We’re less than four weeks away from the start of the men’s Olympic hockey tournament in Milan Cortina on February 11 and have reached the “injury concerns” portion of the proceedings.
is the latest leo carlsonWho is it Out for three to five weeks with thigh injury. His Olympic participation with Team Sweden is now in question. 21 year old anaheim ducks The Sensation had 38 points in 29 games this season, but he has been struggling recently for six points in 15 games. Coach Joel Quenneville said Carlson played through pain for some time before undergoing a procedure for the problem. Karlsson still leads the team in points with 44 points in 44 games.
Meanwhile, Carlsen’s Sweden teammates — and minnesota wild guard– jonas brodinOlympic hopes are in danger because of lower body injury; That’s week-to-week. “It’s something that’s developing a little bit,” Wild coach John Hynes told reporters recently.
Canadian brayden point Was placed on injured reserve From tampa bay lightning. Point scored a goal in last Monday’s game against philadelphia flyersbut his leg got tangled cam yorkPoint clutched his knee in obvious pain while leaving the ice. “I think we all saw [the injury]So let’s see,” Lightning and Team Canada coach John Cooper said after the game.
Team USA Defenseman seth jones Has not played since the Winter Classic on January 2 due to an upper body injury and is also on injured reserve. However, Florida Panthers Coach Paul Morrissey recently told reporters that “We hope to have him back before the Olympic break. We’re looking forward to it.”
A young hockey player’s dream is always to win the Stanley Cup. Growing up, you played Game 7 overtime in your driveway or on a frozen pond — but you’ll also go to overtime in the gold medal game from time to time, especially in an Olympic year.
Injuries before games are one of the most tragic moments of a hockey player’s career. What makes it more painful is that the Olympics only come once every four years – it’s not at all the same as representing your country at the World Cup of Hockey or the IIHF World Championship.
It means a lot to NHL players to be there. He fought for it in the CBA and he got it.
“I grew up watching all those Olympic teams from 2010 and 2014. To be a part of it now is like a dream come true for every other American. [player],” New Jersey Devils Ahead jack hughes told drop. “I remember being crushed in 2010 [the U.S.] It’s very special to have NHLers back in the Olympics and I’m very excited to be a part of it.”
Hughes is especially looking forward to playing with his brother quinn — Due to Quinn’s injury he did not get a chance to play together in the 4 Nations face-off.
But speaking of injuries… given the tough nature of the game, I asked TJ Oshie Are players physically comfortable with national team teammates when facing off in an NHL game. Are they motivated to work hard against their upcoming international opponents in those games?
“I was classmates with david backes,” oshi remembered. “He probably wouldn’t tell you this, but every time we got that close to the Olympics, if there was a Canadian on the other team – you can go back and find it – if we were playing. [Sidney] CROSBYBackus was on it. Some Canadian… I think [Ryan] getzlaf There was one more. Bax was 100 percent on it. going. [hard]”
Proceed:
games of the week
what i liked this weekend
Hart Trophy candidates
social post of the week
paste tap
biggest games of the week
Monday, 8:30 PM ET | espn+
Without a doubt the most emotional game of the week – in a positive way, compared to mitch marner They will face off in their return to Toronto – when the former Blackhawks captain and three-time Stanley Cup winner jonathan toews Returned to the Windy City wearing Jets blue for the first time as a visitor.
There have been some great celebrations and tribute videos that have evoked a lot of genuine emotion from players, and I hope it will be no different for “Captain Sirius.”
The Kraken have been playing “playoff hockey” style of play recently and are in third playoff spot in the Pacific Region. Seattle followed a nine-game winning streak with a three-game losing streak, so this will be a significant stretch.
Seattle has had solid goaltending from Philipp Grubauer, and scoring by committee – only two players have topped 30 points so far this season (Jordan Eberle And matty beniers). However, it’s not all Grubauer; The Kraken have done an excellent job of limiting high-danger chances in front of the net, keeping offensive threats toward the boards and away from the center of the ice.
It’s a homestand this week for Kraken, which is hosting pittsburgh penguins on monday, New York Islanders on Wednesday, the Ducks on Friday and the Devils on Sunday. There is a good mix of teams that are still fighting for a playoff position.
Other major sports to watch
monday
1:30 PM ET | TNT/HBO Max
4 PM ET | TNT/HBO Max
7:30 pm ET | espn+
Tuesday
7 PM ET | espn+
7 PM ET | espn+
7:30 pm ET | TNT/HBO Max
Wednesday
7 PM ET | TNT/HBO Max
Thursday
7 PM ET | espn+
7 PM ET | espn+
9 PM ET | espn+
9:30 PM ET | espn
Friday
7 PM ET | espn+
7 PM ET | espn
9 PM ET | espn+
Saturday
1pm ET | espn+
7 PM ET | nhl network
10 PM ET | espn+
sunday
1:30 PM ET | nhl network
what i liked this weekend
Imagine you are getting a call for which you need to suit up chicago blackhawks After eating lunch at Hooters? That’s exactly what happened to 45-year-old David Nozzolilo, who is in the rotation as one of four designated emergency backup goaltenders (EBUG) for the Hawks. The flu had spread through the team’s dressing room, weakening the goalkeeper list. Arvid Soderblom And spencer knight were unavailable, so Nozolillo came in.
Emily Kaplan wrote a great article about it The surreal experience that Nozolilo experienced that night As an EBUG – with his name on the back of the Hawks jersey and sitting on the bench and everything.
EBUG has long been one of the most beloved and beloved moments in the game; Every fan lives vicariously through this one man who, for this brief moment, transformed into an NHL player while playing against NHL players on NHL ice. One day you’re an accountant, the next you’re trying to save auston matthews.
CBA rules would effectively end this era of EBUG the following season – NHL teams would employ a third goaltender who would fill the EBUG role – so Nozolillo’s story would be one of the last examples.
Hart Trophy candidates if the season ended today
Until Nikita Kucherov And leon draisaitl Get up to speed, our current top three candidates– nathan mackinnon, connor mcdavid And McLean Celebrini – Maybe stay there for the rest of the time.
After Saturday’s games, McDavid is tied for first with 83 points, followed by MacKinnon (82) and Celebrini (72). In January, McDavid has 13 points in eight games, MacKinnon has 12 points in seven and Celebrini has 10 points in seven. And yes, they’ll all be teammates for Canada in Milan Cortina.
2:26
Connor McDavid scores a hat trick vs. Predators
Connor McDavid scored three goals for the Oilers in a 6–2 win against the Predators.
Don’t think I forgot about goaltenders. Here are the three I focus on the most:
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Scott Wedgwood Continues to shine with a league-leading .917 save percentage (minimum 20 games played) and only three losses.
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jesper wallstad With a .916 save percentage and only four losses, the Pacer is in the hunt.
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If New York Rangers Somehow turn this thing around and run away, Igor Shesterkin There must be a big reason. Although currently injured, he has a .913 save percentage and has the fourth-most saves in the NHL this season (864).
weekend social media posts
First off, hats off to this fan at the Flyers game on Saturday who shot a beer out of his prosthetic leg while Gritty was cheering him on. Prestigious.
A man drank beer with his artificial leg @GrittyNHL But @NHLFlyers @NYRangers game. What a legend. pic.twitter.com/11RN9oZVkm
– Jake Brown (@JakeBrownLive) 17 January 2026
Too, jackson dart Recently she has found herself going through a funny phase; On Saturday he was cheering in his hometown utah mammoth just as its news New York Giants Hiring of coach John Harbaugh made official:
you heard him, #tuskup!!! pic.twitter.com/hYpxH0eq71
– Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) 17 January 2026
A week earlier, he was casually crushing Trench Run and flying a Lego Death Star projected onto the Sphere in Las Vegas while sitting in a life-size Lego X-Wing:
All wings report. JD6 is standing.
Last night, Jackson Dart, quarterback for the New York Giants, fulfilled his Rebel Pilot dream by bringing a brand new LEGO® Smart Brick to the Las Vegas Sphere. pic.twitter.com/JT9IkOSOqj
– Star Wars (@starwars) 8 January 2026
paste tap
Snowfall in the Northeast over the weekend was a burden for many, but not for backyard kids across the state — especially 4-year-old Ollie, who took his passion for hockey to another level by creating this snowman hockey player with a South Carolina Gamecocks hockey sweater, beanie, hockey glove and stick:
Snowman would record a hat trick, dish out two assists and was a plus-6 in the game.
Speaking of snowmen with names similar to Ollie, there is only one major NHL player in history whose first name is Olaf: former Washington netminder Olaf Kölzig, who led the Caps to the Stanley Cup Final in 1998. Some who are close include Avalanche winger Victor Olofsson and former Rangers prospect Olof Lindbom.
