NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 2, 2026
The Lightning overcome a four-goal deficit to defeat the Bruins in their Stadium Series game, the three stars and Rookie of the Month for January are revealed, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines
RECAPS OF SUNDAY’S GAMES
NHL.COM: The Tampa Bay Lightning overcame a 5-1 deficit to beat the Boston Bruins 6-5 on a shootout goal by Jake Guentzel before a sellout crowd of 64,617 fans at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. Nikita Kucherov led the comeback with a goal and three assists while Brandon Hagel had a goal and two assists for the Lightning (35-14-4), who picked up their third straight win to remain in first place in the Eastern Conference with 74 points. Morgan Geekie had two goals and an assist, and Jeremy Swayman made 41 saves for the Bruins (32-20-4).
Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins’ undisciplined play was their undoing, enabling the Lightning to tally three straight power-play goals in the second period to cut the deficit from 5-1 to 5-4, setting the stage for Kucherov’s tying goal and Guentzel’s game-winner.
The game featured the first-ever goalie fight in an outdoor NHL game, as the Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy and the Bruins’ Swayman dropped the gloves following a scrum in front of the Bruins’ net.
Lightning defenseman and team captain Victor Hedman made his return to action in this game after being sidelined since Dec. 9 by elbow surgery. Teammate Anthony Cirelli left this contest late in the first period with an undisclosed injury.
An overtime goal by Sebastian Aho gave the Carolina Hurricanes a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Jordan Staal and Alexander Nikishin gave the Hurricanes a 2-0 lead, but the Kings (23-17-14) forced overtime on third-period goals by Samuel Helenius and Quinton Byfield. The Hurricanes (34-15-6) sit second in the Eastern Conference with 74 points and hold first place in the Metropolitan Division.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson left this game early in the first period with an upper-body injury.
Anaheim Ducks winger Chris Kreider scored two goals as his club held off the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3. Troy Terry, Jacob Trouba, and Ryan Poehling each had two points for the Ducks (29-23-3). Mitch Marner, Ivan Barbashev, and Tomas Hertl replied for the Golden Knights (25-16-14), who cling to first place in the Pacific Division with 64 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Terry returned to action after being sidelined since Jan. 6 with an upper-body injury. The Ducks also placed center Leo Carlsson (thigh) on injured reserve.
HEADLINES
NHL.COM: Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov, Bruins winger David Pastrnak, and Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard are the league’s three stars for January 2026. Bruins forward Fraser Minten is the league’s Rookie of the Month for January 2026.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers placed goaltender Calvin Pickard on waivers Sunday. If he clears, he’ll be sent to their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield following the Olympic break.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given the lack of reliable goalie depth in the trade market, Pickard could be claimed by another NHL club on Monday. Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal believes the Philadelphia Flyers are the most likely to pluck Pickard off the waiver wire.
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: The Red Wings signed veteran center Sheldon Dries to a two-year contract extension. It’s a two-way contract with an average annual value of $875, 000 at the NHL level.
DOSE.CA Montreal Canadiens goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen could be heading overseas next season. The 29-year-old Finnish netminder is on a one-year contract with the Canadiens and has spent this season with their AHL affiliate in Laval.
With Pickard placed on waivers by the Oilers, it’s not surprising that Philadelphia s seen as a possible claimant due to their shaky goaltending this season – if, that is. it gets to them.
They’d be about 9th in the pecking order after Vancouver, St. Louis, NYR, Calgary, Chicago, Winnipeg, Nashville, New Jersey, and while none of those teams are especially in need of goaltending, if one does claim him it could be an indication that one of their goalies might be in their trade plans.
https://ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/edmonton-oilers/calvin-pickard-saving-edmonton-oilers-nhl-playoffs-waivers
I think Pickard passes through though I hope he gets snapped up. The issue if he goes down he will bump prospect Ungar back to the echl and I dont feel that is ideal for that prospect who has had such a great season.
Also the Oil made their bed with Jarry and Ingram – and still have tomkins in the ahl should they need a experience back up to cover a short injury or illness.
Ny sure could use help in the net. Prior to Shesterkins injury, NY averaged about 2.7 gaa. Since his injury they have allowed 61 goals in 14 games for a 4.35 gaa! Nearly a 2 goal a game difference.
All that being said, I don’t see Pickard as being a guy that helps that problem. And even if he could, NY would be better off sinking in the standings rather than trying to salvage this season.
Though it was an entertaining game that was a bad loss for Boston. There is a fine line in being aggressive or tough and undisciplined. As good as their PP has been,their PK has been awful. They could use another RHD to help Mcavoy out.
How much did betting influence the Boston Tampa game yesterday?
Even undisciplined play doesn’t warrant such lopsided penalty calls.
That OT penalty on Pastrnak goal was insane, Bruins skate all the way up the ice with the puck , Swayman goes to the bench, and once the puck is in the net a delayed penalty is called?
This is the type of game that gets attention to make people question if games are fixed only because its done so blatantly.
Somebody’s head or heads have to roll.
I’m no lover of the Bruins but they were jobbed,
If you watch the reply, the whistle is blown 3 times prior to Pastrnak scoring. Once before they even leave their own zone. Kinda hard to hear because of crowd noise, but definitely blown dead 3 times.
Pastrnak clearly slashes kucherov in the defensive zone , if the goal stood Tampa would be the ones that got jobbed.
Watch the attached link. Whistle starts blowing around the 1:03 -1:04. The goal goes in around the 1:08 -1:09 mark.
Clearly 5 seconds plus after the whistle. I don’t see any conspiracy here.
https://www.reddit.com/r/hockey/comments/1qtjgt2/bos_5_tbl_5_stadium_series_ot_pasta_appears_to/
With Captain on this one.
When players slash guys on the hands on a scoring opportunity, it gets call every time. The only time it doesn’t is if the ref doesn’t see it, or it is OT in the SCF, and even they they might call it.
It’s been this way for a couple years at least, and every NHL player know it, as they were advise when the league decided they were going to enforce it consistently.
CO,
Look at the clip you sent, it only raises more questions, The ref’s arm goes up, the Bruins start skating away and no whistle.
How do we know? The ref was standing just behind the goalie (Swayman) when his arm went up and Swayman took off for the bench, obviously there was no whistle, and a delayed penalty was going to be called,
The whistles we hear are way after the play.
Really exciting game but the zebras ruined it. As they seam to do from time to time.
I’m not arguing about the Pasta call, but there were so many times TBL players mugged Bruins, I was thinking the same thing. And I am not a Bruins fan.
Habsfan,
I didn’t watch the game. And in fairness watching real time from the broadcast angle you certainly don’t hear the whistle and it’s a bit confusing. I was with you until I see the other angle in that clip I posted.
That whistle is clearly blown long before the puck is even in Tampa’s zone. When it exactly is blown may also be covered in crowd noise. But you can clearly hear the whistle blown prior to entering the zone and two additional times before the puck is in the net.
That is a far cry from a delayed penalty called after the goal is scored. Clearly from the first whistle you can hear, 5-6 seconds lapse before the goal is scored.
And as Ray calls out above, that kind of slash is getting called every time.
I agree with too many penalties 100%. But it was lopsided and the zebras let way too many missed penalties go in the other direction. They still got a point out of it which was still huge. The Pasta slash was weak as they come. The Bruins are definitely trying to land that right shot top 4 D. And it’s a desperate need
Could they enter the Weegar pursuit?
RD is everyone’s need. Will Sweeny outbid all the others????? Is this season the “one” for the B’s??
As a Bruin fan it was hard to watch a lot of their penalties were deserved but Tampa got away with a ton. Charlie was mugged and tripped all game wasn’t a good look for Refs.
I may be bias but the bruins seam to be getting better as season has gone on. They are actually a good team much better than predicted by most.
Still flawed but still playoff claliber
I agree there.
Up by 3 or 4 goals and your tender decides to check of a personal bucket list item.
A team player would know better…….Swayman is all about himself and is brand.
Terrible look by #1 yet again.