The Buffalo Sabres have successfully bounced back from a pair of losses against Minnesota and in Carolina with three straight wins over Nashville, Montreal, and a 5-0 shutout against the New York Islanders at the UBS Arena on Saturday afternoon. Jason Zucker scored twice, Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, and Alex Tuch scored for Buffalo, who moved past Montreal into third place in the Atlantic Division.
Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff spoke to the media after the game:
It seemed like your penalty kill got you the momentum back, like it did for the Islanders:
It looked like when we were on the power play, and we were on the penalty kill. I thought our penalty kill was fantastic too. Didn't give up q chance. Did a real good job, Lyon stalled them out. I thought when we had chances to pressure, we did. Maybe a couple clears, we didn't get down the ice. But other than that, these last two games, the times we have killed them have been very good.
You talked about this before. In the third period, you changed your lines, and had a defensive guy on each line. Was that your thought, since you don't have the last change?
I changed them in the second, to be honest with you. I just didn't like the way it was going. We just needed a little spark. Not really more about defensive guys, just more about seeing if we could get a little bit of life in the lines that generate a little bit more. And I thought, the McLeod line came out at the start of two periods and got us a goal. Benson and Thompson have played a lot together, and Ostlund has played such good hockey, that line looked pretty good too. I think sometimes inside of a game, you just have to mix things up. We're not getting the matchups. They were trying to match up their heavy guys against us. So I thought, try to get away from it.
The Sabres sign winger Josh Doan to a seven-year contract extension.
How big of a spark has Jason Zucker provided in recent games?
Jason Zucker has kind of sparked you guys the last couple of years. We need that. We need that out of our veteran guys. He not only scores two goals, but he lays himself out on a big blocked shot too. I look at that sometimes as being bigger than scoring. He's putting himself first and forefront to help win a hockey game.
Mattias Samuelsson has always been a defensive contributor, but how big has his offense this season?
I think we've all seen the creating offense and making good plays. He's really been a rock back there on both sides of the puck when it comes to killing plays, and it comes to joining even. The shot to Tuch on the fifth goal. I mean, perfect shot. Tuch got his blade underneath it, but his outlet passes first and foremost, I thought were excellent.
The Buffalo Sabres just keep winning. With their 5-0 victory over the New York Islanders on Saturday, they now have a 29-17-5 record and have jumped up to third place in the Atlantic Division standings.
With the Sabres continuing to impress, they are putting themselves in a position to be buyers at the 2026 NHL trade deadline. One of their top goals ahead of the deadline should be to bring in another top-six forward. When looking at trade candidates around the NHL, New York Rangers forward Vincent Trocheck stands out in a major way.
With Rangers GM Chris Drury confirming that the team is retooling and open to making moves, Trocheck has been creating a ton of buzz as a trade candidate. When noting that he is a proven top-six center with an affordable $5.625 million cap hit until the end of the 2028-29 season, several teams should be targeting him. The Sabres would be wise to be among them.
If the Sabres brought in Trocheck, he would give them another star forward to work with in their top six and on both their power play and penalty kill. This would be great for a Sabres team that is looking to get back into the playoffs for the first time since 2011.
In 38 games so far this season with the Rangers, Trocheck has recorded 11 goals, 21 assists, and 32 points. This is after he had 59 points in 82 games during the 2024-25 season and a career-high 77 points in 82 games back in 2023-24. With numbers like these, he would be a major pickup for the Sabres, and it will be intriguing to see if they pursue him because of it.
It’s Sunday, and you know what that means — it’s time for our weekly social media roundup! For the second straight Sunday, New York City is getting hit by a wintry weather, although this time, it’s a storm expected to be so bad that many schools had already cancelled classes on Monday before the weekend even started. Now, the temperature may be chilly, but fortunately for us, the hot stove was piping hot for the Bombers this week. And since I know the anticipation is killing you, let’s get started!
The Inevitable Occurred
All winter, the Yankees and Cody Bellinger acted like a pair of high school kids that clearly were interested in each other but were afraid to make the first move. As soon as the offseason began, Bellinger changed his Instagram profile picture, ditching a shot of him in a Yankee jersey in favor of a generic animated shot with a blank hat.
Then, early last week, Bellinger and Austin Wells broke the Yankees portion of the Internet. The outfielder posted pictures of himself working out to prepare for the season, and the catcher posted a sad emoji in response. Immediately, fans began to wonder if he knew something we didn’t.
Then, Wednesday afternoon, the news finally broke: the Yankees and Bellinger had agreed to a five-year deal that kept the popular outfielder in the Bronx. While Belli himself did not post on social media about the deal, he immediately changed his profile picture back to a picture of him in a Yankees uniform. Meanwhile, his wife, Chase, and mother, Jennifer, posted the following:
Last night was the 101st New York Baseball Writers’ Gala, where the winner of the BBWAA’s major awards each officially received their honors. That included Aaron Judge, who took home his third career AL MVP and second in a row. Should be four! But it was a nice moment.
This week, the Baseball Hall of Fame announced its two newest members, Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones. While the two players are known more for their time with the Mets and Braves, respectively, they both did suit up for the Yankees: Jones donned the pinstripes in 2011 and 2012, while Beltrán was a part of the 2014, 2015, and 2016 teams before he was traded to the Texas Rangers. In addition to a collection of statements from key members of the organization, the Yankees made individuals posts celebrating both players.
Former Yankees center fielder/current professional guitarist performed at Carnegie Hall earlier this month, and unsurprisingly, Suzyn Waldman made sure that she was in attendance.
CC Sabathia posted some photos from “The Player’s Cup” this week. Honestly, I’m not 100% sure what event he is referring to — a quick Google search reveals an MLB Open, but that was an event that was supposed to occur in November — but it still seems like they all had a fun time.
The last two weeks have seen people posting photos from 2016, as they reminisce about the glory days when the Villanova Wildcats defeated the UNC in the NCAA National Championship (at least, that’s what comes to mind when I think of 2016). And naturally, now that this trend is two weeks old, we’ve got celebrities and corporate accounts joining in. First, we have Anthony Rizzo recalling one of the greatest World Series of all time, as the Cubs finally overcame their curse and proved that nothing is impossible, except maybe a Pope that roots for the Cubs.
Jonathan Loáisiga had been part of the Yankees’ organization since joining them as a minor leaguer in February 2016 following a failed stint with the Giants. Injuries ravaged his career, but he was a bullpen staple in 2021 in particular, posting one of the better relief seasons you’ll see in the modern era, recording a 2.17 ERA, a 2.58 FIP, and a 1.019 WHIP across 70.2 innings. Alas, those aforementioned injuries were a constant issue for him, and he and the Yankees finally went their separate ways, making it official when Loáisiga signed a minor-league deal with the Diamondbacks earlier this month.
Loáisiga took to Instagram to thank both the Yankees and their fans, in both Spanish and English. Best of luck to him in Arizona!
The Buffalo Sabres turnaround in mid-December may have had more to do with two factors; the return of center Josh Norris from nearly two months on the injured list, and the going with Alex Lyon between the pipes. The Sabres went 14-3-1 with Norris in the lineup before he suffered a rib injury against Philadelphia on January 14th, and Lyon won seven straight before suffering a lower-body injury in St. Louis on December 29.
The Sabres pace slowed down slightly with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Colten Ellis between the pipes, but Lyon has continued where he left off, winning two games this week against Nashville and pitching a 26-save shutout against the NY Islanders on Saturday afternoon for his club-record tying ninth consecutive victory.
The Sabres sign winger Josh Doan to a seven-year contract extension.
The win is Lyon’s 12th of the season (12-6-3, 2.70 GAA, .911sv %) and moves the 33-year-old into the club lead in victories over Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. The veteran netminder had matched five other Sabres goalies (Ryan Miller, Bob Sauve, Don Edwards, Carter Hutton, and Gerry Desjardins) with eight consecutive victories, and is now tied with Desjardins for the club-record, set in 1976-77.
"He's just given us a lot of real good hockey battle-hardened games. Tonight was fabulous. You look at the power play that we got a whole all out of sorts. The four saves he made on the power play, that could have turned the game for sure," Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said after the game. "(Alex has) been able to step in, coming off injury, and play well, battle through games. He's given us some great hockey."
The win moved the Sabres into third spot in the Atlantic Division, tied with Montreal and one point ahead of Boston, who hold the two Eastern Conference wildcard spots. Lyon could set the record when Buffalo finishes off their road trip in Toronto on Tuesday.
The NHL will freeze rosters on Feb. 4, ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, and they’ll unfreeze on Feb. 22, meaning teams will be unable to execute trades or other transactions during that two-and-a-half-week stretch.
Many close to team operations suggest the Feb. 4 date could be used as a “mini trade deadline,” ahead of the real NHL trade deadline on Friday, March 6. The landscape in the NHL this season is vastly different from most due to almost all 32 teams remaining in a playoff race to varying degrees.
The only two teams to have, in any shape or form, declared themselves “sellers” this season are the Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers. The Rangers sent out a statement to fans and followers that they’re to enter a “retool” period with their franchise and make significant changes to their current roster.
Rangers star winger Artemi Panarin (34) has been told that the organization has no intention of offering him a contract extension, and they’d be willing to work with him to find him a new team via in-season trade.
Premier NHL insider Elliotte Friedman mentioned the Anaheim Ducks as a team that’s “looking around” at Panarin on his “Saturday Headlines” TV hit and that the current asking price is what the New York Islanders received when they sent center Brock Nelson to the Colorado Avalanche at the 2025 trade deadline.
Brock Neslson was traded along with William Dufour to Colorado in exchange for Calum Ritchie, Oliver Kylington, a 2026 first-round pick, and a conditional 2028 third. The conditions were not met, so the Islanders will keep that third-round pick.
“(Panarin) is the name everyone is kind of focused on right now,” Friedman said. “It sounds like (the Nelson trade) is where the Rangers’ starting point is with Panarin right now. Part of this is also, will he be willing to sign an extension?
He has a no-move clause, so he controls where he goes. Some of the teams that are looking around: Anaheim. Panarin has a history with Joel Quenneville.”
Panarin is in the final year of a seven-year contract that carries an AAV of $11.6 million. His deal also includes a full no-move clause, which essentially allows him to handpick his destination and could drive his acquisition cost down.
If the Anaheim Ducks are involved, they’d likely want some sort of guarantee that he’d sign an extension, as their season could very much end with them not qualifying for the playoffs, and if they do, it’s unlikely they’d be serious Stanley Cup contenders.
Brad Penner-Imagn Images
NHL insider Frank Seravalli appeared on Sportsnet’s “Real Kyper & Bourne” show and revealed Panarin’s desired term for said extension.
“I think there’s a number of teams that are looking at this situation, going, ‘Hmm, I don’t know if we’re in it for the long haul with Panarin,’ and by long haul, I mean legitimately that,” Seravalli said. “The belief is around the league that Panarin is looking for a longer-term deal, potentially even one that takes him to 40.”
The Ducks have nearly $26 million in current cap space and a projected $39 million in cap space for the 2026-27 season. Ryan Poehling, Jacob Trouba, and Radko Gudas will be unrestricted free agents come July 1, while Cutter Gauthier, Leo Carlsson, Ian Moore, Pavel Mintyukov, and Olen Zellweger will become restricted free agents.
That projected cap space could disappear quickly, but the Ducks could still likely fit Panarin’s potential extension under the 2026-27 ceiling. The question then becomes one of cost and fit.
As mentioned, the acquisition cost may be depressed due to limited options, and even if Panarin gets his desired six-year term, he’ll likely require north of $10 million in AAV. If the Ducks were to match the Rangers’ ask for him, Anaheim would send a first-round pick to New York along with a player or prospect of similar value to Ritchie (Tristan Luneau, Stian Solberg, or Olen Zellweger).
On paper, a 35 to 40-year-old Artemi Panarin doesn’t quite align with the Ducks’ perceived “contending window,” as his best years are likely behind him. However, he’s produced 926 points (321-605=926) in 803 career NHL games and has scored over a point-per-game every season since his first two in the NHL (2015-16 and 2016-17), where he scored 77 and 74 points, respectively. On the last-place team in the Eastern Conference in 2025-26, he’s again tallied 56 points (19-37=56) in 51 games. Though he eventually will, it doesn’t seem like he’s slowing down just yet.
Though the ideal scenario would be for the Ducks to acquire a “prime-aged” star player (roughly 24-27) who does fit their window, Panarin would, in theory, stabilize a clearly volatile young core, aid in rehabilitating their struggling power play, as well as buoy, nurture, and enhance the potential of the team’s youngest and most talented players.
Most insiders and speculators are theorizing that Ducks' general manager, Pat Verbeek, is looking to take a “big swing” to improve his roster this season or over the summer. We’ll soon discover if Panarin will represent that swing and if he’ll rejoin former teammates Trouba, Ryan Strome, Frank Vatrano, Chris Kreider, and his first NHL coach, Joel Quenneville, in Anaheim.
EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) — Celtic missed its chance to close the gap on Heart of Midlothian on Sunday after conceding late to draw 2-2 with the Scottish Premiership leader.
Claudio Braga's 87th-minute goal at Tynecastle Park leveled the game and kept first-place Hearts six points clear of the defending champion.
But the draw saw Rangers move up to second and within four points of Hearts with a 3-0 win against Dundee.
Hearts is the surprise leader in Scotland in a league that has long been dominated by Celtic and Rangers.
Celtic has lost two managers already this term — following the departure of Brendan Rodgers and the dismissal of Wilfried Nancy — and is being led by club icon Martin O'Neill on an interim basis for the second time this season.
Yet it remains in contention at the top and looked to pick up a vital win at Hearts when Yang Hyun-jun opened up a 2-1 lead in the 62nd.
But the visitors went down to 10 men when Auston Trusty was sent off 15 minutes later.
Hearts eventually made the numerical advantage count with Braga's equalizer.
Celtic had taken an early lead through Benjamin Nygren, but Stuart Findlay made it 1-1 just after halftime.
James Tavernier, Danilo and Djeidi Gassama struck in Rangers' win against Dundee at Ibrox, with two of those goals coming in time added on.
Aaron Judge’s biggest supporter was by his side for a celebratory Saturday night.
Over the weekend, the Yankees superstar was joined by his wife, Samantha, at the 2026 BBWAA [Baseball Writers’ Association of America] dinner in New York, where he was honored with his second consecutive AL MVP award.
Dressed in a beautiful burgundy gown, Samantha smiled as she posed next to Judge, 33, who looked dapper in a black tux.
Samantha and Aaron Judge at the 2026 BBWAA Awards Dinner in NYC on Jan. 24, 2026. MLB Photos via Getty Images
Judge, a seven-time MLB All-Star, made history in November when he became the fourth player in Yankees history to clinch a third AL MVP title with the club, joining the esteemed company of Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra and Joe DiMaggio. He won his first AL MVP prize in 2022.
“I never came into this game chasing awards or chasing anything but getting a chance to win and leaving the game better than I found it,” Judge said in a conference call at the time. “If I won by one vote or 20 votes, it really didn’t matter in my eyes.”
Before Judge delivered his acceptance speech Saturday, his close friend and former teammate, Anthony Rizzo, took the mic and gushed over Samantha’s presence in Judge’s life.
“Sam, without you — and getting to know you over all these years — without you, Aaron is not a three-time MVP, and I mean that sincerely. You are such a rock for him, and what you bring, your steady presence, is amazing,” Rizzo said, according to Yankees Source.
Aaron Judge, here in October 2025, is a three-time AL MVP winner. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The couple became first-time parents in January 2025 with the birth of their daughter, Nora Rose.
“What an incredible week it’s been, can’t wait for the memories the three of us make,” Judge said in an Instagram post announcing his daughter’s birth.
Judge hit 53 home runs in 2025. He also earned the first batting title of his career with an average of .331.
The dozens of men’s college basketball games that took place on Saturday, Jan. 24 were defined by a slew of eyebrow-raising efforts from what’s being hailed as the best freshman class in years.
Illinois’ Keaton Wagler scored 46 points – more than double his previous career high – in an upset win at No. 4 Purdue, projected No. 1 overall NBA draft pick AJ Dybantsa poured in a career-high 43 points in BYU’s victory over rival Utah and even in a losing effort, Houston’s Kingston Flemings had 42 points in a loss at No. 12 Texas Tech. According to ESPN research, it marked the first time in at least 20 years that multiple freshmen scored 40 or more points in a single day.
One of the more notable performances of the day came from someone who was playing in the G League a week ago.
In his first college game since 2023, Alabama’s Charles Bediako had 13 points, three rebounds, two blocks and two steals in 25 minutes in a 79-73 loss to Tennessee.
Bediako’s return had been one of the most controversial and breathlessly discussed subjects in the sport for much of the week. After playing two seasons for Alabama, from 2021-23, the seven-foot center declared for the NBA draft and played the next three seasons in the G League, most recently for the Motor City Cruise. Though Bediako has been playing professional basketball for the past three years, he has never played in an NBA game.
On Tuesday, Jan. 21, he filed a request to Tuscaloosa County (Alabama) Circuit Court for a temporary restraining order and/or preliminary injunction, with a Judge James Roberts Jr. granting a temporary restraining order the following day that made Bediako immediately eligible to suit up for coach Nate Oats and the No. 17 Crimson Tide.
Under the terms of the restraining order, Bediako is eligible until his next injunction hearing on Tuesday, Jan. 27, which means the Tennessee loss could end up being the only game he plays.
"Right now I'm just focused on the team," Bediako said after the game. "Obviously, I'm just going to take what happened today, just continue to do the film, and right now our main focus is on this next game (against Missouri)."
Bediako made five of his six field-goal attempts in the loss to the Volunteers.
He was much more productive than many other former G League players who have joined college basketball teams for this season. Thierry Darlan is averaging just 6.5 points per game for Santa Clara, big man Abdullah Ahmed is averaging only 2.8 points in 14.8 minutes per game for No. 13 BYU, and London Johnson has yet to play in a game for No. 21 Louisville. James Nnaji, a seven-foot center who was selected in the 2023 NBA Draft and has played professionally in Europe, has only 10 points in six games for Baylor.
The trend of former professional players joining the college ranks has earned ire from across the sport and from the NCAA itself, which voiced its disapproval with the judge’s ruling on Bediako.
"These attempts to sidestep NCAA rules and recruit individuals who have finished their time in college or signed NBA contracts are taking away opportunities from high school students," the NCAA said in a statement on Wednesday. "A judge ordering the NCAA let a former NBA player take the court Saturday against actual college student-athletes is exactly why Congress must step in and empower college sports to enforce our eligibility rules."
Panthers vs Blackhawks best bet: Blackhawks moneyline (+110)
The Chicago Blackhawks are finally starting to get healthy with the returns of Frank Nazar, Jason Dickinson, and Andre Burakovsky. This more rounded lineup is beginning to make some noise, especially after a difficult two-game stretch against the Hurricanes and Lightning.
Chicago picked up three points in those two games against two of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, a trend that should continue against a struggling Florida Panthers team.
One of the Blackhawks’ greatest strengths during this stretch has been the play of goaltender Spencer Knight, who is slated to start against his former team. Knight enters this matchup in excellent form, allowing three or fewer goals in each of his past seven starts.
He is 5-2 during that span with a .924 SV% and a 2.25 GAA.
Meanwhile, Florida enters this contest on the second half of a back-to-back that included travel, which does not bode well for a team expected to start its backup goaltender. This season, Daniil Tarasov trails Knight in wins, SV%, and GAA.
Panthers vs Blackhawks same-game parlay
Now is the time to buy low on Chicago’s Connor Bedard, who has struggled to finish over the past few weeks. However, he continues to generate high-danger scoring chances, and the goals should begin to follow.
That also increases the correlation of Andre Burakovsky recording an assist, considering he skates alongside Bedard on the top line and possesses excellent passing ability.
Panthers vs Blackhawks SGP
Blackhawks moneyline
Connor Bedard anytime goal
Andre Burakovsky 1+ assists
Panthers vs Blackhawks odds
Moneyline: Florida -169 | Chicago +116
Puck line: Florida -1.5 (+159) | Chicago +1.5 (-238)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+105) | Under 6.5 (-125)
Panthers vs Blackhawks trend
Chicago has won two of its past three games. Find more NHL betting trends for Panthers vs. Blackhawks.
How to watch Panthers vs Blackhawks
Location
United Center, Chicago, IL
Date
Sunday, January 25, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Scripps 66, Chicago Sports Network
Panthers vs Blackhawks 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
Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane is on the verge of making history once again.
While many fans have been waiting to witness Kane score his 500th career goal, another milestone may arrive even sooner. Kane is just one point away from tying former Red Wings great Mike Modano for the most points by an American-born player in NHL history.
Kane currently has 1,373 career points and recently met with Modano following Detroit’s overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild last Thursday. If Kane records a point when the Red Wings return home Tuesday to face the Los Angeles Kings, he would break the record in significantly fewer games. Modano reached the mark in 1,499 games, while Kane has played just 1,340 games so far in his career, a difference of 158 games.
The veteran winger started the season in strong form, averaging a point per game, but his production has slowed at times. Kane has eight goals and 22 assists for 30 points in 38 games this season. Even with the dip in pace, few doubt the ability of the player known as “Showtime” to rise to the moment once again.
Modano, a Livonia, Michigan native, is expected to be in attendance Tuesday. However, Kane may have to be patient, as the Kings boast one of the NHL’s strongest defensive units and rank fourth in goals allowed per game this season.
If Kane does not break the record right away, there will be more opportunities. Tuesday’s game marks the start of a three-game homestand, followed by matchups against the Washington Capitals on Thursday and a marquee primetime game against the Colorado Avalanche next Saturday.
Whenever the milestone is reached, the hope is that Detroit fans will be there to witness another historic moment in franchise history.
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GUWAHATI, India (AP) — Opener Abhishek Sharma hit a whirlwind 68 not out off 20 balls as India beat New Zealand with ease, winning the third Twenty20 match by eight wickets on Sunday with 10 overs to spare.
India took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
Sharma reached his 50 off only 14 deliveries, including four sixes, and put on 102 off 40 balls with skipper Suryakumar Yadav (57 not out off 26) as India reached 155-2 in 10 overs in reply to New Zealand's 153-9 in 20 overs.
“This is what my team wants from me – I want to execute it all the time,” Sharma said. “It is not easy to do it, but I keep trying.”
Jasprit Bumrah returned for India and took 3-17 in four overs as New Zealand was restricted to a sub-par score.
Glenn Phillips top-scored for the Black Caps with 48 off 40 and Mark Chapman was out for 32.
India won the first T20 in Nagpur by 48 runs, and the second T20 in Raipur by seven wickets.
The fourth T20 is at Visakhapatnam on Wednesday.
India's chase
Chasing 154, India started badly by losing Sanju Samson for a golden duck to Matt Henry.
But Sharma hit five sixes and seven fours overall to put New Zealand’s bowling to the sword.
Ishan Kishan hit 28 off 13 deliveries as the pair added 53 off only 19 balls for the second wicket. Kishan then holed out off Ish Sodhi, yet it didn’t end New Zealand’s misery.
India set a hectic pace scoring 100 in only 6.3 overs. Yadav got his second consecutive half-century – off 25 balls. He finished with three sixes and six fours overall.
New Zealand struggles
New Zealand was put into bat but failed to make a good start. Bumrah bowled Tim Seifert for 12 after Harshit Rana dismissed Devon Conway for one.
Hardik Pandya (2-23) made it 34-3 in 5.1 overs with Rachin Ravindra's dismissal for four.
New Zealand never really recovered from those early blows despite a 52-run partnership between Phillips and Chapman, who both fell to wrist spinner Ravi Bishnoi (2-18).
Bumrah then returned for another spell and got two more wickets.
Alright, I have settled down. The initial shock has passed. The wave hit, it knocked me over, and now I am back on my feet, looking around and taking inventory.
Jalen Green goes down. Devin Booker follows. In real time, that kind of night does not invite patience or perspective. It invites panic. It invites spirals. It invites every scar this fan base carries to start itching again. And yes, I reacted as it was happening. Loudly. Honestly. Without a filter. Thank you for letting me do that in real time.
But here is the pivot.
Once the noise fades, once the adrenaline drains out, you are left with the same choice you always are. You can stay in doom mode, or you can look ahead. I am choosing the latter, not because it is easy, but because it is necessary. “Get busy living or get busy dying. That’s goddamn right.”
Injuries have a way of dragging Suns fans straight to the worst possible conclusion. History does that to you. Experience does that to you. This is a fan base conditioned to brace for impact. So if my first reaction leaned dark, understand where it came from.
I am a Suns fan. Of course it did.
Looking forward starts tonight against the Miami Heat, and at least now we know what the injury report says. Devin Booker is out with an ankle injury. Jalen Green is listed as questionable with the hamstring. All things considered, that is actually encouraging.
Personally, I do not think either one plays.
This feels like the organization shifting into protection mode. Less short-term urgency, more long view. Protect the bodies. Preserve the runway. This is about health, not pride. That is where they are right now.
We are at the halfway point of the season. There are still 37 games left on the schedule. 17 days from now, the All-Star break arrives. Between now and then, the Suns play 10 games. Nine of them are at home.
If you want to map out an ideal window for two players carrying a combined $88.7 million cap hit to miss time, this is about as clean as it gets. They can stay around the team. They can rehab without constant travel. They effectively get an extra eight days folded into the recovery process because of the break.
None of this will be easy. The competition is real. The combined winning percentage of the upcoming opponents sits at .539. That is the stretch. That is the test.
The Suns have 10 games remaining before the All-Star break. Their opponents’ combined winning percentage sits at .539.
We will wait for more reporting to come out, but the hope is that Jalen Green is not nearly as injured as the fear suggests. That is the optimism baked into the questionable tag.
He pulled up lame because he felt something tweak, not because something exploded. It did not look violent. It did not look aggressive. It was nothing like November against the Clippers, when he was clutching his hamstring in obvious pain. This looked different. This looked like awareness. He felt something was off, recognized it immediately, and removed himself from the situation.
Now, full disclosure. This is speculation. I am not a doctor. I am not in the locker room. I do not have access to imaging or medical notes. I am reacting to what my eyes tell me, same as everyone reading this, same as the folks who will weigh in below. That context matters.
If this turns into only a couple of missed games, it could actually work in the Suns’ favor.
Because in a strange way, this becomes a handoff moment. Almost like Devin Booker tapped Jalen Green on the shoulder and said, “Your turn”. This is Green’s chance to live inside these lineups, to feel the speed of the game with this group, to learn how these possessions breathe without Booker on the floor. It is reps. It is information. It is clarity.
For the coaching staff, it becomes a live experiment. You get to see how Green operates with teammates not named Devin Booker. You get to see how the spacing holds. How the actions flow. How well everyone meshes. How cleanly the schemes execute when the hierarchy shifts.
Those answers carry weight. Not only now, but later. Down the road. In the postseason, when options matter and familiarity becomes currency.
On the Booker side of things, that one looked rough. No medical degree here, but it immediately registered as something that could linger. All of his weight came down on it, and in real time it looked like a high ankle sprain at minimum.
nasty looking ankle injury for Devin Booker, who had been on fire for the Suns with 31 points in the first 3 quarters 😬 pic.twitter.com/VXpgErMBN3
Context matters too. He had already tweaked that ankle earlier in the road trip against the Heat, which turns this into an insult on top of injury situation. Stack enough stress on the same joint, and eventually it gives you a reminder. That is what this felt like.
It would not be surprising if we do not see Devin Booker again until after the All-Star break. We still need the medical report. We still need clarity on the severity.
As frustrating as it is, this is also one of those injuries that forces rest in the middle of the year. It creates space to heal. It creates time to get right. And with the break looming, the timing is not catastrophic. If there was ever a window to absorb something like this and still keep the bigger picture intact, this is it.
Both of those injuries were brutally unfortunate, no question. But if you zoom out and look at the reality of how the NBA operates right now, this is the landscape. Every team is dealing with it. Night after night. The Suns are not some isolated case.
Jalen Green has missed 41 games this season. That means this team has been fully intact for two games out of 45. Two. That is the context we are living in.
According to Spotrac, the Suns have lost 100 combined games to injury so far, translating to $23.1 million in cash value tied up in missed time. 100 games sounds massive until you stack it against the rest of the league. That number is tied for the sixth-fewest in the NBA. Portland leads the league at 259 games lost.
This is not unique to Phoenix. You see it every night. Ja Morant hits the injury report. Giannis Antetokounmpo hits the injury report. Anthony Davis is out for an extended stretch. At this point, I honestly do not know how the league will hand out end-of-season awards when the threshold is 65 games played. Nobody gets there anymore. The pace is relentless. The wear accumulates. Bodies break down.
The Suns are dealing with injuries. So is everyone else. This is the modern NBA. And while it never feels good when it hits your team, it is not happening in a vacuum.
As it applies to the Suns, this is the same stretch every team eventually has to survive. This is the part of the season where theory turns into proof. Where availability thins out and the ideas either hold or they do not.
This becomes the real test for Jordan Ott. Not when everything is clean and the roster is whole, but when talent is stripped away and the structure has to carry the weight. The question is simple: How replicable are his schemes when the names change?
If this team has shown anything, it is that the identity does not live in star power. It lives in effort. In competitiveness. In connectivity. In communication. Those things travel. Those things do not get ruled out on an injury report. This group has that in spades.
Now it is time to show the rest of the league that even without Devin Booker, or without Jalen Green, this is still a problem on any given night.
And for the love of basketball sanity, let us not turn that into 23 shot attempts from Dillon Brooks every game. We need him doing what he does best. Setting the tone. Being the enforcer. Making life miserable for the other team. Not trying to moonlight as the primary shot creator.
Looking forward begins now, not because this is comfortable or clean, but because this team has built an identity sturdy enough to stand upright when the ground starts shaking.
After three days of rest, playing against the ST. Louis Blues, who were playing a back-to-back tonight, the Los Angeles Kings refused to let this game slip away.
Across the first period and early second, the Kings jumped out to a 2-0 lead; they looked dominant, fast, and on point defensively against the ST. Louis Blues.
But the struggle started quickly, as it has happened time and time again, especially when the Kings have gotten off to fast starts. Los Angeles gave up three goals alone in the second period, finishing the first 40 minutes of regulation tied 3-3.
LA was outplayed in the second, losing the period 3-1, and we're not entirely sure how they still ended up winning tonight, given the Kings are one of the worst clutch teams in the league.
So, let's dive into how the Kings won. We will grade the top players' performances on the Kings tonight, helping them escape the St. Louis Blues.
After leaving Tuesday's game against the New York Rangers in the first period due to a lower-body injury, Darcy Kuemper returned tonight and did what he always does. Finishing with 25 saves on 29 shots and made multiple clutch stops late in regulation and Overtime.
This game doesn't go the Kings' way without Kuemper; he bailed the Kings out multiple times in OT and slammed the door when it mattered most.
Grade: A
Trevor Moore
19:43 TOI, 1 goal, 5 shots, +1, and shootout winner.
Trevor Moore, who hadn't played since Dec. 29, looked like he hadn't missed a step tonight. Moore scored the go-ahead goal in the third to give the Kings a 4-3 lead after it looked like the momentum had shifted to the Blues, and then finished the game in the shootout.
Moore was aggressive all night and clutch when the Kings needed him most, and also notched his 100th career NHL goal.
Since the NHL introduced the shootout back in the 2005-06 season, 301 players have at least 20 attempts.
Only 11 of those players have converted at least 50 percent of their attempts. Trevor Moore is one of those players. Consistently money in the shootout.
Alex Laferriere was one of the Kings' dangerous forwards tonight, along with Moore. Scoring the game-tying goal in the second after the Kings gave up three goals, Laferriere kept the game in reach.
Brian Dumoulin was one of the key contributors to help the Kings get off to a fast start in the first period, giving Los Angeles a 2-0 lead and scoring his first goal of the season.
Grade: B
Taylor Ward
9:48 TOI, 1 goal, 1 shot, +1
Once again in his limited minutes, Taylor Ward contributed for the Kings, starting them off to a fast start in regulation. It's now the second consecutive game that Ward has scored a goal, and the Kings have picked up wins in both matches. Again, playing limited minutes, but all the Kings ask of him right now is high energy and consistent play.
Jim Hiller almost blew another game where his team had an early lead. But the Kings were able to squeak out a win on the road, especially with Hiller using his depth again, with Ward and Samuel Helennius giving them solid minutes, so credit to Hiller for believing in his guys.
But it wasn't a pretty second period for him, and the game could've gotten out of reach if not for his players stepping up in the clutch.
Grade: C
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The Anaheim Ducks will head north of the 49th parallel to take on the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Sunday, January 25. This marks the first meeting between these two Pacific Division teams this season.
My Ducks vs. Flames predictions and NHL picks suggest that while Calgary may continue its offensive struggles, some key players may be primed to rise to the occasion in this exciting divisional bout.
Ducks vs Flames prediction
Ducks vs Flames best bet: Yegor Sharangovich Over 2.5 shots on goal (+136)
On a team that has scored the second-fewest goals in the league, Calgary Flames forward Yegor Sharangovich has been somewhat of a bright spot.
The one-time 30-goal scorer is mired in a subpar offensive season (as is most of his team), but has been firing on all cylinders recently.
He has 14 shots in his last four games, hitting the Over in each. For good measure, he has the same number of shots as Nathan MacKinnon and David Pastrnak during that span.
He faces an Anaheim Ducks team that ranks 21st in shots allowed. Look for the Belarusian to fire a few pucks towards Lukas Dostal tonight.
Ducks vs Flames same-game parlay
Recent trade acquisition Zach Whitecloud has stepped right in to fill the void left by Rasmus Andersson. The former Vegas Golden Knight has seen a significant uptick in ice time in his three games as a Flame thus far, culminating in 25:16 of ice time on Friday night.
He's blocked six shots in three games since being traded to Calgary and just shattered his season-high ice time mark a game ago — a fantastic scenario to block a few shots from a confident Ducks team on a six-game winning streak.
Despite Anaheim's recent hot stretch, I like the Under here, as Calgary has scored just five goals in its last four games while being held to just one in three straight.
Ducks vs Flames SGP
Yegor Sharangovich Over 2.5 shots on goal
Zach Whitecloud Over 1.5 blocked shots
Under 6.5
Ducks vs Flames odds
Moneyline: Ducks -105 | Flames -115
Puck Line: Ducks +1.5 (-250) | Flames -1.5 (+205)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+100) | Under 6.5 (-120)
Ducks vs Flames trend
Calgary has won four of the last five meetings and seven of the last 10. The Under has hit in three of the last four Find more NHL betting trends for Ducks vs. Flames.
How to watch Ducks vs Flames
Location
Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB
Date
Sunday, January 25, 2026
Puck drop
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
Victory+, Sportsnet
Ducks vs Flames 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.
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