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.