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Takeaways: Letang Plays Hero On Milestone Night As Penguins Beat Red Wings In OT

All of a sudden, the Pittsburgh Penguins are starting to win hockey games again.

They beat Montreal before a bit of a dud prior to the holiday break, then they came out of the break with a 7-3 rout of the Chicago Blackhawks and a statement 5-1 win against the Metropolitan Division-leading Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday.

At times, it didn't look like the Penguins were going to come away with yet another win against the Atlantic Division-leading Detroit Red Wings on Thursday. They shot themselves in the foot by taking penalties, and Detroit appeared to score a third-period goal to take the lead that got called back. 

But, they perservered - and it was a big night for defenseman Kris Letang. 

Playing in his 1,200th career game, Letang took an overtime feed from Sidney Crosby in the slot and put it home to give the Penguins a 4-3 victory over the Red Wings. Crosby notched two first-period goals and had three points, while Blake Lizotte scored in the third period after a hard-working shift by the fourth line. 

Goaltender Arturs Silovs was solid, stopping 24 of 27 Detroit shots, and with two assists, Erik Karlsson earned his 900th career point, which puts him in rarified air in NHL history. 

The Penguins didn't make things easy for themselves in this game, but they were the better five-on-five team throughout, and they had a way of responding when things didn't go their way. 

Crosby opened the scoring a little more than four minutes into the first period when he clapped one from the point on the power play for his 22nd of the season. And just a minute and a half later, Crosby was all over a turnover near the offensive blue line, deked around Moritz Seider, carried the puck into the slot, and fired it home for his second of the game and 23rd of the season, which now puts him on pace for 48 goals. 

Then, a string of penalties eventually cost the Penguins. Late in the period, Tommy Novak took a double-minor for high-sticking, and James van Riemsdyk capitalized during the first part of the double-minor to cut the lead to 2-1. 

The Penguins killed off the remainder of the penalty leaking into the second period, but shortly after that - just a minute into the middle frame - Detroit dumped the puck into the Pittsburgh zone along the boards. Silovs went behind the net in preparation of playing the puck, but the puck took a crazy bounce off the wall in the left corner and squirted right out to the net front, where Andrew Copp was waiting. He buried the puck in the empty net and tied the game, and the game remained tied until late in the third.

Takeaways: Big Second Line Powers Penguins To 5-1 Win Over HurricanesTakeaways: Big Second Line Powers Penguins To 5-1 Win Over HurricanesAfter an eight-game losing streak threatened to derail their season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have begun to get back on track a little bit.

With around seven minutes remaining in the third, Lucas Raymond appeared to break the tie off a two-on-one tap-in opportunity for Detroit. However, the play was deemed offside, and the goal was called back, giving the Penguins an opportunity to respond.

And Lizotte did respond with his fourth of the season after Karlsson shot one from the point, it rebounded near Lizotte at the net-front, and he just chopped the puck toward the net, where it hit off a Detroit defender and in. But, unfortunately, defenseman Jack St. Ivany took a delay of game penalty just 23 seconds later when he flipped a puck over the glass, and Alex DeBrincat tied the game late to force overtime, where Letang ended it less than a minute in. 

Penalties aside, it was a solid team win for the Penguins, who are looking more like the team from earlier this season in recent games - even if there is room for improvement in their five-on-five game, which has been generally positive in the last couple of games.

"We're getting in the offensive zone a fair amount, and every game's been a little bit different if you're talking about those games so far coming out of the break," head coach Dan Muse said. "I still think that there's some layers there that we've got to add in regards to just some of the details within the offensive zone and creating quality. But I do like the fact that we're there more, and for the most part, in order to get there, you've got to be doing the right things - exiting your zone, coming throughout, making sure that you're not spending too much time in the d-zone. Those are things that we've talked about and will look to continue to improve. 

"And I think it's taking steps, but at the same time, there's plenty of room there that we can continue to work with."

'You Can Never Be Satisfied In This League': McGroarty Taking Strides At NHL Level With Penguins'You Can Never Be Satisfied In This League': McGroarty Taking Strides At NHL Level With PenguinsPittsburgh Penguins' forward Rutger McGroarty is learning every day at the NHL level - and he only figures to get even better with more experience at the highest level of hockey.

Here are some takeaways and thoughts from this one:

- Regardless of the result on Thursday - or what folks thought of the officiating - the Penguins spent way, way too much time in the box against the Red Wings, and it burned them.

Crosby took an offensive zone penalty 20 seconds into the game. Novak's double-minor cost them in the first period. St. Ivany's delay of game cost them late. They were shooting themselves in the foot by continuously finding themselves in the box - eight times, to be exact - and they kept allowing Detroit to regain momentum in this game.

And this isn't new, either. There have been several instances this season where the Penguins piled on penalties in a game. Playing shorthanded for a large amount of time does no one any favors, it shifts momentum, and it doesn't allow the Penguins to ice their best players nearly enough.

The Penguins were the better five-on-five team in this one. But they have to be more disciplined if they expect to string together some wins.

- I feel like a broken record at this point, but the Penguins' fourth line with Lizotte, Noel Acciari, and Connor Dewar on it has truly been a difference-maker this season for the Penguins.

There were several energy shifts after Detroit's fluke goal from the fourth line that gave the Penguins some momentum, which paved the way for them to respond well to that moment of adversity - a moment that may have buried them during their eight-game losing streak in December.

This line has been rock-solid for the Penguins this season, and when they can contribute on the scoresheet, it amplifies their value even more. If I'm the Penguins, I'm not touching that line - regardless of who comes in and out of the lineup.

- Good for Kris Letang. What a moment that was. 

A lot of people - myself included - have put a heavy emphasis on the negative with Letang this season. He's made a lot of mistakes, and that's no secret. Even if he can still be an effective player on the offensive side of the puck, his defensive miscues have largely outshone that. 

But he was good in this game, and that goes for both sides of the puck. Still, he needed this one. And it was a big one.

I can honestly say I haven't seen Letang as happy as he was post-game in a long time. Games played milestones mean a lot to him given all he's been through, and scoring the overtime winner in his 1,200th game is a nice cherry on top. 

Every Trade And Signing By The Pittsburgh Penguins In 2025Every Trade And Signing By The Pittsburgh Penguins In 20252025 was a busy year for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and we take a look back at every move the Penguins made in the calendar year.

- Don't overlook Karlsson's milestone, either. 

By earning his 900th point, he became the ninth-fastest defenseman in NHL history to reach the mark and only the 14th NHL defenseman, period, to hit it. He also made a key defensive play in overtime to stymie a two-on-one for Detroit early on.

Even if he hit a bit of a rough patch during the Penguins' eight-game losing streak, he has largely been a very good player for the Penguins this season. He has four points in his last two games and 30 points on the season, which puts him on a 63-point pace. And - given how he hit a rough patch - there's a good chance he can surpass that if he can sustain his level of play.

Penguins' Star Defenseman Hits Big Career MilestonePenguins' Star Defenseman Hits Big Career MilestonePittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson hit a significant career milestone on Thursday night.

- Muse said that it was a tough game to assess Yegor Chinakhov - who was playing in his first game as a Penguin - because of the Penguins being shorthanded so much.

Chinakhov only got a little more than 10 minutes of ice time. But I thought he made it count.

There were several plays where his skill and his speed were on display. He is crafty with the puck and is able to stickhandle in tight spaces. His shot has jump. He was able to beat some guys to loose pucks on a few occasions. And he also didn't shy away from physicality, as he had a team-leading three hits in this game. 

It's a small sample, and it's too early to make any kind of determination on what kind of player he's going to be for the Penguins. But I can see why Kyle Dubas and the Penguins' front office coveted his services. There is some serious puck skill there, and I look forward to seeing him get more ice time.

Chinakhov Trade Shows Penguins Are Starting To Shift GearsChinakhov Trade Shows Penguins Are Starting To Shift GearsKyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins traded for Yegor Chinakhov from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday, and it could be a sign of things to come over the next several months.

- I'd like to see a bit more from Rickard Rakell right now. This was his 10th game back from a broken hand that kept him out more than a month and a half, so it's understandable if he's still shaking off the rust. And he did tie for the team lead in shots Thursday with four. 

All that said, he's a bit too trigger-shy right now, and I haven't loved his play away from the puck, which is usually a strength in his game. He also hasn't been particularly good defensively, which isn't the norm for him. 

He has one goal and five points in these 10 games. There is a lot of lineup competition right now, and if he wants to hold his spot on that top line, the production needs to come sooner rather than later. But, I'll give it a few more games before the concern starts to set in. 

- This was a big win for the Penguins. Suddenly, they've won four out of their last five games, and they're just one point out of a playoff spot with games in hand on most teams ahead of them. 

They have won two consecutive games against division-leading opponents. They're controlling large stretches of five-on-five play. And they're doing all of this without Evgeni Malkin.

The Penguins - right now - look like the team we saw in October. If they can keep this up heading into the Olympic break, it should make things very interesting for Dubas and company at the trade deadline this year. 

Pittsburgh Penguins' New Year's Resolutions: 2025 EditionPittsburgh Penguins' New Year's Resolutions: 2025 EditionThere were some ups and downs for Pittsburgh Penguins' players in 2025. So what can they resolve to accomplish in 2026?

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Blackhawks Play Best Game Since Connor Bedard's Injury, Defeat Stars 4-3

The Chicago Blackhawks took on the Dallas Stars at the United Center on Thursday night. This New Year's Day matchup was the second between these two teams in less than a week. 

Last Saturday, the Blackhawks defeated the Stars in Dallas via the shootout. Despite having the second-best record in the NHL entering play on Thursday, the Stars haven't won a game since December 21st, when they beat the Toronto Maple Leafs at home 5-1. 

In Chicago's most recent game, a shootout loss to the New York Islanders, Artyom Levshunov was brilliant. He defended well, used his speed to create chances, hit a couple of posts, and had an assist. He followed that up with a strong game against the Stars on Thursday. 

Levshunov opened the scoring. After a net-mouth scramble in front of Jake Oettinger, the puck made it to Levshunov a bit farther away from the net, and he picked a corner. 

Just under three minutes later, Mikko Rantanen made a great move to beat Spencer Knight and tie the game. From there, the Blackhawks started to take over. 

At the end of the first period, Nils Lundkvist took a two minute minor penalty for cross checking Oliver Moore. This promised the Hawks a power play with a clean sheet of ice to open the second. 

Just 13 seconds into the middle frame, the Blackhawks took advantage of this man-advantage. A nice play by Tyler Bertuzzi and Andre Burakovsky allowed Teuvo Teravainen to find the puck wide open in front of the net. He didn't miss with his shot. 

With 9:14 gone in the second, Ilya Mikheyev scored as nice a goal as you'll see in the NHL this season. This put the Blackhawks up 3-1, which is a score that held into the third.

At the 3:58 mark of the third, Mikheyev scored his second of the game to make it 4-1. It wasn't as impressive as the first goal he scored, but it counts just the same. When Jake Oettinger watches the replay of that one, he won't love it. 

Later in the period, with under five minutes remaining in regulation time, the Stars scored one with Oettinger on the bench for the extra attacker. Jason Robertson scored to cut the deficit to two. 

With the goalie pulled again, Ilya Mikheyev attempted to have his first career hat trick and seal the game from his own blue line, but it hit the inside of the post. The Stars then came down the ice and scored again to make it 4-3 with 17 seconds remaining. Matt Duchene took a perfect pass from Wyatt Johnston and beat Spencer Knight. 

The Blackhawks were able to hang on and win 4-3 from there. The game ended up being much closer in the end, but that doesn't take away from the fact that this was Chicago's best game since Connor Bedard went down with an injury. 

Chicago is now 2-1-1 since the holiday break. Both of the wins are against Dallas, who is one of the best teams that they will play all year long. Whether it's Artyom Levshunov's emergence, Ilya Mikheyev getting hot, or the other young players making a difference, things seem to be turning back in the right direction again as they were earlier in the season. 

Watch Every Chicago Goal

What’s Next For The Blackhawks?

The Blackhawks are back in action on Saturday night. They will hit the road for one game as they will face the Washington Capitals in the nation's capital. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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Red Wings Gain Point, But Miss Several Power-Play Chances In 4-3 OT Loss To Penguins

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While the good news for the Detroit Red Wings picked up a point in the standings to maintain their lead in the Atlantic Division, the bad news is that they only scored twice on seven power-play opportunities in what was ultimately a 4-3 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday evening. 

Kris Letang blasted a one-timer past the blocker of goaltender Cam Talbot in the extra session after receiving a feed from Sidney Crosby, who scored twice in the first period in short order. 

The Red Wings, who came into the contest with the NHL's fourth-best power-play, were given multiple chances thanks to the undisciplined play of the host Penguins, but only converted twice.

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It was Crosby who gave the Penguins a quick 2-0 lead in the opening 20 minutes of play, as he scored twice in less than two minutes. 

Detroit got back into the contest thanks to the 10th goal of the season from James van Riemsdyk, who scored while Tommy Novak was in the box with a double-minor for high sticking. 

Andrew Copp then knotted the score early in the second period, taking advantage of a friendly bounce off the boards and beating goaltender Arturs Silovs for his fifth tally of the season.

Detroit appeared to take a 3-2 lead with less than 10 minutes left in regulation, but what would have been Lucas Raymond's first goal in five games was taken away after Dylan Larkin was ruled to have been offside by an inch.

Pittsburgh then took advantage of an advantageous bounce of their own, as Blake Lizotte's shot deflected off the chest of defenseman Simon Edvinsson and past Talbot. However, they put the Red Wings right back on the power-play soon afterward, thanks to a delay of game penalty for flipping the puck over the glass in their defensive zone.

"They're Helping Us Along": Red Wings Praise Fans For Energizing Little Caesars Arena "They're Helping Us Along": Red Wings Praise Fans For Energizing Little Caesars Arena The Detroit Red Wings have won six of their last seven games on home ice at Little Caesars Arena, an important aspect of their winning record so far in their centennial campaign.

Alex DeBrincat scored his 21st goal of the campaign on the ensuing man-advantage, backhanding the puck past a sprawling Silovs after collecting the rebound off the boards of a shot from Raymond. 

Talbot finished with 24 saves, while Silovs countered with 27 saves.

Both teams will once again face off on Saturday afternoon, this time at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. 

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Kings Fall Apart Late In The Third, Fall To Lightning

The Los Angeles Kings (16-14-9) played host to the Tampa Bay Lightning (24-13-3) in what proved to be a riveting New Year's Day clash. It seemed as if the Kings were going to manage to fend off one the Eastern conferences best. Until a late third period nightmare led to two points being squandered. 

There aren't too many positive takeaways from a game that ends as poorly as tonight's game did, but there were a few standout moments. Corey Perry picked up three assists, Darcy Kuemper played a very solid 90% of this game, and most importantly, the LA power play managed to score not one, but two goals with the man advantage.

Fast Start

Things got off to a blistering start in Los Angeles with both the Kings and Lightning firing on all cylinders out of the gate. Both teams were given a power play opportunity early which factored heavily into the eventful beginning to the game.

Just under four minutes into the opening frame, the Lighting took the lead thanks to a Brayden Point goal on the man advantage. Kings captain Anze Kopitar was assessed a tripping penalty which led to Point's eighth goal of the season. 

However, the Kings did not squander after falling behind quickly. Jeff Malott scored his third goal of the season to knot things up at 1-1. Thanks to an effective forecheck, Malott was able capitalize off of a Lightning giveaway caused by Corey Perry.

Shortly after evening the score, the Kings would take the lead on the power play after Lighting defender Max Crozier was sent to the box for holding. On the ensuing power play, Andrei Kuzmenko buried a loose puck off of a rebound past Jonas Johansson to give the Kings a 2-1 lead, which they would bring into the second period.

Kings' Doughty and Kuemper Named To Canada's Olympic RosterKings' Doughty and Kuemper Named To Canada's Olympic RosterAfter months of speculation, Team Canada's Olympic roster was finally announced on Wednesday afternoon. Los Angeles Kings veterans Darcy Kuemper and Drew Doughty were given the honour to represent their country.

Ugly Period Leads To Tie Game

After a positive opening two minutes the Kings failed to duplicate their effort in the middle frame. Tampa Bay outshot Los Angeles 7-1 in the second period, if not for Darcy Kuemper, the score could've looked a lot different heading into the third period.

Despite the ugly effort, it looked like the Kings were going to get out of the second period with the lead. That was until Point scored his second of the game to tie things up at 2-2.

On The Board Early In The Third

After a second period to forget, the Kings got back on track early in the third. Tampa Bay blue liner Darren Raddysh was sent to the box for cross checking just under a minute into the final frame. 

It didn't take long for LA to capitalize on the man advantage as Kevin Fiala scored his 14th of the season off of a beautiful feed from Corey Perry who found Fiala off of the rush. Perry picked up his third assist of the game on the Kings 3-2 goal.

An Epic Collapse

It seemed as if Fiala's goal might be enough to fend off a dynamic Lighting squad as the Kings were outshooting their opponent 8-3 until the collapse began to take shape.

All the Kings had to do was hold on for dear life as they prepared for the inevitable Lightning storm coming their way. Unfortunately, it seemed to be too much for the Kings to handle. With just over 3 minutes remaining, Olympian Anthony Cirelli tied the game at 3-3 after winning a puck battle out front and beating Kuemper with a backhand shot.

A Franchise at an Impasse, a Pipeline with LeverageA Franchise at an Impasse, a Pipeline with LeverageLOS ANGELES, CA — Whether you look at each pipeline asset or a current roster piece, there isn't a whole lot for the Los Angeles Kings to work with. There's an ongoing predicament with this franchise: where it's headed and what it has accomplished. Its current state is one of decay and ambivalence on whether a maligned focus and direction of schema and construction can break through when it matters most.

Not long after, the Lighting found the back of the net once again, this time giving them their first lead since way back in the first period. After entering the LA zone with speed, Tampa Bay forward Gage Concalves carried the puck towards the net, which didn't amount to a high danger chance. However, he did stay with the play and found the loose puck after some lucky bounces and tucked it into the open Kings net as Kuemper couldn't get over in time.

To add insult to injury, Nikita Kucherov scored an empty net goal with 45 seconds remaining, confirming the Kings shocking demise.

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Madison Booker has 28 points and 10 rebounds to lead No. 2 Texas past Missouri 89-71

Madison Booker matched her season high with 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and Jordan Lee scored a career-best 23 points to help No. 2 Texas overcome a slow start to beat Missouri 89-71 on Thursday night. Ashton Judd added 12 points for Texas (16-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) in her first game in Columbia since playing for Missouri from 2022-25. Grace Slaughter scored 20 points, and Abbey Schreacke added 15 for Missouri (12-4, 0-1), which was playing without second-leading scorer Shannon Dowell for the third straight game as she nurses a lower body injury.

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Venus Williams, 45, gets wild card to play first Australian Open in five years

  • Williams to return to Melbourne Park at age 45

  • Seven-time major champion earns wild-card entry

  • Set to become oldest woman in Open main draw

Seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams has received a wild-card entry for the Australian Open beginning 18 January in Melbourne.

The tournament said Friday that the 45-year-old Williams would make a return to Melbourne Park 28 years after her first appearance. In 1998, she defeated her younger sister Serena in the second round before losing in the quarter-finals to fellow American Lindsay Davenport.

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'You Can Never Be Satisfied In This League': McGroarty Taking Strides At NHL Level With Penguins

When the Pittsburgh Penguins traded for Rutger McGroarty in the summer of 2024 - sending their top forward prospect in Brayden Yager the other way - they knew they were getting a talented, cerebral player that could help the NHL team both in the short-term and the long-term. 

Well, 22 games into his NHL career, the 14th overall pick of the Winnipeg Jets in 2022 has shown some flashes - and he's only going to keep getting better.

Injured to begin the 2025-26 season, the 21-year-old forward from Lincoln, Neb. took a while to get back into game action. He missed all of training camp and the first month and a half of the season before a five-game AHL stint in which he recorded four goals and seven points in five games. 

Now, he has played 14 NHL games this season, with two goals and three points in those 14 games, and he likes where his game is beginning to trend, especially since he is developing more comfortability at the highest level of hockey. 

"I think I'm continuing to get more comfortable," McGroarty said. "Overall, I think my game is going up, and I'm getting better and better. I still think that there's a lot more to give as well.

"You can never be satisfied in this league. Just continuing to have that day-by-day mindset and just kind of stack the positives and learn from the negatives."

And his 22 NHL games have taught him a lot so far. He's not only learning the game at NHL speed, he's also learning to take every day in stride and steadily keep improving. 

Pittsburgh Penguins' New Year's Resolutions: 2025 EditionPittsburgh Penguins' New Year's Resolutions: 2025 EditionThere were some ups and downs for Pittsburgh Penguins' players in 2025. So what can they resolve to accomplish in 2026?

For McGroarty, developing consistency is the biggest thing. It's something he's continuously working to achieve, and he's learned to be able to take a step back both when things aren't going his way and when it's going really well for him. 

"I think the main thing is just consistency," McGroarty said. "Game in, game out, shift by shift, I mean, you're not going to win the game on every shift. But you can definitely do your job and be attentive, and just kind of be in the moment on every shift - just not trying to win the game in one shift.

"It's the best league in the world. There's going to be ups, there's going to be downs, but kind of just staying in the middle, staying even, not getting too high, and not getting too low."

And McGroarty is beginning to find consistency in all three zones. His all-around toolset is one of the biggest reasons the Penguins acquired him in the first place, and it's something that separates him from a lot of other young players.

His ability to help create in the offensive zone and finish plays as well as his capability in the defensive zone - which, also, extends to the third line he's been playing on with Ben Kindel, Ville Koivunen, and a few others sprinkled in - has not gone unnoticed by his head coach, either. 

"I think he's playing well," coach Dan Muse said. "I think you see a lot of time in the o-zone as a line. I still think that they're continuing to work to just generate more of those chances from the inside, and I think that's going to come. Good work away from the puck as well, though. I think he's shown the responsibility there on the defensive side."

The Penguins' third line has certainly helped them in a lot of hockey games this season, even if they haven't quite found the scoresheet with the frequency that they'd, ideally, like to. But they're doing a lot of good things on both sides of the puck, even being counted on for some defensive zone starts in key situations.

Dec 23, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Pittsburgh Penguins forward Rutger McGroarty (2) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

And the trust that the coaching staff has in the line - especially as a line of what's mostly been three rookies - is something that McGroarty said they take a lot of pride in. 

"I mean, we want to be out there for those situations," McGroarty said. "I feel like those d-zone faceoffs are just as important, if not more important, than o-zone draws or whatever it is. Just managing the puck in your own end, getting the puck out of your own end, and setting up the next line for an o-zone shift - whatever it is - I think that we've done a good job of that.

"My mom always says you lose trust in buckets and gain it in drops. So, just continuing to stack good shifts, continuing to stack good d-zone shifts, and just continuing to gain trust."

McGroarty believes that if he, Kindel, and Koivunen - or, even, Yegor Chinakhov, who was acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Dec. 29 and was iced with Kindel and McGroarty against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday - keep sticking to the process, the points will come, too. They are learning how to read each other in each zone, and it has contributed to a chemistry that has been palpable early on.

Chinakhov Trade Shows Penguins Are Starting To Shift GearsChinakhov Trade Shows Penguins Are Starting To Shift GearsKyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins traded for Yegor Chinakhov from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday, and it could be a sign of things to come over the next several months.

"I think we're learning what we like to do in the o-zone," McGroarty said. "And then, d-zone routes, filling space for each other... I think the more you play with a player, obviously, you're going to learn their routes more, and you're going to gain more chemistry no matter what. But I think that we've really done a good job of adapting to each other's games and not changing who we are, either, for anybody.

"I think we've really had some really good o-zone shifts, some really good o-zone looks, and we've really been good defensively as well. There's been a couple of bad bounces, a couple ones I definitely want back. But I think, overall, we've done really well in the d-zone for three rookies. And then in the o-zone, I think changing sides, protecting the puck, the little slip passes, have been great. And they're only going to continue to get better."

And so, too, will McGroarty, as he continues to gain NHL experience. He hasn't nearly scratched the surface of what he is capable of as a regular NHL player, and if he can reach his potential, the Penguins will be counting on him to be a key piece of their future core.

The Five Best On-Ice Moments For The Penguins In 2025The Five Best On-Ice Moments For The Penguins In 20252025 is about to end, so let's look at the five best on-ice moments for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

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Nets lose to Rockets, 120-96, on New Year's Day

NEW YORK (AP) — Kevin Durant had 22 points and a season-high 11 assists, Amen Thompson scored 23 points and the Houston Rockets beat the Brooklyn Nets 120-96 on Thursday night for their fourth straight victory.

Alperen Sengun had 20 points, six rebounds and six assists after a two-game absence for the Rockets, who started fast in both halves to win in Brooklyn for the first time in seven years. Tari Eason finished with 15 points and nine rebounds, and Jabari Smith Jr. and Reed Sheppard each scored 14 points.

Sengun was 8 for 12 from the floor after sitting out two games with a left calf injury.

Cam Thomas scored 21 points for the Nets, who dropped their second straight after winning three in a row for the only time this season. Ziaire Williams added 14.

Michael Porter Jr., who leads the Nets with a career-high 25.8 points per game, missed the game with an illness along with injured starting guards Egor Demin and Terance Mann. Without them, Brooklyn never led in its first home loss to Houston since Nov. 2, 2018, after winning the last six meetings.

The Nets went 7-4 in December and allowed an NBA-low 104.6 points per game, but the Rockets jumped on them immediately to start the new year. Houston made its first seven shots en route to a 16-5 lead, went up by 14 in the second quarter and took a 53-42 advantage to the break.

Houston then made its first five three-pointers and started 8 for 9 overall in the second half. Smith and Eason each hit two threes and Thompson made one in a 19-5 run that extended their 11-point lead to 74-49 when Smith hit back-to-back threes.

The Rockets played without centers Steven Adams (sprained right ankle) and Clint Capela (illness).

Up next

Rockets: Visit Dallas on Saturday.

Nets: Visit Washington on Friday.

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Damien Martyn showing ‘positive signs’ after being placed in induced coma with meningitis

  • Adam Gilchrist gives update on friend and Australia teammate

  • Former cricketer remains in serious but stable condition in hospital

Former Australia Test cricketer Damien Martyn is showing “positive signs” while in an induced coma after being diagnosed with meningitis, according to friend and former teammate Adam Gilchrist.

Martyn was admitted to Gold Coast hospital after falling ill on Boxing Day, where he remains in a serious but stable condition. Meningitis is inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.

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