After the Pittsburgh Penguins' 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks, the Islanders now trail Sidney Crosby and Co. by four points in the standings.
And with the Flyers defeating the Colorado Avalanche 7-3 their last time out, Rick Tocchet's team trails the Islanders by just two points in the standings, making Monday night's game a big one.
The Islanders have battled consistency all season long. They've gone on a run, showcasing a tremendous amount of swagger, like when they went 6-1-0 on their first seven-game road trip of the season.
But, they've also gone on the opposite streak, going 0-4-1 in their first five games after returning home. Flash-forward to now, they are losers of three of their last four games, the latest a 5-0 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday, a nightmarish showing.
There are 31 games left in the season, but with how tight the Metropolitan Division still is, an extended losing streak could be disastrous.
The Islanders' struggles as of late, even a week ago, didn't seem too costly, given that they were still sitting in second place in the Metro, with the teams behind them failing to take advantage.
Despite Philadelphia's latest win, they've lost seven of their last nine games (2-5-2).
The Islanders may be without defenseman Ryan Pulock for a second straight game, but they do have their leading goal scorer, Bo Horvat, back in the lineup.
Vezina-favorite Ilya Sorokin is back in between the pipes, but even he is looking to raise his game a bit after allowing three or more goals in four of his last five games.
The Islanders have seven more games before the Olympic break, with six games against Metropolitan Division foes.
Puck drop between the Islanders and Flyers comes your way at 7 PM ET on MSGSN.
The Los Angeles Kings and Columbus Blue Jackets were set to face off at Nationwide Arena on Monday. However, that outing has been rescheduled to March 9 due to severe winter weather conditions in Columbus.
The game was set for a 7 p.m. EST puck drop, but the rescheduled event's start time has yet to be announced.
Reports say Columbus received about 12 inches of snow, a record-breaking number for central Ohio.
This would've been the Kings' 51st game of the regular season. They're coming off two straight victories, with their last win on Saturday against the St. Louis Blues in a shootout.
The Blue Jackets and Kings may look much different when March 9 comes around, as that is three days after the NHL trade deadline.
Kevin Fiala and Ivan Provorov (Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images)
With Monday's game being postponed, Los Angeles will travel to Detroit to take on the Red Wings on Tuesday.
The Red Wings are one of the best teams in the league as they lead the Atlantic Division and are third in the NHL. That game also starts at 7 p.m. EST, 4 p.m. PST.
This date change throws a wrench into coach Jim Hiller's plans with his goaltending rotation. As the team was scheduled to go through a back-to-back, both Darcy Kuemper and Anton Forsberg would likely play a game each.
However, now that the back-to-back is no longer there, Forsberg may get an extra day of rest.
This also shortens the Kings' road trip. The trip began on Saturday against the Blues and was set to be six games long. That now changed to a five-game road trip in total.
Furthermore, this game being pushed to Monday, March 9, extends an original road trip that was meant to be three games into four.
The affair with Columbus comes in the front half of a back-to-back with the Boston Bruins. Later in the week, the Kings go through another back-to-back with the New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils.
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The Winnipeg Jets recalled defenseman Isaak Phillips from the Manitoba Moose on Monday, adding depth to their blue line as the club is set to go on a four-game road trip, starting with the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.
Phillips has already seen limited action with the Jets this year, appearing in two games earlier in the season when Winnipeg was dealing with multiple injuries on defense. In those appearances, the 23 year old logged nine and six minutes of ice time and did not record a point. He was steady defensively, however, finishing with no minus rating, a positive result given his limited usage.
Drafted in the fifth round of the 2020 NHL Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks, Phillips spent four seasons in the Chicago organization. His NHL opportunities were limited, as he appeared in just 56 games over that span before leaving the organization. Phillips joined the Jets organization prior to this season and has spent the majority of the year with the Moose in the American Hockey League.
At the AHL level, Phillips has produced solid numbers. In 35 games with Manitoba, he has recorded three goals and 12 assists for 15 points, along with a plus five rating, while providing reliable play on the back end.
Phillips is expected to serve as Winnipeg’s seventh defenseman and may not see game action unless another injury occurs among the Jets’ regular six. It is also possible the recall is precautionary, with one of the defensemen dealing with a minor issue that has not been made public.
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ST. PAUL, Minn. — Head coach John Hynes said David Jiricek continues to make progress as he adjusts to the pace and demands of the NHL game.
Which is good considering he is, and was, talked about as being an offensive defenseman. But having zero points in 22 games this year leaves some concern as it doesn't really scream offensive defenseman.
“I think that David is getting more and more comfortable playing. I think just firm decisions with the puck have been good,” Hynes said. “From a competitive standpoint, he’s always a guy that we think competes hard. It’s just positioning at a high pace at the NHL level, it’s puck decisions at times, it’s just trying to get more consistency in those two areas.”
A development curve can look different for every player, particularly for young defensemen learning to process the game at NHL speed.
It is even easier for a young defenseman to get caught up in his boxscore stats and be worried since he isn't producing. But Hynes said Jiricek understands his development curve.
“Yes, I think that he understands where he’s at and that he’s still developing and still getting ready and everybody’s path is different,” Hynes said.
The Wild have focused on maintaining open communication with Jiricek as he continues to build his game, outlining expectations and areas of improvement while keeping him aligned with the organization’s long-term plan.
“But I do think that we try as best we can to communicate with the player and players of what their situation is, what’s good, what needs improvement, what our plan is for them,” Hynes said.
That transparency, Hynes said, has helped Jiricek remain comfortable with the process, even when it involves spending time away from the NHL lineup.
There have been many times this year that Jiricek has been scratched.
Minnesota swung big with a huge trade last season to acquire Jiricek from the Columbus Blue Jackets when they traded Daemon Hunt, a first round pick in 2025, a third round pick and fourth round pick in 2026 and a second round pick in 2027.
The Wild ended up getting Hunt back when Columbus put him on waivers this year after preseason.
There were even times this season where Hunt would play on his off-side while Jiricek would sit in the press box.
This obviously left Wild fans very concerned, considering what they gave up to acquire the defensemen who couldn't even stay in the lineup.
But, the Wild have been very open with Jiricek in their communication. When he is scratched, Alex Goligoski often sits with him in the press box and analyzes the game with him to offer pointers and things of that nature.
Goligoski was hired by the Wild this season as a player development advisor. He works specifically with defensemen.
“So, I think that there’s a comfort level in that, that there’s communication,” Hynes said. “He knows that he’s got a lot of potential. He knows he can play. He wants to play.”
Hynes emphasized that consistent game action remains a priority for Jiricek's development.
“But I think it’s important, too, that when you’re in his situation that you are willing to go through the process and have a realistic assessment of where your game is at, where our team is at,” Hynes said. “And try to put him in positions if he’s not going to play regularly here, then we think it’s the best thing for him to play regularly in Iowa. And he agrees with that, so now it’s just continuing to build his game and continue to develop.”
For the Wild, the hope is that the production eventually follows the habits. Jiricek’s development has been less about immediate offense and more about learning how to survive, and then thrive, at NHL pace.
If the positioning sharpens and the puck decisions continue to improve, the points that once defined his profile should arrive naturally.
Until then, Minnesota appears willing to live with patience, believing the foundation matters more than the numbers on the back of the stat sheet.
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Mother Nature isn’t the only one capable of bringing down a storm. We had so much to discuss that we broke this episode into two parts.
In Part 1, Mike and Dan find the Islanders at a low point after an average road trip and a disastrous return game.
In three games this week, the Islanders left us with layers of anger and frustration. They finished their trip with two bad games, one that somehow yielded a win and another that landed like a lead balloon. They then came back to UBS Arena to face the surging Sabres and once again no-showed a matinee game full of kids, an all-too familiar scenario for them over the last decade-plus. The Isles are still in a playoff berth as of now, but only because the teams below them are scuffling. Management has made no indications that any changes are coming, and the same assortment of deck chairs keeps getting rearranged, leading to no surprises and predictable outcomes.
A game against a Flyers team hunting for the same playoff berth on Monday is huge for both clubs. The Islanders follow that with back-to-back(!) games against a Rangers team that would love to play spoiler, even as they wave their second white flag in seven years. Then it’s a game against Nashville, that old boogie man. With just two weeks before the Olympic Break, these winnable games will all have an effect on how the rest of the Islanders’ season should be treated.
In Part 2, we react to the first concrete reporting on the Islanders moving their AHL team from Bridgeport, CT to Hamilton, ONT, and also wrap up the Mitch Marner Chronicles in another massive Master Leaf Theatre.
The Bridgeport Islanders leaving their home of over 25 years was first teased months ago, but a recent report in The Athletic put out a lot of details we didn’t know already. While the team has yet to make anything official, we give our initial reactions and concerns about the move, while also feeling sympathy for the fans who supported the Sound Tigers/Baby Islanders organization during an usually long time for one minor league team to stay in one place.
Then it’s on to another epic-length Master Leaf Theatre, as Mitch Marner makes his return to his hometown and his former favorite team’s home rink. As expected, the takes afterward were equal parts dramatic and ridiculous, with some writing about the fan reaction in delusional or Shakespearian terms, and others calling out the evening’s failings, including those of the Leafs themselves in a gutless 6-3 loss. We add some new voices to the Master Leaf Theatre canon, which is always a treat, and enjoy some unexpected twists from classic artists of the genre. We had so much to get to that we forgot to mention the Leafs selling an autographed Marner Knights jersey on the concourse during his return game. That tells you all you need to know about how this “hostile” this environment was.
We’ve done a lot of this over the last two weeks, so we’re going to take a little hiatus unless something crazy happens.
Thanks for listening to this two-part episode. The severe weather impacted us in a few way and this was the best solution.
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Even though they almost let it slip away on Sunday, the Pittsburgh Penguins won all four games on their Western Conference road trip and mostly did so in impressive fashion. They beat the Seattle Kraken, Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers by multiple goals, with all three games being rather convincing wins, and then had a 3-0 lead on the Vancouver Canucks going into the third period. They needed goalie Stuart Skinner to stand on his head a little bit to secure that win, but the bottom line is he did, they got the two points, and they remain one of the best teams in the NHL since the holiday break with an 11-2-2 record in their first 15 games since then.
What that means for the standings:
The Penguins are tied for the seventh-best points percentage (.618) in the entire NHL.
Their goal-differential is tied for the sixth-best in the NHL.
They are tied for the fourth-best points percentage (.618) in the Eastern Conference.
They are four points ahead of the New York Islanders for the second spot in the Metropolitan Division in the same number of games played.
They are on a 101-point pace for the season.
The current playoff cut-off line in the Eastern Conference is 98 points in the wild-card race and 94 points in the Metropolitan Division.
Overall, they have put themselves in a pretty good spot.
They have a chance to keep it going on this upcoming three-game home stand against the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers and Ottawa Senators.
The home stand begins on Thursday night against Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks. The Penguins won the first meeting this season, 7-3, back on Dec. 28 in Chicago to kickstart this recent strong stretch of play.
While Bedard is a blossoming superstar in the NHL, the Blackhawks as a whole are still not particularly good. They enter the week having won just three of their past nine games, have the sixth-worst record in the NHL and some of the worst 5-on-5 scoring chance and possession metrics in the NHL.
They are 30th in 5-on-5 expected goal share and 28th in expected goals against per 60 minutes. That should be a winnable game.
On Saturday the Penguins host former head coach Mike Sullivan and the Rangers for a celebration of the 2016 Stanley Cup team. Several former players will be in the house, and it should be another chance to collect some points against a Rangers team that is currently, by far, the worst team in the Eastern Conference. They are even worse due to the current injuries to top defenseman Adam Fox and starting goalie Igor Shesterkin. Aside from the injuries, the Rangers simply have a lack of offensive talent that limits their scoring ability and ability to push play during 5-on-5 hockey. It is a poorly constructed team that is currently without two of the players it could least afford to be without. The Penguins and Rangers have split the first two games this season, with the Penguins getting a 3-0 win in New York in the season opener, and the Rangers getting a 6-1 win in Sullivan’s first return back to Pittsburgh as an opposing coach.
Even the Monday against the Senators is a winnable game. Ottawa is probably better than its record indicates and has been ruined by awful goaltending all season, but there is still a chance there for more points.
The two big wild cards this week for the Penguins are going to be the availability of forwards Bryan Rust and Evgeni Malkin.
Malkin seemed to be in pain at the end of Sunday’s game when he was bumped on the bench in celebration of the win.
Rust, meanwhile, could be facing a potential suspension for a hit to the head late in Sunday’s win against the Canucks.
Any potential absence of either player (or both) would disrupt the line chemistry the Penguins have really started to develop over the past few weeks.
Even so, given the way the Penguins are playing, and given the teams on the schedule this week, it would be a bit of a disappointment to not come out of this week with four points. That should be a realistic expectation and goal.
The New York Islanders have been generous to Under backers this season, particularly when facing sturdy defensive teams.
My Islanders vs. Flyers predictions and NHL picks expect that to hold true in an important divisional battle between two teams neck-and-neck in the standings.
Islanders vs Flyers prediction
Islanders vs Flyers best bet: Under 5.5 (+105)
Ilya Sorokin has performed as well as anybody this season, leading the NHL in goals saved above expected with a mark of +23.8 through 30 appearances. He's a huge reason why the New York Islanders rank fifth in goals against per game and sit in a playoff spot.
The Islanders have played in a lot of low-scoring games (they possess an O/U record of 22-27-2), especially against other stingy sides.
The Philadelphia Flyers meet the criteria. They're one of the best shot suppression teams in the NHL and also prevent goals very effectively — at least with Dan Vladar, tonight’s projected starter, between the pipes.
Isolating games against Top-10 teams in terms of limiting shots, eight of New York’s past 12 have featured five goals or fewer. That includes five straight on the road.
The Islanders don’t have enough firepower to score consistently against good defensive teams, while almost every opponent struggles to beat Sorokin. Neither of these teams has scored more than three goals over the past five head-to-head matchups.
With Sorokin and Vladar expected between the pipes, there’s no reason to expect either team to hit its offensive ceiling in this one.
Islanders vs Flyers same-game parlay
Owen Tippett has shot the lights out of late, averaging 3.2 SOG over the past 10 while clearing this line in eight. Coming off a hat trick against the No. 1-ranked Avalanche, Tippett should have all the confidence to keep shooting in this one.
Philadelphia is great at taking away the middle of the ice and forcing teams to shoot from the perimeter. That bodes well for Tony DeAngelo, a former Flyer who's recorded multiple shots in four straight returns to Philadelphia.
The Islanders have cashed the Under in 14 of their last 20 road games for +9.75 units and a 45% ROI. Find more NHL betting trends for Islanders vs. Flyers.
How to watch Islanders vs Flyers
Location
Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Friday, January 26, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
MSGSN, NBCS-Philadelphia
Islanders vs Flyers latest injuries
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From the moment he arrived in town last April, Ivan Demidov has been a Montreal Canadiens fan’s favourite, and his performance this season has not disappointed. He started the year on a line with fellow rookie Oliver Kapanen and Alex Newhook, which proved to be a very good line until Newhook was injured, forcing Martin St-Louis to find another combination. The rookies got a turn with Kirby Dach, but he was injured in their very first game as linemates. They then had a seven-game stint with Juraj Slafkovsky before spending a few games with Alexandre Texier. Still, ultimately, the coach reverted to the Slovak power forward, and the league has really come into its own.
After 52 games, the Russian rookie leads all NHL rookies with 43 points, 24 penalty minutes, and a plus-eight rating, and until Sunday night, his linemate Kapanen was leading all rookies in goals scored, with 16, but that changed with the Anaheim Ducks’ 4-3 win over the Calgary Flames. Ducks’ rookie Beckett Sennecke scored his first hat trick in the comeback overtime win, leapfrogging Kapanen in the rookie goal-scoring race. He now has 18 lamplighters.
That performance also allowed Sennecke to get closer to Demidov and the rookie-scoring lead, as he now has 41 points, just two behind the Canadiens’ Russian wonder. Both players have skated in 52 games and should be Matthew Schaefer’s main competition in the race for the Calder Trophy.
The fact that Demidov has the lead right now is impressive considering he only plays an average of 18.1 shifts per game compared to Sennecke’s 21.7 shifts and Schaefer’s 26.9. Of course, it means the Russian gets less ice time, skating for an average of 15 minutes and 24 seconds, while Sennecke spends an average of 17:09 on the ice, and the defenseman, 24:04. Demidov is undoubtedly making the most of the time he is given.
In the last 10 years, seven forwards have won the Calder Trophy while only three defensemen have been able to grab it. Last year, Lane Hutson won it with 66 points, while Moritz Seider claimed it in 2021-22, and Cale Makar landed it in 2019-20, both with 50 points, but Covid shortened Makar’s rookie season. Over those 10 years, the forwards who won the Trophy averaged 67 points.
As things stand, Demidov is on pace for 68 points while Sennecke is on pace for 65. Meanwhile, Schaefer is on pace for 55 points, in Calder Trophy territory for a blueliner, and his role goes beyond just putting up points for the New York Islanders. It feels like Demidov will need to really separate himself with his production if he’s to win the rookie of the year trophy for a second year running for the Canadiens.
Boston Bruins superstar David Pastrnak has recorded four or more shots in six of his past eight games, totaling 32 on 64 attempts. His 12.0 shots and 24.01 attempts per 60 minutes during the stretch rank eighth and fifth in the league, respectively.
With the New York Rangers ranking 28th in Corsi For percentage at 5-on-5 while allowing a healthy 29.2 shots per game out of the holiday break, this checks out as a soft matchup.
Viktor Arvidsson ranks second in shots while pacing the NHL in attempts per 60 minutes across his past 10 games, recording three or more in eight of those contests.
He’s piled up a monster 39 shots and 72 attempts during the stretch, and as noted, this is a great matchup for the B's snipers.
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The New Jersey Devils are returning home this week from a successful west coast road trip. The final game of that swing, a 4-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken, left a bitter taste in everyone’s mouths, but aside from that, three wins against the western Canada teams went a long way toward getting the Devils right back into the thick of the playoff picture. The loss to Seattle was a real missed opportunity to put them right on the edge of a playoff spot again, but as we enter the final week of this month, New Jersey has done well to right their season after a horrific month-and-a-half stretch from the beginning of December to the middle of January.
The NHL is set to pause their season for the Winter Olympics in Italy in a couple weeks, with NHL players returning to the games for the first time in over a decade (if they can finish the rinks in time, that is). For the Devils, their last game before the break is scheduled for February 5. With that being the case, I figured now is a good time to take stock of where the Devils stand in the Metropolitan Division after their long road trip, what’s left for them until the break, and what the other teams around them in the standings have coming up until the Olympics as well. The only two teams I won’t be covering will be the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers, because the Hurricanes are too far ahead of the Devils for New Jersey to have the luxury of worrying about them, and the Rangers have completely fallen apart and are essentially out of the playoff picture.
Let’s dive in:
Pittsburgh Penguins
2nd in Metropolitan, 63 points in 51 games
Date
Opponent
Home/Away
1/29
Chicago Blackhawks
Home
1/31
New York Rangers
Home
2/2
Ottawa Senators
Home
2/3
New York Islanders
Away
2/5
Buffalo Sabres
Away
Entering the season, the Penguins were expected by most to be a bottom-feeder. Instead, they are number two in the Metropolitan Division coming into the week. An Eastern Conference-leading 11 loser points makes their record look a lot better than it actually is, but in Gary Bettman’s NHL, racking up points by any means necessary is the name of the game. We all keep waiting for Pittsburgh to fade, but maybe they just won’t. This stretch before the break will be huge for them, as they not only play two in-division games, they also play a pair of Atlantic teams right in the Wild Card mix as well. For the Devils, you need to hope for the Penguins to actually finish games in regulation for a change.
New York Islanders
3rd in Metropolitan, 59 points in 51 games
Date
Opponent
Home/Away
1/26
Philadelphia Flyers
Away
1/28
New York Rangers
Home
1/29
New York Rangers
Away
1/31
Nashville Predators
Home
2/2
Washington Capitals
Away
2/3
Pittsburgh Penguins
Home
2/5
New Jersey Devils
Away
The Islanders are going to be very busy until the Olympics. Whereas most teams have five or six games until the break, New York will fit seven into their schedule before the pause. This could be a season-defining stretch, with six of these seven contests being Metropolitan Division showdowns. This is another team that was expected to have a down year, but thanks in large part to falling backwards into Matthew Schaefer, they just refuse to fade. The ask from a Devils standpoint will be simple: For the love of god, keep the three-point games to a minimum.
Philadelphia Flyers
4th in Metropolitan, 57 points in 50 games
Date
Opponent
Home/Away
1/26
New York Islanders
Home
1/28
Columbus Blue Jackets
Away
1/29
Boston Bruins
Away
1/31
Los Angeles Kings
Home
2/3
Washington Capitals
Home
2/5
Ottawa Senators
Home
Yet another team that wasn’t expected to be great this season that just keeps finding ways to stick around. Are you seeing a theme here? The Flyers’ secret weapon is the fact that they’ve played the fewest amount of games of anyone we’ll be discussing today, which is always an advantage in a points-accumulation system. Philadelphia has three in-division games, one other Eastern Conference game, and then two games against Western Conference foes, so it’s a pretty even mix.
Washington Capitals
5th in Metropolitan, 57 points in 53 games
Date
Opponent
Home/Away
1/27
Seattle Kraken
Away
1/29
Detroit Red Wings
Away
1/31
Carolina Hurricanes
Home
2/2
New York Islanders
Home
2/3
Philadelphia Flyers
Away
2/5
Nashville Predators
Home
The Capitals have the same amount of points as the Flyers, but in three more games played, which makes a huge difference. Washington was looking pretty good for the first couple months of the season, but they’ve been sliding in a big way since mid-December, hence their precarious spot in the standings. Three in-division games for them until the break, including a date with the top dog Carolina Hurricanes.
New Jersey Devils
6th in Metropolitan, 56 points in 52 games
Date
Opponent
Home/Away
1/27
Winnipeg Jets
Home
1/29
Nashville Predators
Home
1/31
Ottawa Senators
Away
2/3
Columbus Blue Jackets
Home
2/5
New York Islanders
Home
The Devils get four home games until the break, with the final two contests sticking out as extra important. Two division games, one against a team behind the Devils and one against a team ahead of them, will go a long way toward New Jersey either being in good position entering the pause, or terrible shape. New Jersey really, really, REALLY needs to figure out how to get results against Metro teams, as they will enter those games with a dismal 4-9-2 record against in-division foes thus far. To make matters worse, only two of those wins have come in regulation (both against Columbus). That means that in 15 total games, New Jersey has held Metropolitan opponents without a point in two of them. Two of 15. Unacceptable. If the Devils want to make a true push for the playoffs, they absolutely NEED two wins against the Blue Jackets and Islanders, with at least one of them coming in regulation.
Columbus Blue Jackets
7th in Metropolitan, 55 points in 51 games
Date
Opponent
Home/Away
1/26
Los Angeles Kings
Home
1/28
Philadelphia Flyers
Home
1/30
Chicago Blackhawks
Away
1/31
St. Louis Blues
Away
2/3
New Jersey Devils
Away
2/4
Chicago Blackhawks
Home
The only Metropolitan team (aside from the Rangers) that New Jersey has more points than, and the only Metro squad that the Devils have a regulation win against. Unlike a lot of these teams that are outperforming mediocre to bad preseason projections, the Blue Jackets are the opposite. They made a shocking playoff push last season only to fall just short, which raised expectations. They’ve disappointed relative to those expectations, to the point where they fired their head coach a couple weeks ago. As far as their schedule until the break goes, It’s an even mix of Western Conference teams and Metropolitan opponents. The Devils are in there, and maybe New Jersey can keep their success against Columbus going on February 3 with another regulation win.
New Jersey has 10 points up for grabs between now and when they break for the Olympics. In my opinion, they need seven of those 10 points at a bare minimum, with at least three of them coming against the Islanders and Blue Jackets. Considering how beatable every one of the teams on their schedule is, I really don’t think this is too much to ask.
As stated up top, after a nightmare stretch from December to January, the Devils have resurrected their season a bit. They’re only three points out of a playoff spot entering the week, though the third-place Islanders have a game in hand. Then again, the tables will turn and New Jersey will be the one with a game in hand by the time we reach the break. But of course, there are the Flyers and Capitals in between New Jersey and the third-place Isles, and you can’t count on all of those teams losing every night. The fact of the matter is, the Devils need to take care of their own business, and they need some help on the out of town scoreboard. That is the position their play up to this point has put them in.
What do you think of the Devils’ schedule until the Olympics? What amount of points do you consider to be the bare minimum that they need between now and then? Which Metropolitan Division team are you most worried about? What about the Metro team that you think is most likely to fade? As always, thanks for reading!
Elias Lindholm is enjoying a big bounce-back campaign, producing at his highest per game pace since the 2021-22 campaign with Calgary.
My Bruins vs. Rangers predictions expect Lindholm to make some hay offensively in a very advantageous matchup.
Let’s take a closer look at my NHL picks for Monday, January 26.
Bruins vs Rangers prediction
Bruins vs Rangers best bet: Elias Lindholm Over 0.5 points (-135)
The New York Rangers are playing without Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin, who have both won awards for being the best at their respective positions. It shows.
The Rangers have allowed a league-leading 46 goals over their past 10 games. It’s not just a matter of a couple blowup spots, either. New York has conceded at least three times in nine of those games, and four or more on seven different occasions.
It’s difficult to envision the bleeding stopping against the Boston Bruins, who rank third in goals spanning the last 10 games.
Elias Lindholm has been one of the guys at the forefront of that success, producing nine points and putting up three multi-point performances.
He has been consistent for the Bruins, especially against weaker defensive sides.
Excluding Top-16 teams in limiting goals, which the Rangers are not, Lindholm has averaged 1.1 points per game and hit the scoresheet in 70% of his appearances.
Riding shotgun with David Pastrnak, who has averaged 1.7 points per game against Bottom-16 teams in goals against, Lindholm has a strong chance of making his mark in this one.
Bruins vs Rangers same-game parlay
Pastrnak has scored in 34% of his games this season. That number jumps to 46% against Bottom-16 defensive teams.
He has found the back of the net in only two of his last nine, and this is the perfect matchup to get going again.
Alexis Lafreniere continues to skate on a line with Artemi Panarin, which is a good place to be. Lafreniere has averaged 2.4 shots per game on Panarin’s line this season and recorded multiple shots in seven of the past nine.
Bruins vs Rangers SGP
Elias Lindholm Over 0.5 points
David Pastrnak anytime goal
Alexis Lafreniere Over 1.5 shots on goal
Bruins vs Rangers odds
Moneyline: Boston -110 | New York -110
Puck line: Boston -1.5 (+210) | New York +1.5 (-260)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-105) | Under 6.5 (-115)
Bruins vs Rangers trend
Elias Lindholm has points in five straight games against New York, including two multi-point efforts this season. Find more NHL betting trends for Bruins vs. Rangers.
How to watch Bruins vs Rangers
Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date
Friday, January 26, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
NESN, MSG
Bruins vs Rangers 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
Of course, the four players were asked how it would feel to compete against each other at the Olympics, and they gave the standard answer through Suzuki: they’re already used to playing against friends and former teammates in the NHL, which isn’t any different. When the group was asked what they would choose between winning the Stanley Cup and an Olympic Gold medal, Texier made the crowd chuckle when he said the Cup would be more realistic for him, since he plays for France, but ultimately, all four players opted for the Cup. Kapanen added that it’s what he grew up dreaming about.
The Finn was also asked if he thinks about winning the Calder Trophy since he leads all rookies in goal scoring, and if there’s some teasing between him and Ivan Demidov. He replied that no, it’s not something he thinks about, while also praising his teammate as a special player. I thought that was a bit of an awkward question to ask. Anyone who follows the NHL closely knows that Kapanen is not in the Calder conversation.
That was just one of a few awkward moments, however. Another one came when Suzuki was asked which words he knew in French, and he replied that he knew how to say his name and ask someone how they are doing. While I do not believe it’s essential for the Canadiens’ captain to learn to speak French, it’s a bit weird to get that answer after much was made of Suzuki doing his first interview in French earlier this season with TVA Sports. While we know that the interview was rehearsed, you’d still expect Suzuki to see a bit more than those two basic phrases by now.
Lepage also asked the players if any of them had watched Crave’s hit show Heated Rivalry, and there was a long pause while they looked at one another to decide who would answer. Suzuki replied that they had all heard about the series and that it was great that it brought new fans to the game. Texier was then asked why homosexuality was still a taboo in hockey, and he replied that it wasn’t and that the team would be fine with one of its members coming out, that they’d be welcomed with open arms.
Those were the expected answers, really, but the embarrassed silence when the players were asked whether they had watched the show is evidence that there’s still a lot of work to be done in the NHL. If players are shy about being asked if they watched a show about two hockey players secretly having a relationship, it’s hard to imagine that a coming-out would go down well.
Welcome to this edition of the Vancouver Canucks post-game analytics report. This recurring deep dive breaks down the analytics behind each Canucks game as recorded by Natural Stat Trick. In this article, we look back on Vancouver’s most recent 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Sunday's loss by the Canuck was close both on the scoresheet and from an analytics perspective. The even-strength scoring chances were tied at 25 while Vancouver held a slight edge in even-strength high-danger scoring chances by a count of 13-11. In the end, though, the Penguins were able to capitalize on their chances, leading to the victory.
Both teams did a good job of crashing the net in this game. Kevin Lankinen faced nine high-danger shots while Stuart Skinner faced seven. Once again, though, the Canucks collapsed in the third period, which is when Pittsburgh scored all three of its goals.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, January 25, 2026, Natural Stat Trick
To wrap up this game, Filip Hroenk was one of Vancouver's top skaters from an analytics perspective. During his 26:55 of even-strength ice time, the Canucks held a 14-9 shots advantage while outscoring the opposition 2-0. Hronek also recorded an assist, which was the 98th of his career with Vancouver.
Jan 25, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Pittsburgh Penguins forward Egor Chinakhov (59) pursues Vancouver Canucks defenseman Filip Hronek (17) in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
The Canucks continue their homestand on Tuesday when they face the San Jose Sharks. While Kiefer Sherwood is injured, there is a chance he will make his Sharks debut on Tuesday. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 pm PT.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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Stars, Avalanche reportedly among teams after Canucks’ Evander Kane. [The Province]
Penguins acquire Solovyov from Avalanche for Puustinen. [Sportsnet]
Avalanche honor members of 2001 Stanley Cup champions. [NHL]
Nelson, Blackwood pace Avalanche to 4-1 victory over struggling Maple Leafs. [Toronto Star]
Avs’ Bednar on Landeskog’s recovery ahead of Olympics: ‘It’s going to be tight’. [TSN]
Avalanche’s Nelson nets fifth-career hat trick vs. Maple Leafs. [Sportsnet]
News Around the League
Linus Ullmark discusses his absence for the Senators and the social media rumours that plagued him during said absence. [TSN]
Artemi Panarin’s trade cost from Rangers revealed by NHL insider. [Sporting News]
Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard joins elite company with a 6-point game. [CBC]
Goyette remembered for clean living on and off ice. Late center who played 16 NHL seasons won Cup four times with Canadiens, Lady Byng with Blues. [NHL]
Seth Jones injury update: USA defenseman out of 2026 Olympics. [USA Today]
Los Angeles Kings - 21-16-13 - 55 Points - 4-2-4 in the last 10 - Won 2 - 5th in the Pacific
Columbus Blue Jackets - 24-20-7 - 55 Points - 6-4-0 in the last 10 - Won 2 - 7th in the Metro
Team Notes Per CBJ PR
CBJ set a season-high in goals scored in an 8-5 win over Tampa Bay on Saturday. The club has won six of its last seven games overall since Jan. 11 (5-1-0) and collected points in six of its past seven home contests since Jan. 3 (5-1-1).
The club continues a season-long five-game homestand on Monday and is in a stretch of seven-of-eight games played at Nationwide Arena from Jan. 13-28 (4-1-0).
The Jackets scored the first two goals on Saturday and have scored the first goal in 15 of the last 20 contests, 18 of the past 25, and rank T-third in the NHL in games scoring first in 2025-26 (30).
Columbus leads the NHL in goals by defensemen and ranks fourth in points with 38-90-128 in 51 contests.
Entering Sunday, the Blue Jackets (10-5-1) ranked T-fourth in the NHL in wins, seventh in team save percentage (.907), eighth in points pct. (.656) and 10th in goals-against per game (2.81) since Dec. 22.
Player Notes Per CBJ PR
Charlie Coyle, posted his fifth game of three or more points this season, including notching his 200th career goal on Saturday (1-2-3).
Entering Sunday's games, G Jet Greaves leads the NHL in saves and ranks fourth-T in wins and eighth in SV% since Dec. 22 (min. 7 GP) with an 8-3-1 record, 2.54 GAA, .915 SV% and 345 saves in 13 games.
Kirill Marchenko collected his eighth multi-point outings of the campaign with two assists vs. Tampa Bay and has notched points in 12 of the last 16 contests dating back to Dec. 22 (8-9-17).
Mason Marchment notched his third career hat trick on Saturday (3-1-4) and has posted points in seven of his nine contests with CBJ (8-3-11).
Mathieu Olivier ranks second in the NHL with 71 hits since returning from injury on Dec. 28.
Zach Werenski notched two assists in the win over the Lightning and leads NHL blueliners in goals (19), points (tied, 55) and multi-point efforts (18) this season entering play on Sunday. He has points in 26 of his past 31 contests overall to lead league defensemen in goals, points and points-per-game since Nov. 13 (15-27-42, 1.42).
Blue Jackets Stats
Power Play - 19.8% - 19th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 75.4% - 28th in the NHL
Goals For - 153 - 19th in the NHL
Goals Against - 168 - 24th in the NHL
Kings Stats
Power Play - 15.2% - 32nd in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 77.3% - 25th in the NHL
Goals For - 130 - 30th in the NHL
Goals Against - 137 - 3rd in the NHL
Series History vs. TheKings
Columbus is 29-33-1-7 all-time, and 18-11-0-5 at home vs. LA.
The Blue Jackets are 4-0-2 in the last 6 at home and have earned points in 8 of 9 home games against the Kings.
The last 5 home games against the Kings have gone to OT, and the CBJ are 3-2 in those games.
Columbus has killed off 25 of 28 Kings' man advantages.
Who To Watch For TheKings
Adrian Kempe leads the Kings with 22 assists and 39 points.
Kevin Fiala leads LA with 18 goals.
Darcy Kuemper is 13-9-9 with a SV% of .902. His last start was on January 24th.
Former Blue Jackets Goalie Anton Forsberg is 58-6-4 with a SV% of .907. His last start was on January 20th.
CBJ Player Notes vs.Kings
Zach Werenski has 7 points in 13 career games vs. the Kings.
Boone Jenner has 7 points in his last 18 games against LA.
Charlie Coyle has 16 points in 32 games.
Injured Reserve
Brendan Smith - Lower Body - Missed 13 Games IR - Out for the rest of the regular season.
Miles Wood - Lower Body - Missed 12 Games - Week to week.
Denton Mateychuk - Lower Body - Missed 6 Games - Day to day and skating with the team.
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 145
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on FANDUEL SPORTS NETWORK. Steve Mears will be on the play-by-play. The radio broadcast will be on 93.3 The Bus, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
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Islanders' Calum Ritchie An Extra At Morning Skate; Could Play vs. Flyers If Holmstrom Can’t Go Rookie Calum Ritchie sits as a healthy scratch again. Marc Gatcomb draws into the lineup as the Islanders face the Flyers.
David Pastrnak Over 3.5 shots on goal
Dylan Guenther Under 0.5 points
