The Demise And Fall Of The Blueshirts In Beantown

Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Winslow Townson-Imagn Images

It was no secret that the Rangers' visit to Beantown yesterday afternoon was THE most important game of the season for the New Yorkers up to this point.

The Bruins – no questions asked – have been a team to pursue. What's more, with the Blueshirts' inexplicable road successes, this was a time for a glorious victory. No? Yes?

The time for a glorious victory ended as rapidly as a zephyr blowing through your hair. By the end of the first period the Rangers were ready to surrender.

By the end of the second period, they did give up. The NewYorkers' blue sweaters looked like the white flag of defeat.. The score was 7-2  for Boston and the best bet for coach Mike Sullivan was to request a Brooklyn "Do Over."

But since Commissioner Gary Bettman's office does not deal in "Do Overs,' the Rangers had to finish the game employing the advanced "culture" that owner James Dolan was last heard bragging about on the radio the other day. So it ended, 10-2 for the Beaners.

Take your pick, the Rangers embarrassed or disgraced themselves beyond all reason.

"It's the 'culture' of defeat," says The Old Scout. "Now the Rangers not only cannot win at home they no longer can win on the road. Maybe they should try roller hockey."

J.T. Miller, who scored one of the two Blueshirt goals – Mika Zibanejad had the other – should be penalized for repeating himself. How many times have you heard this dismal comment out of the guy who never should have been captain in the first place.

"The team needs leadership and I gotta do better," Miller says. 

It wouldn't hurt if coach Mike Sullivan ripped up his far-too-lucrative contract. Imagine him saying postgame: "I don't have answers."

Well the answer sure wasn't Jonathan Quick who was a disaster and mercifully got the hook after giving up six goals in 31:26. 

Now get this, genius GM Chris Drury brought up 30-year-old royal retread Spencer Martin as

Quick's backup. This poor guy Martin has gone through five NHL teams – plus CSKA Moscow –  and redefines the word "sieve." 

Master Martin gave up four goals on 14 shots as the curtain dropped on yet another Blueshirt disaster. For further horrifics, I turn it over to superscout Jess Rubenstein of Rangersprospectreport.com.

Remembering Glenn Hall Against The RangersRemembering Glenn Hall Against The RangersI have to admit that The Maven has taken the passing of Hall of Fame goalie Glenn Hall hard. Tearful hard.

"The Rangers have no defense. They are old. Martin is not an NHL goalie. This club was not embarrassed; it was humiliated. And GM Chris Drury should be fired."

Now for the good news: the Rangers' most encouraging words emanate from the NHL schedule.

The woebegone Seattle Kraken will drop over to Seventh Avenue tomorrow night and – if the winds of change have anything to do with it – the host Blueshirts might even get back in the W column.

Oh, I know he's been retired for decades but even at his advanced age. Marvelous Mike would never have allowed that Saturday afternoon implosion to happen.

Richter always had pride to go with his talent. With precious few exceptions, this Rangers team now has a smidgen of talent and absolutely zero pride.

No. 16 Illinois builds big early lead, then holds off No. 19 Iowa, 75-69

Keaton Wagler scored 19 points, Andrej Stojakovic and Kylan Boswell each had 17 and No. 16 Illinois continued to win on the road in the Big Ten Conference, holding off No. 19 Iowa 75-69 on Sunday. The Illini (13-3, 4-1) won their fifth consecutive game and stayed tied for third place in the conference. Three of Illinois’ wins in conference play have come on the road — the Illini also won at Ohio State and Penn State.

Alex Bregman signs with Cubs for five years, $175 million: Contract details, fantasy fallout

One of the biggest remaining dominoes of MLB free agency fell on Saturday night when third baseman Alex Bregman agreed to a five-year, $175 million contract with the Chicago Cubs. The soon-to-be-32-year-old gets a full no-trade clause and a contract with no opt-outs. Although, the deferred money, about $70 million, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, makes the contract a little more palatable for the Cubs.

What does this mean for the Cubs?

The Cubs love players with a strong sense of the strike zone and good contact ability. They could have an entire infield of players like that with Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner.

Bregman has a career strikeout rate of 13.4% and had a 91.5% zone contact rate last season, another elite rate. In his only season with the Red Sox, Bregman hit .273/.360/.462 with 18 home runs, 64 runs scored, and 62 RBI in 114 games as he battled a quad injury. That's strong production for the Cubs in the middle of their lineup, and Bregman's contact ability (along with Swanson and Hoerner) will help to offset some of the swing and miss from guys like Michael Busch and Seiya Suzuki.

Bregman also played solid defense again at third base, posting an Outs Above Average of 3 and an OAA of 8 in 2024 with the Astros. Him on the left side of the infield next to Swanson is a huge boost for the Cubs' pitching staff and the team as a whole.

There are some injury concerns here with Bregman. He has not played over 145 games in either of the last two seasons and has been under that mark in three of his last five. He will be 32 years old when the contract begins, and since there are no opt-outs and a full no-trade clause, Bregman will be the Cubs' third baseman until he's 37 years old. That's a bit of a gamble.

The other domino that will fall from this is what the Cubs do with Matt Shaw. The 24-year-old was one of the top 20 prospects in all of baseball heading into last season, but struggled to a .226/.295/.394 slash line with 13 home runs and 17 steals in 126 games. Shaw is still young and can slide over to second base, so the Cubs could opt to move him there and trade away Nico Hoerner, who hit .297/.345/.394 with seven home runs and 29 steals in 156 games last season.

Hoerner is the better defender and makes far more contact, but he is also signed to a three-year, $35 million contract and doesn't quite have the upside that Shaw does if everything breaks right for the young Cubs infielder. The team will have to decide whether to roll the dice on the upside and settle for the safe floor in 2026.

Lastly, while this is a great signing for the Cubs, remember that Kyle Tucker remains a free agent. If the Cubs don't re-sign Tucker, they will essentially be swapping Tucker for Bregman, which is a clear offensive downgrade for this lineup. As a team last season, the Cubs were 5th in runs scored, 6th in strikeout rate, 6th in wRC+, and 7th in OPS. Even without Tucker, they would likely remain a top ten offense thanks to the Bregman signing, but we'd expect a small step backwards.

What does this mean for the Red Sox?

Many people assumed that Bregman would return to the Red Sox, where he was lauded for his leadership and relationship to young stars like Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer. In fact, MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported that the Red Sox offered up to $160 million for Bregman but were simply outbid by the Cubs.

With Bregman off the market, the Red Sox will likely pivot to Bo Bichette, who they would slot in at second base and then keep Marcelo Mayer at third base. In many ways, that would be just as good a move for the Red Sox. Alex Bregman, Bichette is a plus contact hitter with pull-side power and would likely be an above-average defender at second base. Bichette hit .311 last season with 18 home runs and would likely put up 20+ home runs in Fenway Park.

The issue is that many people assume Bichette is destined to land in Philadelphia with his old bench coach, Don Mattingly.

If that were to happen, the Red Sox would need to turn their attention to Eugenio Suarez or trade for Isaac Paredes, who they have been linked to all offseason. They could also perhaps take a shot and trade for Matt Shaw to pair with other young players like Anthony, Mayer, and Kristian Campbell.

Fantasy fallout

On one hand, Alex Bregman is moving from one solid lineup to another. He should be in another good spot for RBI production and runs scored, assuming he hits near the top of this Cubs' order. On the other hand, this is a clear park downgrade for him. Last season, Bregman posted a 47.4% pull rate while playing his home games at Fenway Park with the Green Monster. He's now moving to Wrigley Field, which is 40 feet deeper down the left field line than Fenway Park. Over his last three seasons, Bregman has only eight home runs that were NOT on pulled fly balls.

Once you add in the winds that tend to rear their ugly heads at Wrigley, you could see a power decline from Bregman next season. You would be looking at a guy who hits 20-22 home runs while hitting .265-.270 in a good lineup. That's obviously a solid fantasy asset, but maybe not a game-breaking one.

The other fallout here will be from Matt Shaw or Nico Hoerner, whomever loses their starting position. Right now, it's too early to make a call on that position battle, but it's certainly something to watch as the season unfolds.

Ja Morant trade rumors: Destinations, trade ideas, Bucks among teams with some interest

With Trae Young in the nation’s capital and Anthony Davis missing time with a hand injury (which ends trade talk about him), Ja Morant becomes the biggest name potentially moved at the deadline.

Memphis should be able to get more of a return for Morant than Atlanta got for Young because teams are "more intrigued by his potential than Trae," as one former front office person put it to NBC Sports. That said, Morant's baggage, injury history, and salary mean the Grizzlies are not going to get near what they got last summer for Desmond Bane (Cole Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, four firsts, and a pick swap). Meanwhile, Morant remains sidelined with a calf injury.

There is a ton of news on potential Morant destinations, so let's break it down in bullet points:

• The Milwaukee Bucks, desperate for more talent to put around Giannis Antetokounmpo, are interested in Morant, reports the well-connected Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

This pairing seems an odd fit because Morant and Antetokounmpo play a similar style of offensive game — they need the ball in their hands to drive downhill, get in the lane and score or create for others. Neither is great off-ball. This feels like it would be just two stars taking turns, and how much better does that make the Bucks?

Still, this is a legitimate rumor. Owczarski also reports the Bucks are still interested in Zach LaVine, a fit that makes more sense on the court.

• The Sacramento Kings are "lukewarm at best" on adding Morant, reports John Hollinger at The Athletic. Which is the smart move for Sactown, while this team needs talent, Morant is not the roll of the dice this team should take. However, as noted by Hollinger, the unpredictable Vivek Ranadive factor means they can't be ruled out.

• One interesting name Hollinger brings up as a dark horse: the Brooklyn Nets. They will trade away Michael Porter Jr. at the deadline — he is the player most certain to be traded — and might be the perfect team to take a flyer on Morant, hoping a new situation is what he needs to return to his All-Star form.

• A lot of people bring up Minnesota because it could use a point guard, but league sources told NBC Sports not to expect them to get in the mix (the Timberwolves would have to give up too much depth to make the money work, like a three- or four-to-one deal, and they are looking for a less expensive option at the point).

• Toronto is another team mentioned, with the trade being Immanuel Quickley and other assets to the Grizzlies (which is what the Raptors offered to Atlanta for Young last summer). Does that make sense for Toronto now? The Raptors sit fourth in the East. Why would they mess with their chemistry and send out multiple players to bring in Morant, who would dominate the ball on a team best at sharing it? Expect Toronto to go after a center.

• Miami gets mentioned as having interest, although it's fair to question if Morant is a fit with the Heat culture. Jake Fischer at The Stein Line reported that the Heat are asking themselves exactly that, "whether the organization could foster a productive environment for Ja Morant to bounce back to his All-Star best."

• A Morant for LaMelo Ball swap of point guards — something speculated about early in the season — is very unlikely now, Fischer reported. With Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller in Charlotte as key parts of the future, it's hard to imagine why the Hornets would make this deal.

Pittsburgh Penguins At Boston Bruins Preview: Lineup Changes, Where To Watch

The Pittsburgh Penguins saw their six-game winning streak end on Saturday in a 2-1 loss to the Calgary Flames.

The Penguins were lethargic for much of the game and couldn't get into an offensive rhythm. It also didn't help that Flames goaltender Devin Cooley was on top of his game and stopped the chances that the Penguins did get. 

The Penguins will try to bounce back from that loss against a Boston Bruins team that won 10-2 over the New York Rangers on Saturday. The Bruins got hat tricks from Pavel Zacha and Marat Khusnutdinov in the win. Khusnutdinov, in particular, scored four goals during the game. 

David Pastrnak finished the game with six assists, and goaltender Jeremy Swayman finished with a .931 save percentage. Pastrnak now has 19 goals and 55 points this season. 

Morgan Geekie suited up for the game, but had to leave early due to a family emergency. Geekie has been spectacular this year, compiling 25 goals and 41 points in 45 games.  

Defenseman Charlie McAvoy does it all for the Bruins and is elite in all three zones. He finished Saturday's game with a goal and an assist, and figures to draw the matchup against the Sidney Crosby line. 

Speaking of Crosby's line, it's expected to still look a bit different since Bryan Rust is day-to-day with an injury. Tommy Novak replaced Rust on that line against the Flames. 

Here's a look at the full lineup after the Penguins tweeted out the lines:

Forwards

Mantha-Crosby-Rakell

Malkin-Hayes-Chinakhov

Novak-Kindel-Brazeau

Dewar-Lizotte-Acciari

Defense

Wotherspoon-Karlsson

Kulak-Letang

Shea-Clifton


Arturs Silovs started in goal on Saturday, meaning it's Stuart Skinner's turn for Sunday. Puck drop is set for 5 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Fans can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'


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Wild Forward Records First Career NHL Goal, Point

ST.PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota Wild (26-11-9) hosted the New York Islanders (25-15-5) on Saturday after a long road trip.

Minnesota lost that game in overtime 4-3 on a Simon Holmstrom overtime-winner.

The Wild got the first goal of the game though and it came off the stick of Ben Jones. It was his first NHL goal and his first NHL point in his 49th career NHL game.

Jones, 26, had played in 48 NHL games in three seasons in the league. He had no points. He played in 26 games last year for the Wild and had zero points and 51 hits. This season he now has one goal and 51 hits in 21 games this season.

In fact, Jones had the second-longest streak to open a career with out a point (408:11 time on ice), behind only Adam Durish of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2006-07 (463:17).

“Yeah, it wore on me a little bit,” Jones said after the game. “You try not to focus on it. Obviously, that’s not what I do to help the team, but it’s great to contribute. It seemed like people were thinking I was going for some record that I kept getting tagged in, of not getting a point in however many games. But no, it was nice to get the first one, and yeah, a big sigh of relief for sure.”

Jones' goal was a tip-in off a Brock Faber point shot. Quinn Hughes passed it to Faber before he shot it. Jones and Hughes grew up playing hockey together and are the same age. They were good friends then and are still friends now.

A full circle moment for sure.

“He [Hughes] kept saying that he felt like he was going to be a part of the first one, and he made it happen,” Jones said. “So, I was happy to see that.”

Hughes added: “Life works like that. It was a weird one. I had a feeling that would happen.”

Jones had three points waived off earlier in his career with the Wild due to goalie interference calls that actually happened because Jones clipped the goaltender. There is no doubt this one felt good for Jones to finally get on the scoresheet and not see zeros anymore.

“Really happy for Jonesy,” Wild head coach John Hynes said. “He plays so hard for a team. He fits a lot of different roles, and it was a long time coming for him.

"Coming into the game, one of our game plans was, we had to get to the net front, into that area. That was something that we targeted. And he scored the goal, driving right into the high slot for that tip area. So, good for him and happy for him.”

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Danny Welbeck shines as Brighton dump Manchester United out of FA Cup

Manchester United’s hunt for trophies is over inside the second week of January after a ruthless Brighton took advantage of yet another loose defensive performance. This FA Cup third-round knockout means the 13-time winners have been dumped from the competition and the League Cup at the first opportunity for a first time since 1981-82.

By the end of May, United’s season will stand at a total of 40 games – their lowest number in a complete campaign since 1914-15. If the Carabao Cup penalty shootout elimination at Grimsby in August was dire, this disappointment was as concerningly insipid. Goals from Brajan Gruda and Danny Welbeck, one in each half, (probably) ended Darren Fletcher’s record as the interim manager as winless – this defeat following the draw at Burnley in the Premier League on Wednesday.

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Takeaways from the Ducks 5-3 Loss to the Sabres

To wrap up their four-game road trip and while in a standings free fall, the Anaheim Ducks traveled to Western New York to take on the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday evening.

This was a battle between two teams with seasons heading in the opposite direction. The Ducks entered Saturday winless in their previous eight games and had only won two of their last 14 games. The Sabres came into this game looking to extend their winning streak to three games and having won 12 of their last 13 games.

Takeaways from the Ducks 5-2 Loss to the Hurricanes

Takeaways from the Ducks 5-2 Loss to the Flyers

Ducks defenseman Jacob Trouba was unavailable for Anaheim in this one, as he returned home to Orange County in anticipation of the birth of his second child. Ducks forward Troy Terry missed his second consecutive game with an upper-body injury.

Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville, in another attempt to manufacture a spark within his lineup, blended his lines and pairs again for this game. Here’s how they lined up to start:

Gauthier-McTavish-Granlund

Killorn-Carlsson-Sennecke

Kreider-Poehling-Strome

Johnston-Washe-Nesterenko

Zellweger-Gudas

LaCombe-Moore

Mintyukov-Helleson

Lukas Dostal got the start in the Ducks’ crease and stopped 27 of 31 shots. He was opposed by Ukko-Pekka Luukonen in Buffalo’s net, who saved 31 of 34.

Game Notes

The Ducks got off to a slow start offensively in this game, struggling to string together multi-shot sequences and sustain pressure. Their start with the puck was compounded by their sizable defensive missteps, especially at the bluelines, which led to another 3-0 hole they had to attempt to climb out of.

The Ducks began a push around the halfway mark of the game, but it was ultimately too little, too late, despite encouraging signs both on the ice and analytically. At 5v5, they finished the game holding 60.38% of the shot attempts share, 51.92% of the shots on goal share, and 49.21% of the expected goals share, indicating they were funneling pucks to the Buffalo net from the perimeter; however, the Sabres were allowed more dangerous chances.

Rush Defense: When defending in transition, the Ducks’ weak-side defenseman is often too quick to pressure puck carriers on the strong side if their partner gets beaten on a pinch. They’re counting either on that partner to recover and track back through the middle or a back checker to cover. However, a quick scan will often display that there is no such support, and if that defenseman pressures the puck on the strong side of the ice, the middle would be left open.

The Ducks gave up several odd-man rushes in this game, as Buffalo’s wingers often flew the zone when they gained possession deep in the d-zone. Oftentimes, it wasn’t the fault of the pinching defenseman, but of the F3 covering or the F2 tracking back. F3 and F2 would often attempt to engage in the battle created by the pinching defenseman rather than taking a more responsible approach and continuing their trajectory into the neutral zone. The Sabres’ forward on the boards would often simply chip pucks into the neutral zone if they won possession and spring teammates on a 2v1.

Pavel Mintyukov: Mintyukov was a positive factor all game for Anaheim. He displayed his escapability to evade F1 pressure and led clean breakout sequences, often joining in on rushes after. Though he’s much improved in his end since the start of the season, he is still susceptible to failing to tie up his assignment at the crease, leading to them getting a tip on a perimeter shot or allowing them to get to a rebound first.

Beckett Sennecke: With Leo Carlsson’s struggles and Troy Terry’s absence, Sennecke is now the Ducks' most impactful offensive weapon on the roster. He is a threat to score any time he touches the puck; his puck protection has progressed leaps, and he’s diagnosing opposing defenses at an elite NHL level. Buffalo’s third goal proves he has a long way to still in his end, as he tends to lose his activated point man, which, even if done for a split second, can lead to a goal in the NHL. Ultimately, it’s a rookie making a rookie mistake, which is expected, and he’s sanded out a lot of other typical rookie blemishes through the first 45 games of his NHL career. There shouldn’t be too much cause for concern.

The Ducks will return home with a tall task ahead of them, as they’ll be hoping to snap their losing streak against the lethal Dallas Stars on Tuesday night at Honda Center.

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Canucks Assign Pettersson To The AHL, Call Up Mancini & Tolopilo

The Vancouver Canucks started their Sunday by making three roster moves. Vancouver assigned defenceman Elias Pettersson to the Abbotsford Canucks while recalling defenceman Victor Mancini. The Canucks have also called up Nikita Tolopilo under emergency conditions.

Pettersson has played 38 games in Vancouver this season, but has recently been in and out of the lineup due to healthy scratches. On Saturday, he played 13:58 and finished the game with a plus/minus of -1. Pettersson should get plenty of ice time in the AHL, which should help his overall development. 

As for Mancini, he has been one of Abbotsford's top defensemen this season. In 20 games, he has six points and 12 penalty minutes. This season, Mancini has played in five games at the NHL level but has not recorded a point. 

Lastly, Tolopilo's call-up is most likely associated with the uncertainty surrounding Thatcher Demko's health. The Canucks goaltender left Saturday's game after the first period with a lower-body injury. Vancouver is currently on a six-game road trip, with their next matchup scheduled for Monday. 

Jan 3, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Elias Pettersson (25) handles the puck against the Boston Bruins in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Jan 3, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Elias Pettersson (25) handles the puck against the Boston Bruins in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

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Manchester United 1-2 Brighton: FA Cup third round – as it happened

The ageless Danny Welbeck scored the decisive goal against his old club, who had the teenage substitute Shea Lacey sent off

3 min Moments later, Dalot blooters over the bar from the edge of the area.

Cunha wanders infield and curls a marvellous long pass to put Dalot through on goal. He scampers into the area and is denied by the outrushing Steele. Dalot needed to lift it but his first touch was slightly heavy and that allowed Steele to close the gap.

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The Hockey News Sunday Recap: Columbus Blue Jackets

NEWS & NOTES

Cannon City Quotables: Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Buffalo SabresCannon City Quotables: Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Buffalo SabresBlue Jackets silenced the Sabres' win streak with a dominant 5-1 victory. Hear directly from the players who made it happen.

Zach Werenski

  • Credited the team’s success on the penalty kill to everyone being “on the same page,” which has cleared up earlier miscommunications.
  • Noted that the PK unit is no longer “compounding mistakes,” allowing them to be more patient and effective.
  • Felt that the penalty kill was a major reason the team was able to secure such a decisive 5-1 victory.
  • Observed that the team has moved from reacting to opponents to being more aggressive and “dictating the pace” themselves.
  • Highlighted the team’s depth, mentioning that having veteran players in bottom-six roles makes the group significantly stronger than last year.
  • Expressed how “incredible” it was and what an “honor” it is to officially get the call to represent Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Energy Was The Theme for Last Night's Loss, But Energy Can't Be TaughtEnergy Was The Theme for Last Night's Loss, But Energy Can't Be TaughtThe Blue Jackets lost to the Penguins last night 5-4 in overtime.

Zach Werenski said of energy, "I feel like energy can come from guys playing with confidence, making plays. It's contagious. I don't want to say get reckless with it, but we have a lot of guys who can make plays here, and sometimes when we get a lead, we just resort to almost playing too simple and just giving the puck to the other team, and obviously, good teams make you pay."

Former Columbus Blue Jackets Defenseman Jack Johnson Has A New JobFormer Columbus Blue Jackets Defenseman Jack Johnson Has A New JobJohnson played 1,228 NHL games.

Former Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson has officially retired from professional hockey and has been hired by the Vancouver Canucks to be a pro scout, the Canucks announced today. 

Cannon City Quotables: Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Pittsburgh PenguinsCannon City Quotables: Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Pittsburgh PenguinsAfter a dominant win, the Blue Jackets battled the Penguins in a tense overtime loss. Hear players' reactions to this critical Metro Division showdown.

Dean Evason – Head Coach

  • Felt the team lost their grip on the game starting with the second goal they allowed.
  • Pointed out that turning the puck over three times led directly to a goal in their net.
  • Regretted giving the opposing team "life" with only three minutes left in the second period.
  • Attributed the shift in momentum to "very unintelligent decisions" made by his players.
  • Noted that once the other team had momentum, their "special players made special plays".
  • Described the start of the game as being as bad as the team has played all season.
  • Nearly called a timeout early on but held off because the players were saying the right things on the bench.
  • Clarified that the team's drop in energy in the third period was mental rather than physical.
  • Mentioned the team is in "fantastic shape," but the mental grind of the game caught up to them.
  • Felt the team "frustrated themselves" by not sticking to the disciplined, "boring" game plan that worked previously.
Columbus Blue Jackets Announce New VP of Hockey OperationsColumbus Blue Jackets Announce New VP of Hockey OperationsThe Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that Laurence Gilman has been named the new Vice President of Hockey Operations. He will help Don Waddell in all aspects of the club’s hockey operations per a team statement. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that Laurence Gilman has been named the new Vice President of Hockey Operations. He will help Don Waddell in all aspects of the club’s hockey operations per a team statement. 

Blue Jackets Sign Russian Defenseman Egor ZamulaBlue Jackets Sign Russian Defenseman Egor ZamulaPer Elliotte Friedman, the Blue Jackets have signed defenseman Egor Zamula after he cleared waivers recently. 

The undrafted Zamula has played 168 NHL games and has 41 points for the Philadelphia Flyers. 

“Egor is a mobile defenseman with good size who sees the ice well and can move the puck very efficiently. We are excited to have him join our hockey club,” said Don Waddell in a press release.  

He will sign a one-year deal, per his Agent, Dan Milstein. It will be a prorated 1-million-dollar deal. 

Columbus Blue Jackets Mid-Season Stats Check InColumbus Blue Jackets Mid-Season Stats Check InDive into the Blue Jackets' season halfway point. Unpack key team and player stats, and see if they can rally for a playoff push.

Points

  1. Zach Werenski - 47 - 2nd among all NHL Defensemen
  2. Kirill Marchenko - 33- 11 Power Play Points
  3. Dmitri Voronkov - 21
Blue Jackets Place Mason Marchment On IRBlue Jackets Place Mason Marchment On IRMarchment has 7 points in 7 games since being acquired by the Blue Jackets

The Columbus Blue Jackets have placed Mason Marchment on IR with an undisclosed upper-body injury, per the club. Assuming they make it retroactive to the 4th, he'll miss all of their current four game road trip. 

Marchment was apparently injured in the game last weekend against the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

Yes, The Blue Jackets Should Keep Pulling Their GoalieYes, The Blue Jackets Should Keep Pulling Their GoalieIt's all the rage amongst Columbus Blue Jackets fans to argue against pulling their goalie late in the game in an attempt to score. Some say it's pointless. Some say it Evason does it too early. Some say he does it too late. Is there a right answer? Yes there is. 

It's all the rage amongst Columbus Blue Jackets fans to argue against pulling their goalie late in the game in an attempt to score. Some say it's pointless. Some say it Evason does it too early. Some say he does it too late. Is there a right answer? Yes, there is. 

From THN's Archive: Nash's Sidekick Is On The WayFrom THN's Archive: Nash's Sidekick Is On The WayLong existing gaps in Columbus lineup ready to be filled by young talentBlue Jackets' Brendan Smith Undergoes Surgery On KneeBlue Jackets' Brendan Smith Undergoes Surgery On KneeDefenseman Brendan Smith's season ends early with successful knee surgery. A three-to-four-month recovery is expected following the procedure.

Defenseman Brendan Smith's season ends early with successful knee surgery. A three-to-four-month recovery is expected following the procedure.

Former Blue Jacket Forward Nets First Career Hat Trick Over Old Friend Sergei BobrovskyFormer Blue Jacket Forward Nets First Career Hat Trick Over Old Friend Sergei BobrovskyFormer <a href="http://thn.com/columbus">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> forward&nbsp;and current <a href="http://thn.com/montreal">Montreal Canadien</a> Alex Texier, had himself a night last night in a 6-2 win over the <a href="http://thn.com/florida">Florida Panthers</a>.&nbsp;

Texier was able to net his first career hat trick in his 262nd NHL game, scoring his third goal with just 50 seconds left in the game to power the Canadiens past the visiting Panthers. 

Cannon City Quotables: Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Vegas Golden Knights Cannon City Quotables: Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Vegas Golden Knights Blue Jackets squandered a two-goal lead, falling 5-3 to Vegas. Now, a daunting road trip continues against league-leading Colorado.

GAME PREVIEWS & RECAPS

Blue Jackets Blow Three Goal Lead, Fall To Pittsburgh In OTBlue Jackets Blow Three Goal Lead, Fall To Pittsburgh In OTThe Blue Jackets' record now stands at 18-17-6 with 43 points.

Dmitri Voronkov(15), Mason Marchment(9), Kirill Marchenko(15), and Zach Werenski(15) scored the goals for the CBJ, while Jet Greaves could only stop 38 of the Pens' 43 shots in a 5-4 overtime loss.

This was embarrassing. There's really no other way to put it.

Having a 4-1 lead with 39 minutes to play should be almost an automatic win. But if you've watched the Blue Jackets play this season, you know that anything other than having a lead when the final buzzer sounds, isn't automatic. 

Columbus Blue Jackets (43 pts) vs. San Jose Sharks (43 pts) Game PreviewColumbus Blue Jackets (43 pts) vs. San Jose Sharks (43 pts) Game PreviewColumbus is 29-34-0-6 all-time, and 10-21-0-3 on the road in San Jose.

Series History vs. The Sharks

  • Columbus is 29-34-0-6 all-time, and 10-21-0-3 on the road in San Jose.
  • The Jackets are 9-3-1 in the last 13 games, and 5-0-1 in the last 6.
  • The Blue Jackets are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games at SAP Center.
Macklin Celebrini & The Sharks Beat Frustrated Blue Jackets Macklin Celebrini & The Sharks Beat Frustrated Blue Jackets The Blue Jackets record now stands at 18-17-7 with 43 points.

Zach Werenski(16) and Sean Monahan(6) scored the only goals for Columbus, and Jet Greaves stopped 31 of 34 Sharks shots, including 10 of 11 of the Sharks five power plays, as the Blue Jackets would lose to San Jose 5-2.   

Columbus Blue Jackets (43 pts) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (48 pts) Game PreviewColumbus Blue Jackets (43 pts) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (48 pts) Game PreviewColumbus is 7-7-1 all-time, and 3-4-0 on the road in Vegas.Blue Jackets Start Hot, But Can't Stop The Vegas Train In 5-3 LossBlue Jackets Start Hot, But Can't Stop The Vegas Train In 5-3 LossThe Blue Jackets record now stands at 18-18-7 with 43 points.Columbus Blue Jackets (43 pts) vs. Colorado Avalanche (71 pts) Game PreviewColumbus Blue Jackets (43 pts) vs. Colorado Avalanche (71 pts) Game PreviewThe<a href="http://thn.com/columbus" target="_blank">&nbsp;Columbus Blue Jackets</a>&nbsp;are on the road to take on the <a href="http://thn.com/colorado">Colorado Avalanche</a>&nbsp;today at 4 PM Eastern.&nbsp;

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Draisaitl’s Big Night, McDavid’s Streak Spoiled by Waved-Off OT Winner

In the late hours of an entertaining Saturday night rivalry, it looked like the Edmonton Oilers had finally pushed through and secured their third straight win. Connor McDavid appeared to end it in overtime, crashing the net and nudging the puck past Los Angeles Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg as Rogers Place erupted.

Not so fast. Instead of it being a huge goal to top off a celebratory evening, many Oilers fans were left wondering what the officials saw that led them to rule the goal not count.

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As McDavid took the puck to the net, he was pushed by Drew Doughty, and everyone went crashing into Forsberg. The officials immediately waved the goal off and, after a lengthy review, ruled it no goal due to goaltender interference.

The call stood, the cheers turned to boos, and thanks to a goal by Adrian Kempe -- who wasn't even credited with a shot on net all night -- Edmonton eventually fell 4–3 in a shootout to the Los Angeles Kings.

The Oilers have been searching for a third straight win this season since the puck dropped on the 2025-26 campaign. Good teams need to go on runs, and the Oilers have yet to do so. Another close loss was weighing on a frustrated McDavid as he spoke with the media after the game but kept things short. 

“I feel like I have the puck and I’m taking it to the net. I’m getting pushed in. I feel like I also kinda maybe tapped it in on the other side." McDavid noted. "The refs and situation room have to make a call, and they felt differently. That’s the way it goes."

McDavid scored to make it 18 straight games Photo by&nbsp;

© Perry Nelson&nbsp; Imagn Images
McDavid scored to make it 18 straight games Photo by&nbsp; © Perry Nelson&nbsp; Imagn Images

McDavid had already tied the game earlier on a five-on-three power play, extending his career-long point streak to 18 games and totaling 42 points during the run. His good friend, Leon Draisaitl, was also honored pregame for reaching 1,000 NHL points. Wives, parents, friends, and even pets were in the building. The Oilers are about to go on their dads' trip.

Personally, there were plenty of reasons for McDavid to be happy.

But, because wins are all that matters and the Oilers failed to get one, eveyone was frustrated. 

Like McDavid and thousands of Oilers fans, head coach Kris Knoblauch thought the goal should have counted too.  Knowing that criticizing officials is a no-no, he walked a fine line between not saying too much and explaining what he saw. That was McDavid simply driving the puck around the pad. McDavid was pushed into the crease. The debate became whether the minimal contact with Forsberg happened before McDavid was pushed or afterward. 

It doesn't matter now. The Oilers need to start again and try to win three straight, first by getting  win over Chicago on Monday, Nashville on Tuesday, and back home against the New York Islanders on Thursday. 

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European football: McTominay strikes twice as Napoli rescue point at Inter

  • Scotland midfielder scores two equalisers in 2-2 draw

  • Bayern Munich crush Wolfsburg to go 11 points clear

Scott McTominay scored a double as the defending champions Napoli twice came from behind to secure a 2-2 draw with the Serie A leaders Inter at San Siro.

Inter came close to gaining revenge for their 3-1 defeat in Naples earlier this season and a win would have opened up a commanding gap at the top, but Napoli’s never-say-die attitude keeps them very much in the title race.

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