Detroit quarterback Jared Goff had an almost flawless performance in “passing the test,” helping the NFC team take a 14-7 lead over the AFC during the opening night of the Pro Bowl Games on Thursday.
With some help from Green Bay running back Josh Jacobs in an NFL trivia contest, Goff showed off his passing skills by hitting every target and more in just one minute and 30 seconds. He earned 44 points for the NFC, five points more than his teammate Sam Darnold from Minnesota.
Goff, Darnold, and Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield easily beat the AFC quarterbacks, which included Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow, New England’s Drake Maye, and Pittsburgh’s Russell Wilson.
The passing game was the highlight of the six events on the opening night. The NFC also won two out of three relay races, a skills contest called “satisfying catches,” and a game show for NFL teammates called “helmet harmony,” which resembled “The Newlywed Game.”
Sam Darnold passes in the 2nd half
The two teams split the two dodgeball games. Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams from the New York Jets gave the AFC a win in “the big spike” with his powerful throwdown of a football.
Some other fun moments: the Bosa brothers, Joey and Nick, turned their leg of a relay race into speed walking, and Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase made one-handed catches on the first three balls thrown to him in the “satisfying catches” contest.
Four more skills events will be shown on Sunday, each worth three points, before the Pro Bowl Games wrap up with a flag football game.
“We’ve got the lead, and that’s good,” NFC coach Eli Manning said. “It just shows the heart, the preparation, everything, the commitment of these guys. They’ve been grinding. They’re looking forward to this. They want the three-peat. (Everyone) has been talking about Kansas City next week with a three-peat. Really, all eyes are on the Pro Bowl for the three-peat (for the) NFC right now.”
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott speaks during a news conference after an NFL football game
Although it was tough for Sean McDermott to end another Bills season without reaching the Super Bowl, he remains confident that future opportunities are ahead for Buffalo.
Having an elite quarterback like Josh Allen is a big plus, and knowing the Bills made it to the AFC Championship game — a 32-29 loss to Kansas City on Sunday — with a younger, retooled roster makes McDermott even more optimistic. The team gained valuable experience this season, winning 13 regular-season games and claiming its fifth straight division title.
McDermott’s confidence comes from the consistent success he and general manager Brandon Beane have built, as the team has reached the playoffs seven times in eight years, including five straight years in the divisional round.
“I’m confident in who we are,” McDermott said at his end-of-season press conference, acknowledging the team’s failure to turn regular-season success into a Super Bowl appearance.
“I’d rather be in the position we’re in, where we’re continually knocking on the door,” he added. “If you keep doing the right thing, eventually that door will open.”
Don’t mistake McDermott’s optimism for being satisfied with where the team stands.
“No one in this building, myself included, is comfortable or content with where we’re at,” he said. “What’s left is to go win a world championship, which is a lofty goal, but one that we pursue relentlessly.”
The Bills became the first team in NFL history to win 11 or more games for five straight seasons without reaching the Super Bowl. They have been eliminated four times by Kansas City, including twice in the AFC Championship game, and lost to Cincinnati in the 2022 divisional round.
Josh Allen passes in the 1st half
Beane believes the Bills are well-positioned to challenge the Chiefs.
“Give them credit. The entire league is chasing them. And we’re right there. I don’t know what else you expect to do other than if you think we should blow the roster up or strip it down,” said Beane.
“That is not how I see this. This is not a team that’s got a bunch of 33-year-olds, 34-year-olds that you just need to reset,” he continued. “And when you look holistically at what we’ve done year after year after year, I think a lot of people would sign up for that.”
Buffalo is in a better position going into this offseason than it was last year, when salary cap issues forced the team to part with six of eight team captains.
Depending on where the NFL sets the salary cap for the 2025 season, the Bills are projected to be slightly over the cap but with a more manageable number.
Beane doesn’t expect to spend much in free agency, as he needs to save money to re-sign several players, including receiver Khalil Shakir, running back James Cook, and linebacker Terrel Bernard, who are all due for contract extensions after this season.
Cutting veteran edge rusher Von Miller is an option to free up more than $8 million in cap space. Beane hasn’t ruled out finding a way to keep the soon-to-be 36-year-old, crediting Miller for taking a major pay cut by restructuring his contract last year.
Beane and McDermott spent over an hour each discussing various team matters.
Green Bay Packers linebackers coach Anthony Campanile yells instructions during the first half of a preseason NFL football game
The Jacksonville Jaguars hired Green Bay assistant Anthony Campanile as their new defensive coordinator on Thursday night, giving him the task of improving one of the worst defensive units in the team’s history.
In 2024, the Jaguars (4-13) ranked 31st in yards allowed (389.9 per game) and 28th in points allowed (25.6 per game) under first-year defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen. Nielsen was fired, along with coach Doug Pederson, offensive coordinator Press Taylor, and most of the coaching staff.
Last week, Jacksonville hired former Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Liam Coen to replace Pederson, and Coen made Campanile one of his first hires. Many believe this is a crucial move, given how poorly the defense has performed in recent years.
“Anthony Campanile represents exactly what we want to be as a defensive unit and football team,” Coen said. “He brings an aggressive defensive mindset and a system that is adaptable to our players and allows them to play fast and physical.”
The Jaguars’ defense has ranked 20th or worse in total defense every year since 2018. Under Pederson, they finished 24th, 22nd, and 31st over three seasons. The defense also struggled in close games in 2024, finishing with a 3-10 record in one-score games.
Green Bay Packers players in the practice
Now, it’s up to Campanile to improve the unit. Many believe he has enough talent to turn things around quickly, with key players like linebacker Foye Oluokun, cornerback Tyson Campbell, and defensive ends Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker. The Jaguars also have the fifth overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft and more than $30 million in salary-cap space.
Campanile is starting his sixth NFL season and his first as a defensive coordinator. In 2024, he was the linebackers coach and run game coordinator for Green Bay, where the Packers allowed the seventh-fewest rushing yards per game (99.4).
Before joining the Packers, Campanile spent four seasons as the linebackers coach for Miami (2020-2023). He has also worked at the college level with Michigan (2019), Boston College (2016-2018), and Rutgers (2012-2015).
The Jaguars also interviewed former Las Vegas defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, Los Angeles Rams assistant Aubrey Pleasant, and Minnesota assistant Daronte Jones for the position.
Jalen Hurts holds the championship trophy after the game
Jalen Hurts smiled when Nick Sirianni shouted on stage after the Philadelphia Eagles won the NFC Championship: “All he does is win.”
Hurts has faced criticism throughout his career, but the numbers speak for themselves, and Sirianni is right. Hurts has a record of 89-27 as a starting quarterback in both college and the NFL.
The only thing he’s missing is a Super Bowl ring. Hurts will have another chance to get one when the Eagles (17-3) play Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs (17-2) on February 9 in New Orleans.
Two years ago, Hurts had an incredible game against the Chiefs, throwing for 304 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 70 yards and three touchdowns. However, he lost a fumble, which the Chiefs returned for a touchdown during their 38-35 comeback win.
Coming close isn’t enough, especially in Philadelphia, a city that measures success by championship celebrations.
Hurts’ background photo on his phone shows him walking off the field in Arizona, with red and yellow confetti falling around him.
“The mission is to go take advantage of the opportunities we present ourselves with,” Hurts said. “But also I have my history and the things that I’ve experienced that I can use as tools to help those around me and help myself.”
Hurts has plenty of big-game experience. As a freshman at Alabama, he helped his team reach the national championship, though they lost to Clemson. The next year, he led them back to the title game, but he was benched at halftime, and Tua Tagovailoa led Alabama to a comeback victory over Clemson.
Hurts spent his junior year backing up Tagovailoa before coming in during the fourth quarter of another loss to Clemson in the national championship.
He transferred to Oklahoma for his senior season, leading the Sooners to a 12-2 record and finishing second in the Heisman Trophy race behind Joe Burrow.
Despite his success in college, Hurts was selected in the second round of the NFL draft by the Eagles at No. 53. Joe Burrow (1st), Tua Tagovailoa (5th), Justin Herbert (6th), and Jordan Love (26th) were all drafted ahead of him.
Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts celebrate after the win
Burrow made it to the Super Bowl
Burrow is the only one of those quarterbacks to make it to a Super Bowl, and he lost. Hurts is the first quarterback to return to the big game after losing his first time, following in the footsteps of Jim Kelly, who lost four Super Bowls in a row with the Bills from 1990 to 1993.
Despite his success, Hurts remains underrated.
He started his NFL career as a backup to Carson Wentz and had a utility role, even playing wide receiver at times. He became the Eagles’ starting quarterback later in the 2020 season and has since led them to four straight playoff appearances.
After the 2021 season ended with a playoff loss to Tampa Bay, questions arose about Hurts’ future with the Eagles. They considered bringing in another quarterback, but they decided to stick with him. Hurts finished second to Mahomes for NFL MVP in 2022 and nearly beat him in the Super Bowl.
After a 10-1 start, the Eagles faced a major collapse, and Hurts received more criticism during the offseason. There was talk about his leadership and his relationship with Sirianni. His friendship with A.J. Brown was also questioned this season.
Through it all, Hurts and the Eagles kept winning.
Hurts’ numbers went down because Saquon Barkley had one of the best seasons in NFL history, and the Eagles shifted to a run-first offense.
Critics wondered if Hurts could still win when the team couldn’t rely on Barkley. But every time the Eagles needed Hurts to step up in the passing game, he did, like in a late-season win over the Steelers and a dominant 55-23 victory over the Commanders.
Joe Burrow Leads Bengals’ Late Playoff Push Amid Challenging Season and Slim Postseason Odds
“It’s amazing how much doubt there is sometimes,” Sirianni said about Hurts’ critics. “I can’t quite comprehend it because it doesn’t look like what people think it should look like. But the guy has been clutch. He’s won a ton of football games. ‘But you ran for this many yards.’
We don’t care how we win. We don’t care. If we rush for 300 and pass for one and we win, great. If we rush for one and pass for 300, great. Who cares? We’ve just continued to win. He’s just continued to win. I think the criticism is. … yeah, whatever. He just wins. I said what I said after the game and that’s kind of how I feel.”
Since his freshman year at Alabama in 2016, Hurts has had nine different play-callers in nine seasons. If offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is hired by the New Orleans Saints as their head coach, that number will be 10 next year.
But that won’t change Hurts’ mindset.
“The standard is to win. That’s my standard,” Hurts said. He’s been a consistent winner, but the biggest victory is still ahead.
Newly appointed Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson is confident that a lengthy rebuilding process is unnecessary. At his introductory press conference, Johnson expressed his belief that the team can be competitive by 2025. He is focused on creating a winning team sooner rather than later, with little to no delay in the team’s development.
Johnson made it clear that his primary goal is to win immediately. He emphasized that the Bears’ mission, starting this spring, is to achieve success right away. Excited about his new role, he conveyed his understanding of the responsibilities it entails and expressed his eagerness to begin working toward turning the team’s fortunes around.
Ben Johnson (MLB)
A major component of Johnson’s strategy will be to build the offense around quarterback Caleb Williams. He believes Williams has the potential to develop into a leader and guide the team to success. Johnson also highlighted the importance of the quarterback position in modern NFL football, noting that the Bears’ success will rely heavily on Williams’ growth and leadership.
Despite the Bears’ disappointing performance in 2024, where they finished at the bottom of the NFC North, Johnson is determined to make a swift turnaround. He made it clear that his goal is to improve the team’s performance rapidly, restoring competitiveness and driving the franchise forward in a short amount of time.
As the trade deadline approaches, LeBron James stands at a critical point in his illustrious career. At 40 years old, his time in the NBA is more limited, and his window to chase another championship is narrowing. LeBron has spent over two decades ensuring his teams are competitive, pushing organizations to build championship-caliber rosters. However, this season, his timeline has become more focused on the present, as next year is uncertain. His ability to fend off Father Time may not last forever, and the idea of a future title chase is no longer a guarantee.
LeBron has jokingly stated that he could play for five more seasons, but the reality is his career is now very much focused on each season as it comes. For the first time, looking too far ahead could be irresponsible. This shift in perspective has highlighted the importance of the Lakers’ moves this season. With LeBron’s age, the urgency to improve the team for a potential title run is undeniable, but the question is how the Lakers will act to strengthen the roster in his favor.
Anthony Davis and Lebron James (NBA)
The Role of Anthony Davis in the Lakers’ Future
While LeBron’s age makes him the focal point of the Lakers’ pursuit of a championship, Anthony Davis’ role in team building is equally critical. Davis is aware of what it takes to win a championship and understands the difference between good and great teammates. His partnership with LeBron, which led to an NBA title, showcases their synergy. Furthermore, their bond was reinforced with a gold medal at the 2024 Olympics, where LeBron earned MVP honors, proving his continued excellence.
From Davis’ perspective, the current Lakers roster falls short of the level necessary for a championship contender. Despite good players surrounding them, the team lacks the star power and depth to compete with the league’s top teams. Davis knows that elite duos like those in Boston (Tatum and Brown), Dallas (Luka and Kyrie), and Phoenix (Durant and Booker) have built strong foundations. However, the Lakers’ duo of LeBron and Davis stands among the best in the league and may be the best chance for a title right now.
Looking at the broader league, Davis recognizes that pairing with LeBron gives him a unique opportunity. While other teams have star duos, few can match the level of both LeBron and Davis. Davis’ trust in LeBron, developed over their championship run, plays a significant role in the Lakers’ success. Given the parity in the NBA and the difficulty of forming such high-caliber duos, Davis must understand that this partnership may be the most promising avenue for a title in the immediate future.
Assessing the Lakers’ Window of Opportunity
For Davis, the question becomes whether this current moment represents his best chance to win. Even if a new superstar could join the Lakers in the future, the time required to develop chemistry and build a strong roster may make that a long-term process. The Lakers’ current window with LeBron, despite his age, remains wide open due to the trust, experience, and history between the two superstars. Team-building efforts will not be more favorable than they are now.
With both LeBron and Davis at crucial stages of their careers, the Lakers cannot afford to waste this opportunity. The trade deadline presents a chance to bolster the roster and ensure that both stars have the supporting cast necessary to make a legitimate title run. While LeBron’s age is a factor, it is also Davis’ timeline that should guide the Lakers’ decision-making. This could be one of the last chances for the Lakers to build a championship team around both of them.
Ultimately, the decision-makers for the Lakers, including Rob Pelinka, must recognize that the window is open now. This is not just for LeBron’s sake but also for Anthony Davis, who is approaching his 32nd birthday. Davis, despite being in his prime, may not find a better opportunity to win a title with the current roster and his current teammate. This trade deadline represents a crucial moment to go all in, ensuring that both LeBron and Davis have the support they need to chase one more championship together.
Brandon Graham’s possible return to the Eagles is getting closer.
On Thursday, the Eagles opened Graham’s practice window, meaning there’s still a chance he could play in Super Bowl LIX against the Chiefs next Sunday in New Orleans.
Graham has been on Injured Reserve since November 26, following a triceps tear during the Eagles’ win over the Rams in Inglewood, California.
The Eagles were scheduled to practice Thursday, Friday, and Saturday this week before heading to New Orleans on Sunday. Graham won’t be counted on the 53-man roster unless the team activates him from Injured Reserve.
After the Eagles won the NFC Championship Game, Graham told NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Dave Zangaro that he had an exam scheduled to see if he could return after just 11 weeks.
“I’ve been working, man, but we’re going to see,” Graham said. “At the end of the day, I’m just happy we got there. Them boys scored 55 today. That’s what’s up. That might be telling me something.”
This was a reference to B.G.’s jersey number since 2013.
Graham was a key player in the Eagles’ win over the Patriots in Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis. His strip sack of Tom Brady with 2:16 left in the game helped the Eagles win 41-33, and it remains one of the most memorable moments in franchise history.
Brandon Graham and Josh Sweat in the 1st half
Graham and Lane Johnson are the only position players left from the Eagles’ only Super Bowl championship.
At 36, Graham was playing at a high level in his 15th season before getting injured. He had 3 ½ sacks, one forced fumble, six tackles for loss, seven quarterback hits, and two pass knockdowns in 11 games, averaging 28 snaps per game.
In his last game, Graham increased his career sack total to 76 ½, moving past Clyde Simmons (76) and into third place in Eagles history behind Reggie White (124) and former teammate Trent Cole (85 ½).
Graham holds the franchise record with 5 ½ career postseason sacks, though Nolan Smith is only one behind him.
With Graham out, Vic Fangio has used a three-man edge rush rotation with Smith, Josh Sweat, and rookie Jalyx Hunt. Smith has 10 ½ sacks, including four in the postseason; Sweat has 8.0 but none in his last five games; and Hunt has 2 ½, including one in the playoff win over the Rams. Bryce Huff, a big-money free agent, has played just 13 snaps in the postseason, mostly in garbage time.
Graham said Sunday that whether he plays or not, he’ll be an important part of the team’s Super Bowl push.
“I’m with it regardless,” he said. “Yes or no, it don’t matter. I’m just happy these guys is just working their butt off and now we got to the Super Bowl. Now we gotta go finish.”
Jason Kelce has strong feelings for both teams in Super Bowl LIX. On one side is his younger brother Travis, tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, who has been part of his life for over 35 years. On the other side is the Philadelphia Eagles, the team he played with for 13 years after being drafted in the sixth round in 2011.
The last time the Chiefs and Eagles met in the Super Bowl — Super Bowl LVII in 2022 — Jason Kelce played against his brother. Kansas City won for the second time in four seasons, but the Kelce family had divided support.
Now, with Jason Kelce retired from the NFL and Travis Kelce and the Chiefs back in the Super Bowl for a third consecutive title, it might seem clear who Jason is supporting. But Jason shared on the “New Heights” podcast that it’s not that simple.
“I’ll always root for my brother,” Kelce said while wearing an Eagles hat and shirt. “I’m always going to root for Travis. But there are a lot of people in the Philadelphia organization, whether it’s players, coaches, or staff, who feel like family to me, especially my former linemen. Like, Lane Johnson feels like a brother.”
“I’m rooting for those guys, too. I’m rooting for Philadelphia and I’m rooting for Travis Kelce, and that’s the reality of it. No matter what, on game day, I’ll be happy for one team and sad for the other.”
Travis Kelce celebrates after the game
“It’s similar to the last time we played [in the Super Bowl], maybe a little less intense because I’m not playing now. I think it’s going to be very similar. I live in Philadelphia, I still visit the facilities regularly. I still feel like I’m a Philadelphia Eagle and part of the people who root for our team.”
“I’d be lying if I said I don’t want the Eagles to win. I want them to. But I also want Travis Kelce to win. That’s a long-winded way of saying I just want to see a good football game, and whoever wins, I’ll be happy for that side.”
As for Jason’s wife, Kylie, she said on her “Not Gonna Lie” podcast that they plan to go to the game and cheer. Kylie Kelce mentioned that she’ll cheer for Travis, but added, “That being said, I was raised to bleed green.”
Jason Kelce, now also a panelist on ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown,” said he won’t wear red during the Super Bowl. Travis Kelce suggested he wear a half-and-half jersey, like their mother Donna did when the Chiefs and Eagles met in the Super Bowl before. Jason turned down the idea and said he might choose something that represents their podcast, but not in red or green.
Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker is being accused of acting inappropriately at four spas and wellness centers in the Baltimore area, according to a report by the *Baltimore Banner*.
Six massage therapists claim Tucker “expos[ed] his genitals, brush[ed] two of them with his exposed penis, and le[ft] what they believed to be ejaculate on the massage table after three of his treatments.” Some therapists reportedly ended sessions early and refused to work with Tucker again after incidents that happened between 2012 and 2016.
“Five of the women said Tucker asked them to massage his pelvic region or inner thighs while he had an erection. Then they said he repeatedly wiggled his pelvis to remove the sheets, which fully or partially exposed his genitals.
Two women said Tucker brushed them with his exposed penis. Three said, when they returned to the treatment room after Tucker left, they discovered a large wet spot on the massage table, which they strongly believed to be ejaculate.”
Tucker, 35, joined the Ravens in May 2012 as an undrafted free agent and has played for the team his entire 13-year NFL career.
A representative from one spa said Tucker was “immediately terminated as a client” after a reported 2014 incident. One therapist said she shared her experience with others “over the years,” calling it “really degrading.”
Baltimore’s Justin Tucker faces sexual misconduct allegations from six massage therapists
A lawyer for another spa, now closed, said the business “took immediate and decisive action to ban this individual from our business and services to ensure a safe environment for all.” The owner allegedly told Tucker by phone he was not allowed to return.
Tucker denied the claims in a social media post Thursday, calling them “unequivocally false.” His lawyers said the allegations are “impossible to prove” and stated Tucker has never been banned from the spas. They added: “Mr. Tucker has never behaved inappropriately during any massage therapy session, and certainly never in the manner described [by the Banner]. Any suggestion to the contrary is a fictitious and utterly baseless claim.”
An NFL spokesperson said the league learned of the claims through the reporter’s investigation and will “look into the matter.” One therapist involved said, “I can’t watch sports anymore. I see his face everywhere.”
The women did not report the incidents to police. Legal experts told the *Banner* the time limit for legal action has expired. However, the NFL could still punish Tucker under its conduct policy, which prohibits behavior that “undermines or puts at risk the integrity of the NFL.”
In 2022, the NFL suspended Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson for 11 games and fined him $5 million after 24 women accused him of sexual assault and misconduct during massage sessions in civil lawsuits.
The Minnesota Wild passed their first challenge without star forward Kirill Kaprizov and are aiming to keep that momentum going when they face the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night.
On Tuesday, the Wild announced that Kaprizov, who leads the team in goals (23), assists (29), and points (52), will miss at least four weeks after having surgery for a lower-body injury.
Despite his absence, the Wild secured a 3-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday, relying on strong team play, solid defense, and goaltending, with timely depth scoring.
“More often than not, we play a really strong team game,” said Minnesota coach John Hynes. “Tonight, we played a very structured game. … We had depth scoring, but I also think that those guys brought energy to the team. I think that the competitive level throughout the lineup was where it needs to be.”
The Wild have a 19-5-3 road record, leading the NHL in road wins and with the fewest regulation losses in the league.
In goal for Minnesota will be Marc-Andre Fleury, who grew up just an hour east of Montreal and will play in his final game in his home province of Quebec. Fleury, 40, has a 10-5-1 record this season, with a 2.76 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage. Over 100 of his family and friends will be at the game.
“Always feel such an honor to play on (the Canadiens’) ice,” Fleury said. “It’ll be very special, for sure.”
Patrik Laine- Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens, meanwhile, are on a three-game losing streak and are eager to turn things around. They’ve been outscored 12-6 during their 0-2-1 slide, which comes after a 13-3-1 run that had them in the playoff race.
Montreal enters the game two points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
“It’s a key time,” said Canadiens center Jake Evans. “We can’t let the losses pile up and take us out of the race. It’s time for us to show that we can still be a playoff team.”
The Canadiens lost 4-1 to the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday, marking their longest losing streak since a six-game skid in October-November.
“I don’t want to say we’ve gotten away from a simple game, but I think we have maybe a little bit,” said defenseman Kaiden Guhle before the game against Winnipeg. “… I think that’s something we have to get back to. I don’t think we’ve gotten away from it totally, but I think it might have slipped just a tad.”
Unfortunately, Guhle will not be available to help Montreal get back on track. He suffered a lacerated left quadricep in Tuesday’s game and underwent surgery on Wednesday, with no timeline for his return.
Guhle has been a key player on defense, averaging 21:14 of ice time this season.
“When you lose a player like that, you don’t replace him with one player,” said Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis. “It’s our collective game that will help us get through this, so that’s what we will focus on.”
As the 4-Nations Face-Off tournament and the upcoming break in February approach, the Tampa Bay Lightning are hoping for some stability as January wraps up.
After playing 15 games in 27 days, the Lightning will finish a difficult January on Thursday night with a home game against the Los Angeles Kings.
The Lightning have a record of 6-8-1 in January, and they’ve been struggling with a 1-4-0 record in their last five games. This includes a 2-0 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday and a 4-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday.
Because of this slide, the Lightning have dropped from third place in the Atlantic Division to the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Things are not looking good in downtown Tampa despite the team’s strong 15-7-1 record at home.
“There’s not a magic potion of what you’re going to say that makes anybody feel better,” said Lightning coach Jon Cooper. “Guys are frustrated. Sometimes you have to let them breathe, take a breath and circle back tomorrow. We get to have a practice. I think we’ve had two in the whole month.”
The team was without their top goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy (illness) for the game against Chicago, which was a must-win situation for Tampa Bay. Despite a 34-save performance from Chicago’s goalie Arvid Soderblom, Brayden Point scored his team-leading 28th goal with an assist from Nikita Kucherov, who reached 74 points in 47 games.
Los Angeles Kings (NHL)
Captain Victor Hedman will play his 1,100th game on Thursday.
The Kings, on the other hand, lost 3-0 to the Florida Panthers on Wednesday, making them 0-2-1 on their five-game road trip.
However, Los Angeles received some good news when veteran defenseman Drew Doughty made his season debut. Doughty had missed the first 47 games of the season after breaking his left ankle in the preseason.
Doughty will help improve the Kings’ power play, which ranks 29th in the league, but Kings coach Jim Hiller is managing expectations for him as he works his way back.
“We want to keep the expectations realistic for him,” Hiller said. “It’s going to take a little time for him to get into form, but we’re happy. We’re starting the process. It has been a long time, but the guys have done a really good job in his absence.”
Jordan Spence, a defenseman from Australia, has been performing well lately, with four points (one goal and three assists) in his last six games.
Forward Adrian Kempe has been productive for the Kings, scoring seven goals this month.
The New York Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers will face off again on Thursday night in Philadelphia, marking the third meeting between the two teams in just two weeks.
The Flyers won the first game 5-3 on January 16, but the Islanders have been on a strong run since, winning all five games they’ve played, including a 3-1 victory in the rematch last Friday.
Now, the two teams will meet again for the final match of their three-game January series. Their last matchup of the season is scheduled for April 12 in Philadelphia. Both teams are looking for more wins as they remain behind other teams in the standings.
Despite their recent success, the Islanders are still in seventh place in the Metropolitan Division, just one point behind the Flyers.
The Islanders have allowed only seven goals in their last five games, with another solid defensive performance in Tuesday’s 5-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche.
“On this stretch, we’ve gotten (back) to our brand of hockey,” said Islanders captain Anders Lee. “We executed (our style) well. It feels natural, the way it’s come together.”
Ilya Sorokin made 30 saves in the game, and Simon Holmstrom scored twice and added an assist. Bo Horvat also scored, bringing his total to eight goals in the last 10 games.
“Ilya was outstanding in that game,” said Islanders coach Patrick Roy, highlighting Sorokin’s performance.
The Islanders scored four goals in the third period to turn a close game into a dominant win. However, Roy believes there’s still room for improvement.
Philadelphia Flyers celebrates after scoring
“How many times have I said (that) you don’t need to be perfect to win hockey games?” Roy said. “That’s exactly what we did. We gave ourselves a chance tonight.”
Meanwhile, the Flyers struggled in their last game on Wednesday, suffering a 5-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils. Samuel Ersson allowed four goals before being pulled halfway through the game. Coach John Tortorella said after the game that the Flyers struggled with killing penalties.
“We still think we’re there. It just got away from us with not being able to kill penalties,” Tortorella said.
Tortorella confirmed that Ivan Fedotov, who replaced Ersson, will start in goal against the Islanders. He expressed the hope that playing again so soon will help the team move past their loss.
“That’s all we’re looking for,” Tortorella said.
The Flyers have lost three of their last four games, managing just two goals in those three defeats. One of those losses came in the most recent game against the Islanders, where Tyson Foerster scored first but the Islanders came back with goals from Brock Nelson, earning a 3-1 win.
“We got beat tonight, fair and square,” said Flyers forward Scott Laughton. “We’re lucky that we get another division game (Thursday), but we got beat tonight. It’s a good hockey team, but we need to be better at this time of year.”
