NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 20, 2026

by | Jan 20, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 20, 2026

Milestone performances by Nathan MacKinnon and Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews is welcomed back to Chicago, Matthew Tkachuk returns to action, the Canucks trade Kiefer Sherwood to the Sharks, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING MONDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon scored two goals and collected an assist to reach 1,100 career NHL regular-season points in a 5-2 victory over the Washington Capitals. Martin Necas and Victor Olofsson each had two points for the 34-5-8 Avalanche, who lead the league with 76 points. Ethen Frank had a goal and an assist for the Capitals (24-20-6), who’ve lost three straight games.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon is the second player in Avalanche/Nordiques history to reach 1,100 points. Joe Sakic is the franchise leader with 1,641 points. Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin suffered minor injuries in a car accident while driving to the game. He was held out for precautionary reasons.

Speaking of the Capitals, they have reportedly opened contract discussions with John Carlsson. The long-time Capitals defenseman is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby played his 1,400th career NHL regular-season game as his club defeated the Seattle Kraken 6-3. Crosby, Anthony Mantha, and Blake Lizotte each had two assists while Connor Dewar tallied twice for the Penguins (23-14-11). Ben Meyers had a goal and an assist for the struggling Kraken (21-18-9) as they are 1-4-2 in their last seven games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby is the 45th player in league history to reach 1,400 games. He remains the Penguins’ leader in that category.

The Chicago Blackhawks blanked the Winnipeg Jets 2-0. Spencer Knight earned the shutout with 32 saves while Jason Dickinson and Connor Bedard scored for the 19-22-7 Blackhawks. Jets center Jonathan Toews received a lengthy standing ovation from Chicago fans as he made his former team for the first time since staging his comeback this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Toews spent 15 seasons with the Blackhawks from 2007-08 to 2022-23, spending 14 of those seasons as captain. He was one of the greatest players in franchise history, leading them to three Stanley Cups. That standing ovation during the TV timeout lasted almost five minutes.

San Jose Sharks goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 35 shots in a 4-1 win over the Florida Panthers. Michael Misa and Igor Chernyshov each collected two assists for the Sharks, who improved to 25-20-3. Eetu Luostarinen replied for the 25-20-3 Panthers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk was held scoreless in his season debut. He’d been sidelined by surgery to repair a torn adductor muscle and a sports hernia on Aug. 22. Meanwhile, the Panthers placed defenseman Seth Jones (upper body) on long-term injury reserve.

Earlier in the day, the Sharks acquired Kiefer Sherwood from the Vancouver Canucks. Details and analysis of the trade are below in the Headlines section.

The Carolina Hurricanes nipped the Buffalo Sabres 2-1. Andrei Svechnikov had a goal and an assist, Sebastian Aho collected two assists, and Seth Jarvis scored the winning goal for the Hurricanes (31-15-4), as they hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 66 points. Rasmus Dahlin had the only goal for the 26-17-5 Sabres.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hurricanes forward Eric Robinson left this game in the first period with an apparent injury to his left shoulder.

Minnesota Wild winger Marcus Foligno tallied his first career NHL hat trick in a 6-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Vladimir Tarasenko had two goals and an assist for the Wild (28-13-9). Auston Matthews had a goal and an assist for the 24-17-8 Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Joshua Kloke of The Athletic reports the Maple Leafs have opened contract extension talks with winger Bobby McMann, who is UFA-eligible this summer.

The New York Islanders held off the Vancouver Canucks 4-3. Anthony Duclair tallied two goals, Matthew Schaefer and Bo Horvat each had two assists, and Ilya Sorokin turned aside 29 shots for the Islanders (27-17-5). Kevin Lankinen stopped 28 shots for the Canucks (16-28-5), whose 11-game winless skid equals the franchise mark.

Philadelphia Flyers winger Travis Konecny tallied both of his club’s goals in a 2-1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, snapping a six-game winless skid (0-5-1). Samuel Ersson made 24 saves for the 23-17-8 Flyers. Tomas Hertl replied for the Golden Knights (24-12-12), who remain in first place in the Pacific Division with 60 points.

An overtime goal by Simon Nemec lifted the New Jersey Devils over the Calgary Flames 2-1. Dawson Mercer also scored for the Devils (25-22-2). Nazem Kadri scored for the 21-23-5 Flames.

Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier scored twice on his 22nd birthday in a 5-3 victory over the New York Rangers. Lukas Dostal stopped 19 shots for the 25-21-3 Ducks, who picked up their fourth straight win. Artemi Panarin had a goal and an assist to extend his point streak to 10 games for the 21-23-6 Rangers.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson, Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi, and Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka are the league’s three stars for the week ending Jan. 18, 2026.

THE PROVINCE/SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The Vancouver Canucks traded winger Kiefer Sherwood to the San Jose Sharks on Monday in exchange for minor league defenseman Cole Clayton, a second-round pick in 2026, and a second-rounder in 2027.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sherwood was a frequent subject of trade speculation since November. The 30-year-old winger could reach a career-best 30 goals and is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

It was rumored that the Canucks were seeking a first-round pick as part of the return for Sherwood. However, a pair of second-rounders isn’t bad for a physical middle-six forward whose production could decline after this season. The Canucks can use these picks to bolster their prospect pipeline or as trade chips to acquire more immediate roster help.

The rebuilding Sharks have been sellers in recent years. Led by young superstar Macklin Celebrini, they’ve exceeded expectations this season, jockeying for a wild-card berth in the Western Conference. Adding a rental player such as Sherwood indicates that management wants to help them clinch a berth. If he fits well within their roster, they could sign him to an extension.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 19, 2026

by | Jan 19, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 19, 2026

The Oilers get a shutout in Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ 1,000th career game, reaction to the Flames trading Rasmus Andersson to the Golden Knights, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF SUNDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers center forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored in his 1,000th career NHL regular-season game to help his club blank the St. Louis Blues 5-0. Zach Hyman tallied twice and collected an assist while Connor Ingram turned in a 27-save shutout for the 25-17-8 Oilers. Jordan Binnington stopped 23 shots for the Blues, who dropped to 19-22-8.

Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nugent-Hopkins is only the second player in Oilers history to play 1,000 games for the franchise, and the only one to play his entire career in Edmonton. He needs 38 more games to pass Kevin Lowe as the franchise leader. Nugent-Hopkins is also the 10th player in NHL history to score in his first NHL game and in his 1,000th.

Blues winger (and former Oiler) Dylan Holloway returned to action after missing the last 15 games with an ankle injury. His teammate, Oskar Sundqvist, left this game in the third period with an injured left leg.

The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Dallas Stars 4-1. Jake Guentzel and Dominic James each had a goal and an assist for the Lightning (30-13-4), who extended their points streak to 13 games (12-0-1) and regained first place in the Eastern Conference with 64 points. Oskar Back scored for the slumping Stars (27-13-9), who are 2-6-4 in their last 12 contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy reached the 20-win plateau for the 10th consecutive season. Hall of Famer Henrik Lundqvist is the all-time leader with thirteen 20-win seasons.

An overtime goal by Alex DeBrincat lifted the Detroit Red Wings to a 4-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators. DeBrincat and Andrew Copp each had two points as the Red Wings (30-16-4) have won six of their last seven games. Drake Batherson had a goal and an assist, and James Reimer made 30 saves for the struggling Senators (22-19-7), who are 4-6-3 in their last 13 games.

HEADLINES

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW/CALGARY SUN: The Golden Knights acquired defenseman Rasmus Andersson from the Flames in exchange for defenseman Zach Whitecloud, defense prospect Abram Wiebe, a conditional first-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft, and a conditional second-round pick in 2028.

PUCKPEDIA: The Flames retained 50 percent ($2.275 million) of Andersson’s $4.55 million cap hit. The conditional second-rounder becomes a first-round pick if the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights did it again, willingly sacrificing futures to acquire a talented player who can help them right away. It also helped that the player they wanted was interested in joining them.

Andersson is the second defenseman the Golden Knights have acquired from the Flames since 2024. That was the year they obtained Noah Hanifin, eventually signing him to a contract extension.

The salary retention by the Flames was necessary to make the dollars fit for the Golden Knights, who moved Whitecloud and his $2.75 million cap hit in this deal. The 29-year-old blueliner is in the fourth year of a six-year contract. This move leaves the Golden Knights with $3.865 million in trade deadline cap space.

It’s a bit of a gamble contract-wise for the Golden Knights, as Andersson would not agree to sign a contract extension. However, that doesn’t mean he won’t re-sign before his eligibility for unrestricted free-agent status on July 1. It wouldn’t be surprising if he does.

As noted in the links provided, the Golden Knights needed an experienced top-pairing defenseman on their right side to replace the sidelined Alex Pietrangelo, who is on long-term injury reserve and whose playing days may be over. This move signals that Pietrangelo won’t return for the playoffs, meaning he’ll be moved to season-ending LTIR at some point, probably at the end of the regular season.

Andersson is a solid all-around defenseman whose puck-moving skills will provide more offense from the blueline for the Golden Knights.

Whitecloud provides the Flames with an experienced shutdown defenseman who can play top-four minutes. He will buy them time to develop promising blueliners Zayne Parekh and Hunter Brzustewicz. The Brandon, Manitoba native said he’s happy and excited about joining the Flames and playing in a Canadian market, so that’s a promising sign going forward.

How well this deal works out long-term for the Flames depends on the development of college prospect Wiebe and the prospects they select with those draft picks.

NHL.COM: Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos was fined $2,500 for unsportmanlike conduct against Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Jeremy Lauzon on Saturday.

TSN: Buffalo Sabres center Josh Norris is week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

SPORTSNET: The San Jose Sharks placed defenseman Nick Leddy on waivers.

NHL.COM: Former NHL forward Phil Goyette passed away on Jan. 17 at age 92.

He spent 16 seasons in the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, and Buffalo Sabres from 1956-57 to 1971-72. In 940 regular-season games, he had 207 goals and 467 assists for 674 points, along with 46 points in 97 playoff games.

Goyette won four Stanley Cups with the Canadiens from 1956-57 to 1959-60. He won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy with the St. Louis Blues in 1969-70.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Goyette’s family, friends, and former teammates.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 18, 2026

by | Jan 18, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 18, 2026

A record-setting game for winger Mika Zibanejad and a milestone one for head coach Mike Sullivan in a win over the Flyers, the Hurricanes regain first place in the Eastern Conference, and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: New York Rangers winger Mika Zibanejad tallied a hat trick, Artemi Panarin scored twice and collected an assist, and Brennan Othmann netted his first NHL goal in a 6-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Zibanejad set the Rangers’ power-play goal record with 117, while head coach Mike Sullivan earned his 500th career NHL win. Travis Konecny, Trevor Zegras, and Travis Sanheim each had a goal and an assist for the Flyers.

New York Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers (21-22-6) snapped a five-game winless skid (0-4-1), while the Flyers’ skid reached six games (0-5-1). Flyers center Rodrigo Abols left the game in the first period with an injured right leg. Before the game, the Flyers placed defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen on injured reserve.

Carolina Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov had a hat trick to defeat the New Jersey Devils 4-1. Sebastian Aho had three assists, and Frederik Andersen stopped 29 shots for the 30-15-4 Hurricanes, who took over first place in the Eastern Conference with 64 points. Timo Meier replied for the Devils (24-22-2).

Utah Mammoth defenseman Nate Schmidt scored twice (including the game-winner) and collected two assists in a 6-3 win over the Seattle Kraken. Lawson Crouse had a goal and two assists for the Mammoth, who have won three straight and improved to 25-20-4. Matty Beniers had a goal and an assist for the Kraken (21-17-9), who have dropped three straight games and are 1-3-2 in their last six contests.

The Calgary Flames doubled up the New York Islanders 4-2. Adam Klapka had a goal and an assist, and Dustin Wolf made 28 saves for the 21-23-4 Flames. Rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer picked up two assists for the Islanders (26-17-5) while team captain Anders Lee scored his 300th career NHL regular-season goal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson was named the game’s third star and was loudly cheered by Calgary fans in what may have been his final game with the club as trade rumors intensify.

Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone scored to extend his points streak to 11 games in a 7-2 drubbing of the Nashville Predators. Mitch Marner, Shea Theodore, Keegan Kolesar, Alexander Holtz, and Cole Reinhart each had a goal and an assist for the Golden Knights (24-11-12), who lead the Pacific Division with 60 points. Luke Evangelista and Filip Forsberg scored for the 23-21-4 Predators.

The Edmonton Oilers blanked the Vancouver Canucks 6-0, with all six goals coming in the second period. Tristan Jarry turned in a 31-save shutout, while Jack Roslovic and Kasperi Kapanen each tallied twice for the 24-17-8 Oilers. The Canucks are winless in their last 10 games (0-8-2) and slipped to 16-27-5.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers center Leon Draisaitl missed this game as he’s on a leave of absence to return home to Germany due to a family illness.

Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield scored twice, including the winner in overtime, as his club overcame a 5-3 deficit for a 6-5 victory over the Ottawa Senators. Caufield finished with three points, Juraj Slafkovsky tallied two goals, and Lane Hutson collected three assists for the 27-15-7 Canadiens. Jake Sanderson had a goal and three assists for the Senators, who slipped to 22-19-6.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens center Jake Evans returned to action after missing 13 games with a lower-body injury.

An overtime goal by Max Domi lifted the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 4-3 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Domi and Auston Matthew each had a goal and an assist while Oliver Ekman-Larsson had a goal and two assists for the 24-16-8 Maple Leafs. Vladislav Namestnikov collected two assists, and Connor Hellebuyck stopped 33 shots for the Jets (19-22-6) as their four-game win streak ended.

The Boston Bruins picked up their sixth straight win by defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2. Mason Lohrei scored two goals while David Pastrnak, Elias Lindholm, Pavel Zacha, and Casey Mittelstadt each had two assists as the Bruins improved to 28-19-2. Ryan Greene and Wyatt Kaiser replied for the 19-22-7 Blackhawks, who’ve dropped three straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins activated defenseman Hampus Lindholm off injured reserve after missing six games with an undisclosed injury.

Minnesota Wild winger Mats Zuccarello scored in overtime to give his team a 5-4 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Kirill Kaprizov had three assists for the 27-13-9 Wild as they picked up their third win in their last nine games (3-3-3). Jack Quinn and Ryan McLeod each had a goal and an assist for the Sabres (26-16-5).

Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett had a goal and two assists in a 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals. A.J. Greer, Anton Lundell, and Carter Verhaeghe each had a goal and an assist for the Panthers (25-19-3). Jakob Chychrun scored both goals for the 24-19-6 Capitals.

The Columbus Blue Jackets picked up their fourth straight win by nipping the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 on a shootout goal by Charlie Coyle. Elvis Merzlikins stopped 29 shots for the Blue Jackets, who have won four straight and improved to 22-19-7. Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist for the Penguins (22-14-11).

An overtime goal by Mikael Granlund gave the Anaheim Ducks a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Mason McTavish also scored for the Ducks (24-21-3), who picked up back-to-back wins over the Kings (19-16-13), who got 31 saves from Anton Forsberg.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 17, 2026

by | Jan 17, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 17, 2026

Four-point performances by the Predators’ Ryan O’Reilly and the Hurricanes’ Nikolaj Ehlers, the Rangers announce their intention to retool their roster, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING FRIDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Nashville Predators center Ryan O’Reilly tallied a hat trick and collected an assist in a 7-3 upset of the Colorado Avalanche. Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi each had three points as the Predators picked up their third straight win and improved to 23-20-4. Brock Nelson scored two goals for the Avalanche (33-5-8), who remain atop the overall standings with 74 points.

Nashville Predators center Ryan O’Reilly (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was the Avalanche’s first regulation loss on home ice this season.

Carolina Hurricanes winger Nikolaj Ehlers had a hat trick plus an assist as his club crushed the Florida Panthers 9-1. Taylor Hall tallied twice, and Mark Jankowski had a goal and two assists for the Hurricanes (29-15-4), who sit in first place in the Metropolitan Division with 62 points. Uvis Balinskis replied for the 24-19-3 Panthers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Panthers signed Balinskis to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $875,000.

A shootout goal by Jordan Kyrou lifted the St. Louis Blues to a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning, snapping the latter’s 11-game win streak. Joel Hofer stopped 32 shots while Jake Neighbours and Nick Bjugstad gave the Blues a 2-0 lead before the Lightning rallied on goals by Nikita Kucherov and Oliver Bjorkstrand. The Blues (19-21-8) picked up their second consecutive win, while the Lightning (29-13-4) clings to first place in the Eastern Conference with 62 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning hold first place in the East because they have two games in hand over the Hurricanes. Earlier in the day, the Lightning placed center Brayden Point on injured reserve.

The Detroit Red Wings doubled up the San Jose Sharks 4-2. Lucas Raymond had three assists, and Marco Kasper had a goal and an assist for the Red Wings (29-16-4), who are tied with the Lightning and Hurricanes with 62 points. Will Smith and Nick Leddy scored for the 24-20-3 Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was Smith’s first game since being sidelined for 13 games by an upper-body injury. Earlier in the day, the Sharks traded minor-league defenseman Kyle Masters to the Carolina Hurricanes for a 2027 fifth-round pick to make room for Michael Misa’s entry-level contract.

Anaheim Ducks rookie winger Beckett Sennecke had two assists in regulation, and Mason McTavish tallied the winning goal in the shootout to nip the Los Angeles Kings 3-2. Joel Armia had a goal and an assist for the 19-16-12 Kings, while the Ducks improved to 23-21-3.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Ducks announced that center Leo Carlsson will be sidelined three to five weeks with a thigh injury. They also placed winger Troy Terry (upper body) on injured reserve.

HEADLINES

NEW YORK POST: Rangers general manager Chris Drury released a letter to the team’s fans on Friday promising to retool the club’s struggling roster. This comes less than eight years after former GM Jeff Gorton penned a similar letter to the club’s followers.

Drury acknowledged the fans’ disappointment over the Rangers’ difficulties since last season, when they missed the playoffs after winning the Presidents’ Trophy in 2024. He promised to retool around the team’s core players and prospects, targeting players with “tenacity, skill, speed, and a winning pedigree,” putting the focus on young players and prospects, while freeing up cap space for flexibility going forward.

The Rangers GM also indicated that the club could be parting ways with players “that have brought us and our fans great moments over the years.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The letter prompted speculation over which players will be moved. The most obvious is Artemi Panarin, who is slated to become an unrestricted free agent in July. Management has already informed the 34-year-old center that they won’t be offering him a contract extension. I’ll have more about this situation in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

DAILY FACEOFF: Toronto Maple Leafs winger William Nylander is considered doubtful for Saturday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets. He exited Thursday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights with a lower-body injury.

THE MINNEAPOLIS STAR-TRIBUNE: The Minnesota Wild placed Matt Boldy, Joel Eriksson Ek, Jonas Brodin, and Zach Bogosian on injured reserve.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Flyers starting goaltender Dan Vladar is listed as day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. He won’t be suiting up for Saturday’s game against the Rangers.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: The Canadiens have returned goaltender Jacob Fowler and forward Owen Beck to their AHL affiliate in Laval.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fowler did a good job in difficult circumstances for the Canadiens, providing much-needed stability between the pipes when the regular goalie tandem of Sam Montembeault and Jakub Dobes was struggling. Given Montembeault’s improvement, Fowler will resume his development in Laval.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 16, 2026

by | Jan 16, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 16, 2026

The Bruins retire Zdeno Chara’s number, multipoint performances by the Sabres’ Tage Thompson and the Golden Knights’ Jack Eichel, Jets center Jonathan Toews reaches a career milestone, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF THURSDAY’S GAME

NHL.COM: The Boston Bruins honored Hall of Fame defenseman Zdeno Chara by retiring his No. 33 in a pregame ceremony before winning their fifth straight game by defeating the Seattle Kraken 4-2. Mark Kastelic scored the game-winner while shorthanded, and Jeremy Swayman stopped 26 shots for the 27-19-2 Bruins. Chandler Stephenson and Eeli Tolvanen replied for the Kraken (21-16-9).

The Boston Bruins retire Zdeno Chara’s No. 33 (NHL.com)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chara spent 14 of his 24 NHL seasons with the Bruins from 2006-07 to 2019-20. He was their captain throughout that period, making him the longest-tenured captain in franchise history. He led them to three Stanley Cup Finals, winning the Cup in 2011. He also won the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2008-09 and was twice named to the Second All-Star Team.

Bruins winger David Pastrnak tallied his 20th goal of the season, tying him with Patrice Bergeron and Johnny Bucyk for the second-most consecutive 20-goal seasons among the Bruins’ all-time scoring leaders (10 seasons). Brad Marchand leads the franchise with 12 seasons.

Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour collected an assist as he returned to action for the first time since being sidelined by an injury on Dec. 16.

Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson tallied a hat trick and collected two assists in a 5-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Thompson also passed the 200-goal plateau as the Sabres (26-16-4) have won 15 of their last 17 games. Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Lane Hutson each had two points for the 26-15-7 Canadiens, who are 1-2-1 in their last four games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hutson became the second-fastest defenseman in NHL history to reach 100 career assists, doing so in 132 games. Sergei Zubov was the fastest with 127 games.

The Sabres recalled forward Konsta Helenius as center Josh Norris is day-to-day with an upper-body injury suffered during Wednesday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Vegas Golden Knights rallied to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-5 on an overtime goal by Jack Eichel, who also had three assists. Mitch Marner picked up two assists against his former club as the Golden Knights (23-11-12) picked up their sixth straight win and lead the Pacific Division with 58 points. William Nylander and John Tavares each had a goal and an assist for the 23-16-8 Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nylander left this game after rolling his ankle in the first period. Meanwhile, Maple Leafs Auston Matthews didn’t want to answer more queries about Marner. Following the warm-up skate, he told TSN’s Mark Masters he’d had enough of the “Mitch questions” for the day, preferring to focus on the upcoming game.

Golden Knights’ goaltender Adin Hill returned to action for the first time since being sidelined by a lower-body injury on Oct. 20. He stopped 23 shots for the win.

Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele had a goal and three assists in a 6-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild. Jonathan Toews, Josh Morrissey, and Gabriel Vilardi each had a goal and an assist as the Jets (19-22-5) have won four straight games. Danila Yurov and Marcus Johansson scored for the Wild (26-13-9), who have one win in their last six games (1-3-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Toews picked up his 900th career NHL regular-season point. Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin missed this game as he’s week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Philadelphia Flyers by a score of 6-3. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist, Evgeni Malkin and Tommy Novak each collected two assists, and Stuart Skinner stopped 30 shots for the 22-14-10 Penguins. Flyers winger Matvei Michkov scored his 10th goal of the season for the Flyers (22-16-8) as they are winless in their last five games (0-4-1).

New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin kicked out 35 shots to shut out the Edmonton Oilers 1-0. Anthony Duclair scored the game’s only goal as the Islanders improved to 26-16-5. Oilers captain Connor McDavid’s 20-game goal streak ended as his club sits at 23-17-8.

Three second-period goals by the San Jose Sharks gave them a 3-2 win over the Washington Capitals. Collin Graf had a goal and an assist for the 24-19-3 Sharks, who are 7-2-0 in their last nine games. Dylan Strome and Ryan Leonard replied for the Capitals (24-18-6).

Columbus Blue Jackets forwards Kirill Marchenko and Kent Johnson each had a goal and an assist to beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-1, extending the latter’s winless skid to nine games (0-7-2). Elvis Merzlikins made 30 saves for the 21-19-7 Blues Jackets as they collected their third straight win. Brock Boeser scored for the Canucks, who sank to 16-26-5.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson returned to action for the first time since suffering a hip injury on Oct. 25.

The Utah Mammoth extended their points streak to six games (5-0-1) with a 3-1 upset of the Dallas Stars. Karel Vejmelka turned aside 26 shots while Nick Schmaltz and John Marino each had a goal and an assist for the Mammoth, who improved to 24-20-4. Mikko Rantanen scored for the Stars (27-12-9), who have two wins in their last 11 games (2-5-4).

Calgary Flames captain Mikael Backlund scored a shorthanded goal and picked up an assist in a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Devin Cooley made 22 saves for the 20-23-4 Flames. Nick Foligno scored for the 19-21-7 Blackhawks.

IN OTHER NEWS…

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers were honored at the White House on Thursday for their second straight Stanley Cup championship.

AP NEWS: St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas will be sidelined for two weeks with a lower-body injury.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Avalanche forward Ross Colton is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 15, 2026

by | Jan 15, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 15, 2026

Brady Tkachuk reaches a scoring milestone in a lopsided win over the Rangers, the Sabres move back into a wildcard berth, the Canadiens re-sign Alexandre Texier, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk scored his 200th career NHL regular-season goal and collected three assists in an 8-4 victory over the New York Rangers. Dylan Cozens and Ridly Greig each had three points for the Senators, who picked up their second straight win and improved to 22-19-5. Gabe Perreault tallied twice for the Rangers (20-22-6) as their winless skid reached five games (0-4-1).

Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With starting goaltender Igor Shesterkin and top defenseman Adam Fox sidelined, the wheels are coming off fast for the Rangers. This was their second lopsided loss in three games, prompting Blueshirts fans to chant for general manager Chris Drury to be fired. Drury recently received a vote of confidence from team owner James Dolan, but that could be tested if the losses keep piling up.

The Buffalo Sabres regained a wildcard berth in the Eastern Conference by defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 5-2. Team captain Rasmus Dahlin scored two goals while Tage Thompson, Josh Doan, and Ryan McLeod each had two points for the 25-16-4 Sabres, who’ve won four of their last six games. Owen Tippett had a goal and an assist for the Flyers, who are winless in their last four contests (0-3-1) and have slipped to 22-15-8.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sabres center Josh Norris left this game in the second period with an upper-body injury. Earlier in the day, the Sabres announced forward Josh Dunne will be sidelined for four to six weeks with a mid-body injury.

Meanwhile, Philadelphia goaltender Daniel Vladar left this game after the first period with an undisclosed injury. Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen missed this game with an upper-body injury and is questionable for Thursday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Meanwhile, blueliner Jamie Drysdale was activated off injured reserve and returned to action in this game.

New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier scored twice, including the winning goal in overtime, in a 3-2 win over the Seattle Kraken. Jack and Luke Hughes each assisted on both of Hischier’s goals as the Devils improved to 24-21-2. Jared McCann had a goal and an assist for the Kraken (21-15-9).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald met with the media on Wednesday afternoon, taking full responsibility for the club’s struggles this season. However, he pushed back against making wholesale changes to the roster. “You can’t trade your way out of this,” Fitzgerald said. “This has to come from within.”

Nevertheless, trade rumors involving the Devils persist, with the focus on defenseman Dougie Hamilton. I’ll have the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

The Vegas Golden Knights extended their win streak to five games by nipping the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 on an overtime goal by captain Mark Stone. Braeden Bowman and Mitch Marner also scored for the Golden Knights (22-11-12), who hold first place in the Pacific Division. Kevin Fiala had a goal and an assist for the 19-16-11 Kings.

IN OTHER NEWS…

TSN: The Montreal Canadiens signed winger Alexandre Texier to a two-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $2.5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Texier signed a $1 million prorated contract with the Canadiens on Nov. 23 after terminating his deal with the St. Louis Blues. He’s been a solid addition for the Habs as a versatile forward throughout their lineup, including his current stint on their top line. After managing one point in eight games with the Blues earlier this season, he has 16 points in 25 games in Montreal.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: The Avalanche activated goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood from injured reserve.

TSN: Winnipeg Jets defensemen Neil Pionk, Haydn Fleury, and Colin Miller are week-to-week with injuries.

NHL.COM: Winger Ivar Stenberg of Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League topped the league’s Central Scouting mid-term rankings of International skaters. Penn State forward Gavin McKenna was the top North American skater.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McKenna was considered the favorite to be the first overall pick in this year’s draft. However, his adjustment period to NCAA action after dominating Junior A last season has some observers suggesting Stenberg could be the top prospect.