When the Nashville Predators were staring at a 3-0 hole, the game needed a spark. Steven Stamkos didn’t just provide one, he flipped the entire night on its head.
Stamkos, 35, scored twice on the power play and added another at even strength to fuel a 5-3 Predators comeback win, erasing a three-goal deficit with authority.
His first power-play goal put the Predators on the board towards the end of the second period and marked the 234th of his career.
That goal pulled him even with Marcel Dionne for ninth all-time in NHL history. Halfway through the third period, Stamkos struck again with the man advantage to move into sole possession of that spot.
He wasn't done though.
Stamkos recorded his third of the night and gave the Predators a 4-3 lead with 1:13 left in the third period. On a game that looked like it was heading to overtime.
The veteran sniper blew the roof off Bridgestone Arena.
His hat trick was the 16th of his career which puts him in rare company among active players, trailing only Alex Ovechkin and David Pastrnak.
It also came against the 14th different franchise he’s torched for three goals, second-most among active skaters.
By night’s end, Stamkos had logged his 104th career multi-goal game and reminded everyone exactly why he’s still one of the league’s most dangerous finishers, especially when the moment demands it.
Up Next: The Nashville Predators (24-22-4) will wrap up the homestand with a meeting against the Utah Mammoth (26-20-4) on Saturday at 2:30.
The Florida Panthers kicked off their three-game road trip in chilly Manitoba on Thursday night.
Florida dug deep and picked up a crucial 2-1 shootout win over the Winnipeg Jets.
The game remained scoreless until late in the second period thanks to some excellent defensive hockey from both teams.
For Florida, their play in their own end of the ice was inspiring, taking away the middle of the ice from the Jets and frustrating them over and over.
A faceoff in the Winnipeg zone with just over a minute to go led to the game’s opening goal.
Playing in just his second game of the season, Matthew Tkachuk picked up the puck along the half wall and sent a nice, flat pass to the slot.
That’s where Sam Bennett was waiting, and he blasted a one-timer past Connor Hellebuyck to give Florida a 1-0 lead at the 18:49 mark.
Winnipeg tied the game 5:24 into the third period, and after playing such a sound defensive game, it was a turnover in their own zone that cost the Cats their lead.
As Uvis Balinskis tried to skate with the puck toward his own blue line, he had his pocket picked from behind by Jonathan Toews.
Toews then fed Cole Perfetti across the zone and his quick forehand-backhand move was enough to fool Daniil Tarasov and knot the score at one.
That’s how the game would remain though regulation and the three-on-three overtime, which meant it was destined to end in a shootout.
Goals by Anton Lundell and Sam Reinhart, as well as a pair of stops by Tarasov, earned the Panthers two big points.
The win was also the first for Paul Maurice back in Winnipeg since he was coaching the Jets.
On to Minnesota, where it may actually be colder than it was in Winnipeg.
Photo caption: Jan 22, 2026; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) celebrates his goal on Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) in the second period at Canada Life Centre. (James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images)
For the third time in four games, the Ottawa Senators squandered a multi-goal lead, only this time, they didn’t even manage to earn a regulation point. Steven Stamkos scored three goals, including the game-winner with just over a minute remaining, to lead the Nashville Predators to a 5-3 victory over the Senators on Thursday night.
Ottawa had grabbed an early 3-0 lead and looked strong for 40 minutes, fueled by Steven Halliday’s first NHL goal and some excellent goaltending from James Reimer, who made 22 saves in the loss.
First Period
After being called up earlier in the day to replace injured forward David Perron, Halliday got the Senators on the board just over six minutes into the game. Nick Cousins did some strong work behind the Nashville net before feeding Lars Eller, whose wraparound attempt was stopped. The puck then trickled out to Halliday, who chipped a backhand past Juuse Saros to open the scoring.
Just over eight minutes later, Ridly Greig made it 2–0 with his eighth goal of the season. Michael Amadio made a slick move at his own blue line to create a long passing lane to Greig at the far blue line. Greig sprinted in alone and beat Saros between the legs to double the lead.
It appeared Greig had added another goal in the dying moments of the first period after crashing the net, but the goal was disallowed. Greig entered the blue paint on his own, and it appeared he may have directed the puck in with his arm.
A notable moment in the opening period came when tensions flared between Shane Pinto and Steven Stamkos. After Stamkos rubbed Pinto out along the boards, Pinto responded with a chop to the back of the legs. Stamkos angrily returned fire with a slash and a cross-check.
Also worth a mention was the incredible skate save by James Reimer on Cole Smith. In a scramble in front, Reimer was already stretched out but still managed to extend his left leg to prevent a sure goal.
Second Period
Midway through the second period, Dylan Cozens made it 3–0 Ottawa, deflecting Artem Zub’s point shot. It was Cozens’ 16th goal of the season, matching his total from all of last year in just his 50th game.
Reimer made another elite save with just under two minutes left in the second. He appeared completely down and out but reached back behind him with his blocker and stick to absolutely rob Jonathan Marchessault.
However, Jordan Spence was called for hooking on the play, and on the ensuing power play, Nashville finally got on the board. Luke Evangelista hit Stamkos with a perfect pass in the slot, and he skated into a full slap shot like it was the skills competition at the All-Star Game. Reimer had zero chance and that cut the lead to 3–1.
Third Period
Still up by 3-1 just over four minutes into the third period, Fabian Zetterlund took a two-minute minor for high-sticking. They killed off the penalty thanks to some strong PK work, particularly from Tim Stützle. As the penalty expired, Stützle had a bit of misfortune, breaking in alone on goal and appearing to be the victim of an uncalled holding penalty.
As that happened, two Nashville players jumped off off the ice at the Nashville blue line, replaced by two Predators who jumped on at the red line, behind the Sens D, leading to a 2 on 0, finished off by Marchessault to cut the lead to 3-2.
It could easily have been called too many men on Nashville.
Here's a good snap of how the 2 on 0 happened. Two Preds jump off at the blue line, the two replacements jump on at the red line. Defense is hard enough to play without new guys jumping on the ice early, 30 feet behind you. https://t.co/7X5e104CPB
The momentum seemed to swing with the Zetterlund penalty with Nashville's offensive guns getting loads of touches in the offensive zone.
Two minutes later, with Nashville pressing, Stutzle got called for crosschecking Stamkos in a wild goalmouth scramble. Stamkos made him pay by one timing a cross ice pass through the slot to tie the game.
Stamkos wasn't done there. He completed his hat trick with just over one minute to play. Ryan O'Reilly beat Nick Jensen badly on a forecheck, won the puck cleanly, and centred it to Stamkos who flicked home a puck out of the air.
As the Preds celebrated their comeback, Brady Tkachuk broke his stick on the Sens goal post in frustration.
Nashville added an empty netter to seal the win, the latest in a string of emotional setbacks for the Senators in 2026.
The Sens are back at it on Saturday at home versus the Carolina Hurricanes. The next three games are against Carolina (2nd overall), Vegas (9th overall), and Colorado (1st overall).
After a long, emotional stretch of games celebrating the past, the Chicago Blackhawks are now back to being focused solely on the future. On Thursday night, they hit the road for one game to take on the Carolina Hurricanes.
Carolina, known for playing a suffocating style defensively, is a hard team to play against, especially in their own building. The Blackhawks needed a big effort to even think about beating them.
Frank Nazar returned to the lineup for Chicago in this game. That means that Nazar, Connor Bedard, Nick Lardis, Oliver Moore, and Artyom Levshunov skated in the same lineup for the first time together. The future brightens for the organization every day. There are more great prospects on the way.
The Blackhawks weren't playing at their best early in this game, but that didn't stop them from going up 1-0. Ilya Mikheyev scored a short-handed goal to make it 1-0 at 11:12 of the first period.
The lead didn't last long, however, as Joel Nystrom scored his first career NHL goal to tie the game up at one.
In the second period, Oliver Moore and Ryan Donato made a nifty play to find Nick Lardis, who scored his 6th of the season to make it 2-1 Blackhawks.
Before long, at 9:16 of the middle frame, Jordan Staal tied the game back up. He created a two-on-one by taking advantage of a tough Artyom Levshunov pinch. That put Connor Bedard in a bad position, and Staal took full advantage.
Later in the period, Lardis took a big hit from Hurricanes defenseman Alex Nikishin. Oliver Moore, who was celebrating his 21st birthday on Thursday, came to the defense of his linemate.
Although the fight decisively went to Nikishin (three punches), it was a great move by Moore as he stood up for his fellow rookie. After connecting on a goal earlier in the period, you can expect more big moments for Moore and Lardis together.
The 2-2 tie held through the second intermission. In the final frame, the two teams exchanged goals once more.
Connor Murphy received a beautiful pass from Tyler Bertuzzi before putting on the moves to score his second goal of the season, less than a minute before Jackson Blake scored a tap-in goal on a neat pass by Logan Stankoven.
Nothing more came in regulation time or overtime, so the match went to a shootout. There, Connor Bedard and Andrei Svechnikov each scored in the second round, but that was all of the scoring until they got all the way to the sixth round.
In that sixth round, after Spencer Knight kept Mark Jankowski from scoring, Oliver Moore completed his big birthday game with the shootout winner.
This won't count as an official Gordie Howe Hat Trick for Moore on his birthday, but for all intents and purposes, he scored one. His team won in large part because of the way he played.
It must also be noted that the Blackhawks went 5/5 on the penalty kill in this game. They are now up to 85.1 percent on the PK, officially jumping the Colorado Avalanche for first in the NHL.
The Blackhawks are not likely going to jump enough teams to be a playoff team, but wins like this prove that they deserve to be in the conversation as a bubble team.
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 injury bug is continuing to bite the Buffalo Sabres.
Sabres defenseman Jacob Bryson was forced to leave the team's Jan. 22 matchup against the Montreal Canadiens early after suffering an upper-body injury.
Bryson was limited to only 6:17 of ice time during the Sabres' contest against the Canadiens due to his injury. During the matchup, he recorded two blocks and a plus-1 rating.
Bryson has appeared in 33 games so far this season with the Sabres, where he has recorded two goals, three assists, and five points. This is after he had seven assists and a minus-9 rating in 48 games with the Sabres during this past season.
In 287 career NHL games over six seasons with the Sabres, Bryson has recorded six goals, 42 assists, 48 points, and 58 penalty minutes.
Let’s be clear – the Buffalo Sabres’ signing of young winger Josh Doan is very much a gamble.
Indeed, when you commit a seven-year, $$48.65-million contract to a 23-year-old who came into the current season with exactly 62 games of NHL experience, you’re gambling. But as we’ll explain below, the Sabres can afford to take this type of gamble.
With Doan’s contract done, there will be nobody wondering whether Doan could follow the guy he was traded for – sniper J.J. Peterka – and orchestrate an exit out of town a few years from now. Now, you have him for a full seven years, and he’s a cost-certain asset. But there’s no question Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen has gambled on Doan.
The reality, though, is that these are the type of deals teams make all the time. They project on players, and sometimes, they project wrongly. But the bottom line is this – Buffalo has to make these projections if they want to keep players on the rise in town.
Now, the Sabres know they’ve got Doan to stay in the top-six of the team. Now, they can now worry about players pushing their way out of town the way Peterka did. It’s about committing more now for the Sabres in hope of the contract looking like it was worthwhile.
Doan could be a terrific winger for a long time in this league. And the Sabres believe he’s worth the investment. Time will tell whether they were right to do so.
I think it's safe to say that the NHL is going to learn very quickly you shouldn't 'F' with Alexander Nikishin.
The Carolina Hurricanes rookie defenseman has been known for a while now for his booming slapshot and big hits, but he also demonstrated just how powerful his fists are too.
The 24-year-old Russian had his first career NHL fight on Thursday against Chicago Blackhawks forward Oliver Moore and man was it one-sided.
If that looks like the mismatch of the century on paper — Nikishin (6-foot-3, 218lbs); Moore (5-foot-11, 188lbs) — you'd be right.
And Nikishin wasn't even the one to instigate the fight either is what makes it even crazier.
The Canes defenseman had laid a big hit on Chicago's Nick Lardis along the boards and Moore immediately went after Nikishin and clearly challenged him.
Nikishin seemed unwilling at first, but eventually obliged and within seconds, the fight was over as the Hurricanes defenseman fed Moore three quick right hands to drop him, before delivering an emphatic fourth as the Blackhawks was falling to the ice.
Alexander Nikishin with a HEAVY hit on Nick Lardis, then drops the gloves with Oliver Moore 😳 pic.twitter.com/YiPFlvD7I4
Moore had an open cut on his face as he skated off the ice and you could tell from his wide-eyed expression that he knew he made quite the miscalculation.
Also probably not the best 21st birthday present that the American centerman will receive this year, but hey, you know what they say...
Mess around and find out.
In the end though, Moore got the last laugh, scoring the shootout winning goal for the Blackhawks and he was a good sport about the fight postgame.
"It was a good way to ring it in," Moore said. "Got beat up, won a hockey game. ... He's a big boy and Russian. I talked to him a little bit and he said it was his first fight too — can't buy that — but it was all good."
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.
Stay updated with the most interesting Carolina Hurricanes stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.
What a season it's been for Carolina Hurricanes rookie defenseman Joel Nystrom.
The 23-year-old blueliner made his NHL debut on Oct. 23, registered his first NHL point on Nov. 8, signed a four-year contract on Dec. 12 and now, 36 games into his career, he has his first NHL goal as well.
Joel Nystrom talks about scoring first career NHL goal
In the first period of the Canes' Thursday night game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Nystrom wristed one from the left circle that found its way past Hawks netminder Spencer Knight to tie the game up for his team.
It was a little bit of a full-circle moment for Nystrom too as he picked up as Jesperi Kotkaniemi was the one who teed him up for his first goal, and Nystrom's first career point came by setting up a Kotkaniemi goal.
"I'm happy to get my first goal," Nystrom said after the game. "I've been waiting for it. It was a great pass by KK and I had a lot of space there, so I tried to shoot it. Happy to see it went in."
The Swede has really made his way into the league in a big way, after injuries opened the door for him.
He's been a reliable presence on the blueline and he hasn't been afraid to shoot the puck, with 115 shot attempts and 40 shots on goal already under his belt, so it's good to see him finally get one.
"Nys' been great all season long," said captain Jordan Staal. "He's stepped up and played a lot of minutes, especially early there and has played really well. He's fit in nicely with the group and he's gotten a ton of chances and a ton of shots on net. Kept telling him it was math and one was bound to go in for him if he kept shooting the puck, so it nice to see him get one. He acted like he's done it before and I'm sure he will again."
The 2021 seventh-round pick has become a key contributor to the Hurricanes and it's safe to say we'll be seeing a lot more of him in the future.
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.
Stay updated with the most interesting Carolina Hurricanes stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.
The Buffalo Sabres signing of winger Josh Doan is the first major move made by Jarmo Kekalainen, but could be an indicator of what the newly-hired Sabres GM will do before the NHL Trade Deadline in early March. Doan has 35 points (15 goals, 20 assists) in 49 games in his first season with the Sabres, and agreed to a seven-year, $48.65 million contract ($6.95 million AAV).
The 23-year-old winger was in the final year of his entry-level contract. The new deal represents a departure from all of the long-term extensions under former GM Kevyn Adams. Deals for Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, Owen Power, Tage Thompson, Ryan McLeod, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen all had signing bonuses only in the first year, while Doan’s extension includes a $3.5 million signing bonus in both the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons.
Discussing the Josh Doan contract extension with the Sabres.
Doan, along with forward Zach Benson and defenseman Michael Kesselring, were to be restricted free agents at the end of this season, a complicating factor to the Sabres salary structure with the potential signing of Alex Tuch before the winger becomes an unrestricted free agent in July. With the dead money on Jeff Skinner’s buyout increasing to $6.44 million next season, the Sabres (according to Puckpedia) have $90.783 million allocated for 2026-27.
Tuch is reportedly asking for in excess of $10 million on an eight-year deal, similar to the contract signed by LA forward Adrian Kempe earlier this season. If Kekalainen is not able to get Tuch at a lower number, it increases the possibility of the 29-year-old winger being dealt before the March 6th trade deadline. The Sabres can ill afford to keep a player who will likely leave this summer and get nothing in return, but trading Tuch could hamper their chances at ending their 14-year playoff drought.
The Buffalo Sabres are currently fourth in the Atlantic Division standings with a 27-17-5 record. With this, the Sabres have a real shot of finally breaking their 14-year playoff drought.
However, with the Eastern Conference playoff race being so tight, it would be wise for the Sabres to add to their roster to help their odds of making the post-season. When looking at trade candidates around the NHL who could be good fits, Columbus Blue Jackets forward Boone Jenner stands out in a big way.
Jenner has been creating chatter in the rumor mill as a trade candidate, as he is a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA), and the Blue Jackets currently do not hold a playoff spot. If he is officially made available ahead of the deadline, the Sabres would be wise to make a big push for him.
If the Sabres brought in Jenner, they would be adding an impactful forward who plays both down the middle and on the wing. Furthermore, he would give the Sabres another good leader in their room, which could be excellent for a Buffalo club that is looking to take the next step.
Jenner is also in the middle of a strong season with the Blue Jackets. In 35 games on the year, the 2011 first-round pick has recorded eight goals, 17 assists, 25 points, and 79 hits. With numbers like these, he would be a solid addition to the Sabres' top nine if acquired.
Jenner would also give the Sabres another player who works on both the power play and penalty kill, as he plays a solid two-way game.
The 2021 NHL Draft is beginning to look like one of the stronger classes in recent memory, producing several impact players across the league. For the Detroit Red Wings, that success now includes towering defenseman Simon Edvinsson, a six-foot-six Swedish blueliner who has quickly established himself as one of the most intriguing young defensemen in the sport. His emergence raises a natural question in if the draft were held again today, would Edvinsson go higher, lower, or remain at sixth overall?
At the very top of a redraft, there appears to be little debate. Dallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston has developed into a legitimate top-six NHL scorer and is on pace to finish just shy of 90 points this season.
Johnston leads all players from the 2021 class in total points and holds a 53-point advantage over the next closest skater, Seattle’s Matty Beniers. Based on current production and trajectory, Johnston would almost certainly be the first overall pick in a redraft.
From there, the picture becomes more complicated as Beniers remains a cornerstone player in Seattle, while Utah’s Dylan Guenther, Toronto’s Matthew Knies, and Anaheim’s Mason McTavish have all emerged as impactful forwards.
Each brings a combination of scoring, physicality, and top-line upside that would likely push them ahead of Detroit’s original sixth selection. In a redraft scenario, it is reasonable to expect those five forwards to come off the board before the Red Wings are on the clock.
That is where Edvinsson re-enters the conversation. While teams generally preach drafting best player available over positional need, a redraft inevitably accounts for organizational context and proven NHL performance. Detroit’s defensive depth is thinner than its forward group, and Edvinsson’s skill set would fill a clear need. Among remaining options, he stands out as one of the best all-around talents available.
New Jersey defenseman Luke Hughes presents the closest competition as the fellow 22-year-old is more offensively inclined and has already posted multiple 40-point NHL seasons, but recent injury concerns and defensive inconsistencies could give teams pause.
Edvinsson, by contrast, offers size, reach, and defensive reliability while still contributing offensively, finishing with only 13 fewer points than Hughes last season despite a different role. His physical presence and durability make him an attractive long-term option for a team seeking stability on the back end.
Other defensemen such as J.J. Moser have also carved out solid NHL careers, but Edvinsson’s five-inch height advantage and two-way impact give him the edge. There are also several forwards including William Eklund, Kent Johnson, Owen Power, Matt Coronato, Logan Stankoven, and Jackson Blake who could reasonably climb in a redraft. Even so, most projections would place Edvinsson firmly in the same range, either remaining with Detroit at sixth overall or sliding only slightly later.
For Red Wings fans, the takeaway is reassuring. Detroit’s scouting staff identified a legitimate top talent, and Edvinsson’s continued development suggests the organization made the right call. In a draft that continues to age well, Detroit’s sixth overall pick looks every bit the part of a franchise cornerstone.
Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!
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.
It has been 5,171 days since a 21-year-old Roman Josi was called up from the Milwaukee Admirals to join the Nashville Predators.
He remembers it vividly. On Nov. 26, 2011, Josi played his first NHL game against the Detroit Red Wings.
"I remember going out there for warmups and thinking that it was the coolest thing," Josi said. "It was at Joe Louis Arena, which was historic and across from me, you had guys like Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom, which was pretty surreal. You never forget your first one."
Thursday, in the Predators' home matchup against the Ottawa Senators, Josi will play his 1,000th career game and become the first player in franchise history to play all 1,000 games with the Predators.
"It's a crazy number and a pretty special day," Josi said at Thursday morning's skate. "It's a good time to reflect a little bit and think about the time you've been here. It's pretty special to do it with this organization and the only team I've played for."
Josi's list of accolades, not just in the Predators organization, but in the NHL and internationally, is a long one.
He's established himself as one of the best defensemen of his generation, a four-time NHL All-Star, 2020 Norris Trophy Winner, and just the second defenseman ever to lead an NHL franchise in points, the other being Hall of Famer Ray Bourque (1,506 points) with the Boston Bruins.
Over 999 career games, Josi has tallied 198 goals and 554 assists for 752 points.
"To play 1,000 games in one uniform is really hard these days," Predators head coach Andrew Brunette said. "With the CBA and free agency, it's a heck of an accomplishment."
Josi has been a pioneer in the growth of Switzerland's hockey presence, winning three silver medals at the IIHF World Championships, competing in the 2014 Olympics, and gearing up for another run at the 2026 games next month.
While he's originally from Switzerland, Nashville has become home to Josi. It's where he met his wife, Ellie Ottaway-Josi, and where his two kids were born and are being raised.
Josi's family will be attending the game on Thursday.
"My kids are at a good age now where they kind of understand what's happening a little bit," Josi said. "I met my wife here. My kids were born here. There are so many things that have happened in this town over the last 15 years.
"My family is here from back home (Switzerland). They've been here so many times and they love it."
Nov 26, 2011; Detroit, MI, USA; Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) takes the puck up ice against the Detroit Red Wings during the third period at the Joe Louis Arena. Detroit won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-Imagn Images
Reaching 1,000 games means even more, considering Josi's health and the possibility in the 2025 offseason that he may not reach the milestone.
After missing the final two months of the 2024-25 season, it was revealed that Josi had been diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), a circulatory disorder that causes a rapid heart rate increase.
With his status in flux throughout the summer, days before training camp, General Manager Barry Trotz announced that Josi would be ready, "100 percent healthy."
"We were all a little bit scared last year. I'm sure he was," Brunette said. "I think the clarification with what he was dealing with eased a lot of tension in all of us, especially him. To see him back, he's pointed at a really high level this year.
"We played better because Roman's healthy and in his groove, so I'm happy to see him. He's been scoring some goals lately. His game is at a really high level."
Josi said a lot has to go right health-wise in order to get to 1,000 games, but he credited the people around him in the Predators organization who got him there.
"There are a lot of people to be thankful for," Josi said. "Our staff does an amazing job to keep you healthy and a lot goes into it. I feel very lucky, health-wise, to make it to 1,000."
Feb 9, 2011; St. Paul, MN USA; Minnesota Wild forward Andrew Brunette (15) with his wife Laurie Brunette (second left) and father Dan Brunette (left) is presented with a silver hockey stick for his 1000th game played last week before the game against the Colorado Avalanche at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-Imagn Images
The moment allowed Brunette to reflect on his 1,000th career game, which he eclipsed in 2011, with the Minnesota Wild. He said the moment can be emotionally "tough."
"When you get to that game, sometimes it feels like an obituary at times," Brunette said. "You see everybody talk about it and you gotta kind of catch yourself that you're, you're not dead. The tributes and the things people say.
"As a hockey player, you're always moving forward. Next game, next shift, the next play. To take a second and reflect, for me, wasn't a great feeling."
The celebration has already begun ahead of the game, as Josi has received gifts from his teammates, including a limited-edition Norqain watch and VIP tickets to the US Open.
It'll be a special celebration Thursday night, but Josi is aware of the task at hand of beating the Senators and avoiding a third straight loss.
"You obviously want to enjoy the moment, but once the game starts, we're trying to win," Josi said. "It's a special game for me, but once the game starts, you focus on that."
The Winnipeg Jets host the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in a tape-measuring matchup at Canada Life Centre on Thursday, January 22.
Winnipeg needs to start stringing together wins to climb the standings, and my top NHL picks and Panthers vs. Jets predictions are calling for back-to-back Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck to play a leading role in picking up the victory tonight.
Panthers vs Jets prediction
Panthers vs Jets best bet: Connor Hellebuyck Over 24.5 saves (-135)
Winnipeg Jets No. 1 goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has hit the Over in this market in six of his past seven games, and he’s been particularly sharp across his past three starts with a .926 SV% and a 2.23 GAA.
This is also a plus-matchup, with the Florida Panthers ranking eighth in shots per game (29.1) and seventh in Corsi For percentage at 5-on-5.
With Winnipeg allowing 28.0 shots per game and ranking 21st in CF% at 5-on-5, I’m anticipating Hellebuyck seeing more than enough rubber to clear this saves total tonight.
Panthers vs Jets same-game parlay
Winnipeg has won five of its past seven games while scoring 3.71 goals per and posting a plus-nine goal differential. On the opposite bench, Florida is hovering along a 4-5-1 stretch with 3.9 goals against per game and a minus-17 goal differential.
Turning to the final leg of this same-game parlay, Jets winger Cole Perfetti has recorded two or more shots in nine of his past 14 games for 27 total on 58 attempts. Perfetti also sports a 52.5 CF% and 53.5% shot share at 5-on-5 during the stretch, and is cemented into a Top 6 role with secondary looks on the power play.
Panthers vs Jets SGP
Jets moneyline
Connor Hellebuyck Over 24.5 saves
Cole Perfetti Over 1.5 shots on goal
Panthers vs Jets odds
Moneyline: Panthers -110 | Jets -110
Puck Line: Panthers +1.5 | Jets -1.5
Over/Under: Over 5.5 | Under 5.5
Panthers vs Jets trend
The Winnipeg Jets have hit the Over in 14 of their last 20 games at home (+7.55 Units / 35% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Panthers vs. Jets.
How to watch Panthers vs Jets
Location
Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg, MB
Date
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Puck drop
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
WHDT-TV, TSN3
Panthers vs Jets latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
The Blues are struggling with injuries and are having trouble winning games. They sit 31st overall in the NHL and haven’t given any reason to believe they can magically turn things around with 32 games remaining in the season.
The Kraken, on the other hand are outperforming expectations. They currently sit two points out of third place in the Pacific Division and tied for the second wild card spot. While the Blues will be sellers, the Kraken believe they should be buyers, looking to upgrade their team.
A recent report shared by David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period suggested that the Kraken could be “open to moving Shane Wright” in a package to acquire a top-six forward. The Kraken struggle score goals and create offense, ranking 25th in goals scored and 28th in shots on goal. Kyrou’s speed and offensive flair would be exactly what the Kraken are hoping to add to their top six.
Kyrou is in the midst of a down year with just nine goals and 21 points in 40 games, but a change of scenery should help him find his game again.
Wright could also be looking for a change of scenery. The 22-year-old was selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2022 NHL draft and hasn’t been given the opportunity to develop at the NHL level. In his rookie season, he averaged 14:04 of ice time, scoring an impressive 19 goals and 44 points. This season, he’s averaging 13:44 of ice time, notching seven goals and 17 points in 49 games.
Wright has been stuck as the third-line center with limited opportunities both at even strength and on the power play.
A move to St. Louis could change that. When healthy, the Blues’ centers are Robert Thomas, Pius Suter, Dalibor Dvorsky, and Nick Bjugstad/Oskar Sundqvist. There have been reports that the Blues could trade Thomas and Suter if the right deal comes along.
If they are moved, it presents the perfect opportunity for Wright to slot into a top-six role.
Wright projects as a second-line center, similar to Dvorsky, but with the right opportunity, he could become more than that. Wright has all the tools of a two-way center. Standing six-foot, 192 pounds, he has the frame to be physical, as well as the skating and shot to be an offensive threat. His playmaking is his biggest blemish, but he is still capable of making plays with the puck.
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.
