The Tampa Bay Lightning hit the ice in Chicago on Friday, determined to turn promising performances into results. After narrow losses to the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens, the Lightning (27-14-5) are eager to claim their first win of this four-game road trip. Despite setbacks, Lightning coach Jon Cooper is focused on the positives. Tampa Bay, with a strong goal differential of +36 (second in the Eastern Conference), has played competitive hockey, even if the final scores haven’t reflected their efforts. Tuesday night’s 3-2 loss to the Canadiens came down to the wire, with Jake Evans scoring the game-winner for Montreal late in the third period. Captain Victor Hedman emphasized the importance of staying resilient: “We’ve just got to

The Iowa Hawkeyes are in search of a turnaround as they welcome Penn State to Iowa City on Friday. After a tough stretch of games, both teams have something to prove in this Big Ten showdown. Iowa (12-7, 3-5 Big Ten) has seen its promising form falter with three consecutive losses, dropping from five wins in six games to a team struggling to find consistency. Defensive lapses during their California road trip resulted in back-to-back blowout losses to USC and UCLA, where the Hawkeyes gave up 99 and 94 points, respectively. Returning home didn’t provide the boost Iowa needed, as they fell 72-67 to Minnesota on Tuesday. A slow start, scoring just 28 points in the first half, and a

For first-year Washington coach Danny Sprinkle, January has been nothing short of grueling. The Huskies (10-9, 1-7 Big Ten) have endured five straight losses, all against ranked opponents, making their upcoming Friday matchup against the UCLA Bruins (13-6, 4-4) another daunting test. Calling January “a month from hell,” Sprinkle remains proud of his team’s resilience despite their struggles. After kicking off the month with a solid 75-69 win over Maryland, the Huskies have faced one powerhouse after another, including Michigan State, Purdue, and Oregon. “This program has never seen anything like this January schedule,” Sprinkle said. “It’s been brutal, but I’m proud of our guys for not making excuses. They’ve kept their heads up.” On Tuesday, Washington fought hard against

The Portland Trail Blazers, riding the wave of a stellar defensive performance against the Orlando Magic, are set to face the Charlotte Hornets on Friday. With both teams showing recent flashes of brilliance, this clash promises to be a compelling battle of defense versus offense. Portland’s defense took center stage in their dominant 101-79 victory over the Magic on Thursday. The Blazers, now on a three-game winning streak for the second time this season, held their opponent under 100 points for just the third time all year. “Just willing to scrap and fight,” said center Robert Williams III about the team’s mindset. Head coach Chauncey Billups praised his squad’s effort, calling it a “masterpiece” and emphasizing their ability to disrupt