans with his raw speed, elite playmaking ability, and thrilling flair and style.
However, many younger generations of Red Wings fans may not know the full story of his defection from the former Soviet Union, a saga that could have been lifted straight from a spy movie.
The Red Wings had selected Fedorov in the fourth round (74th overall) of the 1989 NHL Draft while he was in the midst of his tenure with CSKA Moscow, where he was teammates with another future Red Wing, Vladimir Konstantinov (selected 229th overall in the same Draft).
One of the principal architects behind the extremely risky defection by both Fedorov and Konstantinov from the Soviet Union was Keith Gave, a longtime Red Wings journalist who was employed at the time by The Detroit Free Press.
"I started covering the Red Wings in 1985, and four years later, they started drafting Russians - they took a few Soviet players, Sergei and Vladdy," Gave explained. "And a week or so after the Draft, I got a call out of the blue in mid-July requesting a lunch meeting from Jim Lites."
Lites, now CEO and alternate governor of the Dallas Stars (where former Red Wings assistant GM Jim Nill is now general manager), was the Red Wingsā executive vice president at the time. He invited Gave to lunch, where the seeds would be planted of what would eventually become a hockey dynasty.
As Gave put it, Lites began discussing the recent selections of both Fedorov and Konstantinov, and he reacted with understandable skepticism given the political climate of the time.
āWe were thinking that because you speak Russian and know the language, and you have NHL credentials, you might be able to slip them a message under the auspices of covering themāto defect and play for the Detroit Red Wings,ā Gave said Lites told him.
"The more he talked, the more skeptical I was becoming," Gave continued. "I said, 'Jim, thereās no way I can do this, I work for the Freep, and Iād be putting my job in danger.'"
Gave eventually left the lunch and returned home to discuss the matter with his wife, but began to reconsider. With several years of experience as a Russian linguist for the National Security Agency, he began to see a viable path to pulling off the hazardous assignment.
"I spent six years in the spy business in West Berlin, working a mile from Checkpoint Charlie, the tip of the spear of the Cold War, and I'd never been given a good cloak and dagger assignment, and I was being offered one, I thought there was a way we might be able to do this," he said.
After reconnecting with Lites, they began to formulate a plan. As it happened, the Soviet national team was holding a Training Camp in Finland, and with Gave's press credentials, he would be the ideal figure to get as close as possible to the players.
"I told him that we might be able to make it work on the condition that I wonāt take a dime of your money," Gave said. "Iāll cash in miles, Iāll get there and do my best to get access, Iāll write some letters, and explain to them everything you told me about what you want to know."
However, Gave laid out one simple condition: he wanted to be the first one to break the story when both players eventually made their way to North America.
āI want to be your first phone call when these guys come over,ā Gave said to Lites. āI want the first story for the Freep."
"And a couple of weeks later, I was on my way to Helsinki, writing letters for Sergei and Vladdy, saying the Red Wings wanted them to come over and play hockey in the NHL for Detroit.ā
Gave described how his Russian language training, which was honed during his time in the military, proved just sufficient to get the Red Wingsā message across.
āI was in Russian language school in 1971, 1972, and I left the Army in 1977," he explained. "In 1989, 12 years later, my Russian wasnāt worth shit anymore, but the Army taught me well enough."
Gave began penning a message to Detroit's future Russian stars, which would be clandestinely slipped between the pages of a media guide.
"I remembered enough, and I knew how to use the Russian/English dictionary, and I was able to patch together a letter that he could understand and throw the (contract) numbers in there," he said.
In the note, Gave wrote that the Red Wings were willing to pay both Fedorov and Konstantinov the same figure as Steve Yzerman, who had been named team captain by coach Jacques Demers just three years earlier to begin the 1986-87 campaign.
Another condition that was stipulated was that the families of both players would be paid $25,000 per year.
"At the time, that was a ton," Gave said. "You could live like royalty in the USSR at that time with that money."
After arriving in Helsinki, there were a few obstacles to overcome to even get to the venue where both Fedorov and Konstantinov were.
"I landed at 4:00 in the afternoon, the hockey game was in three hours, and I didnāt know where it was," Gave explained. "I had to find the arena, find the hockey game, and was asking for directions around the airport; people were looking at me like I had three heads. Finally, I got the answer - they were playing at Olympic Stadium."
Gave managed to get his hotel information, hail a taxi, shower at his hotel, and then make his way across the park to the venue, which was nearby. He happened upon the rink just as the Soviet players arrived and were getting off their bus.
Two Lives - And An NHL Franchise - Are Soon Changed Forever
After entering the venue, Gaveās only immediate problem was finding someone who could get him close to the players.
āI flashed my NHL credentials, and I had my Professional Hockey Writers Association card, my Red Wings media pass, and everything," he said. "I had no trouble getting in, but I had trouble finding someone to get me down where the players were. I finally found a guy, a promoter."
After requesting assistance, Gave was told by the promoter that while he'd help him, the Russian players might not be receptive.
"Iāll certainly try," Gave said the promoter said to him. "You came all the way from Detroit, but you know how Russians areāyou can ask, but they may not play ball."
"The Russians were notorious for limiting access to guys like us," Gave said.
Eventually, Gave made it down near the dressing rooms, where he noticed an imposing nearby physical presence keeping tabs on him as he waited.
From the start, Gave knew it was someone who, if crossed, could potentially be dangerous.
"About 8-10 feet away to my left was a guy who kept looking at me, kind of giving me the eye," Gave said. I could tell he was their KGB guy, to make sure nobody defected."
Suddenly, he knew his assignment had become that much tougher.
āThe promoter went into the room, and a long while later, came out and brought Sergei and Vladdy with him," Gave said. "They had just stepped out of the shower with white towels and wet hair."
"I basically introduced myself and showed them I was from Detroit, and showed them the Red Wings' Draft list from 1989. I said, 'Sergei, here you are, 74th overall.ā He showed no signs of emotion overall, and then I showed Vladdy his own name, and he was bouncing up and down like a kid with a shiny new bike for Christmas."
It was at that moment that Gave realized he had just broken the news to both players for the first time: they had been selected by an NHL team.
"I learned later that this was the moment they realized theyād been drafted by an NHL team," he said. "This was way before the internet, and news traveled slowly then; neither of them had any clue that an NHL team was interested in them."
After giving both players the business cards for both Jim Devellano and Jim Lites, it was at that moment that Gave made his move - albeit carefully.
"I pulled out the media guides with the letters tucked in and gave them to the players," he said. "Sergei had his in front of him, he looked down and thumbed through it, and he saw the KGB guy. He had noticed the guy a bit earlier; he knew who he was, and he had to be careful.ā
āHe thumbed through and saw the letter,ā Gave said of Fedorov when he began looking through the media guide containing the life-changing message. āHe nonchalantly put it behind his back, and I knew it was time to get the f--- out. I shook their hands and said, āGood luck, thanks, and hope to see you in Detroit one day,ā and left.ā
Having literally just set history in motion, Gave made his exit - while also being sure to make sure that the KGB agent wasn't lurking behind.
āWalked out of the building and walked around Helsinki for four hours, looking over my shoulder to make sure I wasnāt being followed," he said.
Thankfully, he was safe and eventually made it back to the hotel. While he admitted he felt some apprehension for his own safety, his chief concern was for Fedorov and Konstantinov and what may have happened to them if the note been discovered.
"I was worried mostly for the two kids," Gave said. "Sergei was 19 at the time, and Vladdy, a bit older. But if they get caught with those letters, they were f---ed. They could lose their careers.
I was worried for them, but Russians know how to sneak around and play the game, and obviously didnāt run into any problems."
After what he described as an uneventful walk around Helsinki, Gave eventually returned to his room and contacted Lites to deliver the news.
"I got back to my hotel room and noticed it was 7:30 back in Detroit, and I called Jim Lites to say that I made contact with the guys and passed the note along. He was so excited and said, āI canāt wait to tell Mr. Ilitch.ā
I said one thing: āRemember our deal: I want the news first.ā He said, āYou got it.ā
And that was it. I had no more role. I saw Jim Lites 100 times, and we never talked about itāit never came up.ā
Two Red Army Players Become Red Wings
Nearly a year after Gaveās risky mission in Finland, he received the news that would not only secure his place in hockey history but also change the course of the Red Wings.
Fedorov had traveled with the Soviets to North America in 1990 to take part in the Goodwill Games in Portland. Lites picked up Fedorov discreetly outside of his hotel, and it wouldn't be long before they were both on Mike Ilitch's private jet en route to Detroit.
āAbout 11 months later, I was about to have dinner at my Dearborn home when the phone rang," Gave said. "It was Jim Lites again, giving me another odd call in the middle of July.
He said, āJust wanted to let you know that Iām on Mr. Iās airplane flying back to Detroit. Guess who is sitting next to me: Sergei Fedorov.ā I shoved my plate away, grabbed my notebook, talked to Jim for 10 minutes, and hung up the phone.
I called the Freep city deskāthey were on deadlineāand I said, āItās Keith Gave.ā"
He said that initially, they were confused as to why a hockey beat writer would be calling them in the middle of the summer.
"I called and asked what the scheduled story on page one was, and said, 'Iām going to blow it out of the water: A Soviet defector on his way to Detroit on Mikeās plane.'
There was a pause, and then he said, āYou got 35 minutes.ā
I hung up, grabbed my laptop, and started typing my ass off. Thirty-five minutes later, I fired off a story. When the newspaper arrived at 6:15 on my doorstep, there it was: Soviet defector coming to play hockey, page one, above the foldāright where you want to be.ā
Fedorov entered the NHL with a bang in the 1990-91 season, scoring 31 goals with 48 assists. It wouldn't be long before he won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's Most Valuable Player for 1993-94 after scoring 56 goals with 64 assists.
Meanwhile, Konstantinov began his NHL career one year after Fedorov and quickly became one of Detroit's most defensively responsible and bruising defensemen.
Both players eventually became 2/5 of the iconic "Russian Five" with Igor Larionov, Slava Kozlov, and Slava Fetisov.
With Fedorov, the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup in 1997, 1998, and 2002. Gave was able to join Kozlov, Larionov, and Fetisov in Russia's famed Red Square with the Cup.
Konstantinov played a key role in Detroit's 1997 win, but his career (and nearly his life) ended just a week later in a limousine accident that also came close to claiming the life of team masseur Sergei Mnatsakanov.
Both Fedorov and Konstantinov remain beloved former members of the Red Wings and enduring figures in some of the franchiseās greatest successes. Without Gaveās fateful mission to Helsinki, carrying a clandestine note tucked into a media guide, those moments may never have happened.
A more detailed account of his journey can be read in his book, The Russian Five: A Story of Espionage, Defection, Bribery and Courage.
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The Los Angeles Kings (23-17-14) pushed the Carolina Hurricanes (34-15-6) to the limit Sunday afternoon, but Sebestain Aho's overtime winner sealed a disappointing 3-2 loss for the Kings at Lenovo Center in a winnable game.
Despite being outshot 34-13, the Kings got excellent goaltending from Anton Forsberg to force extra time before Carolina closed it out in overtime.
Carolina opened the scoring midway through the first period on the power play, when Jordan Staal scored off the nice feed from Andrei Svechnikov to make it 1-0. The Canes were the better team early on, generating high-quality scoring chances and converting them, while the Kings couldn't find the net despite creating good chances.
Los Angeles started to settle as the period came to an end, generating several chances off the rush, but couldn't score, ending intermission trailing by one.
In other news, though, early in the period, the Kings lost defenseman Mikey Anderson with an upper-body injury and did not return, forcing the Kings to play the remainder of the contest with five defenseman.
The second period and most of the regulation belonged to Anton Forsberg, who turned aside several of the Hurricanes' chances, including several point-blank shots very close to going into the net.
Drew Doughty was also great in the sequence where the Hurricanes were looking to extend their lead on a 2-on-1 rush play, but Doughty sprinted down the ice and blocked the shot from behind to keep the score 1-0.
With the defense keeping them in the game, the Kings' offense struggled to generate offense and help Forsberg, continually getting turned away by the Hurricanes or missing easy shots on rush plays.
Helenius and Byfield Bring Kings Back
The game opened up in the third period, with it still being very winnable for the Kings, trailing 1-0. Carolina, though, regained the lead at the 7:03 mark when Alexander Nikishin fired a shot past Forsberg to make it 2ā0.
Los Angeles converted 24 seconds later, with Samuel Helenius finishing a play off a Carolina turnover to score his third goal of the season and give Los Angeles its first goal of the game.
Shortly, though, after scoring, Helenius exited the game and headed to the locker room with about six minutes left in regulation, and didn't return for the rest of the game. No update has been given yet on what happened, but a live update will come shortly after more information is provided.
A couple of minutes later, at the 3:11 mark, Quinton Byfield tied the game for Los Angeles, restoring the two-goal deficit from earlier in regulation. The goal looked to have given the Kings a lot of momentum after trailing throughout the entire match and going scoreless for 40 minutes.
No team was able to score in the last two minutes of regulation after
Carolina refused to let this game slip away after letting the game get close late. Aho delivered the game-winner at the 3:35 mark of overtime after faking a pass to score down the middle of the lane under Forsberg to win it for Carolina.
Forsberg finished with 31 saves in a strong performance, while the Kingsā power play struggled, going 0-for-2 on the night. Los Angeles was solid in the faceoff battle, matching the Hurricanes (50%), and was more physical than Carolina with 25 hits and 25 blocked shots.
Despite the loss, give credit to Los Angeles, which was battling with physicality and came back from behind to make it a game before coming up just short in overtime. Now, this finally caps off the Kings' road trip, ending it 3-1-1, 7 of 10 points total, and currently fourth in the Pacific Division, one point behind the Seattle Kraken.
The Kings' next game will be on Wednesday against the Seattle Kraken at 7:00 P.M. PT, in a Western Conference showdown for potentially the third seed in the division.
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The New York Rangers made a surprise pick-up on Saturday, claiming defenseman Vincent Iorio off waivers.
Iorio was waived by the Sharks, and the Rangers decided to take a chance on the 2021 second-round pick.
Will Iorio immediately slot into the Rangersā lineup? That remains unclear, but after trading Carson Soucy to the New York Islanders, Iorio should get an opportunity to earn a spot with the Blueshirts.
Mike Sullivan hinted about what sort of role Iorio could play and what he expects from the teamās latest acquisition.
āI don't know a lot about him. I know a little bit about him. I know he's going to bring good size,ā Sullivan said of Iorio. āHe's a young kid I think he could potentially help us with our puck-moving ability back there. I think he defends pretty well with his size.
āI know our hockey operations department obviously thinks highly of him, and that's why they claimed him. I look forward to seeing him in person and getting to know him and working with him. We'll see where it goes.ā
The Philadelphia Flyers have announced that they have assigned goaltenderĀ Aleksei Kolosov to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.Ā
Kolosov was called up to the Flyers' roster on Saturday ahead of their matchup against the Los Angeles Kings. This was after Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson left the Flyers' Jan. 29 contest against the Boston Bruins early due to a lower-body injury. Yet, with this latest roster move, Kolosov is now heading right back to Lehigh Valley.Ā
Kolosov has appeared in 21 games so far this season with the Phantoms, where he has recorded a 9-10-1 record, a .908 save percentage, and a 2.52 goals-against average. This is after he had a 5-6-1 record, an .884 save percentage, and a 3.11 goals-against average in 12 games this past season with Lehigh Valley.Ā
At the NHL level with the Flyers this season, Kolosov has a 0-2-0 record, an .830 save percentage, and a 4.00 goals-against average in four games. In 17 games this past season with the Flyers, the 24-year-old goaltender posted a 5-9-1 record and an .867 save percentage.Ā
In Saturday nightās game against the Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiensā power forward Juraj Slafkovsky scored his 21st goal of the season, setting a new career high. As things stand, the 21-year-old has 21 goals and 23 assists for 44 points, well on his way to establishing a new career mark. In the last two campaigns, he put up 50 and 51 points, but right now, heās on pace to hit 66 points.
Beyond the points, though, the rest of his stats line is impressive. In his first two seasons in the league, he had minus-13 and minus-19 ratings; last season, he was plus-4 and right now, heās a plus-7. While this may not be the most favoured stat these days, it shows a tendency which is matched by the eye test. He has become a much more responsible forward defensively and has cut down on his giveaways. Last season, he gave the puck away 77 times in 71 games; this year, he has 44 giveaways in 55 games, meaning heās on pace for just 66 in an 82-game season.
Thereās been a visible improvement there since the start of the season as well. At the beginning of this campaign, he often tried to enter the offensive zone on one side only to try a no-look backhand pass, which was frequently intercepted. That has now all but disappeared from his game; he has learned to manage both the puck and the game, making better decisions with and without it.
Furthermore, he has become a much more critical piece of the Canadiensā attack. He now averages 18:05 minutes of ice time, up from 17:21 last season, and that will keep going up. Even though heās now on the second line, heās still on the first power play unit. He averages 3:05 minutes of ice time on the power play (3:06 last season) and already has 17 points on the man advantage this season, while he only had 10 last season. 10 of those 17 points are goals; last season, he only had five power-play goals.
Heās become much more efficient in the bumper position as well, moving to get in space and make himself a viable option for his teammates. His goal against the Sabres on Saturday night was a perfect example of that.
Great passes make great plays šāāļø
Juraj SlafkovskĆ½ gets the @CanadiensMTL on the board!
The fact that heās now a much more imposing presence physically means that heās harder to deal with in front of the net; battling Slafkovsky for position is no easy task. Heās also become much more effective at fighting for the puck along the boards.
This season will more than likely be remembered as Slafkovskyās breakout season, the year he made people realize that Kent Hughes and co. were right when they picked him first overall at the 2022 draft. That doesnāt mean weāve seen his ceiling yet, though. Thereās much to see and discover about Slafkovsky.
The NHL Olympic roster freeze will kick in on Feb. 4 at 3 p.m. EST, and while trades arenāt likely to commence beforehand, the markets for players on the trade block are beginning to formulate.
The St. Louis Blues are no exception, as several of their trade candidates are beginning to draw serious interest from plenty of teams.
Brayden Schenn, Justin Faulk, and Jordan Kyrou appear on almost every trade board, and to no surprise, they do on The Fourth Periodās.
The 34-year-old is in the sixth year of his eight-year, $6.5-million contract. Although his production has dropped off over the last couple of seasons, scoring just 12 goals and 24 points in 55 games, heās a defensively responsible player who can play a physical brand of hockey.
The 33-year-old has another season left on his deal following this year at $6.5 million. Faulk has scored 11 goals and 27 points in 55 games this season, providing offense and defensive fortitude.
Like Schenn, Faulkās experience and two-way versatility are enticing traits teams are looking to add to their rosters.
Outside of Robert Thomas, no other Blues trade candidate might be a more intriguing add than Kyrou.
The 27-year-old is in year three of an eight-year contract that pays him $8.125 million annually. With just 12 goals and 27 points in 45 games, Kyrou has struggled to match his production from previous seasons, but a change of scenery could do Kyrou well.
Kyrou has been playing better hockey lately, recording four goals and 10 points in his last 10 games. According to The Fourth Periodās trade board, the Seattle Kraken, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, Utah Mammoth, and the Leafs could have interest in trading for Kyrou.
Whether Kyrou is willing to waive his no-trade clause remains unknown, but the interest is there.
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TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 30: The Boston Bruins logo is seen during the build out for 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
Welcome to Sunday afternoon/evening, folks!
The Bruins and the Lightning will take it outside for an Atlantic Division showdown at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
Itās actually forecast to be pretty chilly in Tampa on Sunday afternoon, with temperatures in the mid-to-low 40s (F).
The forecast for Wednesday is 70Āŗ F, soā¦much better to try to play hockey outside today.
Per the NHL, todayās game is the leagueās 45th outdoor game, but just the 6th to feature match-up between two teams with 30+ wins.
Both teams are 8-1-1 in their last ten. SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE.
Anyways, hereās to hoping for good ice, no injuries, and an entertaining game.
New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change.
Just one month after the NHLās first outdoor game in Florida, itās time for the second.
Tonight, Feb. 1, the Tampa Bay Lightning will host the Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFLās Tampa Bay Buccaneers, for the 2026 Stadium Series.
While initially, it was projected that temperatures would hover around 70 degrees in the hours leading up to puck drop, itās going to be colder than expected with temperatures dropping into the high 30 degree range. To ensure the ice would remain frozen in the days leading up to the game, the NHL employed a climate controlled tent to maintain the iceās integrity.
2026 NHL Stadium Series: what to know
Who: Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
When: Feb. 1, 6:30 p.m. ET
Where: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
Channel: ESPN
Streaming: Sling TV (try a 1-day pass)
The Bruins have played in five previous outdoor games, most recently in the 2023 Winter Classic at Fenway Park. They are 4-1 outdoors.
Tonightās is the Lightningās second game on the outdoor rink. They won their first, the 2022 Stadium Series in Nashville against the Predators.
2026 NHL Stadium Series start time
Puck drop at the 2026 NHL Winter Classic is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET tonight, Jan. 2.
If you arenāt ready to commit to a full-on subscription and just want to tune into todayās game, you can try a Sling TV Orange Day Pass. Priced at $4.99, youāll get 24 hours of access to all Sling TV Orange has to offer, including ESPN. Sling also offers weekend and week-long passes for its Orange plan, which offer between three and seven days of access.
TRY SLING TV 1-DAY PASS
Where is the 2026 NHL Stadium Series?
The Bruins and Lightning will hit the ice on the field of Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The stadium is the home of the NFLās Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but sheās also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When sheās not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, sheās also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
With the Vancouver Canucks in a rebuild, time on ice will be something to keep an eye on game to game. Vancouver is no longer fighting for a playoff spot, and, based on the current lineup, has committed to getting younger players minutes in the NHL. One of those young players is defenceman Tom Willander, who, based on his recent play, deserves more ice time.
On this recent homestand, Willander averaged 13:57 of ice time. He surpassed the 17-minute mark twice in seven games, but also recorded under 14 minutes on two separate occasions. It is also important to note that Willander, like others on the team, was dealing with an illness for part of the homestand, which is why he only played seven of the eight games.
One positive development when it comes to Willander's ice time is that he is getting more opportunities on the power play. He averaged 1:30 with the man advantage during the homestand, which ranked second behind Zeev Buium among Canucks defenders. At the same time, Willander only averaged 18 seconds per game on the penalty kill as Vancouver is still relying heavily on experienced players while shorthanded.
Saturday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs is a perfect example of the Canucks not using Willander enough. The 20-year-old played 16 minutes, which was the lowest amongst Vancouver defenders. Willander playing just 16 minutes is very surprising, as not only did he get some overtime shifts, but the game itself did not feature any special teams time.
Something else to keep an eye on outside of ice time is the number of shifts Willander has per game. On this homestand, he averaged 19.6 shifts per game, which ranked seventh out of the eight defencemen who played. At this point, Willander should be at or above 24 shifts per game, which has only happened three times in 43 games.
Jan 31, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tom Willander (5) celebrates his goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
While every game unravels differently, the Canucks are at a point where they need to be giving Willander more minutes. Not only has he earned them, but now is the time to see if he 20-year-old can handle a bigger role at the NHL level. Ultimately, Willander should be averaging at least 18 minutes a game for the rest of the season and should also get more of an opportunity on the penalty kill.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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The Buffalo Sabres have made some changes to their roster.
The Sabres have announced that they have recalled forward Isak Rosen from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans. In addition, the Sabres shared that defenseman Zac Jones has been reassigned to Rochester.Ā
Rosen is having an excellent season in the AHL with Rochester, so it is not too surprising to see him get another chance on Buffalo's roster. In 28 games with the Amerks this season, the 2021 first-round pick has recorded 20 goals, 12 assists, and 33 points.Ā
Rosen has also played in 13 games so far this season with the Sabres, where he has set new career highs with three goals, four assists, and seven points.Ā
Jones, on the other hand, has yet to play a game this season for the Sabres, even though he has been called up to the NHL roster multiple times. In 32 games this season with the Amerks, the 5-foot-11 blueliner has recorded six goals, 31 assists, and 37 points.Ā
The sellout crowd at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday afternoon was primed from the get-go to explode in cheers for their Red Wings, who were facing the former heated rival Colorado Avalanche.
However, a good majority of the fans had already decided to get a head start on the traffic by the midway point of the third period in what was ultimately a 5-0 Avalanche win over the Red Wings.
Those that remained behind let out a few noticeable boos as time ticked away in regulation
The crowd wasnāt the only group feeling it. Several Red Wings players showed visible frustration after Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood shut down their scoring chances, while their power play came up empty and their passing lacked crispness.
Afterward, head coach Todd McLellan said that any visible frustration on the part of the players was earned by their performance, while also noting that it's on them to come up with the solution.
"There was frustration, but we earned it, and we deserved it," he said. "That can change just through our play and execution."
"They're (the Avalanche) a real good hockey club, and they're going to do some things to you that you're not comfortable with," he continued. "They're going to score some goals. But if you let frustration drag you down even deeper, you'll end up with exactly what we got."
All season long, McLellan has preached the importance of mental fortitude to avoid letting a rough stretch of play, which happens to every NHL team over the course of a long 82-game campaign, snowball out of control.
Never one to let his players off the hook, McLellan emphasized the need for a stronger start to games, as the Red Wings surrendered the first goal against in each of their last three outings, which all resulted in losses.
"One (reason) is lack of focus, and if thereās lack of focus, then thatās on all of us to get it back and make sure weāre executing," he said. "It could be you get stale with linemates, and itās not working. It could be complacency that slips in, and youāre okay with whatās going on.
And thatās wrong, so we have to fix that."
Detroit gets a shot at a course correction Monday night in Denver when they face the Avalanche again.
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Forget about Nazem Kadri reuniting with the Colorado Avalanche.
Any trade with the Calgary Flames would demand a significant return, and the team acquiring Kadri would be taking on the remaining four years of his $7 million-per-season contract.
While the Avalanche certainly have the assets to meet Calgaryās demands, doing so would likely come at a steep cost to Coloradoās long-term flexibilityāand, more importantly, its chances of competing for a Stanley Cup.
Even if the Flames were to retain 25% of Kadriās $7 million annual salary, the Avalanche would still be responsible for $5.25 million through the 2028ā29 NHL seasonāassuming the Flames were even willing to be generous.
Kadri is typically a second-line center, but he wouldnāt be replacing Brock Nelson, who was recently named to Team USA for the Milan-Cortina Olympic Games. At 34, Nelson is on pace for one of the best seasons of his career, projected to finish with a career-high 43 goals and 31 assists for 74 points. For context, his previous career-high in points was 75, set with the New York Islanders during the 2022ā23 campaign.
Kadri himself posted a career-high 87 points during the 2021ā22 season with the Avalanche, tallying 28 goals and 59 assists in 71 regular-season gamesāa season that culminated in a Stanley Cup championship for Colorado. After the Avalanche were unable to re-sign him, he joined the Flames. While he has put up solid numbers in Calgary, he isnāt quite the player he once was.
How are we feeling about Nazem Kadri?
For me, he looks like the Kadri from the end of the 22-23 season. He looks disinterested and he's making a lot of careless plays with the puck
He has 4 points in the last 17 games. He's been outscored 14-4 at 5v5. It's been tough to watch pic.twitter.com/1foX0j0NE3
Although Kadri could certainly boost production on the third line, the Avalancheās depth remains their greatest strength. And if Colorado were to pursue a trade, you could likely kiss Parker Kelly goodbye, Ross Colton is probably gone, top prospect Mikhail Gulyayev could be included, and a draft pick might also be on the table.
Teams That Could Snag Kadri
Even if the Avalanche were willing to go all-in, the bigger question remains: whatās the point? Trading solely to block another team rarely makes sense.
Recent reports indicate that the Central Divisionās Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild are showing interest in the 35-year-old forward. The Stars need little introduction: the Avalanche have historically struggled against them in the playoffs, losing five of seven series.
That might tempt some fans to argue for trading for Kadri just to keep him out of Dallasā hands. But thatās a risky approach. Making a major financial decision just to block one team ignores the bigger pictureāyou still have to contend with other playoff contenders. Take the Wild, for example: theyāre steadily closing in on the top spot that the Avalanche have long held.
Over the past month, while Colorado has hit a rough patch, Minnesota has continued to improve. At 32-14-10, the Wild have 74 pointsājust seven behind the Avalanche, who sit at 36-8-9 with 81 points.
Nazem Kadri has informed the Flames that he is open to being moved, per @TheFourthPeriod.
The Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild are among the teams that have kicked the tires on Kadri before. pic.twitter.com/GPDfwjMOga
If one of those teams ends up with Kadri, would it be disappointing? Perhaps, from a nostalgic perspectiveābut the Avalanche have their own battle to fight. No one will forget the 2022 team and what they accomplished, but the focus must remain on the present.
Chris MacFarland is probably working on a savvy trade as we speak and who knows, we could be wrong on the Kadri situation altogether. Letās see what this team does to get even better.
The Winnipeg Jets are quietly turning things around at a point in the season when many had already written them off as a playoff contender.
After a deflating 4ā1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, the Jets responded with a statement win Saturday night, edging the back to back defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers 2ā1. While Florida is also enduring a challenging season and currently sits outside the playoff picture, defeating a team of that caliber could provide a significant momentum boost for Winnipeg.
The Jets have been collecting points when it matters most. They have earned at least one point in 10 of their last 14 games, posting a 7ā4ā3 record over that stretch. That mark is stronger than several current playoff teams, including the Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota Wild, Seattle Kraken, and New York Islanders.
Winnipeg appears to be playing its best hockey at a critical time. Although the organization has been expected to sell off some assets, Fourth Period insider David Pagnotta reported recently that the Jets could also explore adding pieces if the price is right.
At 22ā25ā7, Winnipeg sits eight points out of a playoff spot and the road ahead will not be easy. The Jets are entering what looks to be their toughest stretch of the season with upcoming games against the Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens, and Anaheim Ducks. If they can survive that portion of the schedule, they could put themselves in position to make a serious push toward a playoff berth.
There are also opportunities ahead that the Jets will need to capitalize on. The schedule includes two games against the Vancouver Canucks, along with single matchups versus the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, and Nashville Predators. To remain in the hunt, Winnipeg will almost certainly need to win the majority, if not all, of those contests.
The next 13 to 14 games will be telling in determining whether this team can pull off a late season surge. Complicating matters is the timing of the trade deadline, as the Jets have just seven games remaining before decisions must be made on the teamās direction. If Winnipeg hopes to add reinforcements for a playoff run, winning now is essential.
With the Olympic trade freeze set to begin Wednesday, league wide activity is expected to pick up in the coming days. As a result, the Jets could be among the teams making notable moves as they attempt to turn a once written off season into something more.
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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 31: Noel Acciari #55 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates his first period goal against the New York Rangers at PPG PAINTS Arena on January 31, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Over the summer, a respected voice like Elliotte Friedman really drove home a lot of feelings about the Pittsburgh Penguins in a podcast:
āItās really hard to make deals right now because there are 31 teams in the NHL attempting to get betterā¦.then there is Pittsburghā
Turns out the signings of players like Anthony Mantha, Parker Wotherspoon, Justin Brazeau and Connor Dewar didnāt impress many people in the moment. Someone forgot to tell the Penguin players they were going to be uncompetitive this year. Rolling on a six-game winning streak, Pittsburgh has climbed solidly into second place in the Metropolitan Division.
As the Olympic break approaches this Thursday, hereās the picture in the Eastern Conference.
The mission is becoming clear for the Pens: stay ahead of Columbus, Washington, Philadelphia and New Jersey and they will make the playoffs. Considering that Washington has been stuck in neutral for a while, Philadelphia has melted away and New Jersey has yet to put it all together, that mission for the Penguins looks more achievable with every passing game.
What a shocking season this has been. The two time Stanley Cup champion (and, letās not forget 3x Eastern Conference champion) Florida Panthers are eight points out of a playoff spot. Other, almost near unanimous preseason playoff shoo-ins like Ottawa, Toronto, New Jersey and Washington find themselves in the bottom-half of the block too.
Pittsburgh is one of many surprise stories and success stories. John Gibson has boosted Detroit, Matthew Schaefer is absurdly good for the Islanders. Buffalo fired their GM and somehow shook themselves out of the doldrums at a most unexpected time. Ditto Columbus, just replace the word āGMā in last sentence with ācoachā.
But, bias aside, Pittsburgh might be the most astounding stories of them all. The team that was pushed to the side and about unanimously picked to finish last ā in the division, if not the conference or the entire league, instead has been one of the best teams and stories across them all so far. Now almost two-thirds of the way through the season (at 53 games, theyāve completed 64.6% of it), itās no fluke or something to be written off as a small sample.
The Penguins have a good process offensively. Defensively theyāre nothing special but not to a harmful amount, and they still keep shots down. Both of their special teams are top-5 level. They are getting great goaltending inputs and finishing chances when they shoot. Pick a category, Pittsburgh is pretty darn good at just about all of them.
Many of the popular models are starting to buy in at this point to shift and adjust their pictures that now include the Penguins in post-season outlooks.
