NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 11, 2026
The Bruins score 10 goals in a game for the first time since 1988, Nikita Kucherov leads the Lightning over the Flyers, Connor McDavid and Macklin Celebrini extend their points streaks, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines
NHL.COM: The Boston Bruins crushed the New York Rangers 10-2, marking the first time they scored 10 goals in a game since doing so against the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 16, 1988. Marat Khusnutdinov had four goals and an assist, Pavel Zacha scored a hat trick, and David Pastrnak tied a team record with a career-high six assists for the 24-19-2 Bruins. Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller scored for the Rangers (20-19-6), who are 1-3-2 in their last six contests.
Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak (NHL Images)
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bruins winger Morgan Geekie left this game to attend to a family matter. Center Elias Lindholm suffered a lower-body injury and didn’t return.
Nikita Kucherov had two goals and two assists to lead the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 7-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Kucherov extended his points streak to nine games while Gage Goncalves tallied twice and Brayden Point collected three assists as the Lightning (27-13-3) picked up their ninth straight win. Garnet Hathaway and Owen Tippett replied for the 22-13-8 Flyers.
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid scored the tying goal to extend his points streak to 18 games, but his club fell 4-3 to the Los Angeles Kings on a shootout goal by Adrian Kempe. Brandt Clarke had two assists, and Corey Perry picked up his 10th goal of the season for the 19-15-10 Kings. Leon Draisaitl tallied twice for the Oilers (22-16-7).
San Jose Sharks winger Tyler Toffoli scored twice, including the winner in overtime, to nip the Dallas Stars 5-4. Macklin Celebrini had three assists to extend his points streak to 13 games as the Sharks (23-18-3) rallied from a 4-2 deficit to pick up their third straight win. Jason Robertson had a goal and an assist for the 26-10-9 Stars, who have one win in their last eight games (1-3-4).
The Colorado Avalanche got a 29-save shutout from goaltender Trent Miner for his first NHL win as he blanked the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0, extending his club’s home points streak to 21 games (19-0-2). Brent Burns scored two goals for the 33-4-7 Avalanche, who hold first place in the overall standings with 73 points. Elvis Merzlikins made 27 saves for the Blue Jackets (18-19-7), who are winless in their last four games (0-3-1).
Goals from Jordan Martinook and William Carrier lifted the Carolina Hurricanes to a 3-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken. Jordan Staal had two assists as the Hurricanes (28-14-3) picked up their fourth straight win and hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 59 points. Matty Beniers and Berkly Catton scored for the 20-15-8 Kraken.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin returned to the lineup after missing 10 games with an upper-body injury. The Kraken activated forward Jaden Schwartz from injured reserve.
Detroit Red Wings goalie John Gibson made 27 saves in a 4-0 shutout of the Montreal Canadiens. Alex DeBrincat had a goal and two assists for the Red Wings (27-15-4), who took over sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division with 58 points. Jacob Fowler stopped 20 of 23 shots for the 25-14-6 Canadiens.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle returned to action for the first time since suffering an abductor injury on Oct. 16 against the Nashville Predators.
The Vegas Golden Knights doubled up the St. Louis Blues 4-2. Mark Stone scored for the seventh straight game while Mitch Marner had a goal and an assist for the Golden Knights (20-11-12), who hold first place in the Pacific Division with 52 points. Robert Thomas had a goal and an assist for the 17-21-8 Blues, who have lost three straight games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Blues announced defenseman Philip Broberg signed a six-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $8 million. He left the game early in the first period with an upper-body injury.
Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore scored in his first game since being sidelined with an upper-body injury on Dec. 13. Meanwhile, the club announced that goaltender Carter Hart is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Winger Brandon Saad missed this game with an undisclosed injury.
Buffalo Sabres forward Jack Quinn scored two goals in a 5-3 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 31 shots as the Sabres (24-15-4) won 13 of their last 14 games for the first time in franchise history. Leo Carlsson had a goal and an assist for the struggling Ducks (21-21-3) as their winless skid reached nine games (0-8-1).
The Toronto Maple Leafs blanked the Vancouver Canucks 5-0. Joseph Woll turned in a 29-save shutout, and William Nylander returned to action with a goal and two assists for the 22-15-7 Maple Leafs, extending their points streak to nine games (7-0-2). Canucks starting goalie Thatcher Demko left this game after the first period with a lower-body injury as his club dropped to 16-23-5.
An overtime goal by Simon Holmstrom gave the New York Islanders a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Wild. Holmstrom finished with two goals and an assist while Ilya Sorokin made 33 saves for the Islanders, who improved to 25-15-5. Quinn Hughes had three assists for the Wild (26-11-9).
The Florida Panthers nipped the Ottawa Senators by a score of 3-2. Gustav Forsling and Carter Verhaeghe each had a goal and an assist for the 23-18-3 Panthers. Fabian Zetterlund and Drake Batherson replied for the Senators (20-19-5), who have lost four straight games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, Senators captain Brady Tkachuk spoke out against social media rumors regarding teammate Linus Ullmark’s leave of absence for personal reasons, calling the rumors “f**king bulls**t”. The club released a statement late last week condemning the unfounded speculation.
Calgary Flames goaltender Devin Cooley kicked out 27 shots as his club downed the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1. Matt Coronato snapped a 1-1 tie just 42 seconds into the third period for the Flames (19-22-4), ending a four-game losing skid. Yegor Chinakhov replied for the Penguins (21-13-9) as their six-game win streak ended.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins winger Bryan Rust missed this game as he’s day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
Chicago Blackhawks netminder Drew Commesso got his first NHL win with a 36-save shutout to blank the Nashville Predators 3-0. Tyler Bertuzzi had a goal and an assist, and Connor Bedard picked up two assists for the Blackhawks, who improved to 19-19-7. Predators goalie Juuse Saros gave up two goals on 20 shots as his club dropped to 20-20-4.
What a wacky season. Injury list keeps growing, soap operas in St . Louis about changing the goalie,rumors running abound in Ottawaand a Boston Bruins forward doubles his goal total getting 4 in one game.What s next to happen in todays NHL!
False, completely unsubstantiated and originating with pr*&#s with an agenda rumors, is the way you should have put it.
This sort of complete crap MIGHT even originate from a disgruntled “fan” with the IQ of a turnip who thinks changes need to be made and so circulates vile “rumors.”
If there was even a remote chance that there was some truth to any of it, and therefore a distinct possibility that it would come out into the open, do you truly believe Tkachuk would have come out so forcefully, calling it what it was – “f**king bulls**t”?
GeorgeO ,I was just mentioning the craziness in the NHL this season. I never said the Ottawa rumors were valid. I for one hope Ullmark is OK. I have nothing but respect for him as I witnessed during his time in Boston!
When morons post lies or detrimental information. The only way you stop it is to file lawsuits for slander. A tedious and expensive process but really only way
I agree. The things people get away with in what they perceive the safety of the keyboards is absurd. I agree, I would love the Sens to go after this person to send a message that this sort of bs will not be tolerated.
Agree guys … and Sr I wasn’t suggesting you thought for an instant that the rumors were valid … just wishing you called them as I posted … lol … and as I said, the perp probably has an IQ equivalent to that of a turnip … with apologies to turnips!
Sr, I hope Boston saved some goals after last night for their game in Pittsburgh today.
Over the years, it has happened SO many times that a team fills he net in a game, and in their next game seemingly can’t find a goal!
Actually, Lyle, the Senators are 20-19-5. I WISH they were 20-10-5 though! LOL
Merilainen might be having trouble equivalent to stopping a beachball, but he’s got the jargon from the player’s Book Of Cliches down pat:
“I don’t think the season is over by any means,” said goaltender Leevi Merilainen, who made 18 stops. “We can’t be too hard on ourselves, but at the same time, we know that we’re losing and we’ve got to find a way not to let it go any further, and start winning.”
Leevi, you can file that under “No S&^t Sherlock?”
And Levi, I hate to break it to you, but you’re sitting in 15th place in the Conference, 7 points back of the last WC slot and 7 teams to climb over – possibly 8 if Columbus – currently 2 pts behind you – passes you next.
You are dead in the water with less chance than the proverbial snowball you-know-where.