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Nathan MacKinnon Colorado Avalanche - In Play! magazine
The last day of January was eventful: a new mark was set for most goals in a calendar month by defensemen, Nathan MacKinnon emerged as the first 40-goal scorer. Photo: Tim Jarrold - In Play! magazine.
01
Feb

NHL JANUARY 31 2026 – AROUND THE RINKS ON A BUSY 14-GAME SATURDAY

Updates from the last day of January, including an all-time NHL mark by defensemen, the League’s first 40-goal scorer of the season and milestones among many others.

  • The Colorado Avalanche dominated the Detroit Red Wings 5-0 yesterday at Little Caesars Arena. Nathan MacKinnon scored twice, becoming the NHL’s first 40-goal scorer this season. Brent Burns, Ross Colton, and Parker Kelly also tallied for Colorado, while goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood earned a 28-save shutout.
  • Quinn Hughes (1-1—2) and Brock Faber (1-1—2) both posted multi-point outings, with the former setting the franchise record for longest point streak by a defenseman (8 GP), as the Wild (32-14-10, 74 points) defeated the Oilers (28-20-8, 64 points) to maintain second place in the Central Division. Hughes, who also tied for the second-longest streak in Wild history overall, was one of 14 blueliners to find the back of the net Saturday, helping to set an NHL mark for a calendar month.
  • Nathan MacKinnon (2-1—3) became the NHL’s first 40-goal scorer this season and will be the League’s fifth player with as many goals entering an Olympic break, joining Sidney Crosby (42 in 2010), Alex Ovechkin (42 in 2010 & 40 in 2014), Teemu Selanne (41 in 1998) and Jaromir Jagr (40 in 2006).
  • Roman Josi (1-1—2) scored a highlight-reel tally with 1:14 remaining in regulation to lift the Predators to victory and reach the 200-goal milestone. Josi became the 24th defenseman in NHL history to reach the mark and just the fifth blueliner born outside of North America on that list, following Nicklas Lidstrom (264), Sergei Gonchar (220), Zdeno Chara (209) and Erik Karlsson (204).
  • Karlsson (0-1—1) factored on one of six Pittsburgh goals to reach the 700-assist milestone as the Penguins extended their win streak to six games and improved their point percentage since the holiday break to .824 – the second best among all teams behind only the Lightning (.906). Karlsson, who will represent Sweden at the upcoming Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, became the second Swedish defenseman in NHL history to hit 700 assists, joining Lidstrom (878).
  • After the Hurricanes took a 3-0 lead, Jakob Chychrun (1-1—2) scored to pull the Capitals even and set the stage for Justin Sourdif’s overtime winner as Washington earned the NHL’s seventh three-goal comeback win since Jan. 1. Only five other months in NHL history have featured as many: November 1987 (9), March 2024 (8), December 2018 (8), December 2014 (8) and December 1985 (7).
  • Cole Caufield (2-0—2) scored the tying and go-ahead goals to help Montreal (31-17-7, 69 points) earn their eighth third-period comeback win of the season – tied with Vegas for the most – and overtake Buffalo (31-18-5, 67 points) for third in the Atlantic Division. Caufield finished January with a League-high 13 goals, which is the most in a calendar month by a Canadiens player since Guy Lafleur (13 in Jan. 1979).
  • Zach Werenski (19-41—60 in 50 GP) assisted on Columbus’ game-winning goal for his 60th point of the season and became the fifth active defenseman to reach the mark in 50 or fewer games, joining Cale Makar (46 GP in 2023-24), Karlsson (46 GP in 2022-23), Hughes (48 GP in 2024-25 & 49 GP in 2023-24) and John Carlson (49 GP in 2019-20). Werenski also tied Artemi Panarin (50 GP in 2018-19) as the fastest Blue Jackets player to reach 60 points in a single season.

NHL Morning Skate – Feb. 1, 2026

  • Approximately 63,000 fans are expected at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa for the 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series, a clash between the NHL’s two hottest teams since Jan. 1 – Tampa Bay (.855) and Boston (.821) have the League’s top two points percentages in that span – with the puck-drop temperature expected to be cooler than originally anticipated (45°F/7°C).
  • The last day of January was eventful: a new mark was set for most goals in a calendar month by defensemen, Nathan MacKinnon emerged as the first 40-goal scorer of the season and Erik Karlsson became the second Swedish blueliner in League history to record 700 career assists.
  • Only 37 NHL games remain before players head to Milan, including two of three today as part of an ESPN doubleheader – as the Golden Knights and Ducks follow the outdoor game in Tampa.

HOTTEST TEAMS IN 2026 SET FOR COOLER-THAN-EXPECTED OUTDOOR GAME IN TAMPA

Lined up as first-round playoff opponents based on the standings entering Sunday before the 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series, Nikita Kucherov and the Lightning (34-14-4, 72 points) will clash with David Pastrnak and the Bruins (32-20-3, 67 points) for the 45th outdoor game in League history and first hosted by Tampa Bay (6:30 p.m. ET).

  • Kucherov (27-55—82; 3rd) and Pastrnak (22-47—69; 6th) both rank among the top 10 in NHL scoring this season, while their clubs both rank among the top 10 in the overall NHL standings ahead of their clash outdoors today (TBL: 4th; BOS: 10th).
  • Kucherov leads all players in scoring since the calendar flipped to Jan. 1 (9-22—31 in 13 GP), including 1-1—2 in his last outing when he overtook Vincent Lecavalier for second place on the all-time franchise goals list. Despite having the best record in the NHL in January (.855 P%), Tampa Bay maintains only a two-point advantage atop the Atlantic Division as five of the top 10 teams since the calendar turned to 2026 are from that cohort.
  • Pastrnak ranked second in assists and points (tied) in January (5-20—25 in 14 GP) – behind only Kucherov in each category – and recently became the third Czech player in League history with 900 points (and sixth from any country to accumulate as many with the Bruins). Boston has a 12-2-2 record since Dec. 29, rebounding from a six-game winless stretch before that to maintain a playoff position for 19 straight days (since Jan. 13).

STRUCTURED FOR SUCCESS AT SECOND OUTDOOR GAME IN FLORIDA

Sunday will mark the second NHL outdoor game contested in the state of Florida in under a month, after the 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic at loanDepot park in Miami on Jan. 2. In Miami, the League was able to utilize the stadium’s retractable roof to control the climate during the rink build process prior to opening it up at game time. At Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, the NHL built a regulation-size rink inside a steel-framed, air-conditioned structure to protect it from the elements.

  • Spanning 34 feet high, 125 feet wide and 240 feet long, the state-of-the-art tent structure – developed by Texas-based GNB Global – will be dismantled before the teams face off outdoors and should be completed at approximately 10 a.m. ET on game day.
  • The temperature at puck drop is projected to be in the low 40s on Sunday evening – which would be colder than the last outdoor game hosted in Boston (51°F at 2023 WC).
  • The teams took turns practicing on the ice at Raymond James Stadium on Saturday under the temperature-controlled structure.

STADIUM SERIES STACKED WITH OLYMPIC TALENT

A total of 17 players on rosters for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 are in Tampa for the outdoor game – Tampa Bay tops all clubs with 10 (plus head coach Jon Cooper, Team Canada), while Boston has seven. Both teams are also managed by GMs who helped construct the Team Canada roster – Tampa Bay’s Julien BriseBois and Boston’s Don Sweeney are assistant general managers.

  • Team USA will be represented at all three positions at Stadium Series: goaltender Jeremy Swayman will tend the Bruins’ net while defenseman Charlie McAvoy battles with Lightning forward Jake Guentzel. Swayman will be the third Bruins goaltender to head to the Olympic Winter Games, while McAvoy will be the first Bruins defenseman to skate for Team USA. Guentzel (24) is one of seven players on Team USA with 20-plus goals this season – second to only Team Canada (10).
  • Three Team Canada players will be at Raymond James Stadium, forwards Anthony Cirelli, Brandon Hagel and Brayden Point (injured) ahead of their opener in Milan against Team Czechia and Bruins teammates David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha (injured). Team Canada has had three NHL teammates many times, including one other Lightning trio.
  • Team Sweden has two players on each roster: Elias Lindholm (injured) and Hampus Lindholm of the Bruins, as well as Lightning teammates Pontus Holmberg and Victor Hedman. The Lindholm duo and Hedman are three of 11 top-10 NHL Draft picks on the country’s roster – the most of any nation competing in Milan (USA: 10; CAN: 9).
  • Bruins head coach Marco Sturm will become the first individual to appear in an outdoor NHL game both as a player and a head coach. He scored the overtime winner for the Bruins in the 2010 Winter Classic at Fenway Park, the fourth outdoor game in League history (and first for Boston). He also has Olympic ties, representing Team Germany as a teenager the first time NHL players competed in 1998 – the youngest to represent that country at Olympic Winter Games with NHL participation.

Bruins’ Minten Named NHL ‘Rookie of the Month’ for January

Boston Bruins center Fraser Minten, who topped all rookies with 8‑6—14 and a +12 rating in 14 games, has been named the NHL’s “Rookie of the Month” for January. Minten edged Washington Capitals right wing Justin Sourdif (7-7—14 in 13 GP), Anaheim Ducks right wing Beckett Sennecke (6-7—13 in 14 GP), New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer (6-6—12 in 15 GP), and Montreal Canadiens teammates Ivan Demidov (1-11—12 in 16 GP) and Jakub Dobes (6-0-0, 2.97 GAA, .893 SV%) for the honor.

Kucherov, Pastrnak and Bouchard Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ for January

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov, Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak and Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the month of January.

FIRST STAR – NIKITA KUCHEROV, RW, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Kucherov, who will play host to Pastrnak and the Bruins in tonight’s 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, SN, TVAS), paced the League with 22 assists and 31 points in 13 games (9-22—31) to lift the Lightning (34-14-4, 72 points) into first place in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference on the strength of an 11-1-1 January (23 points) – Tampa Bay’s fourth-highest point total in any calendar month behind December 2018 (13-0-1, 27 points), February 2019 (12‑1-2, 26 points) and January 2004 (11-3-2, 24 points). January marked Kucherov’s third career 30-point month, after April 2022 (14-17—31 in 16 GP) and December 2018 (9-21—30 in 14 GP), making him the eighth player in NHL history to achieve the feat at least three times. He found the scoresheet in 12 of his 13 appearances, highlighted by a League-best 10 multi-point performances including: his eighth career five-point effort (Jan. 3 at SJS: 1‑4—5), two four-point outings (Jan. 10 at PHI: 2-2—4 and Jan. 24 at CBJ: 1-3—4) and a pair of three-point games (Jan. 1 at LAK: 1-2—3 and Jan. 20 vs. SJS: 0-3—3). The 32-year-old Kucherov additionally ranked among the top January performers in even-strength points (1st; 20), power-play assists (1st; 9), power-play points (1st; 11), even-strength assists (2nd; 13), plus/minus (t‑5th; +14), even-strength goals (t-9th; 7) and goals (t-13th; 9). The two-time reigning Art Ross Trophy winner sits third in the League with 27-55—82 overall this season (48 GP), also placing among the leading NHLers in points per game (2nd; 1.71), assists (2nd; 55), even-strength assists (2nd; 36), even-strength points (2nd; 57) and multi-point performances (t-2nd; 29).

SECOND STAR – DAVID PASTRNAK, RW, BOSTON BRUINS

Pastrnak, who will represent Czechia at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, tied for second in the NHL with 20 assists and 25 points in 14 contests (5-20—25) as Boston (32-20-3, 67 points) posted an 11-2-1 January to climb into the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Pastrnak’s 25 points were the most by a Bruins player in a single calendar month since March 2018, when Brad Marchand totaled 10-16—26 (15 GP), while only three other players in franchise history have collected as many assists in one month: Bobby Orr (4x, including a team-record 23 in March 1971), Phil Esposito (22 in January 1969) and Ray Bourque (20 in March 1991). Pastrnak registered points in 12 of his 14 January outings, highlighted by a six-assist performance Jan. 10 vs. NYR – the first six-point game by a Boston player since Bourque on Feb. 18, 1990 (1-5—6 at VAN) and the third all-time six-assist effort in franchise history, joining Ken Hodge (Feb. 9, 1971 vs. NYR) and Orr (Jan. 1, 1973 at VAN). Pastrnak notched multiple points seven total times to also place among the January leaders in even-strength assists (1st; 14), even-strength points (2nd; 18), plus/minus (t-8th; +13), power-play points (t-13th; 7) and shots on goal (t-13th; 52). The 29-year-old Pastrnak, who on Jan. 26 at NYR became the third Czech player in NHL history and sixth player in Bruins history to reach the 900-point milestone, ranks sixth in the League with 22-47—69 through 50 total games this season.

THIRD STAR – EVAN BOUCHARD, D, EDMONTON OILERS

Bouchard topped defenseman and ranked fourth among all skaters with 8-15—23 in 15 games to guide the Oilers (28-20-8, 64 points) to an 8-5-2 January. Only two blueliners in the past 33 years (since 1992-93) have compiled more points in a single calendar month (Roman Josi: 4-24—28 in March 2022 w/ NSH and Cale Makar: 4-21—25 in November 2023 w/ COL), while just two defenseman in that span have scored more goals in one month (Sergei Gonchar: 10 in January 2000 and Mike Green: 9 in February 2009, both w/ WSH). Bouchard picked up points in 12 of his 15 January contests, including 3‑3—6 Jan. 24 vs. WSH to record his first career hat trick and become the fourth blueliner in League history with at least three goals and three assists in a single game, joining Bobby Orr (3x), Tom Bladon and Doug Crossman. He finished the month with five total multi-point efforts to also place among the leading defensemen in even-strength goals (1st; 6), even-strength points (1st; 16), shots on goal (1st; 54), assists (t-2nd; 15), game-winning goals (t-3rd; 2), power-play goals (t-4th; 2), power-play points (t‑4th; 7), even-strength assists (5th; 10) and power-play assists (t-5th; 5). The 26-year-old Bouchard, who is two points shy of 300 for his NHL career (70-228—298 in 403 GP), sits second among blueliners – and 16th in the entire NHL – with 15-45—60 through 56 overall appearances this season.

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Guest Writer