CHICAGO - The Chicago Blackhawks were defeated by the Edmonton Oilers on Monday, only to turn around and play the other team from Alberta, the Calgary Flames, on Thursday.
The Blackhawks came out with a lot more juice in this one. At 2:38 of the first period, Nick Foligno sniped one after receiving a nice pass from Colton Dach to make it 1-0.
Just under a minute later, Yegor Sharangovich scored a power-play goal to tie it up. This was the first power play goal that the Hawks have allowed since December 30th. The penalty kill was 16 for 16 in the last seven games before allowing this Sharangovich goal.
Chicago's power play, much like its penalty kill, is ranked in the NHL's top ten. However, it failed them at 6:05 of the first period, but not because they didn't score.
While Chicago was on the man-advantage, Mikael Backlund took the puck away from Andre Burakovsky in the neutral zone, skated it in for a breakaway, and beat Spencer Knight to give the Flames a 2-1 lead with a short-handed goal.
That would be the end of scoring in the first period. There was also no more scoring in the second period, but there were lots of other extracurricular activities. Just like the first two matches between these two clubs, there was a lot of hitting and fighting.
In the third period, both goalies stood strong, but the Flames hit an empty net goal with 1:01 remaining in the third period. The 3-1 score would hold as the final.
In the NHL, you can't allow a power play goal and a short-handed goal too often and expect to win.
The Blackhawks have been excellent in both departments this season (power play and penalty kill), so they can use that to help them bounce back next time out, but it wasn't good enough in this game.
"We were minus-2 on special teams," said head coach Jeff Blashill. "It's hard to win games in this league without a great amount a firepower when you lose the special teams battle by 2 like that."
Spencer Knight was great in this one. He allowed the two special teams goals to the Flames, but he didn't allow a single goal at even strength. With goaltending like that, you can expect to win more often than not. The team in front of him just let him down.
The Blackhawks are back in action on Saturday night at the United Center against the Boston Bruins. "The Banner Years" chapter of their centennial season will come to a close in that game, as over 25 alumni who won the Stanley Cup with the team in 2010, 2013, and/or 2015 will be in attendance for the celebration. This will be one of the marquee games of the 2025-26 season.
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After struggling to score in all of their past three hockey games, the Pittsburgh Penguins finally erupted on Thursday.
And who better to do it against than their archrival?
After scoring just two goals in their past three games, the Penguins tallied six against the Philadelphia Flyers and won by a final score of 6-3 to snap their three-game losing streak and move into third place in the Metropolitan Division. They got contributions from up and down their lineup and from their power play, which ended the game with three goals.
Justin Brazeau, Bryan Rust, Egor Chinakhov, Blake Lizotte, Sidney Crosby, and Connor Dewar were the goal-scorers for the Penguins, and Stuart Skinner was really solid throughout, stopping 30 of the 33 Flyers' shots he faced.
The offensive eruption was a nice change of pace for the Penguins, who combined for just two goals in their last three games. But, aside from a few lapses later in the game on the Flyers' last two goals against, they still brought the strong defensive process that has been part of their game since the holiday break.
And, on Thursday, they just had the finishing to go along with it.
"I think it's been coming across the last few games," Lizotte said. "Inside the room, you could feel it building. We were getting chances, and I think throughout the season you just get stretches sometimes where they don't fall. Once one goes, they seem to all go. So, hopefully, we can keep finding the back of the net."
The entire game was a special teams battle, and the Penguins certainly came out on top. They took advantage of two of their first-period power plays, first, courtesy of Brazeau off a nice feed from Ben Kindel on the second unit a little more than two minutes into the game. Rust scored later in the period on the man advantage to put the Penguins up, 2-0.
And they also wasted no time in building their lead when they came out for the second period. Chinakhov - playing in his eighth game with the Penguins - took a feed from Evgeni Malkin off the rush and buried it at close range past Flyers' goaltender Sam Ersson to give Pittsburgh a 3-0 lead.
However, Philadelphia responded just a minute later with a goal of their own from fourth-line center Rodrigo Abols, and they did seize quite a bit of momentum from that tally. They controlled play for most of the period up until Lizotte - with his sixth of the season and third in his last eight games - batted home a Noel Acciari chip opportunity around the net-front at the last second to put the Penguins back up by three.
Then, early in the third, Lizotte laid a huge hit on Flyers' forward Denver Barkey near the red line, and his teammate, Matvei Michkov, stood up for him and challenged Lizotte in a fight. Michkov ended up getting an extra minor penalty for roughing, and Crosby - as he always does - made the Flyers pay on the ensuing power play to make it 5-1.
Dewar capitalized off a defensive zone turnover by the Flyers on a pass from Tommy Novak just over a minute later to put the Penguins up, 6-1, but the Flyers started pushing back a bit again afterward. Nick Seeler picked his spot from the left circle to make it 6-2 with just under 11 minutes to go in regulation, then Michkov scored with two and a half minutes left in the game to cut the Penguins' lead to 6-3.
But, after that, the Penguins were able to shut it down. And responding to momentum swings has been something that the Penguins have done well since the break, too.
"I think if you look back at the history of our season, we've let some leads go that we shouldn't have," Lizotte said. "And I think it just shows the learning curve that we've made. In games like this, you have to control emotion, especially when momentum's really not in your favor at the moment.
"When you're protecting a lead - those moments within the game where it could go sour quickly - you have to find a way to change momentum. And I think we did a really good job of that tonight."
Here are some thoughts and observations from the Penguins' big win Thursday:
- Everyone has been talking about the newly extended Lizotte, and for good reason.
But I don't think there are enough words to express how important he has been to the Penguins this season.
Not only does he kill penalties, block shots, and drill down all of the defensive details, there is just an energy and a tenaciousness about him that isn't matched by anyone else on this team. He has the ability to shift momentum in the game with his speed, work ethic, physicality, and forechecking, and he always seems to be part of the game's turning points and most clutch moments.
Both his goal and his hit-then-fight were important moments in the game, and that all-around ability to be a game-changer has not gone unnoticed by his teammates - not even his newest ones.
"I mean, not just tonight, but ever since I've been here, you see a guy that just works hard in both areas of the ice," Skinner said. "A guy that will do absolutely anything for the team to get us two points. He's a fast skater, he goes into the dirty areas, he fights, scores goals.
"Honestly, a player that shows a lot of heart, and all the success that goes to him... he's one of those guys that are very much deserving of it."
He was huge for the Penguins Thursday, and he has been for them all season long.
- That was Chinakhov's third goal in eight games with the Penguins. None of them have been cheapies, and two of them have come off the rush with Malkin.
It's safe to say that Chinakhov is fitting in nicely with the Penguins, and he is certainly building some chemistry with Malkin. But head coach Dan Muse is very impressed with the other areas of Chinakhov's game, too - which isn't something he necessarily knew about him as a player before coming over from Columbus.
“I don’t think he gets enough credit for the way he works away from the puck," Muse said. "He’s done a really good job there in terms of the tracking, the getting back. He’s got some detail to his game. You watch, and he’s changing at the right time, he’s driving wide, he’s drawing a number of penalties.
"So, I think the scoring’s obvious with him, but there’s some things that I’ve learned about him since he’s been here that, maybe, I didn’t know as much but really like.”
I've said it in a lot of post-game coverage, and I'll say it again: I think this is a really good addition for the Penguins. Chinakhov is a nasty goal-scorer, and he simply needed an elite distributor to help him unleash that. But it's not the only thing he does well.
This is a multidimensional player, and Pittsburgh could really, really have something here.
- The Penguins' special teams were very good Thursday, and the power play got a lot of recognition for its three goals.
But the penalty kill has been a huge strength for this team ever since Lizotte re-entered the lineup, and they were 4-for-4 on Thursday. Since the holiday break, the Penguins have only allowed three power play goals, and they have killed 12 straight and allowed just one goal in the last 16 opportunities.
This team has been a pretty good five-on-five team when at full health. But special teams have been an x-factor in their success this season, and there's a good chance they could spell the difference between a playoff berth and a near miss for the Penguins this season.
- As mentioned before, the Penguins have played very, very well defensively since the break. Save from a few lapses here, this is the team from October that was shutting teams down late in games when holding a lead and not giving the opposition much to work with when closing things out.
In fact, the Penguins have blown just two third-period leads - each by just one goal, and each that they ended up winning beyond regulation - since their disastrous blown four-goal lead against the Utah Mammoth on Dec. 14.
They're shutting opponents down late in games, and they're responding so much better when the opposing team does score a goal or grab some momentum.
Jan 15, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers center Trevor Zegras (46) over the puck against Pittsburgh Penguins center Blake Lizotte (46) during the third period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Brett Kulak has settled in next to Kris Letang, and that pairing has been pretty solid for a few weeks now. They are being asked to play top-pairing minutes in the absence of Karlsson, and they've handled it well in those two games. Jack St. Ivany has stepped up to the plate since Karlsson went down, too, next to Karlsson's regular partner in Parker Wotherspoon, who has been unbelievably solid for the Penguins the entire season.
But even that bottom pairing of Ryan Shea and Connor Clifton have gelled in the past couple of games. Shea looks a bit more himself, and Clifton is throwing the body around and clearing the net-front like nodoby's business right now.
They're not giving up much in terms of high-danger opportunities and odd-man rushes, and it has certainly helped their goaltenders, too. If they keep playing with this defensive detail - and they can couple that with the scoring that this lineup is capable of - this is a legitimately good hockey team.
- Ben Kindel has no goals in his last 15 games. He did register that assist on Brazeau's goal, but the production hasn't been coming for him.
But he was outstanding on Thursday. In fact, I thought he was one of the best - if not the best - player on the ice.
I've talked at length about Kindel, so I won't spend a ton of time on it. But he was everywhere. He was effective on the power play. Killing penalties. Taking key faceoffs. Driving five-on-five play for his line. Making defensive plays and using his smarts and his stick to disrupt.
The details he has nailed down at his age just don't come this easily for 18-year-olds. His all-around game is so, so advanced for his age, and it was on full display Thursday.
The production is going to come. When it does, this kid is going to be a star. He plays like a veteran already.
- This is five straight games for the Penguins where Skinner has been excellent. He looks poised, settled in, comfortable, and confident in the crease, and he's making some big saves for his team whenever they do happen to give up a good opportunity.
He and Silovs have done an excellent job keeping this team in every game. If they can get this level of goaltending down the stretch, this isn't just a legitimately good team. It's a borderline division-contender.
There is still a lot of season left. But if the Penguins can overcome another major injury and string together some wins before the Olympic break, they surely won't be sellers at the trade deadline this season.
Red Bull first to launch 2026 car under new regulations
Row brewing over possible loophole in engine rules
Red Bull formally began their tilt at the forthcoming Formula One season, unveiling the livery for their challenger, the RB22, in a showcase event in Detroit on Thursday, with Max Verstappen admitting the sweeping regulation changes for 2026 will be a step into the “unknown”.
Before a highly anticipated season, with a swathe of big rule changes presenting a challenge across the grid, Red Bull are the first in what is due to be a hectic period of launches before pre-season testing begins.
There's no surprise that the Mets are in the market for starting pitching and have been linked to free agents like Framber Valdez, who is still available, and Ranger Suarez, who recently signed with the Red Sox. However, it seems a trade is just as likely for the Mets with their dearth of major league-ready young starters like Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat.
As for the Yankees, the Bombers recently acquired Marlins southpaw Ryan Weathers to give them more depth as they await the returns of Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon and Clarke Schmidt.
The Yankees may not have the caliber of prospect the Mets have, but they do have more seasoned young arms like Luis Gil and Will Warren to offer.
Thompson trails Stephen Curry, James Harden and Ray Allen on the all-time list.
Thompson kept piling up 3s on Thursday night, going 6-of-13 from beyond the arc as the Mavericks blew out the Jazz, who as a team had just one more 3-pointer than Thompson.
The Montreal Canadiens were facing a tall task on Thursday night, taking on a Buffalo Sabres team that had won 14 of its last 16 games and that was hungry to prove it wasn’t a fluke. Despite Samuel Montembeault having played a fantastic game against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night, Martin St-Louis elected to give the net to Jacob Fowler. The fact that it was a divisional clash against a red-hot team says a lot about how the Canadiens feel about the young netminder.
While the Habs had a night off on Wednesday night, the Sabres were busy hosting the Philadelphia Flyers, and if the Canadiens were hoping the hosts would be tired to start the game, they had another thing coming. Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch, who were both riding five-game point streaks, were in top form and giving headaches to the Habs’ blueliners. All through the game, Buffalo was the most energetic side.
Earlier this week, we mentioned that the Canadiens had spent the most time league-wide on a double man-advantage for over 10 minutes, yet they had only two goals to show for it. While it was obvious that St-Louis wanted to use Noah Dobson’s slap shot to create goal-scoring opportunities at five-on-three, it just wasn’t happening.
On Thursday night, St-Louis decided to go another way. He kept his first power-play unit intact for the double-man-advantage, with Ivan Demidov and Lane Hutson joining Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Juraj Slafkovsky. It took 44 seconds for the blueliner to feed a perfect pass to the Russian rookie, who buried a lethal one-timer.
Speaking to RDS’ Marc Denis after the first frame, Hutson explained that it was the way the Canadiens were able to make the Sabres’ triangle move so much that allowed them to get a goal at five-on-three finally. It’s hard to argue with him. With the passing talent this team has, it should be betting on that weapon to create space and opportunities.
The Second Fastest Defenseman To 100 Assists
With an assist on the double-man-advantage goal, Hutson became the second-fastest defenseman to reach 100 career assists. He only needed 132 games to reach the milestone, which Sergei Zubov did in 127 games. Who did Hutson beat to the mark? Mark Howe (he needed 135 games), Stefan Persson (he needed 135 games), and Cale Makar (who needed 140 games).
Unfortunately for Hutson, though, he had a bit of an off night, fanning on the puck twice in key moments offensively and being guilty of three giveaways.
Fantastic Performance
The best team won the game on Thursday night. The Sabres were quicker both on and off the puck. Even though the Canadiens led twice, that advantage lasted for less than seven minutes, and it felt like the result was never in doubt for the host.
Lindy Ruff’s men beat the Canadiens at their own game; great forecheck and sustained pressure had the Habs panicking more than once. Buffalo’s top line, featuring Tage Thompson, Zach Benson, and Alex Tuch, was a constant threat. Thompson recorded five points with three goals and two assists and just seemed to be everywhere on the ice.
Amazingly, even though four of the Sabres’ six defensemen spent over 20 minutes on the ice in a second game in as many nights, they never looked tired. Bowen Byram, Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, and Owen Power were all over the Canadiens.
In net, Colten Ellis didn’t look very solid, but the Canadiens were unable to take advantage of his mistakes. At one stage in the third, he turned the puck over and was some way away from his net, but Oliver Kapanen was unable to put the puck in the net, just like Suzuki. Perhaps there was a bit of killer instinct lacking there, but those are the kind of opportunities that you cannot miss.
As for Fowler, his .846 save percentage is not what we are used to, but the loss cannot be placed on his shoulders, even if he would probably want back the goal he allowed. It was announced on Thursday that Fowler was voted to the AHL All-Star Game, and with the Olympic break looming, sending him back to Laval might not be a bad idea. As good as he’s been in the 10 games, he has played with the Habs, he would be best served by seeing more action. Montembeault has found his game again. Jakub Dobes isn't losing, even though his stats aren’t brilliant; perhaps the timing is right to send Fowler back to Laval to play a truckload of matches.
The Canadiens will now head back to Canada as they’ll take on the Ottawa Senators on Saturday at 7:00 PM.
If Thursday night was any indication of what Mitch Marner's return to Toronto might be like next week, then it's going to be a spicy homecoming.
The Toronto Maple Leafs were facing Marner (for the first time) and the Vegas Golden Knights. And even in his own building, the 28-year-old was getting booed by travelling Maple Leafs fans every time he touched the puck.
Not sure if I've ever seen that.
Marner, no doubt, was the story entering the evening. Unfortunately for Maple Leafs fans, he was also a part of the story in the end, as Vegas defeated Toronto 6-5 in overtime. Marner finished the game with two assists.
The Maple Leafs had a two-goal lead four times on Thursday, but the Golden Knights continued to push, scoring three goals in the third period, including one with seven seconds left, to force overtime.
Jack Eichel deked out Joseph Woll (who finished the game, stopping 27 of 33 shots), allowing Toronto only one point from the game. Below are a few takeaways from the game.
Nice offensive/defensive game for Rielly
Morgan Rielly was the first to get the Maple Leafs on the board against the Golden Knights.
William Nylander did what he does best on the goal: protecting the puck before making a great pass, eventually leading to a goal. Nylander fought off Keegan Kolesar before patiently locating Rielly walking in from the blue line.
The defenseman rifled a shot by Adin Hill for his sixth goal of the year.
Rielly was, however, on the ice for Kolesar's goal early in the second period. Despite boxing the Vegas forward out, Rielly didn't track the puck, and Kolesar was able to get a stick on it to put it by Joseph Woll.
Rielly did make up for it, though.
Later in the period, Rielly made a great defensive play on a 2-on-1 while Toronto was on the man advantage. Moments later, John Tavares tipped in a shot from Matias Maccelli for his 17th of the season, and first power play goal since Nov. 8.
(Tavares got the bump to Toronto's top unit after Nylander — who also scored in the first period — left the game due to a lower-body injury.)
One thing you could question was Rielly's decision-making in overtime. With two forwards deep, the defenseman elected to shoot rather than hold onto the puck. Vegas came the other way, and despite Rielly making a strong defensive play on the 2-on-1, Eichel was still able to score and win it for the Golden Knights.
Matias Maccelli is finding his stride
All Maccelli could do was laugh after Tavares tipped his shot — already on its way to the net — into the goal.
Part of the reason why Maccelli could smile was because of the recent stretch he's had with the Maple Leafs. It was a difficult start for the 25-year-old at the beginning of the season, only tallying nine points in his first 22 games.
After multiple healthy scratches, Maccelli returned to the lineup and hasn't looked back.
Entering Thursday, the forward had three goals and eight points in his last 13 games. While Maccelli has seen an uptick in production, what has stood out most is his confidence with the puck.
One example of that came on Nylander's goal: Maccelli decided to hold on to the puck and pull it to his backhand as he entered the Golden Knights' zone before saucing it to Nylander with ease.
As Maccelli continues to get an opportunity in Toronto's top six and the team's number-one power play unit, there should only be positives. He was brought in to help make up for the loss in points after losing Marner.
It was a bump ride in the early going, but it appears Maccelli is finding his game.
You can also tell head coach Craig Berube has trust in the forward, as he was among the second group of players on the ice for Toronto in overtime.
Auston Matthews continues to be back
I officially declared Matthews back two games ago after he whipped his Matthews-esque shot past Colorado Avalanche goaltender Trent Miner.
He's also scoring his goals in different ways, whether it be his patented wrister, a one-timer, or the odd tip, which he pulls off with brilliance. Matthews executed another perfect tip against the Golden Knights.
Matthews deflected Jake McCabe's shot-pass through his own legs and past Adin Hill for his 23rd goal of the year, and eighth goal in as many games.
Don't get me wrong, it was a great deflection. But what was even more impressive was how he shrugged off Shea Theodore before getting to the net for the tip. It's something that often goes unnoticed, and I thought it did again on Thursday night.
When speaking to several Maple Leafs ahead of Matthews breaking Toronto's goal-scoring record, many discussed the forward's strength on and off the puck.
"Since we've been young, playing against him, he's been one of the stronger guys. Whether it be on the puck, just maintaining it, getting it away from him has been very hard," said Brandon Carlo.
"Just his strength with that puck. It's very hard to knock him off of it. If he wants to control it, he's going to control it. If he wants to move it, he's going to move it. So those are players that are very special. He's definitely up there amongst the top on the hardest to play against."
Other takeaways
- Scott Laughton continues to score big goals for the Maple Leafs. The 31-year-old scored Toronto's fifth goal of the game to put them up 5-3 almost midway through the third period. Had Vegas not tied it, Laughton's sixth goal of the year would've been the game-winner.
- Matthew Knies had a quiet but productive night against the Golden Knights. He assisted on Tavares' power play goal as well as Laughton's third-period marker. Knies also had the third-highest ice time among Toronto forwards (20:07) despite missing the morning skate due to maintenance.
- Nylander left during the first period with a lower-body injury. Berube said the forward re-aggravated his previous ailment, which forced him to miss six consecutive games, from Dec. 27 to Jan. 10. Berube is unsure of how long Nylander will be out and how the re-aggravation happened.
- Marner spoke with TSN's Mark Masters following the overtime win and didn't seem at all phased by the boo's from Toronto's travelling fans. "They've got a passionate fan base," he told Masters. It'll be fascinating to see how he's welcomed into Scotiabank Arena one week from now.
Kyle Tucker celebrates after hitting a solo home run for the Chicago Cubs against the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS on Oct. 9. (Nam Y. Huh / Associated Press)
For the second time in as many months, the Dodgers swooped in to secure a major free-agent signing.
After weighing multiple offers this week, outfielder Kyle Tucker reportedly agreed to a four-year, $240-million contract with the Dodgers on Thursday.
Tucker, who reportedly had been offered $50-million per year by the New York Mets and received overtures from the Toronto Blue Jays, is a four-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger whose left-handed bat will fit into the middle of the Dodgers’ lineup.
The signing addresses an area where the Dodgers were in need of an upgrade, after the outfield corps posted minus-1.6 wins above replacement in 2025.
But the question heading into the offseason was how the Dodgers would go about improving their outfield. Although they had plenty of financial flexibility at the start of the offseason, with more than $60 million in salary from last season coming off the books, the front office also touted potential internal options. Some of those included Alex Call, Hyeseong Kim and Ryan Ward, who was named the Pacific Coast League’s MVP in 2025 and was added to the Dodgers’ 40-man roster this offseason.
The team used that flexibility to make a splash last month when they signed reliever Edwin Díaz to a three-year, $69-million deal, emerging as a surprise winner after Díaz appeared on track to sign elsewhere.
They seemingly followed a similar pattern with Tucker, who spent last year with the Chicago Cubs after he was traded by the Houston Astros following the 2024 season. When reports emerged about the Mets offering a short-term deal worth $50 million per year, the Dodgers appeared to be out of the running.
But instead they landed another marquee free-agent signing in Tucker, who turns 29 on Saturday. They are banking on the productivity he's shown when healthy — he's a career .273 hitter with an .865 OPS — but he's dealt with injuries the last two seasons. With the Cubs in 2025, Tucker hit .280 with 17 home runs before the all-star break, but a fractured right hand and a left calf strain slowed him down as he finished with 22 home runs. He served as the Cubs' designated hitter during their postseason run, which ended in a five-game loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in the division series.
STORRS, Conn. (AP) — Sarah Strong had 24 points, nine rebounds and five blocks, and top-ranked UConn extended its winning streak to 34 games with a 99-50 blowout of Villanova on Thursday night.
Azzi Fudd had 14 points, KK Arnold tied her season high with 13 points to go seven assists and four steals, and Blanca Quinonez added 13 points as UConn (18-0, 9-0 Big East) won its 47th consecutive regular-season league game.
Freshman Kennedy Henry had 12 points and three of the eight 3-pointers by Villanova (14-4, 7-2). Brynn McCurry scored 11 points for the Wildcats, who shot a season-low 27.7% from the field.
Jasmine Bascoe, Villanova’s top scorer, was held to eight points, all in the first half.
NO. 2 SOUTH CAROLINA 68, NO. 4 TEXAS 65
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Joyce Edwards had 14 points and eight rebounds, Tessa Johnson added 13 points and South Carolina avenged its only loss this season by beating Texas for its 11th straight victory.
Ta’Niya Latson scored 12 points and Raven Johnson came up with some big shots down the stretch, scoring six of her 10 points in the pivotal fourth quarter for the Gamecocks (18-1, 5-0 Southeastern Conference).
Madison Booker had 24 points and Rori Harmon added 16 to lead Texas (18-2, 3-2), which finished 1 of 9 from 3-point range.
NO. 5 VANDERBILT 89, MISSISSIPPI STATE 84
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Mikayla Blakes scored a season-high 38 points and No. 5 Vanderbilt won its school-record 18th straight game to open the season, beating Mississippi State 89-84 on Thursday night.
The Commodores are 5-0 in Southeastern Conference play for the first time since 1992-93, the season they opened 17-0. The 18-game winning streak is the longest in school history at any point in a season.
Blakes hit five 3-pointers, made 11 free throws without a miss and had seven assists. Justine Pissott added 12 points, and Aiyana Mitchell had 10 points and eight rebounds.
Vanderbilt broke it open with 21-6 run in the third quarter.
Madison Francis led Mississippi State (14-5, 1-4) with 15 points.
NO. 7 KENTUCKY 94, FLORIDA 89
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Tonie Morgan scored a season-high 26 points and had 13 assists to lead Kentucky to a win over Florida.
The Wildcats (17-2, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) improved to 10-0 at home and fended off a late rally by the Gators (12-8, 0-5).
Clara Strack had 21 points for Kentucky, and Jordan Obi, Amelia Hassett and Asia Boone scored 12 each. Strack sat out most of the third quarter and fouled out with 13 seconds remaining.
Me’Arah O’Neal led the Gators with 23 points, the most in an SEC game and one shy of a career high for Shaquille O’Neal’s 19-year-old, 6-foot-4 daughter. Liv McGill added 20 points and 11 assists for Florida, and Jade Weathersby scored 18.
NO. 8 MICHIGAN 85, NO. 25 ILLINOIS 69
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Olivia Olson scored 21 points, including 15 in the first half, and Te’Yala Delfosse added 15 to lead Michigan to a victory over Illinois on Thursday night.
Mila Holloway added 13 points and Syla Swords had 11 for the Wolverines (15-2, 6-1 Big Ten). Michigan, which has won all 10 of its home games, is off to its best start since is started 20-2 during the 2021-22 season.
Berry Wallace scored 26 points and Jasmine Brown-Hagger added 16 for the Illini (14-4, 4-3 Big Ten), who have dropped three of their last four.
NO. 9 LOUISVILLE 79, NO. 23 NOTRE DAME 66
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Reyna Scott scored 20 points off the bench and Louisville pulled away from Notre Dame for its 10th straight victory.
Tajianna Roberts added 19 points for Louisville (17-3 overall, 7-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), which last lost on Dec. 4 when the Cardinals fell 79-77 to then-No. 3 South Carolina. Elif Istanbulluoglu had 11 points and Mackenly Randolph scored 10.
Led by Scott, Louisville’s reserves outscored Notre Dame 31-2. The Cardinals rank second nationally in bench production by averaging 36.3 bench points entering the game.
Hannah Hidalgo scored 24 points and had five rebounds and eight assists to lead Notre Dame (12-5, 2-3). Iyana Moore scored 16 points, Malaya Cowles had 12 and Cassandre Prosper scored nine points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
NO. 11 IOWA 74, OREGON 66
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Hannah Stuelke and Addison Deal combined to score 36 points and Iowa beat Oregon in a wire-to-wire win.
Stuelke had 18 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and a pair of steals. Deal had 18 points — a career high — on 7-of-9 shooting and made all four of her 3-point attempts. Ava Heiden posted 13 points and nine rebounds. Kylie Feuerbach had 11 points, five assists and two steals.
Stuelke opened the game with a pair of layups, and the Hawkeyes (15-2, 6-0 Big Ten) never trailed in their fifth straight win.
Ehis Etute was the only Oregon (14-5, 2-4) player to score in double figures. She scored 13 of her 15 points in the second half, including nine in the fourth quarter, and posted eight rebounds. Three players had nine points for the Ducks, including Sofia Bell, who added three steals.
NO. 12 MARYLAND 62, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 55
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Yarden Garzon hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:38 remaining and Maryland defeated Southern California.
Addi Mack led the Terrapins with 12 points. Garzon finished with 10 points.
Isimenme Ozzy-Momodu added 10 points, nine rebounds and had a key block of Maria Samuels with 33 seconds remaining. After Garzon’s 3-pointer, the Terrapins got two offensive rebounds before Ozzy-Momodu scored for a 59-55 lead. Those were the only two field goals in the fourth for Maryland.
The Terrapins (17-2, 5-2 Big Ten) bounced back from an 89-76 loss to No. 19 Ohio State to earn their fourth win in five games.
Kara Dunn led USC with 21 points. Star freshman Jazzy Davidson shot 5 of 23, including 0 for 14 over the final three quarters, while picking up her third and fourth fouls in the fourth quarter. She scored 12 of the Trojans’ first 20 points, helping them to a 20-16 lead.
NO. 15 MICHIGAN STATE 73, NO. 24 NEBRASKA 71
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Grace VanSlooten scored 22 points and Juliann Woodward sank two free throws with 5.1 remaining in the game for Michigan State to seal a win over Nebraska.
Rashunda Jones added 15 points and Kennedy Blair had 14 for the Spartans (17-1, 6-1 Big 10), who are off to their best start in program history.
Nebraska (14-4, 3-4) was led by Amiah Hargrove, who scored 21 points off the bench on 9-of-11 shooting from the field. Britt Prince added 14. The Cornhuskers finished 7 of 20 from 3-point range after making five in the first quarter.
AUBURN 58, NO. 21 ALABAMA 54
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Khady Leye scored 16 points and Kaitlyn Duhon scored 10 points and Auburn beat Alabama.
Jessica Timmons scored 16 points, Ta’Mia Scott scored 12 points and Karly Weathers 10 while grabbing 11 rebounds for Alabama
The Mets have swung and missed on star free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker, who is signing with the Dodgers.
With Tucker now in tow, Los Angeles will likely have four MVP candidates hitting consecutively in their lineup -- Tucker, Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman.
In addition to the Mets and Dodgers, the Blue Jays had been heavily connected to Tucker.
According to multiple reports, Tucker accepted the Dodgers' four-year, $240 million offer. Tucker also has an opt-out after the second year. His $60 million AAV is the second-highest in baseball history, only behind Ohtani's $70 million -- $68 million is deferred.
The Mets had reportedly extended a four-year offer to Tucker worth roughly $50 million annually.
Tucker, who turns 29 years old later this week, was the biggest name available in this year’s free agent class.
While Tucker always made sense as a free agent target for the Mets, he became an even better fit once president of baseball operations David Stearnstraded Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers for Marcus Semien, creating a vacancy in left field.
Now that the Mets have missed out, it's not clear where they turn.
They have been linked to free agent Cody Bellinger, but he has reportedly been deep in negotiations with the Yankees. The Yanks have offered Bellinger five years, while Bellinger's camp has been holding out for seven.
It's conceivable that after failing to land Tucker, the Mets direct their assets to the starting pitching market.
In free agency, Framber Valdez -- who has been connected to the Mets and Orioles -- is still available.
As far as a trade for pitching, one available starter who could make plenty of sense for New York is Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta.
The Vancouver Canucks wrapped up their six-game road trip on Thursday with a 4-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Brock Boeser scored on the power play, which broke a 21-game goalless drought. As for Kevin Lankinen, he stopped 32 of the 36 shots he faced in the loss.
With the loss, the Canucks pushed their winless streak to nine games. Vancouver has only had two other nine-game winless streaks since the turn of the century, with the other two coming during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. The last time Vancouver went winless in 10 straight was during the 1997-98 season, which led to the Canucks finishing 24th out of 26 teams.
Thursday was a high-paced game from the start. Vancouver and Columbus each hit double digits for shots in the first and second, and both finished above 30 shots for the game. In the end, the difference was the Blue Jackets' ability to convert on their chance, while the Canucks could only produce one goal.
While this game featured another loss, there was a positive as Boeser broke his 21-game goalless streak. The 28-year-old's last goal came on November 28, which was 48 days ago. Boeser looked relieved on the play as he finally potted his 10th of the season and 214th goal of his career.
Speaking of Boeser, he showed some chemistry late in the game when put on a line with Elias Pettersson and Liam Öhgren. The trio played 6:10 together as per Natural Stat Trick and finished with a 4-3 shots advantage. Watch for these three to stay together next game, as they were one of the more successful lines over the final 20 minutes.
The penalty kill was a focus in this game as Columbus scored on both of their opportunities. After gaining some momentum, Vancouver's penalty kill has struggled over the past few weeks, and has now given up at least one goal in four of it's last five games. At this point, it is hard to determine what the solution to fixing the penalty kill as pucks are going in regardless of which players are on the ice.
Jan 15, 2026; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jake Christiansen (2) scrums with Vancouver center Aatu Raty (54) and left wing Evander Kane (91) during the first period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images
Let's just call it as it is; this was the perfect road trip for the Canucks. Vancouver didn't pick up a point over the six games and put some distance between themselves and other teams at the bottom of the standings. While some may view this opinion as negative, it is a positive from a rebuilding perspective as the Canucks main focus the rest of the year should be to finish 32nd in the league.
Stats and Facts:
- Elias Pettersson records his 100th career power play assist
- Brock Boeser's 75th power play goal breaks his tie with Stan Smyl and moves him into sole possession of sixth all-time in franchise history
- Elias Pettersson extends his point streak to three games
- Vancouver has scored one goal or fewer in four of its last five games
Scoring Summary:
1st Period:
17:25- CBJ: Charlie Coyle (10) from Kirill Marchenko and Adam Fantilli (PPG)
2nd Period:
5:59- CBJ: Kirill Marchenko (17) 10:14- CBJ: Zach Werenski (18) from Kent Johnson (PPG) 14:09- VAN: Brock Boeser (10) from Elias Pettersson and Zeev Buium (PPG)
3rd Period:
10:13- CBJ: Kent Johnson (5) from Boone Jenner and Damon Severson
Up Next:
The Canucks return home from their road trip to start an eight-game homestand. Their first matchup will not be an easy one as the Edmonton Oilers come to town on Saturday. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 pm PT.
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Nets coach Jordi Fernàndez hinted that he is considering making rotation changes after his rebuilding team suffered its fifth straight defeat Wednesday night in New Orleans.
One significant alteration Fernàndez already had executed on Brooklyn’s road trip this week, however, was the insertion of rookie Drake Powell into the starting lineup in each of the past two games.
Powell — the third of the Nets’ league-record five first-round picks in 2025 (22nd overall) — has totaled 26 points over 49 minutes in the two starts, including 16 with five rebounds and two made 3-pointers in their 116-113 loss to the Pelicans.
Drake Powell looks to shoot against Yves Missi in the second half of the Nets’ loss to the Pelicans on Jan. 14, 2026, in New Orleans. AP
“We have high expectations for him,” Fernàndez said after the game about Powell, whose rights were obtained from the Hawks on draft night. “We can see a player that not just can develop and play on both ends of the floor, but can be pretty good, so it’s time to see how he does in that situation.
“I’m very happy with the way he’s played. Does that mean he’s gonna be there the whole time? There’s no guarantees here. If he keeps playing hard, we want to see that growth, same as everybody else. That goes for the rookies, that goes for everybody. Keep working, keep getting better. The opportunity is there, and you gotta take advantage of it.”
Wednesday’s game marked the first time the North Carolina product started in the Brooklyn backcourt with No. 8 overall pick Egor Dëmin, who missed Monday’s loss in Dallas due to injury management.
The 20-year-old Powell got off to a slow start due to an ankle injury suffered on opening night in October, missing the following four games. The 6-foot-5 wing has averaged 5.8 points in 17.8 minutes per game over 25 appearances off the bench as a rookie, and 11.3 points in 25.0 minutes in three games as a starter, also including his first NBA start Jan. 1 against the Rockets.
“Just want to stay aggressive on both ends of the floor,” Powell told YES Network after Monday’s game in Dallas. “That’s what Jordi told me to do leading up to the game, and I ultimately trust myself and trust my teammates.
“I think I have a great circle back home that keeps my head on straight, and, like I said, just trust my teammates, trust my coaches, and then just from there, at the end of the day, it’s just basketball.”
Drake Powell shoots a jumper during the Nets’ road loss to the Pelicans. NBAE via Getty Images
Powell is shooting just 31.3 percent from 3-point range, but he believes his defensive game has steadily improved, with just two personal fouls committed in the past two games.
“It’s a lot different from college, you gotta show your hands a lot, and that’s something I’ll continue to grow at, to be a good defender in this league,” Powell said. “With the more film that I watch and the more games that I play, it’ll just build over time.”
Dëmin has made the most starts among the Nets’ rookie crop with 27, followed by guard Ben Saraf (26th overall) with five and Powell and forward Danny Wolf (27th) with three apiece.
French guard Nolan Traore (19th) has made all of his 18 appearances off the bench entering Friday’s home game against the Bulls, including five points in 19 minutes in New Orleans.
Veteran guard Terance Mann moved into a reserve role Wednesday night, and Fernàndez indicated more rotation changes could be coming after the Nets (11-27) allowed 33 second-chance points and lost for the eighth time in nine games following an encouraging 7-3 stretch in December.
“I know our guys care about doing the right things,” Fernàndez said. “The problem is, right now our focus and our intentions are not there. And that’s something that I’ve got to help them better. And there’s different ways you can do it, obviously. So I’m going to try to do my best to find 10 guys in the rotation that care about rebounding, that care about ball pressure, that care about doing the right things.
“And then if you make mistakes, we can live with it. But the intentions and the effort, it’s a priority for us. I trust the group. They’ve always shown a reaction, and work. I trust the coaches, they always come back with answers and positive energy. And that’s how we’re gonna do it here.”
On Thursday, two Pittsburgh Penguins' prospects were recognized for the strong seasons they are having.
Forward Tristan Broz and goaltender Sergei Murashov were named to the Atlantic Division's team for the AHL All-Star Classic, which will take place Feb. 10-11 in Rockford, Ill. The rosters were chosen by a committee of AHL coaches.
It will be the first AHL All-Star appearance for both players.
Broz, 23, has appeared in just one NHL game for the Penguins this season, but he has continued to build off a strong 2024-25 rookie campaign in the AHL for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins. He has recorded 13 goals and 26 points in 33 games this season to go along with a plus-8, and he leads all WBS skaters in points and goals.
Murashov, 21, saw a pair of brief stints at the NHL leve this season, posting a 1-1-2 record with a 2.56 goals-against average and .897 save percentage in five appearances. For most of the AHL season, Murashov led the league in both goals-against average and save percentage, but a recent two-game slide dropped him down to third.
He is 13-4-0 with a 2.03 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage in 18 AHL appearances this season.
Minnesota Timberwolves at Houston Rockets Date: January 16th, 2026 Time: 8:30 PM CST Location: Toyota Center Television Coverage: ESPN Radio Coverage: KFAN FM, Wolves App, iHeart Radio
Texas Two-Step: Wolves Hit Houston With the Season’s Biggest Weekend in Front of Them
The Minnesota Timberwolves are about to take a Texas two-step that could define the mid-point of their season.
Friday night in Houston. Saturday night, a rematch with San Antonio.
Two games. Two Western Conference heavyweights. Two chances to either cement what the Wolves have been building since January 1, or remind everyone how thin the margin still is in a brutal West.
Minnesota storms into this weekend playing some of the best basketball this franchise has ever seen. The identity is clear now. Defense first. Physicality second. Relentless effort third. The Wolves are shutting down the paint, swarming ball handlers, closing out on shooters, and playing with an edge that simply did not exist during the December slog. Offensively, it hasn’t always been pretty, but when it clicks, it goes nuclear — the kind of avalanche offense that breaks teams before the fourth quarter even arrives.
The latest proof came in Milwaukee, where Minnesota walked into Giannis Antetokounmpo’s house without Rudy Gobert or Anthony Edwards and somehow delivered one of the most dominant road wins of the season. No Defensive Player of the Year candidate. No franchise superstar. No excuses. Just collective toughness. Julius Randle played dominant bully ball. Naz Reid produced highly efficient offense. Donte DiVincenzo was true from deep. Bones Hyland had a coming out party. Everyone stepped up.
That win mattered. It pushed Minnesota within a half-game of San Antonio and one game of Denver in the race for the two and three seeds. And now the Wolves get the opportunity every contender waits for: grab momentum and turn it into separation.
First obstacle? Houston.
Last season, Wolves-Rockets games were borderline cage matches. Physical. Emotional. Often decided in the final minutes. This year’s Rockets are different. Kevin Durant in a Houston uniform changes the equation entirely. For all the off-season smoke and mirrors, it appears that Minnesota never seriously pursued KD, and Durant never seriously considered Minnesota. Fine. Friday night offers a chance to make that decision sting just a little.
With a nationally televised game on ESPN and an even bigger showdown looming Saturday, the Wolves have to treat Houston like what they are: the gatekeeper to something real.
Keys to the Game
#1 – Come out on fire and test Houston’s legs early. The Wolves smelled blood in Milwaukee and pounced. The Bucks looked like a team that wanted no part of the night, while Minnesota looked energized, aggressive, and prepared to dictate terms. Houston enters Friday coming off what should be a high-intensity game against Oklahoma City in the first leg of a back-to-back. That matters. NBA games are as much mental as physical, and tired legs usually mean slow rotations, late closeouts, and lazy decisions. Minnesota has to seize that advantage immediately. Push the pace. Crash the glass. Force Houston to work on every possession. If the Wolves bring that January intensity from the opening tip, they can put the Rockets in survival mode before halftime.
#2 – Win the battle of the bigs. Houston has size, skill, and one of the league’s most quietly effective centers in Alperen Sengun. Last season, Sengun had moments where he got the better of Gobert, but this version of Rudy Gobert is different. He’s rested, reinvigorated, and playing like a Defensive Player of the Year again. Rudy has to own the paint, deny Sengun easy looks, control the glass, and set the tone defensively. Julius Randle must continue his physical play, and Naz Reid’s recent defensive uptick has to carry over. Minnesota cannot afford to lose the rebounding battle or allow Houston to feast inside. This game starts at the rim.
#3 – Don’t give up easy ones. The Wolves’ defensive leap since January hasn’t been about highlights. It’s been about discipline. No straight-line drives. No lazy closeouts. No wide-open threes off broken rotations. Houston has scorers everywhere, but they become far more manageable when forced into contested looks. That responsibility falls heavily on Minnesota’s wings. If the Wolves stay connected, rotate with purpose, and take away Houston’s first and second options, the Rockets’ offense becomes far less dangerous.
#4 – Put Kevin Durant in a straightjacket — again. Minnesota has a recent history of bothering Durant. The 2024 playoff sweep. The regular-season matchups with Phoenix last season. Jaden McDaniels has the length and discipline to match Durant physically, and Anthony Edwards has shown he relishes the challenge of guarding his former idol. With Fred VanVleet sidelined, Houston lacks the secondary offensive engine to consistently punish Minnesota if Durant is contained. KD will get his points — that’s inevitable — but the Wolves must make every bucket hard-earned. No rhythm. No comfort. No takeover stretch.
#5: Anthony Edwards has to elevate — again. If Edwards plays, and all signs point toward him being ready, this is his stage. He loves these games. He loves playing Durant. He loves moments where the stakes are obvious. With fresh legs after resting his left foot, Ant has to set the tone offensively by attacking the rim, collapsing Houston’s defense, creating clean looks for teammates, and picking his spots from deep. His gravity is what unlocks Minnesota’s offense. As the season flips to its second half, this is the kind of performance that defines leadership and separates stars from superstars.
(UPDATE: Anthony Edwards will be out again with continued “Right foot injury management.”)
The Finish
The Wolves haven’t consitently shown up against the West’s elite this season. That’s been the knock. This weekend is a chance to flip that narrative in real time.
Friday in Houston is about setting the tone by grabbing the early series lead, creating real space in the standings, and sending a message that Minnesota is done hovering. Saturday against San Antonio is about something bigger, where the Wolves can find themselves potentially flipping positions with the Spurs and grabbing hold of the three seed.
These are not “nice wins.” These are not “confidence builders.”
These are statement games.
If Minnesota handles its business over the next 48 hours, the conversation changes. Not about whether the Wolves belong, but about how high they can climb.
Seamus Casey, New Jersey Devils defenseman, was named to his second straight AHL All-Star Game.
This season, the former second-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft has suited up for the Utica Comets and the New Jersey Devils. He has tallied 17 points (one goal and 16 assists) for the Comets in 26 AHL games.
In addition to his AHL contributions, he has also appeared in two NHL games this season, earning zero points.
During the 2024-25 season, Casey made 14 appearances with the Devils and collected eight points.
Casey is among 30 AHL All-Stars who played in the NHL this season.
Set to represent the North Division in Illinois on February 10th and 11th, the 22-year-old defenseman will take the ice on behalf of the Comets.
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