Monday’s “First Call” sees a familiar Pittsburgh name getting a coaching job in the NFL. But it’s not on the Steelers staff under Mike McCarthy. There was a goalie fight in Tampa Bay’s Stadium Series game against Boston.
Former Penguin Colby Armstrong sees his longtime NHL record tumble. And the Penguins look to extend their winning streak to seven games in their final home contest before the Olympic break.
Back together
Much like Mike McCarthy in Pittsburgh, Kevin Stefanski is going with the familiarity route when it comes to building his coaching staff in Atlanta. He’s hiring Pitt alum Alex Van Pelt to be his quarterbacks coach with the Falcons.
The Falcons are hiring Alex Van Pelt as their quarterbacks coach, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 31, 2026
Another reunion with Kevin Stefanski, who had Van Pelt as his offensive coordinator in Cleveland from 2020-23. pic.twitter.com/xcpVk54vud
Van Pelt was Stefanski’s offensive coordinator in Cleveland. He had been on McCarthy’s staff in Green Bay from 2012-17, coaching running backs and eventually quarterbacks before going to Cincinnati in 2018.
Tom Arth is expected to stay on board the Steelers coaching staff as the quarterbacks coach after holding that post with Mike Tomlin the past two seasons.
Airing it out
There was a goalie fight during the Stadium Series game Sunday night in Tampa Bay.
Boston’s Jeremy Swayman got into it with Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Lightning. The throwdown followed Swayman going after one of Tampa’s players, Brandon Hagel, during a scrum in the crease.
STADIUM SERIES GOALIE FIGHT ???? pic.twitter.com/ntCWlmmr25
— ESPN (@espn) February 2, 2026
Both goalies stayed in the game after players went to the box to serve their fighting majors. Hagel had a goal and two assists.
Tampa Bay ended up storming back from a 5-1 deficit to win 6-5 in a shootout. Former Penguin Jake Guentzel had two assists and scored in the shootout to help Tampa’s cause.
The game was played in front of 64,617 at Raymond James Stadium, where the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers play their home games.
Hagel’s highlight
Hagel’s goal came just 11 seconds into the game.
Brandon Hagel's goal 11 seconds into the Stadium Series is the fastest goal to start an outdoor game in NHL history ???? pic.twitter.com/d6xgce9uH7
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) February 2, 2026
That was the fastest goal scored by any player in the history of NHL outdoor games. The previous record belonged to former Penguin Colby Armstrong, who scored 21 seconds into the original Winter Classic of 2008 in Buffalo.
Armstrong congratulated Hagel on social media and willingly abdicated his throne as the fastest goal scorer ever in an outdoor game.
I have given up my crown as the king of the outdoors. Hagel is a worthy king. :11 seconds will never be broken…for stadium series games. Thank goodness it wasn’t a winter classic game. ????. Still got it. Still the king of the winter classic baby!!!! #21secs
— Colby Armstrong (@armdog) February 2, 2026
Being the king of Winter is a tiring, heavy throne to hold as long as I have. Too much responsibility. The winter classic is now my domain. ????
— Colby Armstrong (@armdog) February 2, 2026
But, as Armstrong gloated, the Winter Classic record is still his.
A message to all my loyal subjects ???? pic.twitter.com/Iq5XenMxa1
— Colby Armstrong (@armdog) February 2, 2026
That was Hagel’s 26th of the season. He was assisted by Nikita Kucherov and Darren Raddysh. Tampa Bay has 74 points, tied with Carolina for the most in the Eastern Conference.
Boston has 68 points. The Bruins currently own the East’s top wild-card spot.
Penguins pop
The Pittsburgh Penguins are looking to land one more punch at home before the Olympic Break. They host Ottawa on Monday at 7 p.m.
The Penguins have won six in a row after Saturday’s 6-5 victory over the New York Rangers.
LET COOKIE COOK PART II ???????? pic.twitter.com/QhfwrceM4h
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 31, 2026
After Monday night’s contest, the Pens play two road games — against the New York Islanders on Tuesday and against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday. Then the Olympic break kicks in for the club until Feb. 26, when it returns with a home game against the New Jersey Devils.
Both the Islanders and Sabres are in playoff position. In fact, New York has 65 points, just two behind the Pens for second place in the Eastern Conference. Buffalo owns the second wild-card slot in the conference with 67 points.
The Senators, however, only have 59 points. They are in a three-way tie for the bottom of the Atlantic Division with Florida and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
