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Sixers Bell Ringer: Barlow’s career night propels Sixers over Clippers

INGLEWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 2: Dominick Barlow #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks the ball during the game against the LA Clippers on February 2, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 19
Joel Embiid – 7
VJ Edgecombe – 6
Paul George – 6
Andre Drummond – 2
Jared McCain – 2
Dominick Barlow – 1
Adem Bona – 1
Justin Edwards – 1
Quentin Grimes – 1
Kelly Oubre Jr. – 1
Trendon Watford – 1
15th roster spot – 1

The Sixers started off their West Coast trip in the win column following a dominant 128-113 victory against the Clippers.

The Sixers started the game on an 18-2 run which was emblematic of most of the matchup. Of course, the Clippers brought it to within 12 in the third quarter, but were never able to breach single digits in the fourth.

Also, Quentin Grimes absolutely postered John Collins.

Plenty of Bell Ringer nominees to chose from, but a clear star shined in Inglewood.

Dominick Barlow: 26 points, 10-of-16 FG, 16 rebounds (10 offensive), 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 0 turnovers

It was quite the night for Barlow, who finished with a career high in points and offensive rebounds.

Barlow helped set the tone for the Sixers as he was a force on the boards throughout the game. In the halfcourt, was rolling or finding himself open in the dunker spot on multiple occasions for driving guards.

He cleaned up the offensive glass like a big man in the first half, grabbing five of his eight total rebounds on the offensive end.

His defensive ability was on display as well, picking off a couple passes and taking it the distance for easy finishes.

In the second half, he continued his dominance on the boards with an offensive rebound which he dropped off for an easy Embiid bucket once the defense collapsed.

Then an insane extended possession in the fourth where he just completely outplays both of the Clippers’ big men:

It is time to convert that contract, Daryl!

Tyrese Maxey: 29 points, 9-of-18 FG, 7-of-14 3PT, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 turnover

Maxey had seven threes find the bottom of the basket for only the second game this season — and the first time since opening night against the Celtics.

Maxey put on a shooting display in the first half, hitting his first four attempts from deep and getting to the foul line early, making all four of his charity stripe attempts. His shooting played as a perfect foil to Barlow’s aggressiveness in the paint as the Sixers jumped out to a massive lead.

He added another three at the top of the third, and a walk in shot from deep at the beginning of the fourth. His seventh three came with just under 4:30 left, and was off a beautiful step back going left.

It should be noted he was successful on almost all of his steal attempts tonight, solidifying his defensive growth from last season.

After a bit of a shooting slump, finding his stroke on the first game of the road trip could be helpful as they continue on the West Coast.

Joel Embiid: 24 points, 8-of-19 FG, 7-of-7 FT, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal

It took Embiid a bit to get into this one, although he did have a nice skip pass to Kelly Oubre Jr. from the post in the first quarter. He finished the first half 2-0f-10 from the floor with just four free throw attempts.

That would change in the third as he came out a scorching 4-of-4 with a mix of pull up and off-the-catch jumpers, a three, and a drawn foul on a three-point attempt.

He added another smooth midrange jumper in the fourth to push the Sixers lead back up to 15. After a couple buckets from the Clippers, he drilled another one from free throw range to help put them away.

Kelly Oubre Jr.: 15 points, 6-of-13 FG, 3-of-6 3PT, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal

Oubre had a phenomenal first half playing off of Maxey and Edgecombe effectively. He was getting to the paint in transition and drained a couple catch-and-shoot attempts from the same spot in the far corner. He finished a tough layup with his left hand over Batum in the fourth to extend their lead to 15, and was the glue in a rather rare wire-to-wire win for the Sixers.

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Nylander leads the Maple Leafs to a 4-2 win over the Flames

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — William Nylander scored on a breakaway 35 seconds into the game and added two assists that helped the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Calgary Flames 4-2 on Monday night.

Matias Maccelli and defenseman Troy Stecher also scored as the Maple Leafs won their second straight following a six-game losing streak. Toronto halted an 0-5-1 slide by winning 3-2 in a shootout Saturday at Vancouver.

Bobby McMann's empty-net goal sealed it with 25 seconds remaining. Joseph Woll made 28 saves, improving to 5-0-0 against Calgary.

Toronto has won eight in a row versus the Flames, its longest active streak against any team.

Nazem Kadri and Joel Farabee each had a goal and an assist for the struggling Flames, who have dropped six of seven. They snapped a five-game skid (0-3-2) with a 3-2 victory Saturday against San Jose when Farabee scored a short-handed goal to break a third-period tie.

Dustin Wolf stopped 18 shots.

Toronto moved within seven points of the Boston Bruins, who occupy the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Nylander has 13 goals and 23 assists in 26 career games against Calgary, where he was born. His father, Michael, played for the Flames in the mid-1990s.

Calgary rookie defenseman Zayne Parekh was held without a point in 20:05 of ice time during his first NHL game since Nov. 7. A first-round draft pick in 2024, Parekh has been working his way back from an injury sustained at the World Junior Championship tournament, where he starred for Canada with five goals and eight assists in seven games.

Up next

Maple Leafs: At the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night to conclude a four-game trip heading into the Olympic break.

Flames: Host the Oilers on Wednesday night in the final game for both teams before the break.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

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Report: Cavs in advanced talks to trade for Clippers’ star James Harden

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 18: James Harden #1 of the Los Angeles Clippers handles the ball against Darius Garland #10 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first quarter at Intuit Dome on March 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers are reportedly in “advanced discussions” to trade for LA Clippers’ All-Star James Harden. The deal would seemingly include a swap of Harden for Darius Garland.

Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix broke the news, and ESPN’s Shams Charania later confirmed it. The Clippers are looking for a suitor to take Harden, and the Cavs, along with other teams, are expressing serious interest.

It’s worth noting that Harden has a no-trade clause and would need to approve of any deal the Clippers make. That adds another layer to consider. Harden would have to sign off on playing in Cleveland before the Cavs could acquire him.

Mannix also added that Cleveland is seeking additional draft compensation in the trade. This has been a holdup for LA.

This is somewhat of a shock. We’ve known the Cavs are turning over every stone to find potential upgrades. But 36-year-old Harden wasn’t on many people’s radar. It feels insane on the surface to trade Garland for a player who is 10 years older than him and hasn’t proven he can get the job done in the postseason.

Granted, Garland hasn’t proven himself either, but he’ll presumably have many more chances to do so before his career is all said and done. Harden might be running out of time.

Numerous teams have convinced themselves that Harden can put them over the top. Thus far, no franchise has won that bet. I believe that Harden is better than he gets credit for in the playoffs—but I’m not eager to make the same mistake that the Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, and Clippers have already made.

This is where I have to mention how great Harden still is on the basketball court. He’s averaging an efficient 25 points and 8 assists, all while playing 44 of LA’s 49 games this season. Harden has been more impactful and more durable than Garland this season. That’s a fact.

Also true is the age difference. It’s a bold move to hitch your wagon to a player who turns 37 this summer. The Cavs’ window won’t be open forever; we know this. But trading for a star who is closer to retirement than his prime is a risky move.

I’ll save the rest of my thoughts on this until we find out more. For now, keep your notifications on and brace for impact. Trade season is in full swing.

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Mavericks vs Celtics Game Preview: 3 things to know as Dallas hosts surging Boston

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - FEBRUARY 06: Klay Thompson #31 of the Dallas Mavericks defends Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics during the second quarter at the TD Garden on February 06, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It feels like a lifetime since the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks met on the NBA’s biggest stage in the 2024 Finals. Much has changed since then as the red-hot Celtics (31-18) visit the Mavericks (19-30), who are looking to end a four-game skid. Here are three things to watch ahead of Dallas’s matchup with the East’s second-best team.

The Celtics shoot threes, lots of threes

The Celtics and Mavericks play two completely different styles. Boston is second in the NBA this season in threes attempted per game at 42.9, and second in made threes per game at 15.6. As a team, they shoot 36.7% from three, ninth in the NBA. In comparison, Dallas is 26th in the NBA in three-point shot attempts per game at 32.0, 28th in makes at 11.0, and 26th in percentage at 34.3%.

One thing that has not changed since the 2024 NBA Finals is Boston’s ability to shoot volume threes, which can demoralize opponents when the threes are falling. In today’s NBA, the math of three being worth more than two is a big part of Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla’s strategy. In the absence of perennial All-Star Jayson Tatum, the Celtics lean on the three-point shot even more than before. Boston has six players who shoot above 39% from three this season — Anfernee Simons, Sam Houser, Josh Minnott, Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, and Luka Garza. This doesn’t include veteran sharpshooter Derrick White, who has struggled from three this season at 32.4%. Meanwhile, the Mavericks have one player who shoots north of 39% from three — Max Christie.

Dallas’s style of bully-ball and relentless attacking in the paint can work on teams that aren’t efficient from three, but three is still worth more than two, and the math favors the Celtics.

The Celtics are deep

Even without Jayson Tatum, this Celtics team has been finding its groove lately, and a lot of that success stems from its depth. Boston is 7-3 in its past 10 games with a plus-nine point differential. After a 5-7 start, the Celtics are 26-11 since and sit in a second-place tie with the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference. Boston has five players who score in double digits per game: Jaylen Brown (29.4), Derrick White (17.2), Payton Pritchard (16.8), Anfernee Simons (14.2), and Neemias Queta (10.1).

The depth of the Celtics is also a big reason why they have the league’s second-best offense at 121.3 points per game. One particular player that could cause problems for the Mavs is Queta, who has shown real promise in his fifth year. The seven-footer is averaging 10.1 points per game, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks on 63.5% shooting. Dallas’s lack of men in the middle could give the Celtics second and third opportunities to hoist from three.

Another player to watch is reigning Sixth Man of the Year Payton Pritchard. A lot of focus on the court tends to shift to Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, and for good reason. But Pritchard has quietly had another fantastic year for the Celtics, averaging 16.8 points per game, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists. His ability to attack off the dribble and shoot from three is a big reason why the Celtics’ offense has remained efficient without Tatum.

And of course, there’s Jaylen Brown, who’s statistically having his best season at 29.4 points per game, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. Brown usually takes on the form of Robin, with Tatum being Batman, but Robin has done a pretty good job at keeping the ship afloat without the captain.

Cooper Flagg is the new Jayson Tatum?

One of the most common player comparisons Cooper Flagg has drawn is Jayson Tatum. And it makes sense. Both went to Duke. Both were one-and-done. Both are widely viewed as elite two-way players. Flagg is listed at 6’9, 205 pounds. Tatum is listed at 6’8, 210 pounds. Both have the size and length to guard one through four on defense. Both have great court vision and passing ability to lead an offense. They do feel all too similar. So how are Flagg’s rookie numbers comparing to Tatum’s?

The situation Tatum was drafted into had some similarities to Cooper Flagg’s. The 2016-2017 Celtics were 53-29 and lost in the Eastern Conference Finals to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the 2017 NBA Draft, the Celtics took Jayson Tatum third overall. Tatum was thrust onto a good roster right away and was able to fit into his role. In his rookie year, he averaged 13.9 points per game, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. In comparison, Cooper Flagg is averaging 19.8 points per game, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in his rookie campaign.

Tatum’s team success in his first year was far greater than Flagg’s, with the Celtics going 55-27 and coming one game shy of the NBA Finals, losing once again to LeBron James’s Cavaliers. As of now, the Mavericks sit at 19-30, 11th in the Western Conference. But Tatum was surrounded early by veterans who helped him figure things out – Kyrie Irving, Marcus Smart, Al Horford, to name a few. Flagg has that in Dallas — Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and Klay Thompson. Veteran leadership matters, it’s just that most of the Mavericks veterans are hurt. Tatum has now grown himself to a top five to 10 player in the NBA. That may not even be the ceiling with Flagg. His ceiling may be top one.

Flagg will have his hands full on Tuesday night, being guarded by some of the league’s best perimeter defenders in Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. Let’s see how the next Jayson Tatum fairs against the team that grew the original one.

How to watch

The two teams, going in seemingly opposite directions, will take the court on Tuesday night. But if there’s one thing we know, Dallas tends to beat the good teams. Go figure. The Mavs and Celtics will tip off at 7 p.m. Central time on NBC and Peacock.

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Flames Rally Falls Short in 4–2 Defeat to Maple Leafs

The Calgary Flames delivered a spirited effort Monday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome, but an early three-goal deficit proved too much to overcome as they fell 4–2 to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Calgary welcomed back rookie defenceman Zayne Parekh, who returned to the lineup after completing his AHL conditioning stint with the Calgary Wranglers. The game marked Parekh’s first NHL appearance since Nov. 7.

© Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
© Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

Toronto wasted no time opening the scoring. On the Maple Leafs’ first shot of the night, William Nylander broke in alone just over a minute into the game and snapped a glove-side shot past Dustin Wolf to give the visitors a 1–0 lead. The goal extended Nylander’s point streak against Calgary to 12 straight games.

Nylander continued to drive Toronto’s offence in the second period. After collecting the puck behind the net, he spotted Mattias Maccelli in the slot, who one-timed a shot past Wolf to make it 2–0. The Maple Leafs then sustained heavy pressure in the Flames’ zone, and Nylander struck again—this time finding former Flame Troy Stecher, who chipped the puck by Wolf to stretch the lead to three.

With the assist, Nylander recorded his 46th career three-point game, tying Doug Gilmour for eighth in franchise history.

© Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
© Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

Calgary finally found life midway through the period. Joel Farabee slipped a pass to Nazem Kadri at the side of the net, and Kadri picked his spot, roofing a shot over Joseph Woll to cut the deficit to 3–1. The goal was Kadri’s 10th of the season, continuing his strong production against his former club.

Kadri and Farabee teamed up again shortly after, this time with Kadri sending a hard saucer pass across the crease that Farabee redirected past Woll to pull the Flames within one.

The Flames pushed hard in the third period, generating several quality chances and ringing a shot off the post, but Woll held firm in the Toronto crease. With Wolf pulled for the extra attacker in the final minute, Bobby McMann sealed the outcome with an empty-net goal, securing the 4–2 win for the Maple Leafs.

© Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
© Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

Three Takeaways

1. Effort Was There, Finish Wasn’t

Calgary outshot and outhit Toronto, firing 30 shots on goal and generating enough looks to erase the deficit, but puck luck and timely saves never swung in their favour.

2. Coronato Continues to Impress

Matt Coronato was one of Calgary’s most dangerous forwards, leading all players with seven shots on goal while logging 19:27 of ice time.

3. Encouraging Return for Parekh

Zayne Parekh was trusted in late-game situations in his first NHL contest since early November. While there were moments of adjustment, his confidence with the puck, clean passing, and overall presence were noticeable signs in his return.

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Henderson scores 30 to lead Portland State to 88-65 victory over Idaho State

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Jaylin Henderson scored 30 points to lead Portland State to an 88-65 victory over Idaho State on Monday night.

Henderson made 10 of 18 shots, including both of his 3-point attempts, and 8 of 10 free throws for the Vikings (15-6, 9-1 Big Sky Conference). He also handed out seven assists.

Terri Miller Jr. totaled 22 points and three steals for Portland State. Kelcy Phipps scored 11 off the bench on 4-for-4 shooting with a 3-pointer.

Caleb Van De Griend came off the bench to score 13 for the Bengals (10-13, 3-7), who trailed 43-32 at halftime. Evan Otten had 12 points and Connor Hollenbeck scored 10.

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Clippers, Cavaliers in ‘advanced’ talks for blockbuster James Harden trade

James Harden appears to be on the doorstep of wearing yet another NBA jersey.

The Clippers are in “advanced” talks with the Cavaliers about a trade for the future Hall of Famer, Sports Illustrated reported on Monday.

A potential Harden swap would net the Clippers Darius Garland in return, the outlet added.

The Clippers are reportedly in talks with the Cavaliers about sending James Harden to Cleveland. NBAE via Getty Images

Harden did not play in Los Angeles’ home game against the Sixers on Monday night after head coach Ty Lue said the point guard was “home in Phoenix” due to “personal reasons.”

James Harden has missed the Clippers’ last two games, including Monday night’s matchup with the 76ers. NBAE via Getty Images

Harden also missed the Clippers’ Sunday matchup against the Suns.

The 11-time All-Star joined the Clippers in 2023 in a trade from the 76ers.

In his two-plus seasons with the team, he’s averaged 21.1 points, 8.5 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game.

Harden’s played for five total teams — the Thunder, Rockets, Nets, Sixers and Clippers — in his 17 years in the NBA.

Cavaliers guard Darius Garland has missed time this season because of a toe injury. NBAE via Getty Images

Garland, meanwhile, has played his entire career in Cleveland after he was taken with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. 

He’s made two All-Star teams.

He, though, has been limited to 26 games this season while dealing with a toe injury.

The NBA’s trade deadline is 12 p.m. PT on Thursday.

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Johnson scores 35 to guide Sacramento State to 104-90 victory over Weber State

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Prophet Johnson had 35 points to match his career high and propel Sacramento State to a 104-90 victory over Weber State on Monday night.

Johnson made 11 of 16 shots with three 3-pointers and 10 of 13 free throws for the Hornets (9-13, 5-5 Big Sky Conference). He added seven rebounds.

Jahni Summers made 8 of 9 shots with five 3-pointers, scoring 22 with five assists for Sac State. Mark Lavrenov totaled 18 points and nine rebounds.

Ty Saine Jr. had 22 points and six assists to pace the Wildcats (11-12, 5-5). Malek Gomma finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Nigel Burris totaled 17 points and eight rebounds.

Summers had 17 points, Johnson scored 12 and Shaqir O'Neal scored all 10 of his points in the first half to help the Hornets take a commanding 53-32 lead.

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Canucks Remain Winless Against The Mammoth After 6-2 Loss In Utah

The Vancouver Canucks kicked off their road trip with a 6-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth. Vancouver's goal scorers on the night were Liam Öhgren and Teddy Blueger. As for Kevin Lankinen, he did not have a strong night as he stopped 14 of the 20 shots he faced in the game. 

Monday's game was the definition of lower energy from the Canucks. Outside of a few moments, Vancouver struggled to generate any form of offence, as they finished the night with 23 shots. Overall, it was a disappointing effort made worse by the fact that this game occurred during the annual moms' trip. 

Defensive issues were once again the story for the Canucks. Whether it was missed assignments or lost stick battles, Vancouver struggled in their own zone all night. The game also featured a hat trick as Nick Schmaltz buried his third of the night in the third period.

"I think defensively, we just weren't good enough," said Blueger post-game. "We weren't tight enough. We knew they liked the cross-seam plays, and then we gave up a bunch of chances early in the first period. Lanks made some big saves and then just kept doing that throughout the second, and they made us pay for it."

As for a storyline from this game, that would be the departure of Filip Chytil. He played 7:36 through two periods and was absent from the bench at the start of the third. Post-game, Head Coach Adam Foote said Chytil "tweaked something" while responding to being asked if it was a head injury with "I hope not".

Lastly, ice time will once again be a discussion point after Monday's game. Jonathan Lekkerimäki played just 12:03 and was the only player outside of Chytil to play under nine minutes at even strength. With the game out of hand after the second and the team in a rebuild, there is no reason why a player like Lekkerimäki should be stapled to the bench in the third period. 

Feb 2, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Vancouver Canucks left wing Liam Ohgren (92) follows through on a shot for a goal against Utah Mammoth defenseman Nick DeSimone (57) during the first period at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
Feb 2, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Vancouver Canucks left wing Liam Ohgren (92) follows through on a shot for a goal against Utah Mammoth defenseman Nick DeSimone (57) during the first period at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images

Ultimately, there were not a lot of positive takeaways from Monday's loss. Outside of the Öhgren, Blueger and Conor Garland line, the Canucks looked flat all night and were making simple mistakes that should not be happening this late in the season. In the end, though, Monday was another victory for the tank as Vancouver once again added some separation from the rest of the league at the bottom of the standings.

Stats and Facts:

- Vancouver has given up 198 hat tricks in franchise history 

- Teddy Blueger scores his fifth goal in nine games this season

- The Canucks are now 0-4-1 all-time against the Mammoth

- Vancouver has given up 72 second-period goals this season

Scoring Summary:

1st Period:

3:35- UTA: Nick Schmaltz (20) from John Marino and Barrett Hayton
7:04- VAN: Liam Öhgren (4) from Conor Garland and Teddy Blueger
7:37- UTA: Nick Schmaltz (21) from Sean Durzi

2nd Period:

8:45- UTA: Mikhail Sergachev (9) from Nick Schmaltz and Dylan Guenther
12:16- UTA: John Marino (5) from Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz
16:05- UTA: JJ Peterka (20) from Kailer Yamamoto and John Marino
18:48- VAN: Teddy Blueger (5) from Conor Garland and Marcus Pettersson

3rd Period:

12:22- UTA: Nick Schmaltz (22) from Clayton Keller and Lawson Crouse

Up Next:

The Canucks play their final game before the 2026 Winter Olympics on Wednesday when they take on the Vegas Golden Knights. Last season, Vancouver failed to pick up a victory over Vegas in their four meetings. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 pm PT. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

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Ottawa 3 Pittsburgh 2: Giroux's Greasy Goal Gives Senators Fourth Straight Win

For the first time all season, the Ottawa Senators have put together four regulation victories in a row.

Claude Giroux’s disputed goal with under five minutes to play snapped a 2–2 draw and gave the Senators a 3–2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on Monday night.

Tim Stützle and Michael Amadio had the other Senators goals, while Drake Batherson had two points on the night, along with Stützle. Linus Ullmark made 14 saves for Ottawa, which outshot the Penguins 31–16.

But it will be the Giroux goal that everyone will be talking about around water coolers on Tuesday.

Giroux started the play deep in Ottawa’s end, causing a turnover and slipping the puck to Nick Jensen, who fed Batherson in stride. As Giroux sprinted up the middle, Batherson tried to feed Stützle with a saucer pass that got deflected into the air. Stützle swatted it down with a baseball swing and it ended up right on the tape of Giroux for a clean break to the net.

Former Senator Erik Karlsson got caught flat-footed on the play and hacked at Giroux in desperation a couple of times, sending the veteran sliding into goaltender Arturs Šilovs and the goalpost. Because of the contact with Šilovs, the puck slid across the goal line.

Officials initially ruled no goal and gave Karlsson a tripping penalty. But while Giroux was down on the ice, shaken up, officials reviewed the play and determined it was a good goal.

The only reason for officials to allow the goal was because it was Karlsson who caused the collision and was penalized for it. But for some reason, the Penguins still wanted to challenge for goalie interference, which everyone knew would would fail.

Egor Chinakhov led Pittsburgh with a goal and an assist and gave the Penguins a 1–0 lead midway through the first period. When Michael Amadio tied the game early in the second period, the celebration seemed uncommonly big. His linemates were fully aware that it was his first goal in 24 games, going back to mid-December.

Stützle made it 2–1 Ottawa less than seven minutes into the third period, finishing what his linemate started. After Penguins defenceman Ryan Shea turned the puck over at Ottawa’s blueline, Jordan Spence chipped it to Batherson for a breakaway. He didn’t score, but Stützle was right there behind him to tuck in his 26th goal of the season.

Two minutes later, Thomas Chabot lost position on Tommy Novak and, when a shot came from Shea at the right point, Novak jammed home the rebound. After Chabot left Saturday night’s game early and arrived at Monday’s practice late, he was described as a game-time decision, apparently dealing with a right hand or wrist issue.

That set the scene for Giroux’s big goal, greasy as it was, late in the third period.

Few players have ever been a bigger thorn in the side of the Penguins than Giroux. According to the NHL’s website, he now has 41 points (13 goals, 28 assists) in 33 games in Pittsburgh. That’s the most points and assists by any visiting player.

The victory was another crucial one because the rest of the East can’t stop picking up points. Buffalo got two more on Monday, despite being outshot 41-20, handing Florida its fourth straight loss, 5-3.

So while the Sens are now two points clear of the two-time champs, they remain eight points behind the Sabres. Montreal lost in overtime to Minnesota, so the Canadiens’ lead on the Sens is cut to nine. The Leafs and Red Wings both got two points on Tuesday as well.

The Boston Bruins are now the target, the second wild card, seven points up on the Sens. The Bruins imploded in the Stadium Series game in Tampa on Sunday night, blowing a 5–1 lead and losing in overtime. 

To extend their streak, the Senators will have to find a way to win in Carolina on Tuesday, a place where they haven’t had much historical success at all, let alone in part two of a back-to-back situation.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News

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The Dominick Barlow Game helps Sixers win fourth straight vs. Clippers

INGLEWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 2: Dominick Barlow #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks the ball during the game against the LA Clippers on February 2, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

#SixersAfterDark with only a small risk of blowing a 20-point lead. How pleasant.

Philadelphia won their fourth game in a row, taking down the LA Clippers 128-113 Monday night.

Tyrese Maxey caught fire from three, going for a game-high 29 points on 9-of-18 shooting as well as six assists. Joel Embiid came alive in the second half to finish with 24 points shooting 8-of-19 from the floor.

VJ Edgecombe was cold from the floor but found ways to be productive, having five points on 1-of-11 shooting with three rebounds and seven assists.Dominick Barlow put up a career-high 26 going 10-of-16 from the floor along with 16 rebounds and two steals. Kawhi Leonard led LA with 29 as well.

Paul George was the lone Sixer out with his suspension while the Clippers were without James Harden and Derrick Jones Jr.

Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.

First Quarter

  • It was quite a start for the Sixers, opening the game on a 18-2 run. Maxey started hot with a couple threes falling away. The Clippers looked every bit like a team that played the night before. Three of their first four turnovers were just because they dropped the ball.
  • Barlow got a couple of hustle buckets, putting back two missed Embiid shots and finishing a backdoor cut. He was quickly fueling the offense with his putbacks. He intercepted a bounce pass and took it all the way, reaching 11 points, which was a career-high for him in a first quarter.
  • Things looked a bit more conventional when Maxey got going again, drilling another pair of threes after getting to the line. He seemed to really want to show off his stepback three, trying it on three of his five attempts. His heat check to close the quarter didn’t go, but he still helped power the Sixers to a 21-point lead.

Second Quarter

  • The staggering changed up again, with Edgecombe leading the second unit along with Jared McCain. Edgecombe found McCain coming off a screen for a three. Adem Bona rolled open to the basket and kicked it to Quentin Grimes to take advantage of a wide open runway and posterize John Collins. The dunk was not only Grimes’ best play in quite some time, but encouraged Edgecombe to drive to do the same over the next few possessions.
  • It was quickly becoming the Dominick Barlow Game, with him picking up another putback upon returning to the game and shortly picked up a steal as well, completing that fast break with a give-and-go with Edgecombe. The Clippers’ eight turnovers had really kept them in a hole despite shooting 56% from the field.
  • The heavy doubles the Sixers threw at Leonard helped generate some of those turnovers, but they didn’t slow him down much with his 13 points in the half. LA’s offense predictably wasn’t able to do much without him. On the other end of the floor, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Grimes hit corner threes, and Edgecombe finally made his first field goal with one as well to keep the Sixers at a 19-point lead at the half.

Third Quarter

  • After a slow start, Embiid knocked down a jumper on three possessions in a row, surpassing his first half total. While Edgecombe did not find the same rhythm, missing on the open threes swung to him, he was plenty involved. He assisted on two of those Embiid jumpers working the two-man game.
  • The game came screeching to a halt thanks to two Clippers challenges — one successful, one unsuccessful. The Clippers finally started to take advantage of the odd man advantages, slowly chipping away at the lead. Embiid settled things down with a couple looks from the nail before Barlow got another putback, getting fouled in the process as well.
  • The offense slowed down again after Maxey followed up that and-1 with a jumper. Some fresh faces helped that as Grimes checked into the game and knocked down a three coming off a screen. On the next possession he kept his head up on a drive to find McCain wide open in the corner, helping the Sixers stay ahead by 13.

Fourth Quarter

  • A bad pass that didn’t make it to Embiid to close the third got McCain benched to start the fourth though. The shot quality had dipped a bit, but tough makes from Maxey and Oubre kept them afloat. Truly everything was coming up Barlow. After an and-1 drive he had a corner three take three or four bounces off the rim before falling in.
  • For every time the Clippers did threaten to make things interesting, the Sixers were able to come up with a shot or two to keep them at bay. Embiid made up for a turnover by capping off a nice second half with a couple more jumpers. Another Maxey stepback three made the Clippers wave the white flag with about four minutes to go.
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JJ Redick says Lakers want Austin Reaves ‘100% confident’ before returning from injury

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 2, 2026: Injured Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) bounces the ball during a timeout in the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Crypto.com Arena on January 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

For fans eager to see Austin Reaves back on the court, the last week has been frustrating.

On two separate occasions, Reaves was listed as questionable heading into a game and on two occasions, he was downgraded to out before tip. After Redick said Reaves would likely return on the current road trip, the Lakers are down to one game before returning to Los Angeles.

Even if the Lakers are taking an understandable cautious approach, fans are rarely reasonable and the idea of Austin returning had them excited, only to be let down twice. After Sunday’s loss, head coach JJ Redick was asked about Reaves’ status.

“I just would say he’s day-to-day, game-to-game, however you want to phrase it,” Redick said. “We’ll hopefully have him for Tuesday but he’s got to feel 100% confident.”

This is not the first time Redick has given some form of a quote like this during the road trip either. The team is clearly being extremely cautious with his return. Unsurprisingly, Reaves is listed as questionable for a third straight game ahead of the Lakers’ clash with the Nets in Brooklyn on Tuesday.

In a vacuum, a game against the Nets would be a perfect time to bring a player back from injury. That likely factored little into the Lakers’ calculus considering how important each win is in the Western Conference, but this should be a comfortable on-ramp for Reaves.

It’s clear Reaves’ return is very close. As frustrated as Lakers fans may be about having to wait, it shouldn’t factor into the team or Reaves’ decision of when to finally suit up.

But, man, It’s about time Reaves got back on that court.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

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Nick Schmaltz has hat trick in 5-point game, Mammoth beat Canucks 6-2

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Nick Schmaltz had his second hat trick of the season and added two assists for a five-point game in the Utah Mammoth's 6-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Monday night.

Schmaltz had his third career NHL hat trick to push his season goals total to 22, one shy of his career high set with Arizona in 2021-22.

JJ Peterka scored his 20th of the season, John Marino had a goal and two assists and Mikhail Sergachev also scored to help Utah end a two-game losing streak. Karel Vejmelka made 21 saves.

Schmaltz scored twice in the first as Utah took a 2-1 lead. In the second, Sergachev connected on a power play and Marino and Peterka pushed the advantage to 5-1. Schmaltz completed the hat trick with 7:38 left in the third, scoring off a feed from Clayton Keller on a break.

Liam Ohgren and Teddy Blueger scored for Vancouver. Kevin Lankinen stopped 14 shots.

Vancouver has only two victories in its last 18 games — both on an eight-game homestand that ended Saturday night with a 3-2 shootout loss to Toronto.

Up next

Canucks: At Vegas on Wednesday night in their final game before the Olympic break.

Mammoth: Host Detroit on Wednesday night in their final game before the Olympic break.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

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John Gibson Earns Fourth Shutout, Red Wings Hit Back With 2-0 Win Over Avalanche

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Following their dismal 5–0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday afternoon at Little Caesars Arena, Detroit Red Wings team captain Dylan Larkin said he and his teammates intended to come to Denver for the rematch with something to prove.

The result on Monday evening was one of Detroit's gutsiest victories of the season, as they returned the favor against the Avalanche, shutting them out by a 2-0 final score at Ball Arena. 

It also marks Detroit's first regulation victory over the Avalanche since 2017 at Joe Louis Arena. 

The Red Wings found the back of the net right from the get-go, as Marco Kasper scored his sixth goal of the season just 33 seconds into the game after successfully converting a two-on-one rush with Lucas Raymond.

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With Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood pulled for an extra attacker late in the third period, Lucas Raymond sealed the victory by scoring into the vacated net for his 19th goal of the season. 

Kasper's early first-period goal was all the offense Red Wings goaltender John Gibson, who was pulled after 40 minutes on Saturday, needed to work with. He stopped all 21 shots the Avalanche fired his way, picking up his fourth shutout of the season. 

It's the most shutouts Gibson has posted in a season since he had four during the 2017-18 campaign, while still with the Anaheim Ducks. 

Detroit’s victory earned two crucial points in the standings, keeping them in second place in the Atlantic Division.

They trail the first-place Tampa Bay Lightning by just two points, while the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres remain uncomfortably close in the rearview mirror.

Detroit has just one game remaining on Wednesday evening before the schedule takes a multi-week break for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The Red Wings will make just their second-ever appearance at Delta Center in Salt Lake City to face the Utah Mammoth; they won't play again until Feb. 26 against the Ottawa Senators. 

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Bedard & Celebrini Score, Blackhawks Beat Sharks 6-3

CHICAGO - The Chicago Blackhawks ended the pre-Olympic break portion of their home schedule on Monday night with a match against the San Jose Sharks at the United Center. 

Coming into the game, the San Jose Sharks were the only NHL team that the Blackhawks had yet to play. For the next decade, Macklin Celebrini vs Connor Bedard will highlight this matchup, but there is a lot of talent on both sides. 

In the first period, Bedard kicked off the scoring with his 23rd of the season. This goal ended a 0-26 stretch on the power play that spanned multiple weeks. Bedard now has goals in three straight games. He is heating up after a slow return from his injury.

By the end of the period, the Blackhawks had a 1-0 lead and only allowed the San Jose Sharks one shot on goal. 

The second period was significantly more eventful. Connor Murphy, Ryan Donato, and Sam Rinzel scored three unanswered goals to make it 4-1. 

The Sharks eventually got one when Celebrini set up Will Smith with a beautiful pass through the goal crease. Less than one minute after, however, Ilya Mikheyev took the momentum right back when he made it 5-1. 

San Jose wouldn't go quietly into the night, however, as Celebrini scored a goal of his own to get the Sharks back within three. That 5-2 score held through the second intermission. 

In the third period, Shakir Mukhamadullin was set up for a nice backhand goal by former Blackhawks forward Philipp Kurashev. San Jose getting within two made them believe that they could get it tied. They tilted the ice in a big way during the third period. 

Despite their pure domination during the final frame, the Sharks had one bad play that led to Ryan Donato's second goal of the game (fourth point). The 6-3 score stood as the final in favor of the Blackhawks. 

A key role in the victory, despite all the goals and breaking through on the power play, was the penalty kill. 

San Jose went 0-4 with the man-advantage. They made some nice plays, but good sticks, solid positioning, top-notch instincts, and a few good saves by Spencer Knight allowed the Hawks to kill four straight penalties. They are up to 85.6%, which leads the league by over one full percent. 

This is a big win for the young Blackhawks. They are still pretty far below the playoff line, but after a handful of losses in a row, they needed a win for morale. There is a long break coming up, and they'd like to enter it feeling good about themselves. 

Watch Every Chicago Goal

What’s Next For The Blackhawks?

The Blackhawks are back in action on Wednesday night when they pay a visit to Ohio to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets. This will be Chicago's last game before they break for the Olympics. 

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