Category: Ice Hockey

Banged-up Flyers get trounced by red-hot Lightning originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The undermanned Flyers were no match for the scorching Lightning in a 7-2 drubbing Saturday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

The seven goals allowed marked a season worst for the Flyers.

“It’s one of those games,” Rick Tocchet said. “When you play the game long enough, you’re going to have those type of games. But we do need some better efforts. A couple of our guys that we count on to score are turning the puck over too much. You can’t play that way. Too slow, east-west.”

With two goals and two assists, superstar Nikita Kucherov did the most damage for Tampa Bay.

On the Flyers’ side, Garnet Hathaway and Owen Tippett provided the goals. Hathaway recorded his first point of the season with a redirection just 4:15 minutes into the action.

The Flyers (22-13-8) had a three-game point streak halted (2-0-1). Tocchet called the loss a “learning lesson.”

“You learn and then you apply it and then you get better,” the head coach said, “which our team has done.”

Tocchet’s club was without Travis Konecny, Bobby Brink, Jamie Drysdale and Tyson Foerster. More on the team’s injuries here.

“We had to play, not a perfect game, but a smart game,” Tocchet said. “There were chunks of the game that we didn’t. The effort was there, I have no problem with the effort, especially the first 30 [minutes].”

The Lightning (27-13-3) have ripped off nine straight wins, a stretch in which they’ve scored five goals per game.

The Flyers are 0-2-0 in their three-game regular-season series against Tampa Bay. The clubs will wrap things up in two days.

• Samuel Ersson, making his first appearance in January, surrendered the seven goals on 23 shots.

He has given up four or more goals seven times in 16 starts.

“He’s struggling a little bit, you can tell,” Tocchet said. “You’re going to have tough nights. It’s a tough night. To have an NHL career, sometimes you’re going to be in the mud and you’ve got to get yourself out of it, you’ve got to work harder, you’ve got to analyze things. Not just him, anybody.”

Kucherov got Ersson twice in the opening 6:05 minutes of the game. The 2018-19 MVP was left all alone in front for the game-opening marker. Not even two minutes after Hathaway tied it up, Kucherov struck again.

Thirty-five seconds later, Ersson received a Bronx cheer when he made a save. He heard it some more in the third period.

“We’ve got to be better in front of him,” Tippett said. “Those are tough games to play. Obviously I think he deserved better. I don’t know if the sarcastic cheers are really appreciated, but we’ve got to do a better job in front of him and not put him in some of those situations.”

The 26-year-old entered the game with the worst save percentage of his career at .868.

“We’ve got to work with him, we’ve got to help him out, too,” Tocchet said. “Whatever we have to do to help him with the mental or physical. Got to show up the next day, we’ve got practice tomorrow and just be ready to go. That’s the only way you get out of these things.”

Ersson found his footing a bit after the early goals, but Nick Paul extended the Lightning’s lead to 3-1 in the second period. After Ersson made the initial stop, Paul rolled in unimpeded for the rebound opportunity.

Tampa Bay then went off for four goals in the third period to make it a total rout. The Flyers definitely opened up defensively as they pushed for offense, which didn’t help Ersson’s chances.

“In the third, when we’re chasing, we’re trying to create offense and we’re trying to keep our gas on the pedal, that’s when they counterattack, that’s when they’re good,” Hathaway said. “Regardless of the score, we lost.”

Andrei Vasilevskiy, who came in with consecutive shutouts over the Flyers, stopped 18 shots for the Lightning.

“Just an awful third period,” Sean Couturier said. “We’ll just move on. It’s one of those games you’ve got to forget quick.”

• The Flyers began Saturday tied with the Capitals for the NHL’s second-worst power play at 15 percent.

The woes on the man advantage were costly in the club’s 2-1 overtime loss Thursday night to the Maple Leafs.

On Saturday night, the Flyers went 1 for 2. Tippett’s power play goal stopped the third-period bleeding temporarily for the Flyers.

• The Flyers and Tampa Bay meet again Monday back here at Xfinity Mobile Arena (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

BOSTON (AP) — Pavel Zacha recorded his first career hat trick — one of his goals coming while most of New York’s players were in the locker room at the end of the first period — and the Boston Bruins coasted past the Rangers 10-2 on Saturday.

Marat Khusnutdinov had four goals to go along with Zacha’s three, giving the Bruins their first pair with hat tricks in the same home game in club history.

The Bruins won for the fourth time in five games, avenging a 6-2 blowout loss at home against the Rangers on Nov. 28.

It’s also the first time since 1964 that two Bruins recorded a hat trick in the same game. Fraser Minten had two goals, Charlie McAvoy added one for Boston and David Pastrnak matched a team record with six assists.

Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller scored for the Rangers, who have lost six of seven. Coach Mike Sullivan remained one win short of 500 in his NHL career.

Zacha’s third goal made it 6-1 midway into the second period, prompting Sullivan to pull starting goalie Jonathan Quick.

But it was Zacha’s second that got the most interest.

The Bruins winger fired a shot from the right circle that trickled behind Quick, where defenseman Braden Schneider tried to sweep it clear of the crease before it crossed.

The period ended and most of the Rangers left the bench while the Bruins’ players remained. The goal was awarded after a review.

Khusnutdinov’s first tied at 1 just 2:31 into the first period. His third made it 8-2 in the third.

Bruins winger Morgan Geekie left the game at the end of the first period for a “family matter.”

Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman made a right-pad stop on Vincent Trocheck’s penalty shot.

Up next

Rangers: Host Seattle on Monday night.

Bruins: Host Pittsburgh on Sunday.

The St. Louis Blues (17-20-8) will try to salvage a game to end a three-game road trip when they conclude it on Saturday against the Vegas Golden Knights (19-11-12) at 9 p.m. (FDSNMW, ESPN 101.1-FM).

The Blues are coming off a 4-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth on Friday and have lost two straight, including a trip-opening 7-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday.

The Blues didn't necessarily play poorly Friday, outshooting Utah 28-23 in the game but were done i by a lack of coverage at the net front and once again: special teams, going 0-for-4 on an anemic power play that is now 0-for-17 the past six games and a penalty kill that has allowed four goals on seven attempts this trip and has allowed a goal in eight of the past 13 games.

It's the third and final meeting between the teams this season and the Blues' only visit to Vegas. The teams split two games in St. Louis, with the Blues winning the latest, 4-3 on Jan. 2.

Blues coach Jim Monntgomery will speak pregame at 7:45 p.m. (CT) to address any lineup changes since  the Blues did not hold a morning skate, but judging what he's done with Oskar Sundqvist, who scored the Blues' first goal on Friday, in the past and rested him on second of back-to-backs for load management purposes, we'll assume he will not play tonight and insert Robby Fabbri there, which is what the Blues did on Jan. 3 after Sundqvist played against Vegas but did not the following day against the Montreal Canadiens.

Also, Jordan Binnington is projected to get the nod after Joel Hofer made 19 saves on Friday but stay tuned for those confirmed lineup changes after Montgomery's availability.

We know Robert Thomas left in the third period after smacking his head on the ice but did return, and for the second straight game this trip, Jimmy Snuggerud had at least 10 shot attempts with 11 on Friday (five shots on goal, two blocked and four missing the net).

- - -

Blues Projected Lineup:

Jake Neighbours-Robert Thomas-Jordan Kyrou

Pavel Buchnevich-Brayden Schenn-Jimmy Snuggerud

Otto Stenberg-Dalibor Dvorsky-Jonatan Berggren

Alexey Toropchenko-Robby Fabbri-Nathan Walker

Philip Broberg-Colton Parayko

Tyler Tucker-Justin Faulk

Cam Fowler-Logan Mailloux

Jordan Binnington is projected to start in goal; Joel Hofer would be the backup.

Healthy scratches include Mathieu Joseph, Oskar Sundqvist and Matthew Kessel. Pius Suter (high ankle sprain), Dylan Holloway (high ankle sprain) and Nick Bjugstad (upper body) are out.

- - -

Golden Knights Projected Lineup:

Ivan Barbashev-Jack Eichel-Mark Stone

Reilly Smith-Mitch Marner-Pavel Dorofeyev

Brett Howden-Tomas Hertl-Keegan Kolesar

Cole Reinhardt-Colton Sissons-Braeden Bowman

Noah Hanifin-Zach Whitecloud

Jeremy Lauzon-Shea Theodore

Ben Hutton-Kaeden Korczak

Akird Schmid will start in goal; Carter Hart will be the backup.

Healthy scratches include Jaycob Megna and Alexander Holtz. Adin Hill (lower body), William Karlsson (lower body), Brayden McNabb (upper body) and Brandon Saad (undisclosed) are out.

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Just when things seem to be getting better, the injury bug bits right back at the Pittsburgh Penguins.

One game after activating forward Evgeni Malkin from injured reserve (IR), the Penguins announced Saturday that top-line winger Bryan Rust is out day-to-day with a lower-body injury. In a corresponding move, the Penguins recalled forward Rafael Harvey-Pinard from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS), as they had an open spot on their roster and didn't require an IR move.

It's unclear exactly when Rust sustained the injury, but he did appear to be in some pain after blocking a shot during Pittsburgh's 4-1 win over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday. He will not be in the lineup against the Calgary Flames on Saturday.

Rust, 33, has been a fixture alongside Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell on the Penguins' top line this season, and his production will be hard to replace for whatever length of time he is out. The veteran from Pontiac, Mich. has 16 goals and 36 points in 40 games on the season, and he also plays on both special teams units, which limits the Penguins there as well.

Harvey-Pinard, 27, was signed to a one-year deal worth $775,000 during the offseason. He was waived at the conclusion of training camp and re-assigned to the AHL, where he has seven goals and 13 points in 32 games to go along with a plus-8 rating. 

Penguins Call Up Skilled Forward From AHLThe Penguins have called up this forward from the AHL.

Harvey-Pinard spent parts of four seasons with the Montreal Canadiens - who selected him in the seventh round (201st overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft - and put up 17 goals and 31 points in 84 games. 

The Penguins will look to extend their six-game win streak against Calgary, who have lost four in a row heading into the Saturday afternoon tilt at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Forward Tommy Novak will skate in Rust's place on the first line, while Kevin Hayes - playing in his first game since Dec. 23 - will slot in as the third-line center in place of Novak. 

'I'm Lucky To Be Able To Play With Him': Penguins' Rookie Relishes Opportunity To Center All-Time GreatPittsburgh Penguins' rookie Ben Kindel is experiencing a rare opportunity to center an all-time great NHL player in Evgeni Malkin - and he hopes to make the most of it.

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Sharks prove they belong with heroic comeback in ‘playoff-style' win over Stars originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

In front of a sellout crowd of 17,435 screaming fans, the Sharks and their fans turned back the clock during an unforgettable 5-4 comeback win over the Dallas Stars that unfolded in an atmosphere reminiscent of the glory days at SAP Center

Despite facing multiple two-goal deficits against one of the NHL’s best teams, the home crowd’s energy never wavered, with the Sharks feeding off that exuberance to pull off their second come-from-behind overtime win in as many games.

Tyler Toffoli’s wicked one-timer secured the win in the extra frame, putting the finishing touches on another win that can’t help but lead one to believe that this Sharks squad is a team of destiny.

TOFF'S SCREAMER WINS IT IN OT 😤 pic.twitter.com/laPOMHHsji

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) January 10, 2026

Toffoli, a Stanley Cup winner and 14-year NHL veteran, has seen his share of postseason action with 93 career playoff games under his belt.

After logging three key points in Saturday’s win, Toffoli didn’t mince words while stated that the rocking atmosphere and high-octane action at the Shark Tank had the feel of an NHL playoff game — an environment which San Jose could find itself playing in within a matter of months after missing the postseason for six consecutive campaigns dating back to 2019.

“I thought we earned everything we got tonight, that was definitely a playoff-style game,” Toffoli told reporters. “It was a lot of fun, and obviously being able to get a win goes a long way.”

It was San Jose’s ninth consecutive overtime win, the second-most in NHL history under the current rule format, trailing only the 2024-25 Toronto Maple Leafs (10 consecutive OT wins).

NINE straight OT wins for the boys in teal 💪 pic.twitter.com/Kc72xuMJrJ

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) January 10, 2026

San Jose’s success against Dallas can be directly traced back to its success on special teams, as the Sharks capitalized four times with the man advantage, converting four of their six power-play opportunities in the win.

The Sharks hadn’t recorded more than two power-play goals during the 2025-26 NHL season prior to Saturday’s win, so what exactly led to San Jose doubling that output against an elite opponent?

“I thought we were working hard, we were working for our opportunities and our chances and shooting the puck and getting pucks back,” Toffoli explained. “It sounds really cliche, but that’s how it was. We were doing a really good job of moving pucks quick and getting pucks to the net.”

The Sharks capitalized on a key power-play opportunity while trailing 4-2 in the third period, with Macklin Celebrini logging one of his three assists in the win by finding Toffoli in front of the net for a decisive goal that got San Jose within one, and more importantly keeping belief alive in the building.

WE'RE NOT DONE YET 😤 pic.twitter.com/UpMoskMTiL

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) January 10, 2026

Celebrini extended his point streak to 13 games Saturday, the second longest by a teenager in the history of the NHL. The superstar sophomore now has 70 points in 44 games, firmly placing himself in the Hart Memorial Trophy discussion as the NHL’s MVP.

With just over five minutes remaining, a Sam Dickinson shot from the blue line connected with Adam Gaudette’s stick to deliver the game-tying goal, setting San Jose up for an overtime ending that typically has gone in the Sharks’ favor this season.

THE HOCKEY GAUD TIES IT UP 🚨 pic.twitter.com/mCSqdsNbY4

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) January 10, 2026

After a Mikko Rantanen penalty gave the Sharks a 4-on-3 advantage in overtime, Toffoli didn’t let the golden opportunity slip through San Jose’s fingers, blasting a puck into the back of the net past Stars goalie Casey DeSmith for an emphatic winner.

The Shark Tank erupted in jubilation, which led to an emotional postgame interview from Toffoli who acknowledged the raucous crowd’s impact on the team’s heroic comeback.

“It was awesome, that was the rumor it was going to be packed … this is awesome,” Toffoli told NBC Sports California’s Tara Sloane with a big grin on his face.

Look at Toff's smile when he's talking about the home crowd

The Tank is BACK 🥹 pic.twitter.com/gB7vcOyMgR

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) January 10, 2026

The Sharks have not only one of the NHL’s best fanbases, but one of the most loyal and supportive as you’ll find in professional sports anywhere.

While the Sharks navigated a five-year rough patch as one of the league’s worst teams, you could still bank on seeing teal sweaters in the stands at SAP Center showing up night in and night out.

But sellouts like this only come as a byproduct of a talented or exciting team that leaves the local population with no choice but to build their plans around ensuring they have a seat in the building to watch their beloved squad take the ice.

This 2025-26 Sharks team checks both of those boxes, and the special part is you get the sense this is just the beginning of what will be a prolonged period of excellence for proud franchise seeking to reclaim it’s place among the NHL’s best.

Soon, these sellouts won’t be celebrated or even acknowledged, because they will simply return to being the norm.

And that’s the way it should be. Hockey as a whole is better when the Shark Tank is a place even the toughest opponents fear when they see a road game in San Jose on their calendar.

It’s starting to feel like that again, and it all starts with the confidence and belief that these Sharks and their beloved fans have in one and other.

“We like playing good teams and we like beating the good teams, because we’re a good team,” Gaudette confidently stated after Saturday’s win.

Download and follow the San Jose Hockey Now podcast

The Montreal Canadiens are gearing up for a big contest against the Detroit Red Wings on Jan. 10. With the Canadiens and Red Wings being tied at the top of the Atlantic Division standings at 55 points, this game will certainly be one to watch. 

The Canadiens will also be getting one of their very important defenseman back for the contest.

The Canadiens have confirmed that blueliner Kaiden Guhle will be back in the lineup against the Red Wings. 

It's been a long road back for Guhle, as he has not played since the Canadiens' Oct. 16 contest against the Nashville Predators. With this, he has missed each of Montreal's last 39 games. Yet, with today's news, Guhle is set to return for the Original Six club. 

With Guhle being one of the Canadiens' key defensemen, there is no question that his return is good news. This is especially so when noting that the Canadiens are looking to remain one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference as the season rolls on. 

Guhle paired with Arber Xhekaj at the Canadiens' morning skate. With this, Jayden Struble is not expected to be in the lineup against Detroit. 

RETOUR AU JEU POUR KAIDEN GUHLE CE SOIR

KAIDEN GUHLE RETURNS TO PLAY TONIGHT#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/VzToJON7kQ

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) January 10, 2026

In five games this season with the Canadiens, Guhle has recorded one goal, one assist, 16 hits, and a plus-1 rating. This is after he had six goals, 12 assists, 18 points, 104 hits, and 124 blocks in 55 games for Montreal this past season.

The Chicago Blackhawks will play the second half of a back-to-back on Saturday night in Nashville. This comes one night after a tough 5-1 loss to the Washington Capitals on Friday night.

This loss to Washington snapped a four-game winning streak for Chicago, but the lineup was compromised in the defeat. What head coach Jeff Blashill called a “stomach bug” is floating around the locker room, causing players to either miss or play under the weather. 

They have a chance for a quick turnaround against the Nashville Predators on Saturday night, but the stomach bug doesn’t seem to have fully left them yet. It will likely be another game that the guys who do play have to battle extra hard. 

Scouting Nashville

The Nashville Predators had a horrific letdown year in 2024-25. After signing veterans like Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei, they expected to take their playoff team from the year prior and elevate it to a Stanley Cup contender. Instead, they were a lottery team. 

This season, it looked like they would be a lottery team once again at the start of the year. They couldn’t buy a win early. Lately, however, they have been hot enough to get themselves back in the Western Conference playoff race. Nashville is 7-3-0 in its last 10 games, 20-19-4 overall, and sits three points outside of a playoff spot. 

This team that once looked like a lock to trade all of its stars now has an eye on a different prize. With that, the Blackhawks are next on their list of potential victims. Nashville came to Chicago on November 28th and beat them at the United Center 4-3. 

Forsberg - O'Reilly - Stamkos

Bunting - Haula - Evangelista

Jost - Svechkov - Wood

Schaefer - McCarron - Smith

Josi - Perbix

Skjei - Wilsby

Hague - Blankenburg

Saros

Marchessault is dealing with something that has him listed as day-to-day. That leaves Filip Forsberg, Ryan O’Reilly, and Steven Stamkos as their big guns offensively. 

On defense, Roman Josi leads the way, along with goalie Juuse Saros. To break through, the Blackhawks just need to continue their effort on the forecheck. The Predators have been playing well lately, but this is a team the Blackhawks have the firepower to overcome, as long as they have their legs going.

Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago

The Chicago Blackhawks called up goalie prospect Stan Berezhnoy ahead of the game. That means that Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom are not yet better as they deal with the stomach illness that forced Drew Commesso into action on Friday night. 

Bertuzzi-Greene-Burakovsky

Bedard-Moore-Lardis

Teravainen-Dickinson-Donato

Dach-Foligno-Slaggert

Vlasic-Murphy

Kaiser-Levshunov

Korchinski-Grzelcyk

Berezhnoy

This is how the Blackhawks lined up their forwards and defense on Friday night against the Capitals. It is unclear if the illness has hit anyone else, but Berezhnoy was the only call-up to this point. Commesso and Korchinski, who were call-ups on Friday, may be dressed on Saturday as well. 

Jeff Blashill said that Ilya Mikheyev will travel to Nashville and likely play. If that's the only change to the skaters, expect Slaggert to come out and for Mikheyev to go back in. We won't know the changes this causes for the lines until warmups. 

How To Watch

The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. To view this game, it can be found locally on CHSN. The puck will drop shortly after 7:00 PM CT. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

The Buffalo Sabres are hoping to keep their red-hot pace to start a very busy homestand of five games in eight days against the Anaheim Ducks at KeyBank Center on Saturday night. The Sabres have won 12 of the last 13 games, but are still on the outside looking in on the Eastern Conference playoff race, trailing the Washington Capitals by two points and the Pittsburgh Penguins by one point for the two wildcard spots. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is expected to get the start for the Sabres. 

Head coach Lindy Ruff spoke to the media after the club’s morning skate:

What is the status of defenseman Michael Kesselring?

(He's) progressing? I think (Sunday is) an off day for him. Monday, we'll get him involved in some physical stuff and see how he reacts to that. Midweek will hopefully have a decision on whether he can play or not…….There's only one person (when it) gets to a point with anybody's situation, that only they know how they feel. So he'll let us know when he feels well enough. I think once he's cleared, seeing him on the ice today means he's cleared to probably 90%. We get Monday, Tuesday and it's how he reacts to more physical stuff, where you have to push off more, you have to grind more, you have to battle more, than just skating around shooting pucks.

How will injured players get their work in to get back into the lineup?

Let's be realistic. There's not a lot of practice time for us, with the way the schedule is going to unfold. It's more about playing and getting rest with the number of games we've got in the short period of time coming up…….They'll be ready. Those guys get their work in. They're putting a lot of work on the ice, put a lot of work off the ice. I think you've seen where guys have stepped in and played well. Look what our boys have done when they've stepped in. Our job is to have these guys ready when they're called and a guy like (Tyson Kozak), if you stuck him in tonight, he's ready to go.

Other Sabres Stories

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

 What do you attribute the offensive spike from Mattias Samuelsson to?

I don't know. I've said in the past, he should talk really well. I think you saw an example that on that shorthanded(goal in New York), he's got a real hard shot, and he's put himself in a lot of good situations. Look at the the first goal we scored, he ripped the wrist shot that broke the guy's stick, recovered the puck, and then set Doan in. He's been able to put the puck past the goaltender when he's got himself in good position.

What has been the secret to the improved penalty killing this season?

It's a lot of things. We've had big saves at big times. We have a lot of pucks to go through us. We've stayed away from the seem plays where teams can expose you and go back door. We're a lot better at getting the puck down the ice. Last year, we got burned a lot of times where failed clears would hurt us. So it really isn't just one thing. I think it's a combination of three or four things that have improved from day one at camp, and those are probably the major things.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram  @MikeInBuffalo

Forward Maxim Tsyplakov will return to the New York Islanders' lineup on Saturday night when they battle the Minnesota Wild. 

Tsyplakov, in his second NHL season, has played in only 23 of the Islanders' 44 games, with 1 goal in an average of 9:49 per game. 

He last played on Jan. 3, a 3-2 overtime win against the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

But, despite finding himself out of the lineup more often than not after signing a two-year extension this past summer worth $2.25 million annually. 

Where Things Stand Between Tsyplakov & Islanders Tsyplakov filed for player-elected salary arbitration on July 7.

“We have a lot of players that are playing well," Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche said on Thursday morning. "He had a tougher start to the year, and now if you look at our record, a lot of guys are playing well. Are we perfect? By no means. Is everybody playing outstanding every game? No.

"It’s not that he forced us to take him out — it’s just that the other guys have been a bit better. But I still believe in Tsyplakov. He still has the ability. When he gets the opportunity, he has to take it and force us to keep him in the lineup. Right now, it’s not that he forced us to take him out — the other guys have forced us to keep them in.”

It is worth mentioning that Tsyplakov sustained an injury during training camp, which forced him to miss all but one of the preseason games, playing in the finale against the New York Rangers. 

The notion that Tsyplakov isn't an NHL-caliber player is false. Does he fit the Islanders' system to a tee? No. Would he likely be better suited in a different system, one that allows for more East-West work than just going North, like head coach Patrick Roy wants? Yes.

But the reality of the situation is that he is with the Islanders, and with forward Kyle Palmieri out for the season with a torn ACL and no one having yet won that job, there's still an opportunity for Tsyplakov to leave his mark.

Is there any bigger momentum booster than your general manager having your back?

Tsyplakov will skate alongside Casey Cizikas and Marc Gatcomb against the Wild. 

#Isles HC Patrick Roy had a convo with Maxim Tsyplakov:

"We want him to be physical & we think that he has the game to play against these guys. Foligno & Tarasenko, they're very physical, so we think that'd be a good time for him to play."

(H/t @NYIslanders)

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) January 10, 2026

The Florida Panthers will have their work cut out for them on Saturday night in Ottawa.

Star forwards Brad Marchand and Matthew Takchuk will not play against the Senators, and young forward Sandis Vilmanis will make his NHL debut for Florida.

Marchand missed Thursday’s loss in Montreal after being held out of the third period on Tuesday in Toronto, also a loss, with an undisclosed injury.

Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice said it was not a major injury, but something Marchand has been battling for much of the season, and that he wanted to give it time to heal.

That time has stretched into Saturday.

Tkachuk, meanwhile, has been getting closer and closer to making his regular season debut, participating in the past few Panthers practices without wearing a non-contact jersey.

He’s expected to play sometime during Florida’s six-game road trip, which will have three games left after they play the Sens on Saturday: Monday in Buffalo, Friday in Carolina and Saturday in Washington.

"They will not play tonight," Maurice said regarding Tkachuk and Marchand. "That's about it. Nothing has changed."

As for Vilmanis, the 21-year-old will crack an NHL roster for the first time on the heels of a strong season in Charlotte.

Vilmanis co-leads the team in points with 19 in 31 games (also with 19 points on the Checkers are Wilmer Skoog, who leads the team with 11 goals, and Gracyn Sawchyn, who has logged a team-leading 13 assists).

A fifth round selected of the Panthers back at the 2022 NHL Draft, Vilmanis was also named as a member of Team Latvia for the 2026 Winter Olympics earlier this week, so it’s been quite a few days for the youngster.

"I'm super excited," he said after the morning skate. "A lot of mixed emotions, to be honest. With the Olympics and this, it's just crazy. I'm super excited to be here, super excited to start (my NHL career)."

He skated on a line with Luke Kunin and Jack Studnicka during Florida’s morning skate in Ottawa, which is likely where he lines up for the game.

While Marchand and Tkachuk were on the ice for the skate, they will both remain out of the lineup as the Cats hope to get in the win column for the first time on the road trip.

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Panthers drop 4th game in 5 outings, lose 6-2 in Montreal

Photo caption: Forward Sandis Vilmanis skates in a game with the Charlotte Checkers against the Toronto Marlies on Nov. 19, 2025 at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte. (Source: Charlotte Checkers)

The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced that they have recalled forward Rafael Harvey-Pinard from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. 

Harvey-Pinard has yet to make his Pittsburgh regular-season debut, but now that has the potential to change with this call-up. The 27-year-old has appeared in 32 games so far this season with Wilkes/Barre Scranton, where he has posted seven goals, six assists, 13 points, and a plus-8 rating. 

Harvey-Pinard also spent most of this past season in the AHL, but with the Laval Rocket. In 40 games with Laval in 2024-25, he had five goals and 19 points. He also played in one game for the Montreal Canadiens this past campaign, where he has was held off the scoresheet. 

In 84 career NHL games over four seasons, Harvey-Pinard has posted 17 goals, 14 assists, 31 points, and a plus-3 rating. Most of his offensive numbers came during the 2022-23 season with the Canadiens, though, as he posted 14 goals and 20 points in 34 games.

Overall, there is no harm in the Penguins giving Harvey-Pinard a look on their NHL roster. It will be interesting to see how much of an impact he can make from here. 

The Buffalo Sabres have announced that they have recalled defenseman Zac Jones from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans. 

Jones getting called up to the Sabres' roster comes just one day after he was sent down to the AHL. Now, after recording a goal and an assist in the Amerks' Jan. 9 contest against the Laval Rocket, Jones is right back on the Sabres' NHL roster with this latest roster move. 

While Jones has been called up multiple times to the Sabres' roster this season, he has still yet to make his debut for the club. The left-shot defenseman will be hoping that this changes after landing today's call-up to Buffalo's roster. 

In 28 games this season with the Amerks, Jones has posted three goals and 32 points. He also leads the entire AHL with 29 assists, so there is no question that he is impressing in a big way with Rochester. 

Jones appeared in a career-high 46 games this past season with the New York Rangers, where he posted one goal, 10 assists, 11 points, and an even plus/minus rating. 

The Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens will renew one of hockey’s most storied rivalries Saturday night at the Bell Centre, meeting for the first time since Detroit opened the season with a stunning 5–1 rout on home ice. This time, the Wings head to Quebec to face one of the most intense atmospheres in the sport, with both clubs entering the matchup tied atop the Atlantic Division with 56 points.

Detroit holds a slight edge with a 26–15–4 record, while Montreal sits at 25–13–6 after pushing more games into extra time. Both teams are red hot, as the Red Wings have gone 12–4–1 over their last 17 games for the second-best record in the league during that span, while the Canadiens are 8–1–2 in their last 11 games, also ranking second in the NHL over that stretch.

The matchup also highlights contrasting styles and a compelling battle in goal. Montreal’s offense has leaned on star power, with four players averaging more than a point per game during their recent surge, while Detroit has thrived on depth, getting multiple goals from 13 different players during its 17-game hot streak. The Canadiens have won four of the last five meetings between the teams, though Detroit had taken seven of the previous nine before that run.

In net, the Red Wings are expected to turn to veteran John Gibson, who has won 11 of his last 13 starts with a 2.17 goals-against average and .927 save percentage, while Montreal counters with rising American standout Jacob Fowler. The 21-year-old has helped the Canadiens earn points in all but two of his eight NHL starts, posting a 4–2–2 record, a 2.37 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage, setting the stage for an elite showdown between two rivals battling for divisional supremacy.

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

Detroit Red Wings’ Expected Line Combinations vs. Montreal (Saturday):

Finnie – Larkin – Kasper

DeBrincat – Copp – Kane

van Riemsdyk – Compher – Raymond

Soderblom – Rasmussen – Appleton

Edvinsson – Seider

Chiarot – Sandin-Pellikka

Johansson – Benard-Docker

Gibson

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The Pittsburgh Penguins have won six in a row heading into Saturday's showdown against the Calgary Flames. 

The Penguins currently sit in a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and will try to make it seven wins in a row against a struggling Flames team. The Flames have lost four in a row heading into this game and have given up four or more goals in all of those losses. 

Nazem Kadri leads the Flames in points with 32, but only has eight goals this season. He's been much more of a playmaker when he has the puck on his stick. 

Rasmus Andersson has been great for the Flames as their top defenseman, compiling nine goals and 27 points in 44 games. They've also gotten contributions from Mikael Backlund, Blake Coleman, Jonathan Huberdeau, Matt Coronato, Joel Farabee, and Morgan Frost.

Goaltender Dustin Wolf is an absolute stud, even though his numbers are down this year. He has played in 35 games, compiling a .898 save percentage and a 2.97 goals-against average.

Wolf finished last season with a .910 save percentage and a 2.64 goals-against average. He was the biggest reason why the Flames were in the playoff race all year and will be a good goaltender in the league for plenty more seasons to come. 

The Penguins will have a different top line since Bryan Rust is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Rafael Harvey-Pinard was recalled from WBS before the game. 

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Based on the goalie rotation, Arturs Silovs is in line to start against the Flames after Stuart Skinner played on Thursday. 

Saturday's game is set to start at 3:30 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Fans can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'

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Craziest stats from Bruins' historic 10-2 win over Rangers originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

It’s going to be an exciting sports weekend in Boston, and the Bruins started it off with a bang.

The B’s hosted the rival New York Rangers for a Saturday afternoon showdown at TD Garden. The Rangers scored 84 seconds into the game, but it was all Bruins after that.

The Bruins scored six unanswered goals and ultimately won 10-2, improving their record to 24-19-2, which puts them just one point out of a wild card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference standings.

Here are some of the wildest stats from the Bruins’ historic victory.

Double hat trick

Marat Khusnutdinov (four goals, one assist) and Pavel Zacha (three goals) became the first pair of Bruins teammates to tally a hat trick in the same game since 1964.

Khusnutdinov had just five goals entering Saturday and nearly matched that total in this game.

Marat Khusnutdinov becomes the second player this game to earn their first career hat trick! 🧢🧢🧢

📺: ABC pic.twitter.com/mr8tJfVn4G

— NHL (@NHL) January 10, 2026

Khusnutdinov’s four goals ties a team record for a single game. The last B’s player to score four goals in a game was Patrice Bergeron versus the Detroit Red Wings on Nov. 4, 2021.

Zacha came into this game with 10 goals on the season. He now has 13, which is one shy of the 14 he scored in 82 games last season. He has a good chance to hit the 20-goal mark for the third time in his Bruins career.

Saturday’s hat trick was the first of his career.

Pavel Zacha nets his first career hat trick! 🎩 pic.twitter.com/7bHW1nDq6M

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 10, 2026

The last time any team had two players record their first career hat tricks in the same game was the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2008-09 campaign. They won the Stanley Cup that season.

Marat Khusnutdinov and Pavel Zacha had seven combined goals for the @NHLBruins, who tallied 10 in a game for the first time since Oct. 16, 1988 (10-3 W at CHI).#NHLStats: https://t.co/hOnC2XU5L2pic.twitter.com/OdjAaTE7k5

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) January 10, 2026

10 Goals

The last time the Bruins scored 10-plus goals in a game was Oct. 16, 1988 when they beat the Chicago Blackhawks 10-3 on the road.

MARAT KHUSNUTDINOV HAS A FOUR-GOAL GAME ‼️

He came into today’s game with five goals on the season 🤯 pic.twitter.com/ARU70ClFUv

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 10, 2026

Saturday was not the first time the Bruins have scored a ton of goals on the Rangers. In fact, the Bruins’ team record for goals scored in one game is 14 against the Rangers on Jan. 21, 1945.

David Pastrnak makes history

Pastrnak didn’t score a goal in this game, but he set up plenty of them for teammates.

He finished with a career-high six assists. He’s the first Bruins player with a six-assist game since Bobby Orr in 1973. He also joins Orr and Ken Hodge as the only Bruins players ever to have six assists in a single game.

Pastrnak’s six points Saturday give him 888 for his career, tying Orr for the seventh-most in team history.