Ilya Sorokin will start again tonight as the Islanders host Barry’s Predators.
After starting what looked like another lost, tankable season, Nashville has rebounded a bit and is in shouting distance of the Western playoff wild card slots. But the odds are still slim and the question persists of whether they should dump assets like Ryan O’Reilly (still very useful) and Steven Stamkos (streaky, big-contract-laden) if they can.
Tonight is the return match of the opener from that big ol’ Western road trip, where the Isles fell annoyingly in a shootout.
Preview before the preview: Mostly stats from the past week plus Predators notes. [Isles]
Morning preview: Casey Cizikas will return from illness, likely pushing Max Shabanov back out and they hope adding energy that was missing in the second half of the sweep of the Rangers. Also: Calum Ritchie will not return before the Olympic break. [Isles]
(Yester)day in Isles history: Bo Horvat acquired. [Isles]
The most striking thing to me right now is Schaefer is so damn lovable that he adds fun to the rivalry but also takes some of the bite out of it, at this point. Like, the way he approaches it in a familial way makes it feel a little less vicious and kind of turns a mirror to the absurdity of us getting overly worked up about it. (This feeling will change with the first dirty hit or important meeting, if the latter ever happens again.)
Elsewhere
Just one game in the league last night, for some reason (after 15 Thursday and before 14 today). Columbus doubled the Blackhawks.
Nikita Tolopilo was denied a shutout due to the weird rule for that and a concussion spotter. [TSN]
Kris Letang will be out four weeks for the Penguins, good timing with the Olympics. [NHL]
And Jack Hughes is still being evaluated after his latest malady. [NHL]
But Linus Ullmark is set to return for the Senators. [Sportsnet]
Bourne: Could the Leafs plummet so well that they keep the top-five-protected pick they sent to the Bruins last year? [Sportsnet]
The Detroit Red Wings kick off a two-game set Saturday against the Colorado Avalanche in what shapes up to be one of their toughest tests of the season. Based on the rest of their schedule, it may only be the start of a grueling stretch.
Holding onto a top-two position in the Atlantic Division has been a challenge for Detroit. The Red Wings are pushing for home-ice advantage in the playoffs and have played at a high level to protect their spot, but consistent play throughout the division has made it difficult to create separation in the standings.
As of Saturday, Detroit faces the most difficult remaining schedule in the NHL. The Avalanche are just the beginning. The Red Wings will also see the Carolina Hurricanes, Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars, the red-hot Buffalo Sabres, the Utah Mammoth, and the Vegas Golden Knights. The road only gets harder with two games against the Tampa Bay Lightning and three matchups against the Florida Panthers.
Protecting their place in the division will not be easy, as these upcoming games represent the most critical portion of the season. Detroit enters the stretch with a 32-17-6 record. Buffalo, Montreal, and Boston sit just three points behind and could overtake the Red Wings for second place at any time with a strong run. Florida also remains a factor. Despite dealing with injuries, the Panthers are eight points out of a playoff spot and are expected to push for one of the final postseason positions.
The race is shaping up to be tight down the stretch. Detroit will need to stay competitive in its toughest matchups while capitalizing on games against more vulnerable opponents.
That includes upcoming contests against the Calgary Flames, New York Rangers, and Nashville Predators, along with two games each against the struggling Ottawa Senators and New Jersey Devils. The stretch concludes with three important games against the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Red Wings have the roster capable of executing and securing a favorable playoff position. Avoiding a midseason slump will be crucial, as any misstep could open the door for a division rival to gain ground in an increasingly crowded Atlantic race.
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Numerous members of that team will be inside PPG Paints Arena to be honored and watch the Penguins try to secure their sixth-straight victory.
The Penguins and Rangers have split the previous two meetings this season, both in October. The Penguins won 3-0 in New York, while the Rangers won 6-1 in Pittsburgh.
A lot has changed since those two meetings. The Penguins are currently second in the Metropolitan Division, while the Rangers are at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings and will be a seller when the trade deadline rolls around. The Rangers have lost two in a row and eight of their last 10 games.
Rangers forward Artemi Panarin is still being held out for roster management reasons, and they'll also be without defenseman Adam Fox and goaltender Igor Shesterkin for this game. Fox and Shesterkin are still recovering from their respective injuries.
Despite playing on a bad team, Mika Zibanejad is having a good season for the Rangers, compiling 23 goals and 51 points in 54 games. JT Miller has 14 goals and 35 points in 46 games, and Vincent Trocheck, who is also on the trade block, has 11 goals and 33 points in 41 games.
The Penguins will be without defenseman Kris Letang for Saturday's game and for at least the next four weeks after the team announced he fractured a bone in his foot.
Evgeni Malkin is still questionable for the game after missing Friday's practice. Stuart Skinner is set to start in goal for the Penguins.
Puck drop is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Fans can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'
The Montreal Canadiens will face the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday, January 31, in a massive Atlantic Division matchup.
My Canadiens vs. Sabres predictions and NHL picks suggest a red-hot Mike Matheson will continue to produce, while Jakub Dobes will look to further establish himself as the go-to man in the Habs' crease.
Canadiens vs Sabres prediction
Canadiens vs Sabres best bet: Mike Matheson Over 1.5 shots (+100)
Perhaps no Montreal Canadiens defenseman has been on more of a tear than Mike Matheson over the last few weeks. He's on a six-game assist streak and has hit the Over for shots in five straight games.
He's tied for eighth among blueliners in shots since January 20.
The Canadiens allot a sizeable chunk of ice time to himself, Lane Hutson, and Noah Dobson, and it's Matheson that leads the group with an average of 24:46 per game — good for ninth in the NHL.
Opportunities for shots on goal will undoubtedly be there tonight. The Buffalo Sabres rank 26th in shots allowed, and the Quebec native put up two against them just over a week ago.
Canadiens vs Sabres same-game parlay
The Habs have turned to Jakub Dobes in goal against two of the league's top teams in the Vegas Golden Knights and the Colorado Avalanche this week, and he earned the win in both while comfortably hitting the Over for saves.
He'll look to make it three in a row tonight.
Captain Nick Suzuki is enjoying a generous stretch with 13 assists in his last 13 games and eight in his last seven. He's recorded a helper in all three games against Buffalo this season.
Montreal has won six of the last 10 games versus Buffalo, including five consecutive from November 2024 to October 2025. Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Sabres.
How to watch Canadiens vs Sabres
Location
KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
Date
Saturday, January 31, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet East
Canadiens vs Sabres latest injuries
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DENVER, COLORADO - MARCH 25: Valeri Nichushkin #13 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates a goal against the Detroit Red Wings at Ball Arena on March 25, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Many have wondered how the Colorado Avalanche would handle adversity after such a prolonged run of unrivaled success to start this season.
Adversity came in spades throughout January, but the Avalanche have one more chance to finish the month on a positive note, but they’ll have to do it against their longtime (and much improved) rival, the Detroit Red Wings.
Colorado Avalanche (35-8-9)
The Opponent: Detroit Red Wings (32-17-6)
Time: 11:00 A.M. MST/1:00 P.M. EST
Watch: ABC/ESPN (US National Broadcast), SN+/SNE/SNO/SNP (Canadian National Broadcast)
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio KKSE-FM 92.5 FM
Colorado Avalanche
Today’s game is the final game of a four game road trip, and the first of a home and home series with Detroit, who will fly out to Denver to wrap up the season series against the Avalanche on Monday night at Ball Arena. The Avalanche are coming off consecutive losses to the Ottawa Senators and Montréal Canadiens in consecutive nights, losing both games by a combined score of 12-5. The Avs looked limp and lifeless as Ottawa shelled Mackenzie Blackwood for five goals on Wednesday night, and Scott Wedgewood fared worse as Montréal pumped seven goals—including two from behind the goal line—behind him on Thursday.
Despite feeling his team put together a more competitive effort against Montréal than what they showed in Ottawa, head coach Jared Bednar noted the struggles that his team is having on both ends of the ice. “We’re having trouble putting the puck in the net; we’re having trouble keeping it out of our net right now, too […] It’s kind of tough sledding for us right now, but we’ve got to be a little better in some areas again than we were tonight.”
Brock Nelson has continued to shine bright for the Avs in the goal scoring department, scoring four goals in his last three games. His 28 goals rank second to League leader Nathan MacKinnon (38), and his 47 points are good for fourth place on the team. MacKinnon, however, has not scored a goal since January 19 against Washington. The goal scoring drought isn’t limited to just MacKinnon; Martin Nečas hasn’t scored since January 12 against Toronto.
When asked about the lack of production from both MacKinnon and Martin Nečas, Bednar said, “It’s not like they’re not doing some good things, because they did. They’re creating some chances; they’re not scoring on them like they normally would, right? Part of it is that, you’re going to finish off some of the chances, so I think they fall into that category.”
Currently, the Avs sport a 5-6-2 record for the month of January. Without a win today, the Avs will finish with a sub-500 record for a given calendar month since going 5-6-0 in October 2024. Despite their struggles this month, they still remain the undisputed leader across the Central Division, Western Conference, and League standings. With three games remaining on their schedule before the Olympic break, they’re not in any danger of losing much ground to the third second place Minnesota Wild or the Dallas Stars prior to heading to Italy.
The Avs have won three of their last four regular season games against Detroit, including the most recent matchup on March 25, 2025, by a 5-2 decision.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Nečas Victor Olofsson – Brock Nelson – Valeri Nichushkin Ross Colton – Jack Drury – Gavin Brindley Zakhar Bardakov – Parker Kelly – Joel Kiviranta
Defense: Sam Malinski – Cale Makar Josh Manson – Brent Burns Keaton Middleton – Sam Girard
Between the Pipes: Mackenzie Blackwood Scott Wedgewood
Detroit Red Wings
Detroit currently sits in second place in the Atlantic Division standings, just two points shy of the first place Tampa Bay Lightning. Given the packed standings in the Eastern Conference, a playoff spot isn’t guaranteed at this point in the season, but Detroit’s chances of seeing their first playoff berth in nine seasons is looking more and more likely. With the franchise currently celebrating its centennial season, a return to the postseason would be a noteworthy accomplishment to commemorate the occasion.
Detroit has fared better than Colorado throughout the month of January overall, going 6-2-2 in their previous ten games. However, Detroit has lost two of their current three game home stand at Little Caesars Arena, losing 3-1 to the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday evening, and a 4-3 shootout loss to the Washington Capitals on Thursday. Despite the loss, right winger Patrick Kane recorded his 1,375 point of his career to become the highest scoring American-born player in the NHL, surpassing one-time former Red Wing Mike Modano.
Alex DeBrincat currently leads Detroit in goals (30), and is one point shy of the team lead in overall points behind Lucas Raymond (58). Raymond also leads the team in assists (40). Team captain Dylan Larkin ranks second on the team behind DeBrincat in goals (25) and third in points (48).
Goaltender John Gibson, who was acquired from the Anaheim Ducks during the offseason, is enjoying a bit of a renaissance in his first full season with Detroit. He currently has 21 wins on the season, the most he’s had since the 2018-2019 season (26), and setting a new career high in wins (Gibson won 31 games during the 2017-2018 season) isn’t out of the question, but if Detroit has its sights set on the postseason, Gibson’s career best will have to come this spring.
Detroit’s last victory over Colorado came on February 22, 2024, a 2-1 victory on an overtime goal from Kane.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Marco Kasper – Dylan Larkin – Lucas Raymond Alex DeBrincat – Andrew Copp – Patrick Kane Emmitt Finnie – J.T. Compher – James van Riemsdyk Elmer Söderblom – Michael Rasmussen – Mason Appleton
Defense: Jacob Bernard-Docker – Moritz Seider Axel Sandin-Pellikka – Ben Chiarot Albert Johansson – Travis Hamonic
St. Louis Blues - 20-25-9 - 49 Points - 3-6-1 in the last 10 - Won 1 - 8th in the Central
Columbus Blue Jackets - 26-20-7 - 59 Points - 8-2-0 in the last 10 - Won 4 - 4th in the Metro.
Team Notes Per CBJ PR
Columbus has won four-straight and eight of its past nine games overall while outscoring opponents 34-23 since Jan. 11 after its 4-2 victory at Chicago last night.
CBJ lead the NHL in points pct. (.889) and rank fourth in shots on goal (30.3), fifth-T in power play pct. (30.4) as well as seventh-T in goals for/game (3.78), goals-against/game (2.56) and team save percentage (.909) over that stretch.
The club has scored the opening goal in four consecutive games and eight of the past nine. The team has scored the first goal in 32 games, tied for third-most in the NHL in 2025-26.
Columbus leads the NHL in goals by defensemen and ranks fourth in points with 39-95-134 in 53 contests.
CBJ conclude their 10th of 16 back-to-back sets of the season tonight at St. Louis. The club ranks third in the league in points pct. in back-to-back settings in 2025-26 (.658; 11-5-3).
The Jackets have allowed one power play goal over the last six contests (16-of-17; 94.1 pct.).
Player Notes Per CBJ PR
Charlie Coyle notched his second career hat trick and fourth career four-point outing with 3-1-4 at Chicago last night. He has notched multiple points in three consecutive games (5-4-9) and has posted 9-5-14 in the last nine contests.
Jet Greaves (4-0-0, 2.35 GAA, .915 SV%) and G Elvis Merzlikins (4-1-0, 2.49 GAA, .910 SV%) have each won four games for the Blue Jackets since Jan. 11.
Kirill Marchenko collected an assist at Chicago and has points in three-straight games (1-3-4) as well as 14 of the last 18 contests dating back to Dec. 22 (9-10-19).
Mathieu Olivier has posted 1-1-2 efforts in two-straight, and F Cole Sillinger has points in three-straight games (1-3-4).
Zach Werenski, who has notched two assists in three consecutive contests, leads NHL blueliners in goals (19), points (tied, 59), multi-point efforts (20), points-per-game (1.20) and shots on goal (175) this season. He has set club records for most assists and points by a defenseman in a single month with 5-14-19 in 14 contests in January.
Blue Jackets Stats
Power Play - 19.7% - 17th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 76.5% - 28th in the NHL
Goals For - 162 - 19th in the NHL
Goals Against - 173 - 23rd in the NHL
BluesStats
Power Play - 17.0% - 25th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 73.8% - 29th in the NHL
Goals For - 134 - 30th in the NHL
Goals Against - 163 - 18th in the NHL
Series History vs. TheBlues
Columbus is 38-50-3-5 all-time, and 13-31-1-3 on the road in St. Louis.
The Blue Jackets are 5-0 in the last 5 against the Blues. They're also 3-2-1 in the last six games in St. Louis.
The CBJ beat St. Louis on November 1st, 2025, by a score of 3-2.
Who To Watch For TheBlues
Jake Neighbours leads the Blues with 13 goals.
Robert Thomas leads the team with 22 assists and 33 points.
Goalie Joel Hofer 12-10-3 with a SV% of .899.
Jordan Binnington is 8-15-6 with a SV% of .867.
CBJ Player Notes vs.Blues
Zach Werenski has 10 points in 16 career games vs. the Blues.
Boone Jenner has 8 points in 18 games.
Charlie Coyle has 23 points in 41 games against St. Louis.
Injured Reserve
Brendan Smith - Lower Body - Missed 15 Games IR - Out for the rest of the regular season.
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 149
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on FANDUEL SPORTS NETWORK. The radio broadcast will be on 97.1 The Fan, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
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After dropping consecutive games, the Detroit Red Wings will be looking to rebound as they open a challenging home-and-home series against the NHL’s top-seeded Colorado Avalanche. Colorado has been one of the league’s most dominant teams this season, with just 17 losses through 52 games, but this matchup may come at an ideal time for Detroit.
After bursting out of the gates to start the year, the Avalanche have cooled off considerably, posting a 4-6-2 record over their last 12 games. By contrast, the Red Wings have surged during that same stretch, going 8-2-2, which is an encouraging sign as they prepare to take on one of the league’s elite.
Detroit will look to capitalize on Colorado’s recent slide and take advantage of the opportunity while the Avalanche search for consistency. Whenever these two teams meet, memories of their fierce late 1990s battles come rushing back, and this series has the potential to reignite the rivalry once again.
It sets up as an intriguing matchup between two teams built on different strengths. Colorado boasts the league’s most explosive offense, averaging 3.88 goals per game, and is tied with the Tampa Bay Lightning for the NHL’s best defense at just 2.48 goals against per game.
Even during their recent skid, the Avalanche offense has remained dangerous, producing 3.25 goals per game, but their defensive play has suffered. Over that 12-game stretch, Colorado ranks among the bottom ten defensively, allowing 3.50 goals per game.
Detroit, meanwhile, features a middle-of-the-pack offense this season, but its defense has been a strength, ranking inside the top 12 at 2.96 goals against per game. The setting also favors the Red Wings, as the game will be played in the Motor City, where Detroit owns an 18-9-2 record, tied for the fifth-best home mark in the NHL alongside fierce rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs.
While Colorado still holds the league’s third-best road record at 15-6-5, the Avalanche enter Saturday having lost four of their last five games away from home, adding another layer to what should be a compelling clash.
Detroit Red Wings’ Expected Line Combinations vs Colorado (Saturday)
Kasper – Larkin – Raymond
DeBrincat – Copp – Kane
Finnie – Compher – Appleton
Soderblom – Rasmussen – van Riemsdyk
Benard-Docker – Seider
Sandin-Pellikka - Chiarot
Johansson – Hamonic
Gibson
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A desperate Flyers team wasn’t able to complete a comeback effort Saturday afternoon.
They stomached another loss, this one a 3-2 overtime decision to the Kings at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Trevor Zegras and Travis Konecny scored the Flyers’ goals. Konecny’s marker tied the game 25 seconds into the third period. With a chance to win it in OT, Konecny couldn’t convert on a breakaway, hitting the right post.
“I’ve got to put it away there in overtime,” Konecny said.
Quinton Byfield scored the OT winner for Los Angeles. The Flyers fell to 2-7 in overtime.
The Flyers (24-20-10) are on a four-game losing streak, a stretch in which they’ve been outscored 18-8.
Rick Tocchet’s club has dropped 11 of its last 13 games (2-8-3) and has allowed 4.46 goals per game over that span.
The Flyers’ slide has been a precipitous one. They were in third place Jan. 6 after an emotion-filled win over the Ducks. Now, they’re in seventh place with 28 games to go. They entered Saturday eight points back of the third-place Islanders.
“Maybe you guys are doubting us; we are not doubting ourselves,” Dan Vladar said. “We are a confident group, we know this is just a stretch, it comes for every team. Even if you look at Tampa, they didn’t start well, obviously they’re hot now. It’s every team.
“It’s just up to us, we have a young group. It’s up to the older guys, including myself, just to bring up the energy here, the confidence. We still believe, the season’s not over.”
The Flyers see the Kings (23-17-13) again March 19 when they visit Los Angeles.
• Vladar made 18 saves on 21 shots.
In a span of 3:58 minutes during the first period, the Flyers fell behind 2-0. Adrian Kempe scored both goals for the Kings.
On the first one, Vladar was scrambling to get back up to his feet as Kempe fired from the slot 3:10 minutes into the game. On the second, the Flyers lost Kempe streaking through the middle for a one-timer.
The Flyers somehow prevented a total unraveling in the first period. The Kings had a third goal taken off the board after the Flyers’ coach’s challenge showed the play was offside.
Tocchet’s club also committed a pair of penalties, but was able to kill them off.
The Flyers turned it up in the second period. Zegras struck on the power play just 39 seconds into the period, cutting the Flyers’ deficit to 2-1.
Vladar was able to find his game. In the middle stanza, he made a huge stop on a Los Angeles breakaway just after the Flyers’ power play came up empty. The save kept the game 2-1.
Aleksei Kolosov was recalled from AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley to back up Vladar. Samuel Ersson left the Flyers’ 6-3 loss Thursday night to the Bruins after two periods with a lower-body injury. There has been no further word on his status.
Los Angeles netminder Darcy Kuemper stopped 19 of the Flyers’ 21 shots.
• Zegras rediscovered his offense when the Flyers were starving for it.
The 24-year-old didn’t have a point over the previous four games, but he ended that slump with his 20th goal of the season.
That goal early in the second period seemed to energize the Flyers and it certainly relieved some pressure.
But the Flyers had to settle for just one point and another tough loss.
• The Flyers are back in action Tuesday when they host the Capitals (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).
It's the first meeting between the two teams this season, and both clubs enter the matchup needing points, especially the Flyers, who are 2-8-1 in their last nine games after a 22-12-7 start.
Start Time and TV Schedule
When: 9:30 a.m. PT, Jan. 31
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena
Watch: FanDuel Sports Network
Kings Projected Lineup
Corey Perry - Alex Laferriere - Adrian Kempe
Trevor Moore - Quinton Byfield - Warren Foegele
Kevin Fiala - Joel Armia - Andrei Kuzmenko
Kenny Connors - Samuel Helenius - Taylor Ward
Mikey Anderson - Drew Doughty
Joel Edmundson - Brandt Clarke
Brian Dumoulin - Cody Ceci
Darcy Kuemper
Anton Forsberg
Flyers Projected Lineup
Nikita Grebenkin - Christian Dvorak - Travis Konecny
Denver Barkey - Noah Cates - Owen Tippett
Matvei Michkov - Trevor Zegras - Bobby Brink
Nicolas Deslauriers - Sean Couturier - Garnett Hathaway
Travis Sanheim - Rasmus Ristolainen
Cam York - Jamie Drysdale
Nick Seeler - Noah Juulsen
Dan Vladar
Samuel Ersson
The Kings' last outing was one they'll want to forget. Defesnive breakdowns, missed assignments in transition, and a lack of aggression to start from opening tap plaugued them for the entire game.
It's a loss they need to quickly forget and move on from. The Sabres are one of the hottest teams in hockey right now, so the loss was accepted, but it was how they lost. Now heading into Philadelphia against a Flyers team that's struggled mightily recently with consistency and is 0-5 in their last home games, the last one coming on Jan. 6, nearly three weeks ago.
The Flyers rank near the bottom in both offense and defense this season, and they are also playing their third game in four nights, while the Kings had a lot of rest before playing the Red Wings and Sabres.
It's the perfect opportunity for the Kings to reset against a struggling team and close out this stretch of the six-game road trip on a positive note. The Kings' defense has struggled in their last ten games, and the offense has been up and down, but the team has relied heavily on its depth scoring recently, and it's been very effective at times.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, has been one of the worst defensive teams in this nine-game stretch, going 2-8-1. They've held their opponents to just one goal twice in this stretch and have given up a total of 49 goals while scoring 26 goals, so Los Angeles has to take advantage of that defense and get the easy win.
Injuries
For the Kings' injury report, Anze Kopitar (upper body) and Alex Turcotte (upper body) are listed as out.
The Flyers are expected to be without Tyson Foerster (arm) and Rodrigo Abols (lower body).
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Nathan MacKinnon leads the NHL in scoring by a healthy margin, sitting four goals clear of Connor McDavid and eight ahead of the closest player beyond No. 97.
MacKinnon has gone a little quiet of late, but my Avalanche vs. Red Wings predictions see him snapping out of his funk in this matchup.
Let’s break down my NHL picks for Saturday, January 31.
Avalanche vs Red Wings prediction
Avalanche vs Red Wings best bet: Nathan MacKinnon anytime goal (-120)
Nathan MacKinnon hasn’t scored in five consecutive games, his longest stretch of the season. This is a sneaky good spot to get back on track.
The Detroit Red Wings are without Simon Edvinsson, who plays on their matchup pairing alongside Moritz Seider. Jacob Benard-Docker has filled in effectively thus far, but he’s not the same level of player as Edvinsson.
Not having all hands on deck against MacKinnon could be problematic.
Detroit is also allowing a lot of slot shots. They rank 29th in defending the slot over the past 10 games. That happens to be the area MacKinnon shoots from most frequently — and it isn’t close.
The Red Wings also rank Bottom 10 in PK% their last 10 games. They should make it easier for the Avalanche — who have surprisingly struggled on the power play — to find a goal.
While John Gibson has performed well for the Wings between the pipes, he has still had a tough time going up in class. Gibson has given up at least three goals in seven of his last nine games against Top 10 scoring offenses.
The Colorado Avalanche should score a few in this spot, and I like one to come off MacKinnon’s stick.
Avalanche vs Red Wings same-game parlay
Martin Necas has 40 assists through 52 games, putting him on pace to shatter his previous high of 43. Playing with MacKinnon at 5-on-5 and on the power play, Necas shares the ice more with him than anybody. He’s the most likely candidate to set him up for a goal.
The Avalanche haven’t played their best hockey of late, yet 11 of their past 13 wins following a day off have come by multiple goals.
Avalanche vs Red Wings SGP
Nathan MacKinnon anytime goal
Martin Necas Over 0.5 assists
Avalanche -1.5
Avalanche vs Red Wings odds
Moneyline: Colorado -145 | Detroit +125
Puck line: Colorado -1.5 (+160) | Detroit +1.5 (-190)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-110) | Under 6.5 (-110)
Avalanche vs Red Wings trend
Nathan MacKinnon has scored in five of his past six games against Detroit. Find more NHL betting trends for Avalanche vs. Red Wings.
How to watch Avalanche vs Red Wings
Location
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Date
Saturday, January 31, 2026
Puck drop
1:00 p.m. ET
TV
ABC
Avalanche vs Red Wings latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
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The Calgary Flames will welcome Macklin Celebrini and the San Jose Sharks to Scotiabank Saddledome this afternoon, with puck drop scheduled for 4:00 p.m. ET.
Jonathan Huberdeau has been creating chances lately, and I’m eyeing him to keep it up in my Sharks vs. Flames predictions.
Read more in my NHL picks for Saturday, January 31.
Sharks vs Flames prediction
Sharks vs Flames best bet: Jonathan Huberdeau Over 1.5 shots on goal (-140)
Jonathan Huberdeau is having a respectable campaign for the struggling Calgary Flames, collecting a total of 23 points. He’s averaged 1.70 shots on goal per contest, and has picked it up as of late.
The Quebec native has hit the Over in shots on target in four consecutive appearances. Across his last two games, Huberdeau has nine SOG alone. On Thursday, Huberdeau tallied four shots on net against the Wild.
Last Sunday, he also had five SOG. Three of his last four games where he cashed the Over were at home as well, and the San Jose Sharks are 30th in the NHL in shots allowed.
Sharks vs Flames same-game parlay
Huberdeau had six points in four meetings with San Jose in the 2024-25 campaign.
Morgan Frost has scored 11 goals for Calgary in 2025-26, and he’s netted three times in January.
Sharks vs Flames SGP
Jonathan Huberdeau Over 1.5 shots on goal
Jonathan Huberdeau Over 0.5 points
Morgan Frost anytime goal
Sharks vs Flames odds
Moneyline: Sharks -110 | Flames -110
Puck Line: Sharks +1.5 | Flames -1.5
Over/Under: Over 6 | Under 6
Sharks vs Flames trend
The Flames have covered the Puck Line in 17 of their last 25 games at home (+13.20 Units / 32% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Sharks vs. Flames.
How to watch Sharks vs Flames
Location
Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB
Date
Saturday, January 31, 2026
Puck drop
4:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBCSCA, Sportsnet
Sharks vs Flames latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
They often say that the third time’s the charm, and the Montreal Canadiens will be hoping that’s the case for them when they take on the Buffalo Sabres for the third time in as many weeks. Lindy Ruff’s men won the first duel 5-3 in Buffalo and the second 4-2 in Montreal. Jacob Fowler was in the net for the first, and Samuel Montembeault got the net for the second.
The Canadiens didn’t practice yesterday as they were travelling to Buffalo, so Martin St-Louis has yet to confirm his starting netminder, but considering Jakub Dobes convincingly won his last two games, it would make sense to give him the net for this must-win game. The Czech netminder has not lost in regulation since December 9 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He has won his last five games and seven out of his previous nine tilts. He has taken on the Sabres twice in his career and is 2-0-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage. Meanwhile, Samuel Montembeault has a 5-6-0 record against the hosts with a 3.04 GAA and a .900 SV.
At the other end of the ice, Ruff has not confirmed his starter either, but in the Sabres’ win over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday, Alex Lyon broke a franchise record by winning his 10th consecutive game. Given the importance of Saturday night’s tilt, it would be shocking if he wasn’t between the pipes. He has a 4-3-0 record against the Habs with a 3.14 GAA and a .883 SV. The Sabres currently have two other goalies on the roster, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Colten Ellis. The former has a 2-2-0 record against Montreal with a 3.95 GAA and a .871 SV, while the latter has a 1-0-0 record with a 3.01 GAA and a .870 SV.
Up front, Nick Suzuki is the Canadiens’ most productive player against Buffalo with 24 points in just 20 games. Brendan Gallagher also has 24 points, but in 46 games. Cole Caufield completes the top three with 13 points in just 17 games. The sniper was held off the scoresheet in the 7-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday, putting an end to his six-game goal-scoring streak. However, Mike Matheson is on a six-game point streak with six assists in as many games.
Meanwhile, the Habs will need to find a way to contain the Sabres’ first line if they want to have any hope of winning. Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch and Zach Benson have been a thorn in the Canadiens’ side this season so far. Thompson leads his team in points against the visitors with 22 points in 19 games, followed by Rasmus Dahlin, who has 20 points in 23 games, and Tuch completes the top three with 19 points in 21 games. The latter scored a hat trick in the Sabres’ last game and has five goals in his previous three games.
Tonight’s winner will take sole possession of third place in the Atlantic Division, which the Sabres currently hold. Both teams have 67 points (just like the Boston Bruins), but Buffalo has only played 53 games while Montreal has played 54 and Boston 55.
The Sabres might have won the last two duels, but the Canadiens have won six of the previous 10 duels. Buffalo has won its last five games and is 7-2- 1 in their previous 10 matches. Meanwhile, the Canadiens have won their last two games and are 5-4-1 in their previous 10.
The game is set for 7:00 PM, and you can catch it on TVA Sports, City TV and Sportsnet East. Francis Charron and Kendrick Nicholson will be the referees. James Tobias and Mark Shewchyk will be the linemen. This is the Canadiens’ second-to-last game before the Olympic break. The Habs will head to Minnesota on Sunday, where they’ll take on the Wild on Monday night before meeting the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday night. Then Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovsky, Oliver Kapanen, and Alexandre Texier will all head to Italy for the games, while their teammates will get 12 days off with practices set to resume in Brossard on February 17.
The Winnipeg Jets and Florida Panthers face off for the second time in 10 days following a tight 2-1 shootout win for the back-to-back Stanley Cup champs in their first meeting.
Despite a low-scoring battle last time, I’m expecting a different story with plenty of goals this time around. I’ll break down why I’m on the Over in my Jets vs. Panthers predictions and NHL picks for Saturday, January 31.
Jets vs Panthers prediction
Jets vs Panthers best bet: Over 5.5 (-130)
It’s no secret that the Winnipeg Jets have suffered from subpar goaltending this season.
Winnipeg owns an .896 team SV% (18th), while reigning Hart and Vezina Trophy winner, Connor Hellebuyck, is carrying just a .902 SV% himself.
That’s translated to the Jets allowing more than three goals per game this season and cashing the Over in 59.6% of their contests — the sixth-highest rate in the NHL.
The Florida Panthers have a reputation as a defensive juggernaut, but the reigning back-to-back Stanley Cup champions have not been the same team this season.
The Cats are giving up 3.57 GPG since the calendar flipped to 2026 — the sixth-worst mark in the league over that span. Florida has also cashed the Over in 58.5% of its games this season.
Both teams give up a lot of goals. Give me the Over this afternoon.
Jets vs Panthers same-game parlay
Josh Morrissey is having another productive season despite the Jets’ struggles.
Morrissey ranks among the Top 10 in points among blueliners and has excelled at getting pucks on net. The Jets defenseman has Over 1.5 shots on goal in five of his last six games.
Mark Scheifele has been hot to start the new year with a team-leading eight goals in 15 games. The Jets center has four goals in his last six road contests.
Jets vs Panthers SGP
Over 5.5
Josh Morrissey Over 1.5 shots on goal
Mark Scheifele anytime goal
Jets vs Panthers odds
Moneyline: Jets +128 | Panthers -154
Puck Line: Jets +1.5 | Panthers -1.5
Over/Under: Over 6 | Under 6
Jets vs Panthers trend
The Jets have hit the Over in 10 of their last 15 games (+5.80 Units / 35% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Jets vs. Panthers.
How to watch Jets vs Panthers
Location
Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL
Date
Saturday, January 31, 2026
Puck drop
4:00 p.m. ET
TV
TSN3, SCRIPPS
Jets vs Panthers latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
DENVER, COLORADO - MARCH 25: J.T. Compher #37 of the Detroit Red Wings and Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche fight for the puck during the second period of the game at Ball Arena on March 25, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Ashley Potts/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Many have wondered how the Colorado Avalanche would handle adversity after such a prolonged run of unrivaled success to start this season.
Adversity came in spades throughout January, but the Avalanche have one more chance to finish the month on a positive note, but they’ll have to do it against their longtime (and much improved) rival, the Detroit Red Wings.
Colorado Avalanche (35-8-9)
The Opponent: Detroit Red Wings (32-17-6)
Time: 11:00 A.M. MST/1:00 P.M. EST
Watch: ABC/ESPN (US National Broadcast), SN+/SNE/SNO/SNP (Canadian National Broadcast)
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio KKSE-FM 92.5 FM
Colorado Avalanche
Today’s game is the final game of a four game road trip, and the first of a home and home series with Detroit, who will fly out to Denver to wrap up the season series against the Avalanche on Monday night at Ball Arena. The Avalanche are coming off consecutive losses to the Ottawa Senators and Montréal Canadiens in consecutive nights, losing both games by a combined score of 12-5. The Avs looked limp and lifeless as Ottawa shelled Mackenzie Blackwood for five goals on Wednesday night, and Scott Wedgewood fared worse as Montréal pumped seven goals—including two from behind the goal line—behind him on Thursday.
Despite feeling his team put together a more competitive effort against Montréal than what they showed in Ottawa, head coach Jared Bednar noted the struggles that his team is having on both ends of the ice. “We’re having trouble putting the puck in the net; we’re having trouble keeping it out of our net right now, too […] It’s kind of tough sledding for us right now, but we’ve got to be a little better in some areas again than we were tonight.”
Brock Nelson has continued to shine bright for the Avs in the goal scoring department, scoring four goals in his last three games. His 28 goals rank second to League leader Nathan MacKinnon (38), and his 47 points are good for fourth place on the team. MacKinnon, however, has not scored a goal since January 19 against Washington. The goal scoring drought isn’t limited to just MacKinnon; Martin Nečas hasn’t scored since January 12 against Toronto.
When asked about the lack of production from both MacKinnon and Martin Nečas, Bednar said, “It’s not like they’re not doing some good things, because they did. They’re creating some chances; they’re not scoring on them like they normally would, right? Part of it is that, you’re going to finish off some of the chances, so I think they fall into that category.”
Currently, the Avs sport a 5-6-2 record for the month of January. Without a win today, the Avs will finish with a sub-500 record for a given calendar month since going 5-6-0 in October 2024. Despite their struggles this month, they still remain the undisputed leader across the Central Division, Western Conference, and League standings. With three games remaining on their schedule before the Olympic break, they’re not in any danger of losing much ground to the third second place Minnesota Wild or the Dallas Stars prior to heading to Italy.
The Avs have won three of their last four regular season games against Detroit, including the most recent matchup on March 25, 2025, by a 5-2 decision.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Nečas Victor Olofsson – Brock Nelson – Valeri Nichushkin Ross Colton – Jack Drury – Gavin Brindley Zakhar Bardakov – Parker Kelly – Joel Kiviranta
Defense: Sam Malinski – Cale Makar Josh Manson – Brent Burns Keaton Middleton – Sam Girard
Between the Pipes: Mackenzie Blackwood Scott Wedgewood
Detroit Red Wings
Detroit currently sits in second place in the Atlantic Division standings, just two points shy of the first place Tampa Bay Lightning. Given the packed standings in the Eastern Conference, a playoff spot isn’t guaranteed at this point in the season, but Detroit’s chances of seeing their first playoff berth in nine seasons is looking more and more likely. With the franchise currently celebrating its centennial season, a return to the postseason would be a noteworthy accomplishment to commemorate the occasion.
Detroit has fared better than Colorado throughout the month of January overall, going 6-2-2 in their previous ten games. However, Detroit has lost two of their current three game home stand at Little Caesars Arena, losing 3-1 to the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday evening, and a 4-3 shootout loss to the Washington Capitals on Thursday. Despite the loss, right winger Patrick Kane recorded his 1,375 point of his career to become the highest scoring American-born player in the NHL, surpassing one-time former Red Wing Mike Modano.
Alex DeBrincat currently leads Detroit in goals (30), and is one point shy of the team lead in overall points behind Lucas Raymond (58). Raymond also leads the team in assists (40). Team captain Dylan Larkin ranks second on the team behind DeBrincat in goals (25) and third in points (48).
Goaltender John Gibson, who was acquired from the Anaheim Ducks during the offseason, is enjoying a bit of a renaissance in his first full season with Detroit. He currently has 21 wins on the season, the most he’s had since the 2018-2019 season (26), and setting a new career high in wins (Gibson won 31 games during the 2017-2018 season) isn’t out of the question, but if Detroit has its sights set on the postseason, Gibson’s career best will have to come this spring.
Detroit’s last victory over Colorado came on February 22, 2024, a 2-1 victory on an overtime goal from Kane.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Marco Kasper – Dylan Larkin – Lucas Raymond Alex DeBrincat – Andrew Copp – Patrick Kane Emmitt Finnie – J.T. Compher – James van Riemsdyk Elmer Söderblom – Michael Rasmussen – Mason Appleton
Defense: Jacob Bernard-Docker – Moritz Seider Axel Sandin-Pellikka – Ben Chiarot Albert Johansson – Travis Hamonic
Something amazing is happening over the next several days in Sunrise.
When the Florida Panthers host the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday afternoon, it will be the start of something that hasn’t been seen in South Florida for quite some time.
For the first time in a month, the Panthers will be hosting an actual, real life homestand.
Even better, they won’t have to play any back-to-back sets! It’s truly like Christmas in July for the Panthers.
All joking aside, it will be nice for the Cats to have some stability in their lives for a couple weeks.
The only road game the Panthers will play between now and March is on Feb. 5 against Tampa, which also happens to be the last game Florida will play for the NHL breaks for the Winter Olympics.
Now the important next step for Florida will be to resume winning games on home ice.
Saturday’s game on Winnipeg, which comes on Jan. 31, will be the fifth home game of the month for the Panthers, including the Winter Classic that was planed at loanDepot park in Miami.
Florida has won just once on home ice this month, all the way back on Jan. 4 against Colorado.
Getting back on the right track and picking up some crucial points in the standings will go a long way toward Florida climbing back into striking distance of a playoff race.
Entering play Saturday, Florida’s 59 points is eight points back of Boston and Montreal, who are tied for the two Wild Card spots in the Eastern Conference, and Buffalo, who hold the third spot in the Atlantic Division.
Florida has two games in hand on the Bruins, one on Montreal and the same amount of games played as Buffalo.
Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Saturday’s matchup against Winnipeg:
Carter Verhaeghe – Evan Rodrigues – Sam Reinhart
Sandis Vilmanis– Sam Bennett – Matthew Tkachuk
Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Mackie Samoskevich
Photo caption: Jan 22, 2026; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) shoots wide of Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) in overtime at Canada Life Centre. (James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images)
