Hockey – Winnipeg Free Press

Christinne Muschi / THE CANADIAN PRESS files
Connor Hellebuyck (right) hopes to backstop the United States to gold at the Winter Olympics.

Hellebuyck, Connor get shot at international glory with U.S. Olympic team

Ken Wiebe Mike McIntyre 8 minute read Yesterday at 5:56 PM CST

OTTAWA – Connor Hellebuyck will get another opportunity to flip the script in international hockey.

The same goes for Kyle Connor, who joins his Winnipeg Jets’ teammate on the United States men’s hockey team after Friday’s announcement on The Today Show.

Hellebuyck and Connor looked like obvious choices for Bill Guerin and the Team USA management team.

Hellebuyck has dealt with arthroscopic knee surgery and seen his numbers (2.51 goals-against average, .908 save percentage in 22 starts) dip a bit after winning the Hart Trophy and Vezina Trophy last season, but he’s put himself in a strong position to be the starter for the Americans once again after holding that job at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

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Hockey Hall of Famer Shanahan to lead review of men’s junior hockey in Ontario

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Hockey Hall of Famer Shanahan to lead review of men’s junior hockey in Ontario

The Canadian Press 2 minute read 2:10 PM CST

TORONTO - Hockey Hall of Famer Brendan Shanahan will lead a review of men's junior hockey in Ontario and deliver recommendations to Hockey Canada and three of its Ontario members, the national federation said Saturday.

Shanahan, who was let go by the Toronto Maple Leafs last May after serving as team president for over a decade, will report to a six-person governance committee.

He will produce an interim paper that includes a framework for consulting with stakeholders in the coming weeks, and then a final report with his recommendations later in 2026, Hockey Canada said in a release.

“Playing hockey for Team Canada was one of the greatest honours of my career, so to work on this project with Hockey Canada and its three Ontario members to help give back to the game in my home province is an opportunity that I am very grateful for,” said Shanahan. “Throughout this review, I’m looking forward to learning from those involved in junior hockey in Ontario and better understanding their visions for how we can build a stronger system for everyone participating in our great game.”

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2:10 PM CST

Hockey Hall of Famer Brendan Shanahan appears at a news conference in Toronto on May 10, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Time running out for Chevy to salvage Jets’ season

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Preview

Time running out for Chevy to salvage Jets’ season

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Yesterday at 5:17 PM CST

OTTAWA — Kevin Cheveldayoff finds himself squarely between a rock and a hard place in his quest for a life preserver.

The general manager of the Winnipeg Jets isn’t necessarily on borrowed time, but he fully understands time is of the essence for the team he assembled for the 2025-26 season.

As the Jets prepare to face the Ottawa Senators on Saturday to close out a three-game road trip, they’ve dropped eight consecutive games (0-5-3) and reside in the basement of the NHL in points and points percentage.

In one calendar year, the Jets have gone from the cream of the crop to dead last among the 32 teams.

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Yesterday at 5:17 PM CST

FRANK GUNN / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Jets’ forward Gabe Vilardi looks skyward Thursday as the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrate after scoring late in the third period.

Hockey was already a big deal in Florida. Outdoor games might spark even more growth of the game

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Hockey was already a big deal in Florida. Outdoor games might spark even more growth of the game

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 4 minute read 5:05 AM CST

MIAMI (AP) — Panthers forward Brad Marchand remembers a few times when he and the Boston Bruins would play games in the state of Florida and be impressed by what they were hearing from the crowds.

Those fans were rooting ... for the Bruins.

It's not remotely close to being like that anymore.

The Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning have finished atop the hockey world four times in the last six seasons — the Stanley Cup is basically a Sunshine State resident now — and the growth of hockey all across the state, from youth to adult levels, is well documented. And the outdoor games in the state, one Friday in Miami (the Rangers won, 5-1) and the next one that's coming next month in Tampa, only figure to keep the momentum going.

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5:05 AM CST

Florida Panthers players walk to the ice before the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game between the Florida Panthers and the New York Rangers, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Florida Panthers enlist stars for unique cancer fundraiser, showing it off at Winter Classic

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Florida Panthers enlist stars for unique cancer fundraiser, showing it off at Winter Classic

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 3 minute read Yesterday at 3:11 PM CST

MIAMI (AP) — For their latest project, the Florida Panthers signed Wayne Gretzky, Martina Navratilova, Michael Bublé, Dustin Johnson and the Miami Heat.

And they were armed with paintbrushes, not hockey sticks.

The Panthers — a few hours before their Winter Classic outdoor game at the Miami Marlins' ballpark against the New York Rangers — unveiled a couple dozen panther sculptures, all painted in a unique way and now being auctioned off with hopes of raising $1 million for cancer research.

Gretzky commissioned a sculpture that displays some of his stats, Johnson arranged one depicting a scene from Augusta National, Bublé's is adorned in rhinestone braille, the NBA's Heat commissioned a pair of sculptures with some of the team's themes, artist Romero Britto painted one as well and Navratilova didn't technically paint hers — she dipped tennis balls into paint and then served them into the panther, creating a polka-dotted splash of various colors.

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Yesterday at 3:11 PM CST

A Florida Panthers statue painted by tennis star Martina Navratilova is displayed for auction in Miami on Friday, Jan. 2, 2025, in an effort to raise money to fight cancer. (AP Photo/Tim Reynolds)

Florida Panthers and New York Rangers bring ‘Miami Vice’ flair to Winter Classic

Alanis Thames, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Florida Panthers and New York Rangers bring ‘Miami Vice’ flair to Winter Classic

Alanis Thames, The Associated Press 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 10:10 PM CST

MIAMI (AP) — The Florida Panthers arrived in Ferraris, cigars lit, dressed in all-white “Miami Vice” attire — and, in true South Florida fashion, fashionably late.

The New York Rangers followed suit, stepping into loanDepot Park in their own whites and sunglasses.

With that, the 2026 Winter Classic was underway in warm, humid Miami.

At loanDepot Park, home of Major League Baseball's Miami Marlins, a sold-out crowd of 36,153— with celebrity attendees that included former Super Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady — had already begun filling the streets hours before the Rangers beat the defending champion Panthers 5-1 on Friday night in the first outdoor game to take place in Florida.

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Updated: Yesterday at 10:10 PM CST

New York Rangers players gather for a team picture during practice for the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)

‘I just need to continue this’: Canucks winger DeBrusk focused on rebuilding game

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

‘I just need to continue this’: Canucks winger DeBrusk focused on rebuilding game

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press 5 minute read 4:00 AM CST

VANCOUVER - It's been a week of highs and lows for Vancouver Canucks winger Jake DeBrusk.

He held out Monday when his team took a 3-2 shootout win over the Seattle Kraken. Back in the lineup Friday for a rematch in Vancouver, DeBrusk notched a goal and two assists as the Canucks fell 4-3 in a shootout.

The 29-year-old forward would have preferred if the points had gone toward a victory.

“It’s better in a win," DeBrusk said. "We didn't win. I think that everyone likes to judge people on points. It's easy to say that when you have a couple points in the game. But we lost.”

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4:00 AM CST

Vancouver Canucks' Evander Kane (91) hits Seattle Kraken's Adam Larsson (6) as Ben Meyers (59) watches during the second period of an NHL game in Vancouver, on Friday, January 2, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

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Minnesota visits Los Angeles after Yurov’s 2-goal game

The Associated Press 2 minute read 3:11 AM CST

Minnesota Wild (25-10-7, in the Central Division) vs. Los Angeles Kings (16-14-9, in the Pacific Division)

Los Angeles; Saturday, 9 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: The Minnesota Wild visit the Los Angeles Kings after Danila Yurov's two-goal game against the Anaheim Ducks in the Wild's 5-2 win.

Los Angeles is 5-9-4 in home games and 16-14-9 overall. The Kings have gone 11-1-6 when scoring at least three goals.

Bruins visit the Canucks after Pastrnak’s 2-goal game

The Associated Press 2 minute read 3:11 AM CST

Boston Bruins (21-18-2, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Vancouver Canucks (16-20-4, in the Pacific Division)

Vancouver, British Columbia; Saturday, 10 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: The Boston Bruins visit the Vancouver Canucks after David Pastrnak scored two goals in the Bruins' 6-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers.

Vancouver is 4-12-2 in home games and 16-20-4 overall. The Canucks have a 13-5-3 record in games they score three or more goals.

Blues and Canadiens face off for non-conference matchup

The Associated Press 2 minute read 3:11 AM CST

Montreal Canadiens (22-12-6, in the Atlantic Division) vs. St. Louis Blues (16-18-8, in the Central Division)

St. Louis; Saturday, 4 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: The St. Louis Blues play the Montreal Canadiens in a non-conference matchup.

St. Louis has a 9-9-5 record in home games and a 16-18-8 record overall. The Blues have a 12-4-3 record when scoring at least three goals.

Matty Beniers scores in shootout to give Kraken 4-3 win over Canucks

The Associated Press 2 minute read 12:53 AM CST

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Matty Beniers scored the only goal int he shootout to give the Seattle Kraken a 4-3 win against the Vancouver Canucks on Friday night.

Cale Fleury, Chandler Stephenson and Ben Meyers all scored in regulation for the Kraken, who are 6-0-1 in their last seven games. Joey Daccord had 20 saves through overtime.

Jake DeBrusk had a goal and two assists for his first multipoint game of the season, and Kiefer Sherwood and Linus Karlsson also scored for the Canucks. Thatcher Demko finished with 25 saves.

After the first five skaters failed to score in the tiebreaker, Beniers skated in on Demko from the left side, deked the goalie to his left and cut back and put it into the open side of the net for the win.

Danila Yurov scores 2 goals, Quinn Hughes has 4 assists as surging Wild beat Ducks 5-2

Mike Digiovanna, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Danila Yurov scores 2 goals, Quinn Hughes has 4 assists as surging Wild beat Ducks 5-2

Mike Digiovanna, The Associated Press 3 minute read 12:29 AM CST

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Danila Yurov scored twice, Quinn Hughes had four assists and the Minnesota Wild beat the Anaheim Ducks 5-2 on Friday night.

Kirill Kaprizov, Yakov Trenin and Nico Sturm also scored for the Wild, who earned a point for the fifth straight game (3-0-2). Filip Gustavsson stopped 26 shots.

Minnesota is 22-4-4 in its last 30 games, and 8-1-2 since acquiring Hughes, the 2024 Norris Trophy winner, in a blockbuster with Vancouver on Dec. 12.

Beckett Sennecke and Troy Terry scored for Anaheim, which has lost five straight and nine of 11. Lukas Dostal had 29 saves, including 17 in the second period.

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12:29 AM CST

Minnesota Wild right wing Danila Yurov, right, skates off after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)

Beniers scores in shootout, Seattle Kraken outlast Vancouver Canucks for 4-3 win

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Beniers scores in shootout, Seattle Kraken outlast Vancouver Canucks for 4-3 win

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press 2 minute read Updated: 12:41 AM CST

VANCOUVER - Matty Beniers scored the decisive shootout goal and the Seattle Kraken held on for a 4-3 win over the Canucks in Vancouver on Friday.

Cale Fleury, Chandler Stephenson and Ben Meyers all scored for the Kraken (18-14-7) in regulation.

The visitors, who were coming off a 4-1 home win over the Nashville Predators on Thursday, got 20 saves from Joey Daccord.

Jake DeBrusk had a goal and two assists for the Canucks (16-20-4), marking his first goal in eight games and his first multi-point game of the season.

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Updated: 12:41 AM CST

Vancouver Canucks' Jake DeBrusk (74) celebrates his goal against the Seattle Kraken with his teammates during the second period of an NHL game in Vancouver, on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

NHL roundup: Zibanejad nets hat trick as Rangers beat Panthers 5-1 in Winter Classic

The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

NHL roundup: Zibanejad nets hat trick as Rangers beat Panthers 5-1 in Winter Classic

The Associated Press 5 minute read Updated: 12:59 AM CST

MIAMI (AP) — Send the New York Rangers outdoors, and they become unbeatable.

Mika Zibanejad had a hat trick, Artemi Panarin scored twice and the Rangers beat the Florida Panthers 5-1 on Friday night in the Winter Classic — the first outdoor game played in the Sunshine State.

Alexis Lafrenière had three assists and Igor Shesterkin stopped 36 shots for the Rangers, who improved to 6-0-0 in outdoor games.

Sam Reinhart scored for Florida, which was playing outdoors for the first time and lost for the fourth time in its last six contests overall. The Panthers gave up goals to Zibanejad and Panarin 64 seconds apart late in the first period, giving New York a 2-0 lead, and the Rangers kept control the rest of the way.

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Updated: 12:59 AM CST

New York Rangers defenceman Vladislav Gavrikov (44) and New York Rangers centre Mika Zibanejad (93) celebrate after defeating the Florida Panthers in the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Rangers beat Panthers 5-1 in first outdoor hockey game in Miami. Mika Zibanejad has hat trick

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Rangers beat Panthers 5-1 in first outdoor hockey game in Miami. Mika Zibanejad has hat trick

Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 11:02 PM CST

MIAMI (AP) — Have a day, Mika Zibanejad.

He made Sweden's Olympic team, had a hat trick and put together the first five-point NHL outdoor game in history, all in the span of a few hours, to help the New York Rangers beat the Florida Panthers 5-1 on Friday night in the Winter Classic — the first outdoor game played in the Sunshine State.

Artemi Panarin scored twice, Alexis Lafrenière had three assists and Igor Shesterkin stopped 36 shots for the Rangers, who improved to 6-0-0 when playing outdoors.

"I think it's hard to grasp the whole day," Zibanejad said. “But yeah, a great 12, 16 hours. It's been a fun day.”

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Updated: Yesterday at 11:02 PM CST

Players warm up before the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game between the Florida Panthers and the New York Rangers, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Schenn scores game-winning goal as Blues beat Golden Knights 4-3

Warren Mayes, The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Schenn scores game-winning goal as Blues beat Golden Knights 4-3

Warren Mayes, The Associated Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 4:49 PM CST

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Brayden Schenn scored the game-winning goal at 18:27 of the third period, leading the St. Louis Blues to a 4-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday.

Oskar Sundquist, Justin Faulk and Alexey Toropchenko also scored for the Blues. Joe Hofer recorded 22 saves.

Pavel Dorofeyev, Mark Stone and Keegan Kolesar scored for the Golden Knights, who are 1-5-2 in their last eight games. Vegas has allowed four or more goals in five of those games.

Carter Hart saved 15 shots for Vegas.

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Yesterday at 4:49 PM CST

January 3, 2026

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