On a night all about honoring Sergei Fedorov, the Detroit Red Wings made sure to end the evening with a flair for the dramatic.
Andrew Copp scored in overtime for the Red Wings, converting on a centering pass from teammate Alex DeBrincat to give his team a 4-3 overtime victory over the Carolina Hurricanes at Little Caesars Arena.
The Red Wings, who had built up a 3-0 lead through 40 minutes of play, allowed their lead to slip away thanks to a trio of Hurricanes goals in the third period. However, it was Copp who ensured that Detroit kept pace with Carolina for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Before the game, Fedorov's iconic No. 91 jersey number was raised to the rafters in a special ceremony that included several of his former teammates, as well as the Stanley Cup, the Hart Trophy, and the Frank J. Selke Trophy.
Fedorov's rousing speech in which he thanked Red Wings fans earned multiple standing ovations from the sellout crowd, who continued to bring that energy after the opening puck drop.
James van Riemsdyk continued to be a force for Detroit in front of the net, scoring his 12th goal of the season after burying a rebound past goaltender Frederik Andersen.
Goals from Alex DeBrincat and Albert Johansson gave the Red Wings a 3-0 lead which they took into the third period, only to watch Carolina fight their way back into the contest.
They got back to within one goal after tallies from Jackson Blake and Seth Jarvis, and while on a late 5-on-3 power-play chance, former Red Wings defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere knotted the score at 3-3 with a wrist shot past goaltender John Gibson's blocker.
Ultimately, it would be the Red Wings who earned the extra point thanks to Copp, and they are now tied with them for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Gibson improved to 13-2 in his last 15 total games, making 31 saves. Andersen countered with 14 saves.
The Red Wings will be back on the ice in less than 24 hours, as they travel to Boston for a tilt against the Bruins.
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After two consecutive blowout losses, one thing is clear: the Philadelphia Flyers still have a long way to go before thinking themselves part of the NHL's top playoff pack.
The Flyers are, at the time of this writing, still sitting comfortably at 11th in the NHL with their 22-14-8 record and 52 points, but three games--6 points--separate them from as low as 25th in the league.
If the special teams continue to misfire and stall out, as they did against the Tampa Bay Lightning, once again, on Monday night, that free fall becomes a distinct possibility.
The Lightning, on the strength of Brayden Point (knee) and Brandon Hagel, scored on two of their four power play attempts, while the Flyers stumbled to 0-for-2 on the night.
And, not only did the Flyers not score, but they failed to do so at the most inopportune times, considering the context of the game and trailing for all but the first 1:10 of the contest.
It should be noted, too, that the Flyers actually out-hit the Lightning 32-10 on Monday night, which is just proof that you cannot put wrestlers up against sprinters in a race and hope to win.
Speaking of wrestling, it was encouraging that players like Rodrigo Abols and Nikita Grebenkin threw their weight around all night and then backed it up in their respective fights.
Grebenkin, 22, could have easily backed down as the young, inexperienced player, but instead tussled with the larger, older Max Crozier, took him down, landed some uppercuts, and taunted him after, much to the appreciation of Xfinity Mobile Arena's Pride Night crowd.
Generally, though, the Flyers' frustration with two losses in a row to Tampa Bay--which come at a combined score of 12-3--manifested in more ways than just physically.
Trevor Zegras slammed his stick on the ice and on the bench door multiple times, Travis Konecny was ejected for abuse of the officials, and even Dan Vladar ended up chasing Yanni Gourde around his net at some point.
For the second game in a row, the Lightning were too fast and too good for the Flyers, and the Flyers had no answers for it.
As for someone like Matvei Michkov, who should be a go-to difference-maker in games where the Flyers trail early and often, head coach Rick Tocchet says the 21-year-old is "easily checked" and "looks like he just got stuck in mud sometimes."
The difference between Tocchet and John Tortorella when it comes to handling Michkov is staggering, and it has reflected on the ice and statistically.
When a franchise-changing talent like Michkov is virtually invisible and made to play in ways that run counter to his skillset, how much of a chance do the Flyers really have in the long run?
A coin flip, according to MoneyPuck, who had the Flyers' playoff chances drop from 57.8% to 51.8% following the regulation loss to Tampa Bay.
Veterans like Sean Couturier and Nick Seeler, who witnessed firsthand the collapse of the 2023-24 season, chalked this one up to consistency and generally not playing well enough, but that cannot be the case in every loss to a good team for the rest of the season.
If it is, well, we have new knowledge about the Flyers and where they are in this rebuild thing.
It's not all doom and gloom yet, but consecutive thrashings at the hands of the Lightning will assuredly teach the Flyers just what it's like to go head-to-head with a top-tier playoff team several games in a row like they would in a series.
These last two games were a gut check for the Flyers and have now established the standard of performance going forward.
The Florida Panthers were looking to build some momentum after a strong win in Ottawa over the weekend.
Florida went into the barn of the hottest team in the NHL, the Buffalo Sabres, and picked up a gutty 4-2 victory.
The Panthers got things started early, thanks to an interference penalty on Josh Doan that was drawn by rookie Sandis Vilmanis.
Carrying the puck along the Sabres blue line, Uvis Balinskis sent a flat wrist shot toward the net that was deflected by Sam Reinhart on its way past Colten Ellis just 2:35 into the game.
Buffalo tied the score about midway through the period on a long shot by Jacob Bryson that got past a screened Sergei Bobrovsky, give some life to the fans inside KeyBank Center.
The excitement didn’t last long though thanks to A.J. Greer.
On a rush that started in Florida’s zone, Greer and Sam Bennett played the give-and-go game while going up the ice, with Greer eventually firing a long wrister from the top of the right circle that got past Ellis’ glove to send Florida into the first intermission with a 2-1 lead.
The advantage held for Florida until late in the second period.
Tage Thompson sent a hard shot on Bobrovsky from a sharp angle that was stopped by the goaltender, but Zach Benson was able to outwrestle Aaron Ekbald to the loose puck in the crease and slide it over the goal line with 2:03 left in the middle frame.
Florida earned their third lead of the game just past the midway point of the third period.
Anton Lundell fired a backhand shot that Ellis stopped, but he couldn’t control the rebound and Eetu Luostarinen was able to push the puck back to Lundell at the side of the net.
He swept the puck into the net, giving the Panthers a 3-2 lead with 8:53 to go.
An empty-net goal by Greer, his second of the game and ninth of the season, cemented the victory for Florida, their second straight, despite a goal by Buffalo with 12.1 to go.
Photo caption: Jan 12, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; Florida Panthers left wing A.J. Greer (10) celebrates his goal with teammates during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. (Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images)
The San Jose Sharks suffered an ugly 7-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Jan. 11. Former Sharks forward Tomas Hertl was a major reason for the Golden Knights' blowout win.
Hertl put together a monster game for the Golden Knights against the Sharks, as he recorded two goals, three assists, and five points during the contest. With this, there is no question that Hertl was on fire against his former club.
Yet, this was only the latest big performance by Hertl, as he has been on a major hot streak as of late. Due to this, he was recently rewarded for it by the NHL.
The NHL has announced that Hertl is the league's First Star of the Week from Jan. 5 to Jan. 11. When looking at how well the former Sharks star performed, it is very easy to understand why.
Hertl simply dominated during this past week for the Golden Knights, as he recorded three goals, six assists, and nine points in just four games. With numbers like these, it is clear that the former Shark is playing some fantastic hockey right now.
With his ongoing hot streak, Hertl now has 18 goals, 21 assists, and 39 points in 44 games so far this season with the Golden Knights.
NEW YORK — The NHL and NHL Players’ Association said in a joint statement Monday they are pleased that test events at the new hockey arena for the Milan Cortina Olympics were “a good trial run and provided important insight into the current status” of construction.
League and union officials were present at Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena over the weekend, as organizers put on games to test the ice surface while the process of finishing locker rooms and other facilities continues. Play is set to begin on the women’s side Feb. 5 and the men’s side Feb. 11.
“While challenges are inherent with new ice and a still-under-construction venue, we expect that the work necessary to address all remaining issues will continue around the clock,” they said in a statement said. “The NHL and NHLPA will continue to monitor the situation, standing ready to consult and advise on the work being done to ensure that the local organizing committee, the IOC, and the IIHF deliver a tournament and playing conditions befitting the world’s best players.”
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said the the test events went OK, from the reports he received, while acknowledging there is still more to be finished.
“There are still challenges because the building is still under construction and the ice is new,” Bettman said in Buffalo, New York, where he was to announce the Sabres are hosting the draft there in June. “We’ve been assured that, or we expect, that everything that needs to be done on a timely basis will get done. But, as you know, it’s not our event. We’re invited guests. But we’ve offered to help and consult and advise as they feel they need and would be appropriate because we do have a little bit of expertise in that area.”
Bettman believes he’ll have a better idea of where things stand in Milan once he arrives.
“It’s always been important for our players to play best on best at the Olympics,” Bettman said. “That’s why we agreed to take the break and have them go. In the final analysis, that question has to get answered by the IOC and the IIHF.”
The Columbus Blue Jackets and GM Don Waddell made a surprise decision to fire head coach Dean Evason on Monday.
Even though Columbus is about 2,000 miles away from Los Angeles, that doesn't mean Los Angeles Kings coach Jim Hiller can't be affected by the changes within the Blue Jackets organization.
Kings fans have been asking for a Hiller dismissal for months now, and Evason's sacking will only increase the pressure on Hiller's job security.
In their respective conferences, the Kings and Jackets are not in the same place.
Los Angeles is currently in a playoff position, the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. In the meantime, Columbus is last in the Eastern Conference, seven points out of a playoff berth.
While they seem far apart, they're really not when you look at each team's record and points total so far this season.
Going into their clash with the Dallas Stars, the Kings have a 19-15-10 record with 48 points. In contrast, the worst team in the East has a 19-19-7 record and 45 points.
Just three points separate the two teams - the Kings with playoff hopes, and the Blue Jackets with lottery hopes.
If the Blue Jackets believed it was time to make a change behind the bench for performance reasons, how far away are the Kings from thinking the same way?
Jim Hiller (David Gonzales-Imagn Images)
In addition to the Blue Jackets' position not being far off from the Kings, there's now another NHL bench boss at home waiting to pounce on another opportunity to coach in the league.
Throughout the season, there have been several conversations and rumors about Pete DeBoer filling in if Hiller were ever to get fired.
DeBoer has been a successful coach wherever he's gone. He led the Stars to three straight Western Conference finals, as well as another two in tenures with the San Jose Sharks and Vegas Golden Knights.
Now, Evason, a solid NHL coach, is also available if Los Angeles' brass were interested in making a coaching change.
Not to mention another coach who has had plenty of playoff success and even a Stanley Cup to his name, Peter Laviolette.
The hot seat under Hiller has just got hotter.
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The Columbus Blue Jackets officially announced Monday that veteran coach Rick Bowness has been named their new head coach following the firing of Dean Evason and assistant coach Steve McCarthy. Evason was relieved of his duties after the Blue Jackets failed to meet expectations this season, leaving the club after going 19-19-7 for the worst record in the East.
Bowness, 70, comes out of retirement to take on the challenge in Columbus, bringing nearly four decades of NHL coaching experience and a reputation for steady leadership. Prior to stepping away from the bench in May 2024, he concluded a highly successful two-year stint with the Winnipeg Jets, where he posted a 98-57-9 record and led the club to consecutive playoff appearances.
Bowness’s time in Winnipeg revitalized the Jets’ identity, implementing a structured style of play that became the foundation for future success. During the 2023-24 season, under his guidance Winnipeg tied a franchise record with 52 wins, set marks for road victories and defensive consistency, and earned recognition that saw him named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s top coach.
His coaching roots run deep in Winnipeg history as Bowness began his NHL coaching career with the original Jets franchise in the 1980s, first as an assistant before serving 28 games as head coach during the 1988-89 season.
Beyond his time in Winnipeg, Bowness’s coaching résumé is one of the most extensive in NHL history. He has held head coaching positions with the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, New York Islanders, Phoenix Coyotes and Dallas Stars, among others, and has served as an assistant coach with several teams including the Vancouver Canucks and Tampa Bay Lightning. His tenure with the Stars included guiding Dallas to the Stanley Cup Final in the pandemic-altered 2020 season.
Over his 38-year career, Bowness coached more NHL games than anyone else in league history and became one of only three coaches to lead teams in five different decades.
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Rick Tocchet’s club has dropped consecutive games in regulation for just the second time. The Flyers are now 9-2-2 in games following a regulation loss.
It didn’t keep him out Monday night. His game ended early with 9:24 minutes left in the third period when he was tossed for “abuse of officials” after being whistled for crosschecking.
The Lightning (28-13-3) are on an absolutely torrid stretch in which they’ve scored five goals per game over 10 straight wins.
The Flyers were swept in their three-game regular-season series with Tampa Bay and were outscored 15-3.
• Dan Vladar could do only so much for the Flyers.
He wasn’t at his best, but he really wasn’t a problem. The 28-year-old finished with 21 saves on 25 shots.
The Lightning’s final goal was an empty-netter.
The Flyers fell behind 1-0 for the 30th time. Tampa Bay’s game-opening goal came just 1:10 minutes into the action when the Flyers couldn’t locate a loose puck at the feet of Pontus Holmberg.
Then, only 33 seconds into the middle stanza, Erik Cernak’s shot went off Jake Guentzel and past Vladar. Not even four minutes later, Brayden Point padded the Lightning’s lead to 3-0 on the power play. Vladar made the initial save on Point, but he had little to no chance at stopping the next shot off the rebound.
Dvorak stemmed the tide for the Flyers with a goal. The Flyers had a chance to trim the deficit to 3-2 with a couple of power plays, but they didn’t record a shot on either one.
Tampa Bay took advantage, extending its lead back to three with another power play goal in the final minute of the second period.
Lightning netminder Jonas Johansson stopped 19 of the Flyers’ 20 shots.
• Matvei Michkov was held without a point.
Since the start of December, the 21-year-old winger has just one goal — an empty-netter — in 19 games. Michkov has eight assists over that span, but the Flyers could really use his goal-scoring ability.
It just hasn’t been there right now.
• Rodrigo Abols and Nikita Grebenkin both dropped the gloves for the Flyers simultaneously in the third period.
• The Flyers are back in action Wednesday when they visit the Sabres (7:30 p.m. ET/TNT).
When the Pittsburgh Penguins traded for Egor Chinakhov back on Dec. 29, I was a bit surprised. It came out of nowhere, and I didn't think they'd be in the market for another forward since their forward depth was already really good.
Chinakhov had been hoping for a fresh start since the summer, when he requested a trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets, which they granted. The Penguins sent a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 third-round pick, and forward Danton Heinen back for Chinakhov, which shows what they think of him.
He's the type of player that Dubas has routinely gone after over the past couple of years. When he sees that a young player needs a change of scenery, he pounces. He did the same for Philip Tomasino, Jesse Puljujarvi, Cody Glass, and Emil Bemstrom. Yes, it didn't work out for those four players in Pittsburgh, but that doesn't mean history will repeat itself here with Chinakhov.
I know it's only been six games, but I've really liked the way he's played since making his Penguins' debut against the Detroit Red Wings on Jan. 1. He has two goals and three points in those six games for the Penguins and has showcased his blistering release multiple times.
His first goal with the Penguins came off a brilliant stretch pass from Ben Kindel on Jan. 3, but it was his release that really stole the show. He came in on a breakaway against Red Wings goaltender John Gibson, and before you could even blink, the puck was in the back of the net.
His second goal came against the Calgary Flames this past Saturday, and it capped off an awesome two-on-one with Evgeni Malkin. Chinakhov dished the puck to Malkin, who gave it right back to him, and made no mistake with a blistering one-timer. Flames goaltender Devin Cooley had no chance on this shot.
That goal brought the crowd at PPG Paints Arena to life in the second period before Matt Coronato scored the game-winner early in the third. The loss snapped the Penguins' six-game winning streak that had vaulted them into a playoff spot.
Outside of Chinakhov's release, his speed has been on display. He can fly up the ice and really burn opposing players when going for loose pucks. He really showcased his speed on Sunday against the Boston Bruins when he came in on a semi-breakaway and had a good chance against Joonas Korpisalo, but it was ultimately saved.
Chinakhov has also been good in his own zone and has done a nice job defending against chances. His backchecking has been really solid, and I've liked how he anticipates plays before they happen. He hasn't been out of position, either.
Detroit Red Wings center Michael Rasmussen (27) skates with the puck against Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Egor Chinakhov (59) during the third period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
He has played 65:09 at 5v5 with the Penguins and has been on the ice for 51% of the shot attempts, 50.7% of the scoring chances, 51.8% of the high-danger chances, and 45.5% of the expected goals, though I think that latter number will go up in the second half of the season.
Chinakhov and Kindel have spent a good chunk of time together on the same line and have shown some chemistry, even if some of the metrics are below water. They have played 49:46 at 5v5 together and are +1 in shot attempts, -3 in scoring chances, and -2 in high-danger chances. The latter two numbers will likely improve with more minutes together.
They could potentially play on the third line with Tommy Novak once Bryan Rust is healthy, while Evgeni Malkin reunites with Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazeau. Malkin works better at center and showed a ton of chemistry with the big wingers earlier in the season.
With a Novak-Kindel-Chinakhov line, you'd have a nice balance. Novak is a good playmaker, but has been scoring more as of late. Kindel has excellent vision, and Chinakhov can finish chances.
Chinakhov still has 38 more games to show the Penguins' brass that he should be extended since he's slated to be a restricted free agent this summer, but he's off to a good start.
The Winnipeg Jets have made a surprising move on the blue line, recalling defenseman Isaak Phillips from the Manitoba Moose (AHL) while placing Colin Miller on injured reserve retroactive to January 11th.
Miller sustained his injury during Sunday’s game against the New Jersey Devils after a collision along the boards that required assistance off the ice. This marks the second recent injury to the Jets’ defense corps, following Haydn Fleury, who remains sidelined after a serious fall into the boards that left him stretchered off with multiple injuries.
TRANSACTIONS: The #NHLJets have recalled D - Isaak Phillips from the Manitoba Moose (AHL). The Jets have also placed D - Colin Miller on injured reserve retroactive to Jan. 11.
Phillips’ call-up comes as a surprise, as many anticipated Jets prospect Elias Salomonsson would get the promotion. Salomonsson, who received his first recall earlier this season, played four games with Winnipeg, going minus-four before returning to the AHL.
Phillips brings a different look to the Jets’ lineup. The 23-year-old defenseman has NHL experience, having appeared in 56 games over four seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks. Originally a fifth-round pick by Chicago in 2020, Phillips was eventually sent to the AHL and traded to Manitoba, where he has continued his development.
The Jets hope Phillips can tap into his potential and provide a steady presence on the blue line. He is expected to make his Winnipeg debut Tuesday against the New York Islanders.
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Lizotte has spent the past two seasons with the Penguins after his first six years were with the Kings.
The 28-year-old has spent nearly his entire career as a fourth-line center. This year, he's averaged 13:57 of ice time. That's just one second below his career-high of ice time that was set in 2019-20 with Los Angeles.
He's featured in 35 of 44 games for Pittsburgh and has recorded five goals and five assists for 10 points on the year. With that, he has a respectable 51.4 faceoff percentage and a plus-six rating.
Last season was his first in Pittsburgh. He ended that 2024-25 campaign with 59 games to his name, as well as 11 goals and 20 points.
Blake Lizotte (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)
Lizotte's time with the Kings began when he signed in April 2019. He was an undrafted forward who joined Los Angeles following two seasons at St. Cloud State from 2017-18 to 2018-19.
He made his NHL debut in 2018-19, but played his first full season in 2019-20. Lizotte scored six goals and 17 assists for 23 points in his rookie season as a 21-year-old.
His best NHL season was in his fifth year with the Kings. In 81 appearances for Los Angeles, he scored 11 goals and recorded 23 assists for a total of 34 points. He averaged 12:57 of ice time that season and registered a plus-11 rating.
Lizotte also accumulated a whopping 70 penalty minutes that year. He never reached more than 28 in any other NHL campaign.
His tenure with Los Angeles ended in the 2023-24 off-season when he signed with the Penguins as a free agent. Lizotte inked a two-year contract at $1.85 million per season, the same deal that is set to expire at the end of this season.
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MARYLAND
HEIGHTS, Mo. -- The St. Louis Blues believe they came out with a
best-case scenario with defenseman Philip Broberg.
Broberg
is in concussion protocol and is doubtful to play on Tuesday against
the Carolina Hurricanes after leaving Saturday’s 4-2 loss to the
Vegas Golden Knights early in the first period.
Broberg,
who had an assist in his 55 seconds of game time, left the game when
he was checked into the defensive zone boards by Vegas captain Mark
Stone, who was questioned for his follow-through on the hit that
ultimately upended Broberg backwards landing on his head and face.
Stone fought Brayden Schenn later in the period for his actions.
“Broberg's
doing well, but he's still day to day in the concussion protocol,”
Montgomery
said.
“But we are very happy with his progress.”
The
reason for the optimism was, “No headaches, was able to work out
today and we'll see how he progresses with that,” Montgomery said.
“I
think it's very doubtful (for
Tuesday) just
with the concussion protocol.”
It
was obvious what missing Broberg meant for the team needing to play
pretty much the entire game with five defensemen.
“We
felt it in the last game, right,” Montgomery said. “We were at
the end of three in four (games) and we had to play five D-men the
whole game and you just don’t have one more guy that’s not an
elite puck-stopper and ending plays and joining plays. With him being
out and possibly others again tomorrow, it’s an opportunity for
more people to seize more ice time.”
Other
injury news includes Dylan Holloway and Pius Suter, each dealing with
a high ankle sprain, skating prior to Monday’s practice at Centene
Community Ice Center. Montgomery did call Holloway’s progress last
week prior to a three-game road trip as “baby steps.”
Also,
Robert Thomas (lower-body injury) had a maintenance day on Monday,
and the center is questionable for Tuesday against the Hurricanes;
it’s something Montgomery said the team will have to deal with the
maintenance days, probably leading into the Winter Olympic break.
Also,
Mathieu Joseph was absent from practice with an elbow infection that
Montgomery called, “day to day right now, but he’s just on some
antibiotics to clear up the infection.”
Also, Nick Bjugstad, who's been out since Dec. 9 against the Boston Bruins (15 games), skated on a regular line on Monday and appears set to rejoin the lineup Tuesday, if that's what is needed with Thomas out. Bjugstad centered a line with Pavel Buchnevich and Jonatan Berggren.
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Monday evening promises to be a historic night at Little Caesars Arena, as the Detroit Red Wings will officially raise the iconic No. 91 jersey number of Sergei Fedorov to the rafters.
One of the most exciting and dynamic players in NHL history, Fedorov played an integral role in Detroit's Stanley Cup wins of 1997, 1998, and 2002 while also providing the fans of Hockeytown endless highlights.
Forward Patrick Kane, who recently made some history of his own by becoming the 50th player ever to reach the 500-goal plateau, was still a youngster during the prime of Fedorov's career with the Red Wings.
Like many other current NHL players, Kane was amazed by Fedorov's on-ice abilities, as well as his flashy white Nike skates, which he wore for several years. However, there was only one holdup when it came to purchasing some of his own.
"Oh yeah, for sure. My Dad wouldn't let me get them," Kane said with a smile when asked if he wanted a similar pair of Nike skates. "I tried to find some of the Nike covers that go over the skate,s but couldn't find those. Never had the white Nikes, but it was always something I wanted to do."
Fedorov's legendary performance against the Washington Capitals in December 1996 in which he tallied all five goals, including the overtime game-winner, as part of Detroit's 5-4 victory at Joe Louis Arena, was an especially memorable performance that sticks out in Kane's mind.
"I think the five-goal game, the overtime winner, that one really sticks out," he said. "He had so many highlights where he was going in and through guys and scoring, he seemed to be a better skater than everyone else at that time and made others look silly."
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Former Buffalo Sabres goalie James Reimer has officially landed a contract for the 2025-26 season.
The Ottawa Senators have announced that they have signed Reimer to a one-year, $850,000 contract for the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign.
The Senators signed Reimer to an American Hockey League (AHL) professional tryout (PTO) last week, and the expectation was that he would end up getting an NHL contract from the Atlantic Division club. Now, that has officially come to fruition with this latest news, and the 37-year-old veteran goaltender is set to continue his NHL career as a member of the Senators because of it.
Reimer played in one AHL game for the Belleville Senators during his PTO. During it, he allowed six goals on 28 shots in an overtime loss to the Sabres' AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans.
Reimer will now be looking to provide the Senators' goaltending with a bit of a boost. Fellow former Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark is currently on a leave of absence, while Leevi Meralainen has struggled. As a result, it is understandable that the Senators have brought in Reimer for more insurance.
In 22 games this past season with the Sabres, Reimer had a 10-8-2 record, a 2.90 goals-against average, a .901 save percentage, and one shutout.
The NHL has celebrated the remarkable career of Sergei Fedorov, highlighting his dazzling dekes, acrobatic goals, and jaw-dropping no-look passes that left fans and defenders alike in awe. As Hockeytown prepares to honor Fedorov by retiring his iconic No. 91, we take a closer look back at some of the greatest moments that defined his storied career. Moments that showcased not only his incredible skill, but also his intelligence, versatility, and sheer impact on the game of hockey.
Through‑the‑Legs Assist to Kozlov vs. Sharks
One of Fedorov’s most memorable highlight‑reel plays came early in his career against the San Jose Sharks when he made an improvised through‑the‑legs pass to teammate Vyacheslav Kozlov on the rush. Instead of shooting, Fedorov manipulated the puck between his own skates and threaded it to Kozlov for a goal, a play that instantly made highlight reels and showed off his elite puck control and vision that helped redefine offensive creativity in the NHL.
Game‑Winning Playoff Goal vs. Rangers (Capitals)
After leaving Detroit and joining the Washington Capitals, Fedorov delivered one of his most dramatic clutch goals in a playoff series against the New York Rangers. In Game 7, with the series on the line, Fedorov fired a quick wrister over Henrik Lundqvist’s shoulder late in the third period to give Washington a decisive lead. This goal became one of the defining moments of his later career, demonstrating that even after leaving Detroit he could still produce at the highest level in critical playoff situations.
Bardown Goal vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
In a classic Original Six rivalry, Fedorov put on a show against the Toronto Maple Leafs when he executed a sharp deke that left a Leafs defenseman on the ice, then cut to the net and fired a bardown shot. The goal stood out not only for the finish itself but for the confidence and skill he displayed in tight traffic against a tough divisional rival, adding to his legacy as one of the most skilled forwards of his era.
Fake Slap Shot, Clever Goal vs. Phoenix Coyotes
Fedorov’s hockey IQ shone in a matchup with the Phoenix Coyotes when he faked a slap shot from the point, causing the goalie and defenders to react prematurely, then pulled the puck back and slid a low shot along the ice and into the net. This kind of deception and precision was a hallmark of Fedorov’s game, blending patience with execution.
Fedorov turned transition hockey into highlight material when he stole the puck from a Dallas Stars defender and went in alone on net. As goalie Artūrs Irbe charged to disrupt the play, Fedorov deftly pulled the puck across and slid it into the open net. This goal captured his elite speed and breakaway knack, often turning defensive plays into instant offense.
Ice‑Slide Goal vs. Colorado Avalanche
During the Red Wings’ 70th anniversary season, Fedorov delivered a memorable goal against the Colorado Avalanche. After receiving a pass in the low slot, he was tripped up mid‑play but still managed to finish the scoring attempt while sliding on the ice, batting the puck in despite the awkward angle. The goal captured his relentlessness, competitive fire, and ability to finish even when plays broke down.
Coast‑to‑Coast Goal vs. Ottawa Senators
One of Fedorov’s most electrifying solo efforts came versus the Ottawa Senators when he took the puck in his own zone and skated it coast to coast, beating multiple defenders with quick dekes before sliding the puck through the goalie’s five‑hole. Plays like this demonstrated not just speed but an uncanny ability to judge timing and space, making him a constant threat the moment he touched the puck.
One‑Handed Bat‑In vs. Vancouver Canucks
Fedorov’s hand‑eye coordination was on full display in a game against the Vancouver Canucks when he batted a puck out of mid‑air with one hand while in the slot and directed it past the goalie. While specific archived box scores for this moment are sparse, fan recollections and highlight reels have kept this play alive as one of Fedorov’s most technically impressive finishes, a goal that seemed to defy normal scoring mechanics.
Top‑Shelf Breakthrough vs. St. Louis Blues
In a dynamic attack against the St. Louis Blues, Fedorov quickly shed a defenseman, even slipping the puck through his legs, to turn a rush into a fast break. He then elevated a precise shot top shelf over the goalie’s glove, highlighting his combination of speed, stickhandling, and shot accuracy. Goals of this type were common from Fedorov during his prime, which helped him become one of the league’s most feared scoring threats.
Five‑Goal Night and Overtime Winner vs. Washington Capitals (December 26, 1996)
Fedorov’s defining moment came on December 26, 1996, when he scored all five goals for the Detroit Red Wings in a 5‑4 overtime victory over the Washington Capitals at Joe Louis Arena. He became the first player in NHL history to score every goal for his team in a game in which at least five goals were scored, a feat that stood as one of the most remarkable individual performances in league history.
After tallying four goals in regulation, he capped the night by scoring the overtime winner at 2:39 of OT on a wrist shot from between the circles, assisted by Vladimir Konstantinov. The performance was the second‑highest individual goal total in a game by a Red Wing and remains one of the franchise’s most iconic single‑game efforts.
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