NHL JANUARY 4, 2026 – CROSBY, PENGUINS EXTEND WIN STREAK WITH THREE-GOAL RALLY IN COLUMBUS

Zach Werenski (1-1—2) helped the Blue Jackets build a 4-1 lead, but Sidney Crosby (1-1—2) assisted on the game-tying goal with 14 seconds remaining in regulation and later scored the winning tally in overtime to lift the Penguins (20-12-9, 49 points) to their fifth straight victory – tied for the most among all teams since the NHL returned from the holiday break. Crosby, who captured his 20th career three-goal comeback win, propelled his club to the NHL’s 13th such win in 2025-26.

• Crosby, whose 508 career multi-point games sit three back of tying Gordie Howe (511) for the fifth most in NHL history, factored on a game-tying goal in the third period for the 107th time and tied Jaromir Jagr for the third most in League history, behind Wayne Gretzky (135) and Mark Messier (112).
• The Penguins captain, also the first player in NHL history to reach 50 career overtime points (25-25—50), netted his 112th career game-winning goal (including playoffs) and tied Guy Lafleur for 10th place on the NHL’s all-time list. Gretzky (115) sits in ninth.

BERTUZZI’S SECOND HAT TRICK OF 2025-26 LIFTS BLACKHAWKS PAST GOLDEN KNIGHTS

Tyler Bertuzzi scored both of Chicago’s goals in regulation and then completed his second hat trick of the season in overtime as the Blackhawks (17-18-7, 41 points) captured their third straight win. Chicago’s four hat tricks this season (also Connor Bedard: 2) are tied with Utah for the most among all teams.

• Bertuzzi became the sixth Blackhawks player to complete a hat trick with an overtime goal and first since Jonathan Toews (Oct. 6, 2018). The others: Jeff Hamilton (Dec. 2, 2006), Tyler Arnason (March 19, 2004), Eric Daze (Dec. 31, 2001) and Curt Fraser (Feb. 13, 1986).
• Bertuzzi leads the Blackhawks with 22 goals this season and is one shy of matching his total from 2024-25 (23-23—46). Did you know? Chicago is one of three Original Six franchises Bertuzzi has registered a 20-goal campaign with, alongside Detroit (3x) and Toronto (21 in 2023-24). He is one of three players in NHL history with at least one 20-goal season with three Original Six franchises, alongside Roy Conacher and Frank Mahovlich.

DEFENSEMEN DELIVER

Lane Hutson (1-1—2) and Zach Werenski (1-1—2) found the score sheet multiple times as part of the NHL’s five-game Sunday.

• Hutson collected his 97th career assist and later scored his first career overtime goal to help the Canadiens (23-13-6, 52 points) leapfrog the idle Red Wings (24-15-4, 52 points) for second in the Atlantic Division. Hutson (21 years, 324 days) became the third-youngest defenseman in Canadiens history to score an overtime goal, behind only P.K. Subban (21 years, 249 days on Jan. 17, 2011) and Kaiden Guhle (21 years, 297 days on Nov. 11, 2023).
• Werenski (1-1—2), who became the first player in franchise history to reach 300 career assists, recorded multiple points in his fifth consecutive game and matched Artemi Panarin (5 GP in 2017-18) for the longest run in Blue Jackets history; Cale Makar (5 GP in 2023-24) is the last defenseman to achieve this feat while Mike Green (6 GP in 2008-09) was the last with a longer stretch.

SENATORS HOST RED WINGS ON PRIME MONDAY NIGHT HOCKEY

An #NHLStats primer before tonight’s Red Wings-Senators game on Prime Monday Night Hockey:

• Patrick Kane (498-869—1,367) enters two goals shy of the 500-goal milestone and would join Mike Modano (561), Keith Tkachuk (538), Jeremy Roenick (513) and Joe Mullen (502) as the only U.S.-born players in NHL history to reach the mark. Kane can also inch closer to passing Modano (1,374) for the all-time points record by a U.S.-born skater.
• Tim Stützle can extend his point streak to 13 games and match the fourth-longest run in Senators history – he also recorded Ottawa’s third-longest point streak (14 GP) last season. Stützle is also one goal back from his fourth career 20-goal campaign, which would match the seventh most in franchise history.
• Lucas Raymond (109-189—298 in 361 GP), Detroit’s leading scorer this season, needs two points to reach the 300-point mark. He can become the third Red Wings player in the past 30 years to record 300 NHL points before his 400th career game and would join Henrik Zetterberg (324 GP) and Pavel Datsyuk (341 GP).

NATIONAL GAMES ON THE RADAR THIS WEEK

Panthers at Maple Leafs (Tuesday): Toronto’s new all-time goals leader Auston Matthews will face off against Sam Bennett and the Panthers in a rematch of the 2025 Second Round. Matthews earned the distinction after a hat trick on New Year’s Day and a two-goal game on Jan. 3 – he can become the seventh player in League history to begin a calendar year with three consecutive multi-goal games. Meanwhile, Bennett is riding a nine-game point streak and can become the second Panthers player with a double-digit run in 2025-26 – a feat the franchise has seen in a single season twice before (2022-23 & 2018-19).

Calgary at Montreal (Wednesday): A battle between newly named Olympic-bound players Rasmus Andersson (Team Sweden) and Nick Suzuki (Team Canada) will take place at Bell Centre when the Flames visit the Canadiens. The contest will also feature Lane Hutson (13-97—110 in 126 GP) who is now three shy of his 100th career assist. Hutson can become the fastest player in Canadiens history (currently Buddy O’Connor: 129 GP) and can tie Sergei Zubov (127 GP) as the fastest defenseman in NHL history to reach the mark.

(Wednesday): A matchup between 20-goal scorers headlines the first half of an NHL on TNT doubleheader when Jason Robertson (24-25—49 in 42 GP) and Dallas take on Tom Wilson (22-20-42 in 41 GP) and Washington. Both players are currently on pace to set career highs for goals in a season, with Robertson also nearing his 200th career goal – a mark Wilson recently hit on Dec. 31, 2025. The doubleheader culminates with a Central Division duel between the Blues and Blackhawks.

NY Rangers at Boston (Saturday): The Rangers triumphed at the 2026 Winter Classic and will take on their Original Six rival, the Bruins, who will also be playing in the NHL’s next outdoor event at the 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union Stadium Series on Feb. 1. New York is led in scoring by Artemi Panarin (202-392—594 in 472 GP), who can surpass Mark Messier (531 GP) as the fastest player in franchise history to hit 600 points. Pacing the way this season for Boston is David Pastrnak (130 PPG), who could overtake his former teammate Patrice Bergeron (131 PPG) for the fourth-most power-play goals in Bruins history.

Hockey Night in Canada (Saturday): A five-pack of Hockey Night in Canada games will be headlined by the Canucks visiting the Maple Leafs, as star forwards on both sides can climb all-time lists by the end of the week. Auston Matthews (83) will have a chance to tie or pass Joe Mullen (85) for the third-most multi-goal games in NHL history by a U.S.-born player, while Elias Pettersson (195) can enter Vancouver’s all-time goals list and also become the franchise’s 10th player to reach the 200-goal mark.

Jets’ Stanley Suspended One Game for Roughing

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Logan Stanley has been suspended for one game, without pay, for roughing Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk during NHL Game No. 650 in Ottawa on Saturday, Jan. 3. The incident occurred at 12:06 of the second period. Stanley was assessed a minor penalty for roughing. Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Stanley will forfeit $6,510.42. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Flames’ Beecher Suspended One Game for Roughing

Calgary Flames forward John Beecher has been suspended for one game, without pay, for roughing Nashville Predators forward Michael McCarron during NHL Game No. 654 in Calgary on Saturday, Jan. 3. The incident occurred at 13:15 of the first period. Beecher was assessed a minor penalty for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct. Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Beecher will forfeit $4,687.50. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Kucherov, Crosby and Matthews Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the Week

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov, Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby and Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Jan. 4.

FIRST STAR – NIKITA KUCHEROV, RW, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Kucherov, the League’s “First Star” for the second consecutive week, posted 3-7—10 in three contests to help the Lightning (25-13-3, 53 points) extend their winning streak to seven games (dating to Dec. 20) as they moved into first place in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference. He compiled five points across a pair of matchups in Southern California, notching 1-1—2 in a 4-3 overtime victory against the Anaheim Ducks Dec. 31 and 1-2—3 in a 5-3 triumph versus the Los Angeles Kings Jan. 1. Kucherov then registered 1-4—5, his eighth career five-point performance, in a 7-3 win over the San Jose Sharks Jan. 3. The 32-year-old Kucherov, who has captured each of the past two Art Ross Trophies (and three overall), ranks fourth in the NHL with 20-39—59 through 37 total appearances this season – aided by a seven-game point streak (7-10—17), coinciding with Tampa Bay’s winning streak, that has featured six straight multi-point outings as well as goals in each of the last five contests. Kucherov also places among the 2025-26 leaders in even-strength assists (4th; 26), even-strength points (4th; 41), assists (t-4th; 39), power-play points (t-8th; 18), power-play assists (t-9th; 13), even-strength goals (t-15th; 15) and goals (t‑17th; 20).

SECOND STAR – SIDNEY CROSBY, C, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Crosby produced 4-4—8 in four games as the Penguins (20-12-9, 49 points) recorded a perfect week to climb into the first Wild Card position in the Eastern Conference. He scored the opening goal in a 5-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes Dec. 30. Crosby then collected 2-3—5 across a pair of victories against the Detroit Red Wings, posting 2-1—3 (including the primary assist on Kris Letang’s overtime winner) in a 4-3 decision Jan. 1 and two helpers in a 4-1 triumph Jan. 3. Crosby capped the week with 1‑1—2, registering an assist on the tying goal with 14 seconds remaining in regulation before notching his 25th career overtime goal (and 50th career overtime point), in a 5-4 comeback win versus the Columbus Blue Jackets Jan. 4. The 38-year-old Crosby, who has points in seven straight games dating to Dec. 21 (5-7—12), sits 14th in the League with 24-23—47 through 41 total appearances this season – his 21st in the NHL. He also ranks among the top 2025-26 players in goals (t-5th; 24), power-play goals (t-5th; 9) and shooting percentage (6th; 24.2% – minimum: 1 SOG/GP).

THIRD STAR – AUSTON MATTHEWS, C, TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

Matthews overtook Mats Sundin as Toronto’s all-time leading goal-scorer, sharing the League lead with five tallies in two games (5-1—6) as the Maple Leafs (19-15-7, 45 points) posted a 2-0-1 week. He missed a 4-0 victory against the New Jersey Devils Dec. 30, but returned with 3-1—4 (including his 14th career hat trick, the most ever by a U.S.-born player, as well as his 66th career game-winning goal) in a 6-5 triumph over the Winnipeg Jets Jan. 1. Matthews then scored his 420th and 421st career goals (all w/ TOR) in a 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Islanders Jan. 3 to surpass Sundin on Toronto’s all-time goals list and reach the 20-goal milestone for the 10th time in as many NHL campaigns. The 28-year-old Matthews, a three-time Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy winner, is one of 23 players with at least 20 goals this season (20-13—33 in 35 GP) and leads the League with his 421 career tallies (23 more than the next-closest player) since making his debut in 2016-17.