The Colorado Avalanche are headed outdoors once again.

The NHL announced Monday that Colorado will serve as the visiting team in the 2027 Discover Winter Classic, facing the Utah Mammoth at Rice-Eccles Stadium on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Additional details, including the game’s date, start time, and ticket information, will be announced at a later date.

Avs-Mammoth 2027 Winter Classic Official

The matchup will mark the Avalanche’s first appearance in the Winter Classic and the fourth outdoor game in franchise history. It will also be the first time Colorado has taken part in an outdoor NHL game as the road team.

Previously, the Avalanche hosted the Detroit Red Wings at Coors Field during the 2016 Stadium Series, the Los Angeles Kings at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs for the 2020 Stadium Series, and the Vegas Golden Knights at the NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe in 2021.

For the first time in its 20-year history, Colorado will take part in the Winter Classic. However, it will not be the 20th edition of the event, as the 2013 and 2021 Winter Classics were canceled due to the NHL lockout and the COVID-19 pandemic, respectively.

“We’re excited and honored that the League selected us for the Winter Classic,” said Avalanche President of Hockey Operations Joe Sakic. “The Avalanche organization is always proud to be in consideration for marquee events like this. We’re looking forward to being matched up with a great team and represent the Rocky Mountain region in a game that appeals to these two markets in this part of the country.”

Colorado Record in Outdoor Games

The Avalanche are 1–2 all-time in outdoor games, though their most recent appearance came in a 3–2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights at the NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe in 2021. Several months later, Vegas returned the favor, eliminating Colorado in six games during the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The New York Islanders defeated the New Jersey Devils by a 9-0 final score on Jan. 6. Former San Jose Sharks forward Anthony Duclair played a significant role in the Islanders' blowout win, as he had a huge game for the Metropolitan Division club. 

Duclair impressed in a big way against the Devils, as he recorded three goals, five points, and a plus-6 rating in the contest. With numbers like these, there is no question that Duclair was simply fantastic for the Islanders in this contest. 

With this huge game for the Islanders, Duclair now has seven goals, 11 assists, 18 points, and a plus-5 rating in 40 games this season. This is after he had seven goals and 11 points in 44 games for the Islanders during the 2024-25 season. 

Duclair will now be looking to stay hot for the Islanders after this fantastic performance. If he does, it would be good news for an Islanders club that is looking to get back into the playoffs. 

Duclair played in 56 games during the 2023-24 season with the Sharks, where he recorded 16 goals, 11 assists, and 27 points. Overall, he proved to be a solid pickup for the Sharks, but his time with the organization was short-lived. This is because he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning ahead of the 2024 NHL trade deadline. 

The Winnipeg Jets have finally given 22-year-old forward Danny Zhilkin his long-awaited opportunity at the NHL level, recalling him from the American Hockey League’s Manitoba Moose ahead of what is expected to be his league debut.

To make room on the roster, the Jets placed defenseman Haydn Fleury on injured reserve, retroactive to Jan. 6, following a frightening incident Tuesday night against the Vegas Golden Knights. Fleury suffered a hard fall into the boards following a hit during the game and was eventually stretchered off the ice. Fleury has been diagnosed with a broken nose, bruised back and is still being evaluated for another concussion after he just returned from being sidelined for 17 games with one. 

TRANSACTIONS: The #NHLJets have recalled F - Danny Zhilkin from the Manitoba Moose (AHL). The Jets have also placed D - Haydn Fleury on injured reserve retroactive to Jan. 6.

— Winnipeg Jets PR (@WpgJetsPR) January 7, 2026

For Zhilkin, the recall represents a significant milestone after patiently working his way through three professional seasons in the Jets organization. Drafted in the third round, 102nd overall, in the 2022 NHL Draft, Zhilkin entered pro hockey with considerable expectations and has steadily progressed each year with the Moose.

This season, Zhilkin has produced 14 points in 30 games, already closing in on the 17 points he recorded combined over his first two AHL campaigns. The steady increase in offensive output has been paired with improved consistency away from the puck, an area that the Jets have emphasized in his development. His ability to play responsibly while still contributing offensively has helped him earn trust within the organization.

And then Jets prospect Danny Zhilkin, who has looked dangerous all weekend, buried the shootout winner as the Moose go 3/3.

Post-game recap to follow on https://t.co/UggUR7V1u6pic.twitter.com/uYrgZEVCbc

— Dave Minuk (@ICdave) November 30, 2025

Zhilkin came close to cracking the Jets roster earlier this year, emerging as one of the final cuts during training camp. His strong preseason showing at the time fueled internal belief that his NHL debut was a matter of when, not if. Wednesday’s recall confirms that assessment.

The timing of the move could also signal a shift in approach for Winnipeg as the season progresses. With injuries mounting and playoff hopes becoming increasingly uncertain, the Jets may begin to evaluate younger talent to assess long-term fit at the NHL level. Zhilkin appears to be the first beneficiary of that opportunity, potentially opening the door for additional prospects to follow.

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The Chicago Blackhawks are once among the bottom teams in the NHL this season. Due to this, there is certainly a chance that they will be sellers at the 2026 NHL trade deadline. 

With the Blackhawks struggling, a few of their players have been brought up as potential trade candidates.

In his latest trade board for Daily Faceoff, Matt Larkin included Blackhawks players Nick Foligno, Connor Murphy, Jason Dickinson, and Laurent Brossoit. 

Out of the four players, Foligno was the only one in Larkin's "Names to keep an eye on" tier. Larkin brought up the possibility of Foligno being traded to a contender, but also noted that would likely only happen if the Blackhawks captain wants it to. 

Plenty of playoff clubs would love to have Foligno, as he is a leader who plays a heavy game, multiple positions, and is still an effective bottom-six forward. In 20 games this season, he has recorded one goal, seven points, and 51 hits. 

As for Murphy, Dickinson, and Brossoit, they were all in Larkin's "Theoretical trade chips if their teams fall out of contention" tier. 

Murphy undoubtedly has the potential to generate interest from contenders as we get closer to the deadline. Playoff clubs are always on the hunt for big, right-shot defensemen, and Murphy fits that description. The pending UFA could be a nice pickup for a contender looking to boost their bottom pairing.

Dickinson is another Blackhawks pending UFA who makes sense as a trade candidate. Teams looking for a solid two-way center for their bottom six could call about Dickinson. This is especially so with the center trade market not being the strongest. 

As for Brossoit, it is known that the Blackhawks are trying to find the veteran goalie a new home. The 32-year-old's strong resume could help him generate some interest if a playoff club is looking to improve at the backup position. 

The New York Islanders are riding high these days. Despite season-ending injuries to key players, Ilya Sorokin missing six straight games, and another injury to Bo Horvat, the Islanders have gone 5-2-0 over their last seven games and 2-0-0 without Horvat.

It's easy to lose sight of those key injuries piling up, even when questions were raised about the lack of offense.

Tuesday's 9-0 shellacking of the New Jersey Devils silenced any and all questions about their offensive potency. The game gave a desperately needed showcase of the skill and firepower that this team possesses.

Now, after that win and Matthew Schaefer's show-stealing performance against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Hockey Night in Canada this past Saturday, the Islanders embark on a gargantuan seven-game road trip.

It's actually tied for the team's second-longest road trip of the season, with a seven-game trip back in November. However, that trip began with two games against the Devils and the New York Rangers, and if you're sleeping in your own bed after the game, it's hard to compare this seven-game trip to the upcoming one.

That trip saw the Islanders go 6-1-0, with marquee wins over the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights, while only losing to the Colorado Avalanche. In total, the Islanders went 15 days without a game in UBS Arena, with the entire trip squished down into 12 days for the seven games.

The total air mileage for the trip is estimated at 5,135.6 miles.

This trip, however, is longer in terms of both miles traveled and total length. The Islanders' last home game came on January 6 against the Devils, and it'll be 18 days until they return home for a Saturday afternoon matinée against the Buffalo Sabres.

The road trip itself sees all seven games compacted into 13 days, with a total air mileage of 5,719.3 miles. The level of competition is not quite the same as that of the first one. Instead of the world-beating Avalanche, Stars, Knights, and Detroit Red Wings, this trip features just three teams in playoff positions, along with the three worst teams in the league.

The trip begins Thursday in Nashville, where the Islanders take on Barry Trotz's Predators. It's Nashville's first home game since December 21. Nashville went seven straight on the road, going through the Pacific Northwest along the way. 

Nashville went 4-3-0 on the trip, but lost 6-2 to the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. Usually, teams returning home from a long road trip look jet-lagged to start, while teams beginning a road trip start hot.

The Islanders have not won in Nashville since Oct. 28, 2017, losers of six straight at Bridgestone Arnea. 

They'll need a hot start against the Predators, as they can't let Nashville settle into the game. It's the first meeting of the season, with a January 31 game in UBS Arena later this month. The game is a second straight ESPN+/Hulu exclusive, with the puck dropping just after 8 o'clock on the East Coast. 

After Nashville, the Islanders fly north to Minnesota to take on Quinn Hughes' Wild. It's the second meeting of the season, with the Wild beating the Islanders 5-2 in UBS Arena back on November 7.

Minnesota has since traded for Hughes, dramatically changing its team in the process. Marco Rossi, who scored in the 5-2 win, is no longer with the Wild. 

The Islanders are 0-3-1 in their last four trips to Minnesota, and overall are 1-9-1 against Minnesota this side of COVID-19. Last time the Islanders won in Minnesota, it was December 29, 2019, and New York's goal scorers were Ryan Pulock, Matt Martin, and Tom Kuhnackl, with Leo Komarov setting up Martin for the game-winning goal.

After Minnesota comes a game against the 32nd-placed Winnipeg Jets. The Jets have lost 10 straight games, cratering in the standings. In the one previous meeting this season, Winnipeg beat the Islanders 5-2 on October 13, just the third game of the season for the Islanders.

The Islanders then head into Edmonton to meet Connor McDavid's Oilers. The Islanders' first win of the season came against the Oilers in UBS Arena back on October 16, with Bo Horvat scoring a natural hat trick across the second and third periods to lead New York to a comeback win.

The Islanders haven't won in Edmonton since March 6, 2017, losing six straight (0-3-3). That day, the Islanders won 4-1 behind two goals from Anders Lee, along with tallies from Josh Ho-Sang and Andrew Ladd. So, suffice to say, it's been a long time since a win in Edmonton.

Then comes the 30th-place Calgary Flames, a team the Islanders have yet to play this season. The Flames are a very low-event team, one that struggles to score. It'll be paramount to start hot. That game is a 3 o'clock puck drop here, but a 1 o'clock puck drop in Calgary.

That leaves just two games for the road trip. First, the aforementioned Vancouver Canucks, who no longer have Quinn Hughes. The meeting will come exactly one month after the 31st-placed Canucks ran roughshod in UBS Arena behind Kiefer Sherwood's hat trick, en route to a 4-1 win on December 19.

The trip ends with a game against Lane Lambert's Seattle Kraken, currently third in the Pacific Division. The two teams squared off on November 23, with the game ending in a double shutout, with Kyle Palmieri scoring the shootout winner to give David Rittich the win and shutout.

For several years up to this point - and especially with two aging superstars - the Pittsburgh Penguins have not had the luxury of depth at, arguably, the most important position on the roster.

But something feels quite a bit different this season. And it's rearing its head now that this team is almost back at full health.

For the first time in a while, the Penguins actually have legitimate center depth on their NHL roster, which is manifesting in the lineup decisions they are making. On Wednesday, center Evgeni Malkin practiced in a full capacity with the Penguins for the second straight day, and he wasn't in his customary slot on the second line. 

Instead, the 39-year-old found himself on the left wing of 18-year-old center Ben Kindel, with Egor Chinkahov - acquired Dec. 29 from the Columbus Blue Jackets - playing on the right wing.

Malkin has, at times, played the wing on a line with Sidney Crosby. But it appears that, with the excess of centers on the NHL roster, head coach Dan Muse and the Penguins may be trying something different.

Although it's only experimental at this point - and it was the line's first day on the ice together - the fact that the Penguins even have the option to move Malkin to the wing at this juncture shows how many options they have at the center position right now. 

"When you have options - and Tommy Novak has been in a similar situation - it's nice because you have guys that can back each other up in the faceoff circle, you have guys that, whoever arrives back first, you can feel comfortable that they're going to be down low," Muse said. "It gives you options. So, I think it's a nice thing to have when you have guys with that type of versatility.

Chinakhov Trade Shows Penguins Are Starting To Shift GearsKyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins traded for Yegor Chinakhov from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday, and it could be a sign of things to come over the next several months.

"I mean, you see it now. Basically, [at Wednesday's] practice, we wanted to see some different things. But you had it on most of the lines. Or, at least, guys that have played it a little bit. So, I think it's a good thing to have for sure, and I think it just gives you options."

And, simply put, the Penguins haven't necessarily had those options in years past. At this time last season, the Penguins had Crosby and Malkin, then Kevin Hayes as their third-line center and Blake Lizotte at fourth-line center. Other centers on the roster, even if mostly deployed as wingers, included Rickard Rakell, Cody Glass, Drew O'Connor, and Noel Acciari.

This season? Rakell has had more looks at center and has looked pretty natural in that role. The emergence of Kindel as a formidable two-way center in his rookie season was certainly not something the team expected, but they have embraced every opportunity that Kindel has earned. They also have Novak at their disposal - they acquired him from the Nasvhille Predators prior to the trade deadline last season - who has switched between the wing and center all season long and is effective at both.

At the end of the day, Kindel and Novak are upgrades over Glass and O'Connor, and it's making a world of difference for the Penguins. They know they have the capability and flexibility to tinker with their lines at will until they find combinations that click. And that's exactly what they've been doing this season between all of the injuries and changes on the NHL roster. 

It also allows them to roll four lines at five-on-five, which is another thing they haven't been able to do in recent seasons. The fourth line of Lizotte, Acciari, and Connor Dewar is clicking on all cylinders and has put together some key energizing shifts at key times for the Penguins. Justin Brazeau and Anthony Mantha have had chemistry with both Malkin and Novak, and they've been operating at a high level all season. 

Crosby's line with Rakell and Bryan Rust is usually reliable in terms of generating offense. And Kindel - despite his line fluctuating throughout the season - has been able to maintain a consistent and impressive level of play for a center his age at the NHL level. And his production and minus-11 rating should only figure to tick up with Malkin working on the same line as him as well as a finisher in Chinakhov.

Penguins' Forward Rutger McGroarty Out Indefinitely With ConcussionOne of the Pittsburgh Penguins' top forward prospects, Rutger McGroarty, heads to injured reserve for the second time this season.

Having two centers on every line - and, for the most part, two good ones, at that - is a luxury that not every NHL team has. And the Penguins are thrilled they can take advantage of that, especially as they are vying for a playoff spot and have won each of their past five games. 

"I think it's good," Crosby said. "It's one of those things where everyone just has to be adaptable. And, obviously, at center, it's always nice having guys who are either comfortable playing down low or taking faceoffs. That's definitely a luxury to have that.

"So, if you're going to have extra guys at any position, it's probably one of the ones you appreciate. I know I certainly like playing with guys who don't mind taking the odd faceoff, so it's good to have."

It will be interesting to see what lineup will be deployed when the Penguins face the struggling New Jersey Devils on Thursday, who are 4-5-1 in their last 10 games. It has not been confirmed whether or not Malkin will be in the lineup, but if he is, folks might get a glimpse into what could be the Penguins' most formidable forward lineup they've had in years.

Penguins Re-assign Top Defensive Prospect To WHLThe Pittsburgh Penguins have sent Harrison Brunicke back to Kamloops.

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Perhaps a fourth time is a charm.

That’s what the St. Louis Blues (17-18-8) will attempt when they search for a three-game winning streak opening a three-game road trip on Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks (17-18-7) at 8:52 p.m. (TNT, ESPN 101.1-FM).

The Blues, three points out of a wild card spot but also seven points from being at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, have attempted three straight wins three previous times and lost each one.

They were the last team in the NHL last season to win three in a row before reeling off a franchise-record 12 straight wins and ultimately reaching the Stanley Cup playoffs.

“I don’t know, it’s a common thread with last season if you’re looking at comparables,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “We didn’t get it (early) and if we get three, we get 12, it seems like. So hopefully it continues, that same thread as last year.”

It will be the third matchup between the sides this season, with the teams splitting games earlier this season in St. Louis. Chicago has won three straight after going 1-7-1 the previous nine games that started with a 3-2 loss to the Blues on Dec. 12.

“Just a team that plays, they work hard,” Montgomery said of the Blackhawks. “When they play well, they don’t beat themselves. They were beating themselves there for a little while and they’re a team that executes really well on their breakouts and on their entries.”

What’s crazy to think is this is the Blues’ first visit to United Center since Dec. 9, 2023. Last year’s only road game in Chicago was the 2025 Winter Classic played at Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, a game the Blues won 6-2.

- - -

Nathan Walker (upper-body injury) will return after missing the past 16 games.

The forward, who will go into the lineup for Mathieu Joseph, was injured Dec. 1 against the Anaheim Ducks.

Montgomery wasn’t certain as of Tuesday if Walker would return but indicated after the morning skate that he’s in.

“He came back today and felt great after yesterday’s practice, so we put him in a spot where he would possibly be playing and we want to see how that develops until tomorrow,” Montgomery said after Tuesday’s practice. “I thought he looked really looked yesterday and today, I thought he was average.”

- - -

Coming off a shutout in which he made 25 saves Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens, Jordan Binnington will make consecutive starts for the first time since Dec. 1-4.

Asked if goaltending has been as good as it’s been all season, Montgomery said, “Besides some moments last year, yes. It’s equivalent to it. They’re giving us an opportunity, they’re battling so hard.

“It’s not a lot that I’ve felt this year that we’ve had puck luck, but against Montreal, I felt we had puck luck because of the way ‘Binner’ was battling in the crease and the way our guys, even though we may have been beat in a pulled goalie or 5-on-5 situation, the way we returned to our net with a vengeance, that kind of stuff rewards you and all of the sudden, pucks that bounce off you and go into the net, now bounce off you and go into an area where you can clear your net.”

- - -

With Walker returning Wednesday, Nick Bjugstad (upper body) skating, and Dylan Holloway (high right ankle sprain) starting to skate on Tuesday with the team in which Montgomery called, “Baby steps; he’s only three weeks in,” it’s going to make for some interesting roster decisions looming in the not-too-distant future because with Holloway, Montgomery said that, “no one's ever going to doubt his work ethic, his dedication to getting back as soon as possible. If he can be back the absolute earliest, he's going to be back the absolute earliest.”

- - -

Blues Projected Lineup:

Jake Neighbours-Robert Thomas-Jordan Kyrou

Pavel Buchnevich-Brayden Schenn-Jimmy Snuggerud

Otto Stenberg-Dalibor Dvorsky-Jonatan Berggren

Alexey Toropchenko-Oskar Sundqvist-Nathan Walker

Philip Broberg-Colton Parayko

Tyler Tucker-Justin Faulk

Cam Fowler-Logan Mailloux

Jordan Binnington will start in goal; Joel Hofer will be the backup.

Healthy scratches include Robby Fabbri, Mathieu Joseph and Matthew Kessel. Dylan Holloway (high ankle sprain), Pius Suter (high ankle sprain) and Nick Bjugstad (upper body) are out.

- - -

Blackhawks Projected Lineup:

Tyler Bertuzzi-Ryan Greene-Andre Burakovsky

Ryan Donato-Jason Dickinson-Ilya Mikheyev

Teuvo Teravainen-Oliver Moore-Nick Lardis

Colton Dach-Nick Foligno-Landon Slaggert

Alex Vlasic-Louis Crevier

Wyatt Kaiser-Artyom Levshunov

Matt Grzelcyk-Connor Murphy

Spencer Knight will start in goal; Arvid Soderblom will be the backup.

Healthy scratches include Sam Lafferty and Ethan Del Mastro. Connor Bedard (upper body) and FrankNazar (face) are out.

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The Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues are going to get together on Wednesday evening. Last time these two teams met, on December 12th, Connor Bedard was injured with less than one second remaining in regulation time. He hasn't played since. 

Bedard will not suit up for Chicago in this one, but Jeff Blashill said that he is day-to-day beyond this game. A return on Friday against the Washington Capitals is in the cards. 

The Blackhawks and Blues have a tied season series. The Blues won that December game 3-2. Back on October 15th, the Blackhawks won 8-3. Both of those matches were played in St. Louis. 

Scouting St. Louis

The St. Louis Blues have been better lately. They are on a two-game winning streak and are 5-4-1 in their last 10 games. At 17-18-8, they are still below NHL .500, but they are just three points below the playoff line. 

Neighbours-Thomas-Kyrou

Buchnevich-Schenn-Snuggerud

Stenberg-Dvorsky-Berggren

Toropchenko-Sundqvist-Walker

Broberg-Parayko

Tucker-Faulk

Fowler-Mailloux

Binnington

Hofer

This is a St. Louis Blues lineup that can score, defend, and win games better than their record shows. It was only a matter of time before they started to break out, and we've seen it more in recent weeks. 

Last season, the Blues had a terrible start and made it all the way back into the playoffs. They even did that in 2018-19, the year they won the Stanley Cup. Will that happen again? A win against the Blackhawks here could get them within one point of a playoff spot if everything goes their way. 

Robert Thomas is the driver for this St. Louis team. If he plays well, everyone follows. He should expect to see a heavy dosage of Chicago's top defenders. The Blackhawks' top players will frequently face Philip Broberg and Colton Parayko on the other side. 

Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago

The Chicago Blackhawks are on a three-game winning streak. They have been a much better team again following the holiday break. Like the Blues, they have played themselves back into the playoff conversation in a lowly Western Conference. 

Connor Bedard skated at practice on Tuesday and at morning skate with a regular sweater on Wednesday. Without him for what the Blackhawks hope is one last game, the lines will go as follows: 

Bertuzzi-Greene-Burakovsky

Donato-Dickinson-Mikheyev

Teravainen-Moore-Lardis

Dach-Foligno-Slaggert

Vlasic-Crevier

Kaiser-Levshunov

Grzelcyk-Murphy

Knight

Spencer Knight will be between the pipes on Wednesday. He played well in his last start, and he's looking to keep the hot hand going. Overall, this has been a great stretch for both goaltenders.

For a lot of this season, Jeff Blashill dressed 11 forwards and seven defensemen. Since Sam Rinzel's demotion to the AHL, however, the traditional 12/6 lineup has been used. Right now, with Artyom Levshunov playing so well alongside Wyatt Kaiser, this group is solid. 

Without Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar in the lineup, they've needed players to step up offensively. Andre Burakovsky, Ilya Mikheyev, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Teuvo Teravainen have done that. 

Nick Lardis has been impressive alongside Oliver Moore. Ryan Greene's game will reach a new level once he puts the puck in the net more often. His support of his line-mates and defensive game have been great otherwise. 

Overall, to the surprise of many, they have found a way to overcome their offensive woes with the players that have been healthy enough to play. The first few games without Bedard were rough, but they'v started to adjust. 

How To Watch

The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. To view this game, it can be found nationally on TNT, TruTV, and HBO Max. The puck will drop shortly after 8:30 PM CT. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Seattle Kraken youngster Oscar Fisker Molgaard has been selected to Team Denmark's 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic roster. 

The 20-year-old is participating in his rookie campaign in the AHL with the Coachella Valley Firebirds. He's impressed so far, scoring six goals and 18 points in 28 games. His stellar two-way game earned him a call-up to the NHL, where he skated in two games, recording one assist. 

He has flown up the Kraken's prospect rankings and has shown consistently that he is a future NHL player.

Fisker Molgaard has plenty of experience playing with Denmark. He's represented Denmark at the World Championship three times in his career, notching two goals and 11 points in 23 games. Fisker Molgaard has also represented Denmark at the World Junior qualifying tournament and the U-18 qualifiers. He also skated in all three Olympic qualifier games last year, but failed to record any points. 

Denmark is bringing multiple NHL players, including Carolina Hurricanes' Nikolaj Ehlers and former Seattle Kraken and current Tampa Bay Lightning winger Oliver Bjorkstrand. Denmark is likely a long shot to win a medal, but they did upset Canada at the 2025 World Championship, which should give them confidence heading into the Olympics.

Denmark's Roster

Forwards:
Alexander True — JYP Jyväskylä (Liiga)
Christian Wejse — Fischtown Bremerhaven (DEL)
Frederik Storm — Kölner Haie (DEL)
Joachim Blichfeld — Tappara (Liiga)
Jonas Røndbjerg — Vegas Golden Knights (NHL)
Lars Eller — Ottawa Senators (NHL)
Mathias Bau — Herning Blue Fox (Metal Ligaen)
Mikkel Aagaard — Skellefteå AIK (SHL)
Morten Poulsen — Herning Blue Fox (Metal Ligaen)
Nick Olesen — Motor České Budějovice (Extraliga)
Nicklas Jensen — Rapperswil-Jona Lakers (NL)
Nikolaj Ehlers — Carolina Hurricanes (NHL)
Oliver Björkstrand — Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL)
Oscar Fisker Mølgaard — Seattle Kraken (NHL)
Patrick Russell — Kölner Haie (DEL)

Defenseman:
Anders Koch — Graz 99 (ICEHL)
Jesper Jensen Aabo — Klagenfurt KAC (ICEHL)
Markus Lauridsen — Pustertal HC (ICEHL)
Matias Lassen — Iserlohn Roosters (DEL)
Nicholas B. Jensen — Fischtown Bremerhaven (DEL)
Oliver Lauridsen — TPS Turku (Liiga)
Phillip Bruggisser — Fischtown Bremerhaven (DEL)

Goaltenders:
Frederik Andersen — Carolina Hurricanes (NHL)
Frederik Dichow — HV71 (SHL)
Mads Søgaard — Ottawa Senators (NHL)

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It seems like every time the Pittsburgh Penguins are on the cusp of a player returning to the lineup, another one takes his place on injured reserve. 

And, unfortunately, that pattern continues for the Penguins.

On Wednesday, the Penguins placed young forward Rutger McGroarty on injured reserve with a concussion, and the timetable for his return is indefinite at this point. This news came the day after center Evgeni Malkin returned to practice in a full capacity after missing the last month with an upper-body injury.

McGroarty was injured during practice Tuesday after colliding with a teammate during a drill.

The 21-year-old started training camp on injured reserve and missed the first month and a half of the regular season due to an upper-body injury. He spent five games in the AHL upon his return, registering four goals and seven points in five games before his return to the NHL, where he's posted two goals and three points in 16 games so far.

There is no indication yet if Malkin, 39, will return to the lineup against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday. On Wednesday, he skated on a second line as the left wing with Ben Kindel centering and Egor Chinakhov on the right side. 

Penguins Notebook: Malkin Returns To Practice, Forward Exits Early After CollisionAfter a long month, it appears the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> are close to welcoming one of their best players back to the lineup.&nbsp;

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Tuesday night offered a clear measuring stick for the Nashville Predators (19-19-4), and it wasn’t a forgiving one.

In a 6–2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers (21-16-4), Nashville was reminded how thin the margin is against teams built to contend deep into the postseason.

Connor McDavid got the scoring going for the Oilers on the power play. Per NHLStats, McDavid extended his point streak to 16 games and matched the third-longest run in his career.

Postgame: Andrew Brunette | Nashville PredatorsHead Coach Andrew Brunette speaks to the media after facing the Edmonton Oilers.

McDavid’s 15 goals during this stretch are his second most during a point streak, behind 16 during his 17-game run in 2022-23.

With the goal, McDavid recorded a point in 16 straight games against the Predators dating back to the 2018-19 season which is his second longest active streak behind the New Jersey Devils (17 GP since 2015-16).

The only other players with an active streak of as many contests against a single opponent are Leon Draisaitl (19 GP vs. Chicago Blackhawks) and Jake Guentzel (16 GP vs. Columbus Blue Jackets).

Nashville was able to show moments of pushback, particularly as the game wore on, but sustaining momentum seemed like a challenge. Too often, promising possessions ended before the Predators could establish extended offensive-zone time. Edmonton responded quickly to any pressure, resetting the pace and preventing the game from swinging back within reach.

Losses like this can serve as valuable checkpoints.

For a Nashville team fighting to remain in the Western Conference playoff picture, the game highlighted areas that need tightening.

"We have to be sharper all the way through for 60 minutes," Nashville center Ryan O'Reilly said. "We've got to reset tomorrow and get ready for our next one, but we know in this room we can be a very good team and it's sticking to our game plan."

The Predators will move on quickly, but the lesson remains. Competing with the league’s top contenders requires near-flawless detail. On Tuesday, even brief lapses were enough to turn a challenging matchup into a decisive result.

Nashville returns to Bridgestone Arena on Thursday against the New York Islanders at 7 p.m. CST after wrapping up a seven game road trip, going 4-3-0. 

The Buffalo Sabres appeared to be in good shape to rebound from the loss that ended their 10-game winning streak in Columbus on Saturday, leading the last-place Vancouver Canucks 4-1 midway through the third period, but two goals in 39 seconds narrowed the lead to just one goal and forced head coach Lindy Ruff to call a timeout to blunt the Canucks momentum. 

The Sabres successfully calmed the waters and responded with a empty netter to ice away their 11th win in the last 12 games, 5-3 over Vancouer at KeyBank Center on Tuesday night. 

Ruff spoke to the media after the game:

On the effort, the battles along the boards, and the penalty killing?

Overall, there was good stuff there, I thought some lateral plays on entries that didn't like, when we turn the pucks over, but for the most part, coming off a long road trip, getting a practice in, I thought we played pretty well.

Were you pleased with the club being comfortable when the game got close late in the third?

Yeah, we just talked about it. All I said was we've been in this position a lot of times, and we're going to be in it a lot more times. Just play our game. The system is locked in. Be ready for it.....I thought the execution after that was pretty good. (Vancouver) were putting some heat on. 

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Were you happy for Zach Metsa being able to score his first NHL goal for the game-winner?

Anytime a guy gets his first goal, you can see his excitement. You play the game, you want to get on the board at some point, and it turns out to be a huge goal. (It was a) pretty good play, where he jumped through and and I think he just got inside (Evander) Kane for the goal and great shot.....He's defending well, I think his numbers speak for themselves

How pleased are you with where the club is through 41 games?

There's been a ton of injuries. When we walk in the dressing after the game, there's still six or seven guys standing there. We've had to kind of meander our way through starting the year, you're looking at Kulich being our #1 centerman, Norris, and both those guys being out for a long period of time. I think we've done a good job of kind of balancing that out and having guys fill in and play the game and help us win hockey games. We got ourselves on a good run. I thought the stretch were we lost a few in overtime, we played pretty well where we didn't capitalize on but just a one-game mentality, we fought ourselves into a good place at 48 points in 41 games. Usually 96 points, if you do that over the next 41 we'll get you in the playoffs.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram  @MikeInBuffalo

The midpoint of the NHL season is when we really get to evaluate teams and see their strengths and weaknesses. For the Los Angeles Kings, the halfway mark has brought a familiar feeling in years past, but this year it feels worse. 

The feeling is the same impression we've gotten from LA in the last few seasons, a competitive hockey team that finds a way to stay in the playoff mix, despite lingering question marks about whether this group can be trusted to make a deep playoff run, a feat they haven't accomplished in over a decade. 

Why Jim Hiller Is Quietly Sliding Toward The Hot Seat In Los AngelesLess than a year ago, Jim Hiller tied a franchise record for points and had the Kings playing strong night in and night out. The future was looking bright with Hiller and Los Angeles, but a year later, the Kings have one of the worst power plays and are currently out of the playoff picture.

The Kings were supposed to take the next step from a "first-round playoff exit" to legit title contenders. Even though they're coming off a recent mini-series sweep of the Minnesota Wild, who've been very good this season, Los Angeles hasn't been able to maintain a consistent culture of winning games. 

Los Angeles still remains in pole position to make the postseason, but sitting in fifth place, the race for a playoff spot remains tough in a loaded Western Conference with no margin of error. What follows next is a midseason report card, grading where the Kings stand now and where they'll most likely end this spring. 

Overall Grade: C

This isn't a bad hockey game, but it's also not a convincing one that should give fans hope of a deep playoff run this season. The Kings have hovered around the bottom part of playoff positioning despite stretches of inconsistent play, blown leads, and no effort at times, failing to gain separation in the standings. 

At the halfway point, the Kings look like a significantly below-average team that is worse than their record suggests, and one capable of making the postseason and going home early again. 

Offense: C +

On paper, when you look at this Kings roster, they have a plethora of players that are capable of scoring, including Adrian Kempe, Quinton Byfield, Corey Perry, Kevin Fiala, etc. Still, the offense ranks near the bottom in goals scored and shooting percentage, despite generating a decent number of shots on goal. 

Talent and roster-wise, the Kings' offense should definitely be way better than it is, but it's not, and you can point most of that to coaching, personnel, lineups, and the effort not being there on most nights. 

Too many nights, the Kings struggle to sustain pressure as games tighten. The scoring disappears for stretches, forcing the top line to shoulder the load. When the Kings score early, they're tough to beat, but when they fall behind early in games like they usually do, the comebacks get out of question. 

Defense: B - 

The Kings' defensive identity has remained intact, but has shown flaws at times, especially early and late in games. Drew Doughty continues to log heavy minutes at 36 years old. At the same time, their young defenseman core, Brandt Clarke, Joel Edmundson, and Mikey Anderson, have shown flashes of potential that could be valuable in the postseason. 

But that same youth has inconsistent plays, missed reads, and trouble under pressure in high-leverage moments. As of now, Los Angeles is a middle-of-the-pack defensive team, ranking 5th in goals allowed per game, 10th in shots per game, and 27th in power-play goals allowed. 

So, the defense has potential, the numbers speak for themselves, being just above average in some categories, but are terrible in allowing power play goals, which is the biggest reason they lose games late, taking too many penalties, and giving up goals late. 

Goaltending: B +

The grade here reflects the injury to Darcy Kuemper, which kept him out for a few games this season. But when Kuemper has been on the ice healthy, the Kings are tough to score on with him in the crease. 

There's been some struggles; Kuemper hasn't been great, but he's 12-7-6 when he starts with a .912 save percentage. His numbers have dropped a little from last year, mainly due to health and inconsistent goaltending, but he's won a lot of close games in the clutch for the Kings. 

The Kings haven't consistently received game-stealing goaltending, and in the Western Conference against very strong teams, that's going to be important for Kuemper to remain healthy and be prepared for that battle. 

Special Teams: D

 If there's one area that's really a concern for hurting the Kings' chances at even making the playoffs, it's here. 

The power-play has been very bad that fans have been calling Jim Hiller to be fired after every game whether they win or lose. Hiller driving an elite power play unit for the Toronto Blue Jays has Los Angeles now as one of the weakest power play units in the league, with a 16% power play percentage, ranking 27th in the league. 

The penalty kill has also been terrible, killing them in overtime and late-game situations, which has cost the Kings wins and valuable points. 

This is where the playoff series shifts to the other team, Los Angeles, which will be matched up against. One power play goal can change an entire series. We saw it last season when Los Angeles blew a 2-0 series lead against the Edmonton Oilers because of blown leads, poor penalty killing, and power-play goals. 

Right now, the Kings' special teams are a major liability and will be a significant reason they are another first-round exit.

Coaching: D

Jim Hiller's system and making adjustments after losses haven't worked all season; it's been a big disappointment after the success he had last year. Too often, questionable lineup decisions result in specific players not being able to play together on the same line, and the same mistakes repeat. 

The Kings' coaching staff doesn't appear to be on the same page with its players, and that can hurt the players' confidence and the plays being called on ice. In the playoffs, this distinction will be easy to game-plan against and will increase LA's chances of going home early.

Best Case Scenario

The Kings tighten up their special teams and get consistent play on offense, and enter the postseason strong. A first-round series win is possible if the Kings can get home ice and the matchups break right. 

Most Likely Scenario

A lower-seed playoff berth and a tough challenge against an elite Western Conference opponent. A competitive series where Los Angeles can keep it close, like they almost did against the Oilers when they were winning the series in the beginning, but failed to close it out. This would be a great result that would fill in the areas where Los Angeles has been inconsistent. 

Worst Case Scenario

Another first-round exit that raises questions about whether this core has reached its ceiling and whether a rebuild is on the way. 

Final Thought

At midseason, the Kings remain an above-average team that's searching for some semblance of hope to be a dangerous team come playoff time. The second half of the season can determine whether this group is built to finally get over the hump or strip it all down and start over. 

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It's all the rage amongst Columbus Blue Jackets fans to argue against pulling their goalie late in the game in an attempt to score. Some say it's pointless. Some say it Evason does it too early. Some say he does it too late. Is there a right answer? Yes there is. 

The bottom line is that pulling the goalie HAS TO HAPPEN at some point when you're losing. If you want a "chance" to tie the game or give your team a "chance" to pull closer if down by multiple goals, it has to happen. 

So, let's talk about it. 

First, let's look at where the CBJ rank in terms of goals given up after pulling their goalie. 

The Blue Jackets have given up 10 Empty Net Goals, which ties them with the Carolina Hurricanes and Anaheim Ducks for 4th most in the league. The Predators have given up 12, the Sabres 13, and then the Panthers, Canucks, and Rangers all have 14, which is the most in the league. 

Columbus has pulled their goalie a total of 18 times this season, which is tied for the 4th most. Of those times pulling their goalie, they've only scored 2 times, which is tied with 6 other teams for the third fewest. The teams tied with them, or below them for fewest goals scored while having the extra attacker are the Jets, Mammoth, Blackhawks, Sabres, Flames, Red Wings, Bruins, Oilers, Capitals, Leafs, Lightning, and Blues. 

As you can see from the list above, it's a mixed bag in terms of the teams that just can't seem to score with the extra attacker. Some teams are atop the standings, some are at the bottom, some have great power plays, some have bad power plays. There seems to be no rhyme or reason. Is it the system maybe? 

Why do they pull their goalie?

It's quite simple - You pull the goalie when down a goal, or multiple goals late in the game, to try to gain an advantage with an extra attacker. 

When should teams pull their goalie?

There are several answers to this question, and it's determined by how many goals a team is trailing by. In today's NHL, just about everything is driven by analytics, including pulling goalies late in games. 

Studies have shown that teams that pull their goalies earlier than expected have a greater chance of scoring the tying goal. 

• If down by 1 goal - the best pull time is between 2:30 and 3:30 left in the game, with some data models even arguing that a team should pull the goalie with 5-6 minutes left.
• If down by 2 goals - 5–7 minutes left is the ideal time.
• If down by 3 goals - analytics say to pull the goalie as early as 10 minutes left in the game. You have to be able to score in order to come back, so pulling the goalie early is ideal. The Capitals were down to Columbus by 3 goals late in a game a few years ago and pulled their goalie with 8 minutes to go. They scored and made it interesting, but they wouldn't have made it interesting had they not pulled the goalie the first time, so early in the third period.

The stats above all depend on the strength of the opponent and where the zone start is. 

So, why does pulling the goal work?

There are several reasons as to why, including being able to retrieve more pucks due to having an extra attacker, should be able to put more pressure on the defense, which should be able to generate more quality scoring chances. 

A lot of fans complain that by pulling the goalie, you're doing nothing but giving the other team a chance to score. Well, you're right, but if you want to tie the game and extend it, you really have no choice. You're either going to lose by one goal, or two, and that makes not a bit of difference. The bottom line is you have to score, and whether you lose by one or two goals, it's still a loss on your record, so you might as well go for it. Pulling your goalie significantly increases your chance of scoring, so it's worth it to give up an empty netter if you have the advantage of having the extra attacker. 

NHL data over the years has shown that pulling a goalie increases a team's chance of tying the game.

• 15–20% of all 6-on-5 situations result in a goal.
• When a team pulls their goalie with 3-5 minutes left, the odds that the team that pulled their goalie will score, increases more significantly.
• Coaches are actually waiting too long to pull their goalies and are not paying attention to the analytics. Between 1:15 and 1:45 is the normal time most coaches are pulling their goaltender, when they should be doing it much sooner.

Coaches and fans can't be afraid to the pull their goalie, at any time in the third period while trailing. If you feel like you have momentum, and are starting in your offensive zone, why not pull him and go for it? As I stated above, a loss by one goal or a loss by two is still a loss. 

Blue Jacket fans voice their frustration with the coaches nearly every single time they pull their goalie and get scored on. Most of them say Evason's pulling the goalie too early. Some of them argue that they shouldn't pull the goalie at all, which is the wrong opinion - respectfully. 

Historically it feels like the CBJ never score with the extra attacker and always get scored on. Last season (24-25), Columbus allowed the 5th fewest empty net goals, while scoring the 2nd fewest goals with the extra attacker. Again, this year they've allowed 10 and scored just twice. 

They must keep pulling the goalie, despite what people think. 

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Up Next: Columbus travels to Vegas to take on the Golden Knights on Thursday. 

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Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Harrison Brunicke returned from the World Juniors on Tuesday before the Penguins made their decision on him on Wednesday.

They opted to send Brunicke back to his junior team, the Kamloops Blazers. He will be with them for the rest of the 2025-26 season before potentially joining the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for the AHL Playoffs, if the Blazers' season finishes by then. 

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Harrison Brunicke has been assigned to the Kamloops Blazers of @TheWHL.

Details: https://t.co/NhxVer9UV3pic.twitter.com/ypFBuZCd0z

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 7, 2026

Brunicke played in nine NHL games this season, compiling one goal. He made his NHL debut against the New York Rangers on Oct. 7. He also played in seven games at the World Juniors, compiling two assists. 

Because he played only nine NHL games, his entry-level contract for this season didn't kick in. Had he played his 10th game, it would've started. 

He'll now go back to a Kamloops team where he will see consistent playing time. 

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