As part of what was a busy offseason for the Detroit Red Wings, they signed veteran James van Riemsdyk to a one-year contract not long after trading Vladimir Tarasenko to the Minnesota Wild.
While van Riemsdyk missed all of Training Camp and the pre-season because of a family matter and got off to a slower start than he would have liked, he has more than made up for lost time.
van Riemsdyk scored a spectacular between-the-legs goal during Sunday evening's 4-3 overtime victory over the Ottawa Senators, his 13th tally of the season and 10th since the start of December.
The Middletown Township, New Jersey native was the second overall pick in the 2007 NHL Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers, one pick behind his future Red Wings teammate Patrick Kane, who went first overall to the Chicago Blackhawks.
While van Riemsdyk's family has spent the majority of their time in Minnesota so far during his tenure in Detroit, several of them were able to make the trip to Michigan for Sunday's game.
"Tonight, I was fortunate enough to have my family, my oldest three kids, my wife and father-in-law here," he explained afterward. "Those kind of games become more special when you spend a lot of time away from them."
Having a dad who plays professional hockey for the Red Wings comes with a few built-in perks for the van Riemsdyk kids.
"They've been to a couple (games) this year, I'll go see them now and I'm sure they'll be fired up to come into the locker room and have some snacks," he said with a grin.
The NHL veteran has already played for two other Original Six clubs in the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins, and he's got nothing but good things to say about his experience so far with the Red Wings.
"As far as the hockey component and how i've been treated, I can't say enough good things about it," he said of his experience in Detroit. "I've really enjoyed it."
Not only is van Riemsdyk loving his time in Detroit, the Red Wings are reaping major benefits from having him on the team.
So far, he's proven to be one of the most underrated contract signings of the offseason.
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VANCOUVER, British Columbia — When Patrick Roy put on the tape of Max Tsyplakov as a KHL player, he saw a markedly different player than the one who’s been struggling to keep his spot in the lineup with the Islanders.
“He was a power forward. A guy that would brings pucks to the net, a guy that played really well defensively,” Roy said after the Islanders practiced Sunday. “So to me, that’s his DNA. And I want him to play his game.”
Tsyplakov will get another chance to do so Monday night against the Canucks as he reenters the Islanders lineup with Max Shabanov drawing out. He’ll play on the second line with Cal Ritchie and Emil Heineman, which should in theory give him a good opportunity to show off those skills.
“[They’re] guys who have really good speed,” Tsyplakov told The Post. “And Heiny has a good shot and Ritchie, good speed, can make a good shot. I just need to work hard, make it my job down low in the O-zone. Be good on the half-wall in the D-zone, just break out [the puck].”
New York Islanders right wing Maxim Tsyplakov (7) tries a wrap around shot on Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) in the third period at Grand Casino Arena. Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
Roy took a diplomatic tack when asked about Shabanov’s recent play, but the winger has struggled of late. He’s gone five games without a point and has just one goal in his last 26.
“I thought he played OK in his games,” Roy said. “Sometimes you just try different things.”
Tsyplakov has struggled to gain traction this season, and has played just four times since Dec. 9 as a result.
“It’s tough,” Tsyplakov said. “Just need to try to be positive. Practice, work hard, get the chance and use the chance.”
Phil Goyette, a four-time Stanley Cup winner with the Canadiens and the first head coach of the Islanders, died at age 92 on Sunday, the Canadiens announced in a statement.
Goyette, who played seven seasons with the Rangers, including with the 1972 team that lost to the Bruins in the Cup Final, went 6-40-4 as the coach of the expansion Islanders before Earl Ingarfield took over behind the bench.
The Canadiens did not provide a cause of death in their statement, but said that Goyette’s family “would like to thank the public for their wishes of sympathy.”
Ilya Sorokin will start in goal for the Islanders on Monday against the Canucks.
ANAHEIM, Calif. — In his first comments since the Rangers retooling announcement, head coach Mike Sullivan assured that his team would continue to try to win every game.
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That means the veteran bench boss plans to coach and make decisions that he thinks will put the Blueshirts in the best position on a game-to-game basis. There doesn’t appear to be any plan to hold players out of the lineup to protect against injury until a trade is imminent.
Amid the club’s current circumstances, however, the Rangers should be considering development and the long-term vision when making certain decisions going forward.
Asked how much he has to weigh coaching to win and development, given how the last couple of days have gone, Sullivan said he didn’t consider the two to be mutually exclusive.
“My outlook on it is that it tends to go hand-in-hand,” he said Sunday after practice at Honda Center. “I think when you look at the nature of the league and how it’s evolved, there was once a time when, really, development took place in the American League and the NHL was the NHL. I think with the salary cap and things of that nature, younger players are getting forced onto rosters, entry-level contracts, things like that to make the business side of it work. And as a result of that, development has to take place at the NHL level also. That’s probably been the last 20 years and that’s been my experience of being in the NHL.
New York Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan coaches against the Seattle Kraken during the first period at Madison Square Garden. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“It’s an important element of what we do. I love that aspect of our job, but I also think it goes hand-in-hand with winning. I don’t know that it’s one at the expense of the other at our level. We’ve put a lot of young guys in prominent roles this year out of necessity, with guys being injured and guys get an opportunity to play up the lineup and in special teams situations. A lot of times, that’s how careers begin and develop, is with an opportunity with circumstances like this. Guys carve their way, they force their way onto a roster through their performance and their play. And that healthy competition is a positive thing for organizations. “We have a commitment to all of our players to help them continue to grow and develop, regardless of where they are in their career. Obviously, the young guys we pay particular attention to and we’ll continue to do that.”
The Rangers have already had an influx of youth in the lineup this season, beginning with Noah Laba seizing the third-line center role out of training camp. Matthew Robertson also made the Opening Night roster, but the rookie defenseman has since taken root on the Rangers back end.
Since then, Gabe Perreault, Brennan Othmann and Scott Morrow have essentially joined the fray full time. Brett Berard and Jaroslav Chmelar also got looks at different points this season as well.
It is telling that Dylan Garand is still in Hartford amid goalie Igor Shesterkin’s lower-body injury.
The Rangers evidently have more trust in Spencer Martin than their organizationally grown netminder, whom they drafted 103rd overall in 2020. Garand has yet to make his NHL debut, but he has served as backup before.
Carson Soucy is expected to join the Rangers in California ahead of their matchup with the Ducks on Monday night.
As a result, defenseman Connor Mackey was assigned back to Hartford.
The 31-year-old Soucy did not play in Philadelphia due to personal reasons.
The Rangers recalled forward Anton Blidh from Hartford.
DETROIT (AP) — Alex DeBrincat scored 36 seconds into overtime to give the surging Detroit Red Wings a 4-3 win over the Ottawa Senators on Sunday.
Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Lucas Raymond and James van Riemsdyk also scored for Detroit. Patrick Kane assisted on Sandin-Pellikka’ goal, moving him two points shy of Mike Modano’s record of 1,374 career points by a U.S.-born player.
John Gibson made 19 saves for his 15th victory in his last 17 games. The Red Wings improved to 9-4 in overtime games.
Drake Batherson had a goal and an assist for Ottawa. Dylan Cozens and Shane Pinto also scored, and James Reimer made 30 saves.
DeBrincat’s team-high 26th goal was set up by Andrew Copp as Detroit kept pace with Tampa Bay atop the Atlantic Division standings. The Red Wings have won six of their last seven games.
LIGHTNING 4, STARS 1
DALLAS (AP) — Brandon Hagel’s tiebreaking goal midway through the second period proved to be the winner, and Andrei Vasilevskiy finished with 19 saves on 20 shots as Tampa Bay beat Dallas.
Rookie Dominic James and Jake Guentzel each had a goal and an assist, and Pontus Holmberg added a late empty-net score for the Lightning, who bounced back from a shootout loss at St. Louis on Friday that ended a franchise record-tying 11-game winning streak. Tampa Bay has a 13-game points streak and they are tied with Carolina atop of the Eastern Conference with 64 points, second overall to Colorado (74).
Hagel took a pass at the goal line to the left side of Dallas goaltender Jake Oettinger, playing off the line, and muscled the puck through the stick of Stars defenseman Esa Lindell for a 2-1 lead. It was Hagel’s sixth winning goal this season, tied for second in the NHL behind Nashville’s Steven Stamkos, who has seven.
Tampa Bay is a league-best 18-4-4 on the road and 20-1-0 when leading after two periods.
Vasilevskiy has 10 straight 20-win seasons and is 17-4-3 in his career against Dallas.
Oskar Back scored for the struggling Stars, who came off a 2-3-1 road trip and have lost three straight in regulation, scoring one goal in each game. Oettinger, tied for eighth in the NHL with 17 wins, stopped 22 shots and is 1-4-2 in his last seven starts.
OILERS 5, BLUES 0
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Zach Hyman had two goals and an assist, Connor Ingram made 27 saves for his first shutout of the season, and Edmonton beat St. Louis.
Vasily Podkolzin had a goal and an assist and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Andrew Mangiapane also scored for the Oilers, who have gone 5-1-2 in their last eight games.
Nugent-Hopkins played in his 1,000th regular-season contest, becoming just the 63rd player in history to record a goal in his milestone match. Connor McDavid and Mattias Ekholm each had a pair of assists.
Edmonton is now 21-1-4 when scoring first this season.
Jordan Binnington had 23 saves for St. Louis, who snapped a two-game win streak.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Half-accusingly and half-jokingly, Patrick Roy said to go find some wood to knock on. Good health this late into a season is always a risky topic to bring up, after all.
Particularly so for Adam Pelech, who last got through a season without missing serious time in 2021-22. Not coincidentally, that year was also the only time in his career Pelech was voted to the All-Star Game.
Forty-eight games in, though, with Game 49 on Monday against the Canucks, Pelech has avoided injury. Not coincidentally, he’s quietly putting together what’s on pace to be his best season since he was last fully healthy.
“It makes a big difference,” Pelech told The Post after the Islanders practiced at Rogers Arena on Sunday. “It’s tough missing time, right? You’re on the shelf, rehabbing, whatever. Meanwhile, everyone else, all your teammates, are getting better every day. It’s tough missing time to injury.
Adam Pelech (3) celebrates his goal during the second period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at UBS Arena, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Elmont, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“Unfortunately, I’ve had some bad luck the past few seasons. Knock on wood, I’ve been healthy this season. It makes a big difference.”
Pelech has never put up many points, and this season is no exception. He has just seven. Defensively, though, he’s been as good as ever.
His 52.79 expected goals percentage leads Islanders defensemen, and he’s second only to Ryan Pulock in on-ice goals against per 60 minutes, according to Evolving Hockey.
He’s also been central to the penalty kill’s transformation into a top 10 unit after years of languishing near the bottom of the league.
“We’re coached extremely well, for sure,” Pelech said of the PK. “Good plan every night. The coaches put a lot of work in to make sure we have the best opportunity to succeed and then just getting the reps in, sticking to the system and getting great goaltending.”
It’s a little ironic that Pelech and Pulock are both having renaissance seasons when they’ve barely been partnered with each other. The two formed a stalwart top pair for the Islanders during the club’s deep playoff runs under Barry Trotz, and know each other’s games inside and out.
Pulock, though, has been cemented as Matthew Schaefer’s partner since November, as has Pelech with Tony DeAngelo. That seems to work well for all four of the players, as it creates two pairs with a primary offensive defenseman (Schaefer and DeAngelo) and one who’s comfortable sitting back in the play (Pelech and Pulock).
“Me and Tony have been getting better and better, developing chemistry together,” Pelech said. “What I love about playing with him, really smart player. Makes the game easy for his D-partner. I think we’ve been going well. And then [I’ve been] doing things that have always made me successful. Defensively, being a guy who’s dependable and the penalty kill’s been great too.”
New York Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech (3) moves the puck down ice as Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand (22) defends during the first period at UBS Arena, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in Elmont, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Throughout their current road trip, of which Monday marks the sixth game, the Islanders have leaned heavily on their defense, spending significant time in their own zone as they struggle to sustain possession and offensive zone time with star center Bo Horvat injured. For the most part, they’ve survived by doing that, though Saturday’s 4-2 loss to the Flames was their worst game of the trip.
“I’d say that our D corps, the three of them: Pully and Schaef and Pelly’s been playing really well for us,” Roy said. “Tony D’s been a good addition with Pelly. I understand Pelly’s playing the big role and helps Tony D to be more free in the offense a bit.
“… I feel like whoever plays with Pelly will have success because of the way he handles it and the way he comes to play. He’s a real pro. He’s fun to have around us and we’re very blessed to have him on our team.”
The 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano-Cortina, Italy will be a dream realized for several NHL players, as the league has not participated in the Olympics since 2014 in Sochi, Russia.
There are some, such as Pittsburgh Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby and top defenseman Erik Karlsson, who have been there before and are, potentially, set to particpate for the final time in their careers. There are also some young players who are experiencing it for what is, hopefully, only the first time.
But there are others - many others - who never had the benefit of a chance at participating, even if they're a decade or more into their NHL careers.
And one of those players is Penguins' forward Rickard Rakell.
After being named to Team Sweden for the 2026 Games, Rakell will finally have his chance of a lifetime. And it will come within a calendar year that has also included representation at the 4 Nations Tournament last February and a trip to Stockholm - albeit, while injured - for the NHL Global Series.
“It's kind of, like, all of my dreams coming true in hockey in one year," Rakell said. "It's been really special first to get the chance to represent Sweden at the 4 Nations tournament. That was so cool to just be a part of that and play those games, and I'll get the chance to play for Sweden in the Olympics.
"It's a dream come true for me. First time, first chance for me to go there and do that. So, I'm just going to take it all in and leave it all out there. Just have a chance to win a gold medal.”
Of course, Rakell was only 20 years old and toggling between the NHL and AHL back in 2014. He is one of many NHL players - and teammates, including players of similar age like Filip Forsberg, Alex Wennberg, and Mika Zibanejad - who are on the the back nine of their careers but never really had the chance to represent at the Olympic Games.
Now, they finally will get a chance, and they will get to do it as a collective unit that is all looking forward to experiencing it for the first time.
"I'm very familiar with the players that are on that team," Rakell said. "There's just so much excitement to get the chance to play together with them and have all those players on the same team and just see what you can do together.”
And they will get that chance because of the effort the NHL has put in to get itself back on the international scene. The 4 Nations Tournament last season - at which Canada bested Team USA in the gold medal game - acted as a sort of guinea pig for the NHL to gauge interest in international tournaments.
Rakell believes it's important for the NHL to keep up its international presence and continue making efforts to go to the Olympics not only because it keeps more eyes watching hockey, but also because it's such a unique experience for the players - even if it alters the regular season a bit.
“I think it's been great," Rakell said. "Even though it changes our schedule a little bit, especially with the Olympics since that's going on for such a long time, the NHL season has to compress a little bit. But, at the same time, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me.
He smiled. "I like playing hockey games, so I don't mind it."
Tournaments like 4 Nations and the Olympics being mid-season also helps a bit in terms of preparation and approach. Rakell said that having mid-season tournaments can work both ways, whether a player is on a heater going into it or struggling.
And, because they're already in mid-season form, it makes the training and transition aspect of it easier.
Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Sweden defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) celebrates with teammates William Nylander (88) and Rickard Rakell (67) after scoring a goal against Team Finland in the second period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
"It kind of goes both ways," Rakell said. "If you are playing really well, you want to keep that up in those tournaments if you're already feeling really good going into those tournaments. While, I think, if you're maybe struggling a little bit, there's a chance, an opportunity, to get a change of scenery and just reset.
"And I think everybody who is going to play are thinking a lot about the Olympics. After that, it will hopefully end the way you want it to, and you just come back and focus on the rest of the season. So, it's kind of nice.”
And the preparation isn't all about the physical and mental side of things, either. There is also an aspect of communication, as each Olympic team has to convene and strategize as much as possible in the lead-up to the tournament.
"I've talked to a few guys, and I think it will be just more and more going forward here in the next few weeks leading into the tournament," Rakell said. "I mean, we don't have much time from when we leave from New York to the tournament until games start. So, you try to prepare as much as you can, and you get together and just talk about systems and expectations so you don't have to do that when you get there.”
Communication shouldn't be too difficult with one Swedish teammate, though. Rakell may have the chance to go with his Pittsburgh teammate in Karlsson, who was named to the final roster but is currently out with a lower-body injury. His status for the Games remains unclear, but he is practicing non-contact and travelled with the team on their Western road trip.
He and Karlsson have become good friends during their three shared seasons in Pittsburgh, and Rakell mentioned that they both have a sharp appetite to compete in the Games.
"I think we're both hungry to win something, and we'll get the chance to do that together," Rakell said. "We've been playing together for a few years now, and we've become really good friends. So, I think that would be really special for us.”
But it doesn't end there. Rakell will have the full support of his family and friends, as his wife, Emmeli, his kids, his in-laws, his parents, and many others are making the trek over to Milan to witness him live out his childhood dream of playing on the world's biggest stage.
And that means more than anything else to Rakell, who is grateful for the chance to be surrounded by those who helped him get there in the first place.
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," he said. "And I want to share it with them.”
The Calgary Flames have completed a notable blue-line move, sending defenceman Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights as part of a multi-piece trade.
Coming back to Calgary are NHL defenceman Zach Whitecloud, University of North Dakota blueliner Abram Wiebe, a first-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft, and a conditional second-round selection in 2028. To finalize the deal, the Flames will retain 50 percent of Andersson’s salary cap hit.
Andersson leaves the organization ranked 15th in franchise history in games played with 584, seventh among defencemen, and sixth among blueliners in scoring with 261 career points. This season, Andersson notched 10 goals and 30 points in 48 games.
Whitecloud arrives with a reputation as a reliable, detail-oriented defenceman who plays a heavy, physical game. Through 47 games this season, the 29-year-old has recorded seven points (two goals, five assists) while ranking near the top of the Golden Knights’ roster in several defensive categories, including hits (73), blocked shots (63), and short-handed ice time per game (1:44).
Originally signed by Vegas as an undrafted free agent in 2018, Whitecloud was a part of the Golden Knights’ Stanley Cup championship run in 2023. He is currently in the fourth season of a six-year contract with a $2.75 million average annual value.
Wiebe, 22, adds a developmental piece to the Flames’ pipeline. Selected by Vegas in the seventh round (209th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft, the University of North Dakota defenceman has put together a strong junior season, registering 14 points in 24 games
Former Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Nick Leddy has been placed on waivers by the San Jose Sharks.
Leddy is currently in his first season with the Sharks after the Pacific Division club claimed him off waivers from the St. Louis Blues this past off-season. Now, with this latest news, Leddy is once again available for the taking after being placed on waivers.
Leddy being placed on waivers by the Sharks comes with San Jose blueliner Vincent Desharnais set to return to their lineup.
Leddy has recorded zero goals, four assists, six penalty minutes, and a minus-9 rating in 19 games this season with the Sharks.
Leddy played his first four NHL seasons with the Blackhawks from 2010-11 to 2013-14. In 258 games as a member of the Blackhawks over that span, he recorded 20 goals, 73 assists, 93 points, and a plus-10 rating. This included him recording 34 assists and 37 points in 82 games with Chicago in 2011-12.
Leddy's time with the Blackhawks came to an end ahead of the 2014-15 season when he was traded to the New York Islanders.
Quinn Hughes (left); Owen Power (right) -- (Timothy T. Ludwig, USA TODAY Images)
The Buffalo Sabres have been enjoying success of late, but they’re still in a dogfight to hang onto a Stanley Cup playoff berth. And their next 10 games could be the difference in making or missing the post-season.
Once they finish up with the Islanders game, the Sabres will play the Los Angeles Kings, Canadiens (again) and Florida Panthers, the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Again (and with due respect to the Penguins), that’s nine games out of 10 that the Sabres get an opponent who could beat them.
That means, between now and then – ‘then’ being three weeks from today,– the Sabres could find themselves either in a top-three position in the Atlantic Division, or they could be in the basement of the Eastern conference once again. The difference between being a playoff team and a non-playoff team is razor-thin, and that’s why every game counts.
The Sabres will need to produce about 14 standings points out of 20 points available to them in their next 10 games. Anything less than that, and there’s room for competing teams to leapfrog them in the standings.
The Sabres have to show right now that they’re a different group than the Sabres teams that wilted beneath the pressure that has built every year since Buffalo last was a playoff team.
But there's no question the Sabres have a major test in the 10 games ahead. And the way they respond to that challenge will largely dictate whether they can end their playoff drought, or see it increased to 15 years.
Despite not getting off to the start that they wanted, the Detroit Red Wings finished strong on Sunday evening.
Alex DeBrincat's goal at 0:36 of overtime gave the Red Wings a 4-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators, who scored twice to take a 2-0 lead by the time the first period was barely five minutes in the books.
With the victory, the Red Wings are back in a first-place tie with the Tampa Bay Lightning, who beat the Dallas Stars earlier in the afternoon, for the top spot in the Atlantic Division at 30-16-4.
Ottawa's Drake Batherson struck first for the Senators at 4:26, banging home a rebound past goaltender John Gibson, who initially made two straight saves. Not even a minute later, Dylan Cozens doubled the lead while on the power-play.
However, the Red Wings would strike with a man-advantage of their own, as rookie Axel Sandin-Pellikka's shot beat former Detroit goaltender James Reimer through a screen.
Shortly before the midway point of the second period, Lucas Raymond sniped a shot past Reimer's glove, knotting the score with his 15th goal of the season.
Eventually, the Red Wings would grab their first lead of the evening while on the power-play thanks to a beautiful net-front goal from James van Riemsdyk.
But before the period came to a close, the Senators responded with the tying marker while Elmer Soderblom was in the penalty box for interference.
Neither team found the back of the net in the third period, setting up overtime in which they ultimately emerged victorious.
Gibson stopped 19 of the 22 shots fired his way, while Reimer, who was signed by the Senators to a one-year contract earlier this week, made 30 saves in his Ottawa debut.
The Red Wings will next hit the road to play their fourth and final game against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the regular season.
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For the second time in as many days, the Ottawa Senators blew a two-goal lead and lost in overtime. Alex DeBrincat scored just 36 seconds into the extra frame to give the Detroit Red Wings a 4–3 home victory.
As was the case in Saturday's overtime versus Montreal, the Senators had a prime chance at one end, couldn’t capitalize, then surrendered an odd-man rush the other way. DeBrincat led the charge and ripped a shot high glove-side past newcomer James Reimer, who had a solid debut despite the loss.
Ottawa was outshot 34–22 in the game.
The Senators got things going early in the first period, scoring twice in just 39 seconds.
Just over four minutes in, Drake Batherson had a wide-open net and made no mistake after Red Wings goaltender John Gibson stopped initial shots from Thomas Chabot and Fabian Zetterlund. For number 19, it was goal number 19 on the season.
Ottawa kept pressing and earned a power-play opportunity soon after. Batherson chipped a puck down low to Brady Tkachuk. Tkachuk passed it out front to Dylan Cozens, who finished with a smooth forehand-backhand deke to beat Gibson and give the Senators a 2–0 advantage.
Detroit cut into the lead just over two minutes later. Following an elbowing call on Nick Cousins that didn't look like much, the Red Wings’ power play went to work. Axel Sandin-Pellikka scored his sixth of the season, firing a long wrist shot through traffic that Reimer never picked up through the screen.
Six minutes into the second period, Lucas Raymond tied the game with his 15th goal of the year. In a one-on-one with Jake Sanderson, Raymond ripped the puck past him, and beat Reimer cleanly up high. Senators goaltending continues to struggle with shots from distance, ranking among the league leaders in goals allowed from long range.
Late in the second, with David Perron off for holding, James van Riemsdyk buried a rebound on the power play to give Detroit a 3–2 lead. It was similar to the between the legs shot that Tim Stutzle had scored versus Montreal on Saturday.
But the Senators answered before the end of the period. With Elmer Söderblom in the box for interfering Ridly Greig, Shane Pinto redirected a crisp pass from Claude Giroux into a vacant net. The goal sent both teams to the locker room tied 3–3 after 40 minutes.
Early in the third period, the Senators continued their recent trend of taking offensive-zone penalties. Brady Tkachuk was called for tripping 190 feet from Ottawa’s net. James Reimer made a couple of big saves on the ensuing sequence, forcing him to move laterally and keep the game tied.
Dylan Cozens had a prime opportunity to give the Senators the lead five minutes into the third. Off a hard forecheck by Greig, the puck was jarred loose and slid out to Cozens alone in front with no one around him, but Gibson made a nice glove save.
With nine minutes left to play, Reimer made another fine save to keep the score tied at three. Elmer Soderblom was all alone in front and redirected a shot from the point, but Rhymer got his right pad on it.
The Shane Pinto line had a great look in the final minute of regulation, but never quite got a clean shot off.
That set the scene for DeBrincat's OT heroics against his former team.
Reimer was solid in his first NHL regular-season start in nine months. At 37, Reimer is the third oldest goalie to play this season in the NHL. Jonathan Quick is the oldest followed by former Senator Cam Talbot.
Prior to the game, the Red Wings held a ceremony honoring forward Patrick Kane, celebrating his recent entry into the NHL’s 500-goal club.
The Senators will be in Columbus on Tuesday night.
Steve Warne The Hockey News Ottawa
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VANCOUVER -- The New York Islanders hit the ice against on Sunday afternoon ahead of their Monday showdown against the Vancouver Canucks.
Mathew Barzal is from Coquitlam, British Columbia, which is about a half hour from Vancouver, so he'll have family and friends in the stands for this one.
After backing up David Rittich in their 4-2 loss to the Calgary Flames on Saturday, Ilya Sorokin will return to the crease. He stopped all 26 shots that came his way in a 1-0 shutout win against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday.
Maxim Tsyplakov, who hasn't played since the Islanders' 4-3 overtime win against the Minnesota Wild, will draw back in for Maxim Shabanov. He'll skate alongside Calum Ritchie and Emil Heineman.
"There's nothing personal," head coach Patrick Roy said. "I mean, sometimes you've got to try different things. And Tsyppy hasn't played since the Minnesota game, and so we thought this was a good time for it."
Tsyplakov has just one goal in 24 games this season. Roy wants to see the player he saw in the KHL footage before the forward signed with the Islanders ahead of the 2024-25 season.
"I want him to play his game," Roy said. "When I was watching him two years ago, before he came to the Islanders, I thought that, the way I was watching him, he was a power forward. He's a guy that will bring pucks to the net, a guy that plays really well defensively...to me, that's his DNA, and I want him to play that game. I don't need him to be fancy with the puck -- I know he will, which is fine with me at times. But what I really want to see is his net presence, his ability to do a great job in the defensive zone, and stuff like that. And I know he could do it."
CHICAGO (AP) — Blackhawks forward Frank Nazar practiced with the team on Sunday and could return as soon as Thursday at Carolina.
Nazar, who turned 22 on Wednesday, was hit in the face by a puck during a 6-4 loss at Ottawa on Dec. 20.
“It feels great to be back with the guys and skating and had a lot of fun out there today,” Nazar said.
The Blackhawks have lost three in a row going into Monday night's home game against Winnipeg. They visit the Hurricanes on Thursday before hosting Tampa Bay on Friday night.
“As far as I know, he won't play tomorrow. Unless something drastically changed, I don't think he will,” coach Jeff Blashill said of Nazar. “So that would allow him another full practice at least and then see where we go from there.”
Blashill also said Teuvo Teravainen won't play against the Jets because of an upper-body injury. The 31-year-old forward got hurt in the first period of last week's 4-1 loss to Edmonton.
Nazar, a first-round pick in the 2022 draft, has six goals and 15 assists in 33 games this season. He agreed to a $46.2 million, seven-year extension with the Blackhawks in August.
“Just really itching to get back and give what I can to help the team win,” Nazar said.
The Vancouver Canucks have announced four roster moves ahead of their matchup on Monday against the New York Islanders. Vancouver has recalled defenceman Elias Pettersson while assigning defenceman Victor Mancini and Nikita Tolopilo to the AHL. The Canucks have also called up goaltender Jiri Patera under emergency conditions.
Pettersson was sent down to the Abbotsford Canucks on January 11 and skated in two AHL games. He did not record a point but did have two penalty minutes and two shots on goal. This season, Pettersson has played in 38 NHL games, where he has recorded six points.
As for Mancini, he skated in four games for the Canucks since his call-up on January 11. In those four games, he recorded two shots and averaged 16:33 of ice time. Mancini has spent the majority of his season in the AHL, posting six points in 20 games.
Moving to the goaltenders, Tolopilo played two games on his recent call-up. In those two games, he posted a 6.01 goals against average and a save percentage of .842. Tolopilo is 4-4-3 in the AHL this season with a save percentage of .900.
Lastly, Patera is projected to serve as the backup on Monday against the Islanders as Thatcher Demko remains out with an injury. He has played one NHL game this year, where he allowed seven goals on 40 shots against the Florida Panthers. This season, Patera is 7-6-4 in the AHL and has a save percentage of .915.
Dec 27, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Elias Pettersson (25) handles the puck against the San Jose Sharks in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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MONTREAL (AP) — Phil Goyette, the former NHL forward who helped the Montreal Canadiens win Stanley Cup titles in his first four seasons and was the New York Islanders' first coach, has died. He was 92.
The Canadiens said in a statement Sunday that Goyette died Saturday, saying Goyette's “family would like to thank the public for their wishes of sympathy.” The team didn't provide a cause of death.
Goyette, from Lachine, Quebec, made his debut with the Canadiens in 1956-57. He also played for the New York Rangers, Buffalo Sabres and St. Louis Blues, winning the Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct in 1969-70 with St. Louis.
In 940 regular-season games, Goyette had 207 goals and 467 assists. The center added 17 goals and 29 assists in 94 playoff games. He wrapped up his playing career in 1971-72, falling short of a fifth Stanley Cup title when the Rangers fell to Boston in six games in the final.
“We join the hockey world in sending our condolences to Phil’s loved ones, friends, and former teammates,” the Rangers said in a statement.
Goyette coached the expansion Islanders in 1972-73, going 6-40-4 before he was replaced by Earl Ingarfield.
“The Islanders are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Phil Goyette, the organization’s original head coach,” the team said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.”
![Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Sweden defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) celebrates with teammates William Nylander (88) and Rickard Rakell (67) after scoring a goal against Team Finland in the second period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images](https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_hockey_news_pittsburgh_penguins_articles_513/a7a3fd57d2c18b9e822043b355638d9b)
