NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 25, 2026

by | Jan 25, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 25, 2026

A big night for Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard, Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon ties a franchise record, Red Wings forward Patrick Kane closes in on a league record, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard tallied his first career hat trick and collected three assists in his 400th career NHL regular-season game in a 6-5 victory over the Washington Capitals. Connor McDavid tallied twice (including the winner in overtime) and had three assists for the 26-19-8 Oilers. Justin Sourdif and Connor McMichael each had a goal and an assist for the Capitals (25-21-7), who are 1-4-1 in their last six games.

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was a historic game for Bouchard. He became the fourth defenseman to factor in all of his team’s goals in a six-goal game, joining Bobby Orr, Al MacInnis, and Doug Crossman. He was the fourth blueliner in Oilers history to score a hat trick, joining Paul Coffey, Marc-Andre Bergeron, and Risto Siltanen, and joined Coffey and Kevin Lowe as the only Oilers rearguards to net at least six points in a game.

Capitals defenseman Rasmus Sandin left this game in the first period with a lower-body injury.

The Buffalo Sabres got a 26-save shutout by Alex Lyon to blank the New York Islanders 5-0. Jason Zucker scored two goals for the Sabres (29-17-5), who’ve won three straight games and are 18-3-1 in their last 22 contests. This was the first game in this season that the Islanders (27-19-5) were shut out.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lyon tied the Sabres record of Gerry Desjardins (1976-77) with nine consecutive wins. Earlier in the day, the Sabres made a minor trade, acquiring defenseman Gavin Bayreuther from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for prospect forward Viktor Neuchev.

Islanders center Bo Horvat returned to action after missing nine games with a lower-body injury. Head coach Patrick Roy was not pleased with the performance of the line of Mathew Barzal, Anthony Duclair, and team captain Anders Lee, benching them for the entire third period. Isles defenseman Ryan Pulock missed this game as he’s day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Detroit Red Wings forward J.T. Compher scored two goals in a 5-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Lucas Raymond and Marco Kasper each had a goal and an assist, and John Gibson made 26 saves for the 32-16-5 Red Wings, who took over first place in the Atlantic Division with 69 points. Cole Koepke replied for the Jets (20-24-7).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Red Wings forward Patrick Kane collected an assist to move within one point of Mike Modano’s record for the most points among U.S.-born players (1,374). Meanwhile, teammate Simon Edvinsson missed his second straight game with a lower-body injury.

A hat trick by Mason Marchment powered the Columbus Blue Jackets over the Tampa Bay Lightning 8-5. Marchment finished with four points while Charlie Coyle and Adam Fantilli each had a goal and two assists for the Blue Jackets (24-20-7), who have won six of their last seven games. Nikita Kucherov had a goal and three assists while Jake Guentzel and Anthony Cirelli each collected three points for the 32-14-4 Lightning as their 15-game points streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak left this game with an injury.

Boston Bruins winger Morgan Geekie tallied twice in a 4-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Charlie McAvoy collected three assists for the Bruins (30-20-2), who’ve won eight of their last nine games. Cole Caufield scored all three goals for the 28-17-7 Canadiens, who are 3-4-1 in their last eight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Shaky goaltending and penalty killing were once again the Canadiens’ undoing. They’re sixth overall in goals per game (3.37) and eighth in power-play percentage (23.8), but are 24th in goals against per game (3.29) and 26th in penalty-killing percentage (76.5).

Florida Panthers winger Brad Marchand scored twice (including the winning goal) and picked up an assist to beat the Minnesota 4-3 in overtime. Sam Reinhart had a goal and an assist for the 27-20-3 Panthers. Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy each had a goal and an assist for the 29-14-10 Wild.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marchand returned to action after missing seven games with an injury. Boldy was back after missing four games with a lower-body injury.

The Los Angeles Kings nipped the St. Louis Blues 5-4 on a shootout goal by Trevor Moore, who also scored in the third period. Alex Laferriere had a goal and an assist for the Kings (21-16-13). Jordan Kyrou scored twice for the Blues, who dropped to 19-24-9 as their winless skid reached four games (0-3-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Moore had missed 11 games with an upper-body injury.

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi kicked out 35 shots in a 4-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators. Seth Jarvis had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes (32-15-5), who hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 69 points. Tim Stutzle replied for the 23-21-7 Senators, who are 1-2-2 in their last five games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes hold first overall in the East over the Red Wings because they hold a game in hand. Before the game, the Senators inducted former head coach Jacques Martin into their Ring of Honour.

Third-period goals by Barrett Hayton and JJ Peterka lifted the Utah Mammoth to a 5-2 win over the Nashville Predators. Karel Vejmelka made 27 saves, and Mikhail Sergachev collected three assists for the 27-20-5 Mammoth, who picked up their fifth straight win. Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault scored for the Predators (24-23-4).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Predators defenseman Nicolas Hague missed this game as he’s considered week-to-week with a lower-body injury.










NHL Rumor Mill – January 23, 2026

by | Jan 23, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – January 23, 2026

Check out the latest on Canucks center Elias Pettersson, Rangers forwards Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere, Kraken center Shane Wright, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ELIAS PETTERSSON SPECULATION

THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz shot down online rumors linking the Philadelphia Flyers to Elias Pettersson.

The 27-year-old Vancouver Canucks center played for Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet when the latter coached the Canucks. However, Kurz claims that the Flyers are not interested, saying that the possibility was “strongly denied” by multiple team sources.

Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (NHL Images).

Kurz also reported that the Flyers aren’t actively shopping defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, and it’s expected he’ll remain with the club for the rest of this season.

THE PROVINCE: Pettersson’s agent, JP Barry, downplayed the trade rumors about his client during an appearance on The Donnie and Dhali Show on CHEK-TV. “For us, we know it’s not real unless the GM is calling and saying that there’s an actual team or a deal and ‘would you consider it’”, Barry said. “Nine out of 10 times, it’s just a rumor.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canucks beat writer Thomas Drance of The Athletic doesn’t rule out the possibility of a Pettersson trade if they receive a credible offer. However, he indicated that the Canucks aren’t aggressively shopping Pettersson, and he might be unwilling to waive his no-movement clause during the regular season.

UPDATES ON ARTEMI PANARIN, ALEXIS LAFRENIERE, AND BRADEN SCHNEIDER

THE ATHLETIC: Peter Baugh reports Artemi Panarin has not disclosed any potential trade destinations. The 34-year-old New York Rangers winger has a full no-movement clause.

Baugh believes it’s worth monitoring whether Panarin will agree to a contract extension with a new team in conjunction with a trade. That would take him off this summer’s free-agent market and could result in a better return for the Rangers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers have informed Panarin that they won’t be offering him a contract extension and are willing to help him find a suitable trade destination. There’s been plenty of conjecture over where he might go, but he hasn’t tipped his hand about his intentions.

Meanwhile, Alexis Lafrenière is in the first season of his seven-year contract, which has an average annual value of $7.45 million. However, that doesn’t make the 24-year-old winger safe from a potential trade. He lacks no-trade protection until the 2027-28 season.

If the Rangers deal Lafreniere, they’d likely want a young player in return. They could also opt to retain him because his trade value is currently at the lowest of his career. The young winger said Rangers general manager Chris Drury has not spoken with him individually about his future.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lafreniere surfaced as a trade candidate soon after the Rangers announced their intention to commence a quick roster rebuild. Given his contract, they can afford to wait for a good offer, but his inconsistent play hurts his value.

Baugh suggested that depth forwards Sam Carrick, Jonny Brodzinski, and Taylor Raddysh could be trade candidates by the March 6 deadline.

NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker reports the San Jose Sharks are believed to have an interest in Braden Schneider. The 24-year-old Rangers defenseman has a cap hit of $2.2 million and is slated to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights on July 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks have a crowded blueline, but they’ve got five defensemen (John Klingberg, Mario Ferraro, Timothy Liljegren, Vincent Desharnais, and Nick Leddy) who are UFA-eligible this summer, with Leddy recently demoted to the minors. They could attempt to get younger on their defense by acquiring Schneider, but that might mean the Rangers taking one of those veteran blueliners (Leddy?) as part of the return.

ARE THE KRAKEN SHOPPING SHANE WRIGHT?

TSN: Darren Dreger reports the Seattle Kraken are seeking a top-three winger or a top-six winger and could draw on their depth at center as trade bait.

Dreger claimed that teams are saying Kraken GM Jason Botterill is listening on Shane Wright, who they chose fourth overall in 2022. However, Botterill is in no rush to move the 22-year-old center, and Dreger indicated the asking price is “incredibly high.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wright is in the second season of his three-year entry-level contract. He had a promising 44-point campaign last season. However, his production and his playing time have been reduced this season, with 17 points in 49 games.

THE LATEST ON THE MAPLE LEAFS, OILERS, AND PANTHERS

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports the Toronto Maple Leafs have been exploring the trade market for defensemen for several weeks before recent injuries to Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Brandon Carlo.

LeBrun indicates that Winnipeg Jets defenseman (and former Leaf) Luke Schenn has been mentioned as one option. Dougie Hamilton of the New Jersey Devils could be another. LeBrun stated that the Leafs are believed to be on his 10-team trade list, but his contract is a complicating factor.

Meanwhile, the Edmonton Oilers are believed to be in the market for a top-nine forward, while the Florida Panthers are open to anything that will upgrade their roster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Salary cap space is an issue for all three clubs. They could be forced to seek out bargains rather than more significant acquisitions.










NHL Rumor Mill – January 21, 2026

by | Jan 21, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – January 21, 2026

Check out the latest on the Canucks, Flames, Rangers, and Kraken in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE CANUCKS AFTER THE SHERWOOD TRADE?

SPORTSNET: According to The Athletic’s Chris Johnston, there could be teams still intrigued by the skillset of Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson. Despite the decline in the 27-year-old’s production, some clubs could be wondering if he could regain the heights of his career-best 102-point performance in 2022-23.

Johnston noted that the Carolina Hurricanes were interested in Pettersson before he signed his current contract. He thinks they could still be a fit for the struggling Canucks center, especially as they’re willing to trade center Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who could also benefit from a reset.

Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (NHL Images).

NHL insider Frank Seravalli claimed some teams believe Pettersson could be traded this season, perhaps before the upcoming Olympic break from Feb. 4 to 22. He said the Canucks are in a spot where they’re willing to consider anything and everything.

Pettersson is in the second season of an eight-year contract with an average annual value of $11.6 million. However, if a club believes a change of scenery could rejuvenate his career, Seravalli suggested that Pettersson’s expensive cap hit doesn’t sound like a crazy risk profile.

THE ATHLETIC: Canucks beat writer Thomas Drance acknowledged that Canucks management is willing to entertain offers for their players.

However, he believes those in their late-twenties with term remaining on their contracts aren’t being aggressively shopped. That includes Pettersson, Brock Boeser, Conor Garland, Jake DeBrusk, and Marcus Pettersson.

Regarding Elias Pettersson, Drance believes a center would have to be part of the return to tempt the Canucks into trading him. He also stated that their level of interest in moving defenseman Filip Hronek is “virtually nil.”

Drance also stated that the Canucks aren’t using their draft picks as trade bait, particularly the four picks they hold in the first two rounds of this year’s draft.

Players that don’t factor into the Canucks plans beyond the March 6 trade deadline (Teddy Blueger, David Kampf, and Evander Kane) are the most likely to be moved.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks are likely reluctant to retain part of Pettersson’s cap hit to facilitate a trade because six years is a long time to have that dead cap space on their books. That consideration would require a significant offer from a rival club to convince them to do it.

The Hurricanes have the cap space to take on Pettersson’s full cap hit, but his declining production since 2023 would still make him an expensive gamble that could adversely affect their long-term cap room if he doesn’t improve, even if the Canucks would accept Kotkaniemi and his $4.82 million AAV in return.

THE LATEST FLAMES SPECULATION

TSN: Darren Dreger reports there are ongoing discussions between Calgary Flames general manager Craig Conroy and the representatives for center Nazem Kadri. That doesn’t mean a trade is imminent, but Kadri wants to do what’s best for the Flames.

Kadri also wants to win the Stanley Cup. Dreger believes there has been some “tire-kicking” by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings, and maybe the Dallas Stars.

Dreger stressed that there is no rush on the Flames’ part, and a lot of work to do if they were to trade Kadri.

Meanwhile, Pierre LeBrun reports Conroy didn’t say Kadri and winger Blake Coleman definitely aren’t moving, but he’s open to taking calls about them. LeBrun noted there is a market for Coleman, but the Flames are quite ready to retain the versatile winger given his leadership role with the club.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s understandable why there is so much interest in Kadri. There’s a need for centers in the trade market, and he’s a proven performer. However, he’s also 35 and carries an average annual value of $7 million through 2028-29 with a 13-team no-trade list. Those factors must be taken into consideration, especially for clubs with limited cap space for this season.

Coleman is reportedly drawing the most interest. He has more Stanley Cup experience than Kadri, carries a more affordable cap hit ($4.9 million), and is a versatile two-way forward. It wouldn’t be surprising if he gets moved instead of Kadri before the March 6 trade deadline. However, he’s signed through next season, so the Flames can be patient and wait for a good offer.

J.T. MILLER WON’T BE TRADED BY THE RANGERS

TSN: Pierre LeBrun doesn’t know why J.T. Miller is being mentioned as a trade candidate. He said the New York Rangers captain has no intention of waiving his no-movement clause, and management isn’t going to ask him to do so.

LeBrun pointed out that the Rangers acquired Miller last season and made him captain before this season. They still believe in the reasons why they brought him in.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Miller’s teammate, Mika Zibanejad, also reportedly doesn’t intend to waive his no-movement clause. Of the three Rangers’ forwards with NMCs, Artemi Panarin is the only one that management could move if he’s willing to waive his clause.

KRAKEN RUMORED TO BE SHOPPING JAMIE OLEKSIAK

EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples cited a report by NHL insider Frank Seravalli, claiming the Seattle Kraken are looking to move defenseman Jamie Oleksiak by the March 6 trade deadline.

The Kraken are jockeying for a wildcard berth in the Western Conference. Nevertheless, Seravalli said they’re in the same market in terms of trading veterans such as Oleksiak, Jaden Schwartz, and Jordan Eberle. Staples thinks Oleksiak could be a good rental addition to the Oilers’ blueline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oleksiak, Schwartz, and Eberle are original members of the Kraken, but they’re also UFA-eligible this summer. Management is transitioning the roster toward younger talent, which explains why they may be willing to part with those players at the deadline for draft picks despite the risk of scuttling their chances for a playoff spot.










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 14, 2026

by | Jan 14, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 14, 2026

Oilers captain Connor McDavid extends his points streak, the Lightning set a franchise record, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid collected two assists to extend his points streak to 20 games, but his club dropped a 4-3 decision to the Nashville Predators on an overtime goal by Roman Josi, who finished the game with two goals. Juuse Saros stopped 28 shots for the 22-20-4 Predators. Zach Hyman tallied twice, and Leon Draisaitl had a goal and two points for the Oilers (23-16-8).

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers goaltender Tristan Jarry made 23 saves and defenseman Jake Walman logged over 17 minutes as both returned from lengthy absences due to injuries. Meanwhile, Predators winger Jonathan Marchessault missed his 13th straight game with a lower-body injury and was placed on injured reserve.

The Tampa Bay Lightning won a franchise-record 11th straight game by nipping the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 on a shootout goal by Nikita Kucherov. J.J. Moser scored in regulation, and Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 26 shots for the Lightning (29-13-3), who hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 61 points. Evgeni Malkin replied for the Penguins (21-14-10), who are winless in their last three games (0-2-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Both clubs were missing a key player in this contest. Lightning center Brayden Point is week-to-week with an injured knee. It is not considered season-ending, but his participation in next month’s Winter Olympics for Canada’s men’s hockey team is in question. Meanwhile, Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson missed this game with an undisclosed ailment that has landed him on injured reserve. He will be reevaluated in two weeks.

Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman turned aside 24 shots as his club picked up its fourth consecutive win, and the second straight by shutout, as they blanked the Detroit Red Wings 3-0. Pavel Zacha, Fraser Minten, and Mark Kastelic were the goal scorers for the 26-19-2 Bruins. Cam Talbot stopped 38 of 40 shots for the Red Wings (28-16-4) as their four-game win streak ended.

The Columbus Blue Jackets picked up their first win under new head coach Rick Bowness by defeating the Calgary Flames 5-3. Boone Jenner snapped a 3-3 tie while Zach Werenski and Charlie Coyle each had a goal and two assists for the 20-19-7 Blue Jackets. Morgan Frost and Mikael Backlund each had a goal and an assist as the Flames dropped to 19-23-4.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flames winger Blake Coleman missed this game with an undisclosed injury and was placed on IR. The Flames sent forward Martin Pospisil to their AHL affiliate in Calgary for a conditioning stint as he works his way back into the lineup from an undisclosed injury that has sidelined him from this season. Blue Jackets defensemen Denton Mateychuk (upper-body injury) and Damon Severson (illness) missed this game.

St. Louis Blues goaltender Joel Hofer collected his fourth shutout of the season with a 33-save performance to beat the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0. Nick Bjugstad, Dalibor Dvorsky, and Jimmy Snuggerud scored for the Blues (18-21-8) as they snapped a three-game losing skid. Brandon Bussi turned aside 28 shots for the 28-15-4 Hurricanes, who hold first place in the Metropolitan Division with 60 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Blues announced the signing of defenseman Logan Mailloux to a one-year, $850,000 contract extension. Hurricanes blueliner Jaccob Slavin missed this game due to injury rehab protocol, meaning they want him to avoid playing back-to-back after returning from a lengthy injury on Monday.

The Washington Capitals overcame a 2-0 deficit for a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Ethan Frank tallied twice to tie the game in regulation before Connor McMichael won it in overtime for the 24-17-6 Capitals. Josh Anderson and Brendan Gallagher scored for the Canadiens (26-14-7), who are 4-1-1 in their last six contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens scratched Kaiden Guhle from this game. Like Slavin, they wanted him to avoid playing in back-to-back games so soon after returning from a long absence due to an injury.

Winnipeg Jets forwards Adam Lowry and Kyle Connor each had a goal and an assist as their club held off the New York Islanders 5-4. Mark Scheifele collected two assists for the 18-22-5 Jets as they picked up their third straight victory. Emil Heineman had a goal and an assist for the Islanders (25-16-5).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Islanders got a scare when rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer was injured twice during this game, including taking a Luke Schenn slapshot off his right knee in the second period. He’d also been taken off the ice by a concussion spotter in the first period, but was cleared to return. Schaefer missed the post-game interview because he was having his knee evaluated by team doctors.

The Toronto Maple Leafs’ 10-game points streak ended with a 6-1 loss to the Utah Mammoth. Dylan Guenther tallied two goals and an assist, and Jake McBain had a goal and two assists for the Mammoth, who improved to 23-20-4. Calle Jarnkrok replied for the 23-16-7 Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs winger Nick Robertson missed this game as he’s day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal made 24 saves as his club snapped a nine-game winless skid (0-8-1) by downing the Dallas Stars 3-1. Chris Kreider, Beckett Sennecke, and Jacob Trouba scored for the 22-21-3 Ducks. Roope Hintz tallied for the Stars (27-11-9).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ducks were already short on forwards as Frank Vatrano and Tory Terry were sidelined with upper-body injuries. Center Leo Carlsson (upper-body injury) and winger Cutter Gauthier (illness) also missed this game. Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen was absent due to a personal family matter.

First-period goals scored 15 seconds apart by Artem Zub and Jordan Spence lifted the Ottawa Senators to a 2-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks, snapping a four-game losing streak and improving their record to 21-19-5. Elias Pettersson replied for the Canucks (16-25-8), who are 0-6-2 in their last eight games.