The NHL landscape on January 8, 2026, is a mix of electric youth talent, future excitement, and somber reflection. While the San Jose Sharks’ teenage phenomenon Macklin Celebrini continues to rewrite history, the league also mourns the loss of goaltending icon Glenn Hall. Meanwhile, the Utah Mammoth have given their fans a massive reason to celebrate with a major announcement for 2027.
Here is your complete breakdown of the latest scores, news, and rumors from around the league.
NHL Game Scores & Notes: January 7, 2026
Wednesday night featured five matchups with significant playoff implications.
- San Jose Sharks 4, Los Angeles Kings 3 (OT)
- The Story: Macklin Celebrini continues to dazzle, posting a three-point night and setting up William Eklund for the overtime winner.
- Key Stat: Celebrini extended his point streak to 12 games, tying the third-longest run by a teenager in NHL history.
- Utah Mammoth 3, Ottawa Senators 1
- The Story: Fresh off the Winter Classic announcement, the Mammoth thrilled the home crowd at the Delta Center. Clayton Keller led the way with two assists.
- Key Stat: Utah moves within striking distance of the Western Conference Wild Card spot.
- Chicago Blackhawks 7, St. Louis Blues 3
- The Story: An offensive explosion from Chicago saw them net four goals in the second period alone.
- Key Stat: Rookie Oliver Moore notched two points, continuing his impressive rookie campaign.
- Montreal Canadiens 4, Calgary Flames 1
- The Story: Alexandre Texier had a career night with three points, leading the Habs past a struggling Flames squad.
- Key Stat: Lane Hutson scored the game-winner, tying the record for most game-winning goals by a Canadiens defenseman aged 21 or younger.
- Dallas Stars 4, Washington Capitals 1
- The Story: The Stars snapped their losing streak with a dominant road win. Matt Duchene recorded an assist to join the 900-point club.
- Key Stat: Alex Ovechkin scored the lone goal for Washington, inching closer to his own milestones.
NHL News: Winter Classic & Hall of Fame Loss
Utah to Host 2027 Winter Classic
In a massive win for the NHL’s newest market, the league announced today that the Utah Mammoth will host the 2027 Discover NHL Winter Classic. The event is expected to be a spectacle, showcasing the stunning backdrop of Salt Lake City and cementing the franchise’s rapid rise in popularity.
Hockey World Mourns Glenn Hall
The hockey community is in mourning following the passing of legendary goaltender Glenn Hall at the age of 94. Known as “Mr. Goalie,” Hall was a pioneer of the butterfly style and holds the unbreakable record of 502 consecutive complete games played. Tributes have been pouring in from across the league for the Hall of Famer.
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