Category: Ice Hockey

Swimming with sharks is a dangerous form of aquatics.

Skating with the Sharks once was tons of fun for San Jose's visiting NHL teams.. That is, until this year with GM Mike Grier's sextet making a serious bid for a Pacific Division playoff berth. 

The Rangers, who now have become "The Loser Team Of GM's Letters," completed their four-game Western tour at the Shark Tank with an anticipated loss; this time 3-1.

With absolutely nothing to play for now but pride – not in abundance on this New York team – the Beloved Blueshirts left for home after having to rely on third-string back-up goalie Spencer Martin to get them through this whole ugly mess.

"You can't blame Martin," says The Old Scout. "The Rangers didn't get goals for Igor Shesterkin nor Jonathan Quick; so why should they get red lights for Martin?"

Based on how the Rangers seem to have given up, it likely will get murkier when they host the Bruins on Monday at The World's Most Infamous Arena – that is, infamous for this disheveled home team.

Apart from savoring what's left of the season, certain New York players are left with personal challenges.

Last night, for example, in addition to trying to win a game, there was the matter of stopping Macklin Celebrini who led the Sharks in scoring last year and this term could possibly top the NHL scoring list.

But last night The Celebrini Gang – associates include Will Smith and William Eklund – played  a speedy game with Celebrini supplying the difference with two first period goals.

By contrast, the Rangers' core scorers – Breadman Panarin, Vin Trocheck, Mika Zebanejad, J.T. Miller – are getting old by NHL standards and playing old.

Worse still, the kids who are supposed to be their "future" are producing the square-root-of  Chai Nothing.     

What You Want To Know About The Rangers And Don't As Well<b>1.</b> What happens when Igor Shesterkin is fit to return? One thought is that management should rest him for the rest of the season but that wouldn't go over with the paying customers.

Most fascinating will be the reception the Rangers receive when they take the ice on Monday vs. Boston.

And even worse if they lose their ninth game in ten tries.

These Seventh Avenue Skaters are lucky there's no trophy for "Worst Rangers Team Of All-Time!"

They'd be a top contender!

ELMONT, NY -- The New York Islanders have recalled defenseman Isaiah George from Bridgeport of the American Hockey League. Defenseman Cole McWard has been loaned back to the AHL after playing three games, serving as a healthy scratch for the last six games. 

Defenseman Ryan Pulock is day-to-day with an upper-body injury and will not play against the Buffalo Sabres at 1 PM on Saturday. 

"We're excited to see Georgy," Islanders head coach Patrick Roy said. "He's been playing really well. I mean, every time we had a call-up, unfortunately for him, he was hurt. So we're excited to have him come here right now. And as you see, we rotate the guys who played in Bridgeport. We had Mitchell come in play some games. We had Warren playing some games, and then McWard and Georgie today. So, I mean, we love our young guys, and we trust them, and I think it's a good opportunity for him to play. Played so well last year at first when he came up last season. Unfortunately, he had a concussion, I think, against Toronto with Domi, and it was a little tougher after that, but I'm confident that he's going to play really well."

George, 21, played 33 seasons with the Islanders in 2024-25, recording five points (one goal, four assists), averaging 15:39 minutes per game. 

"He's a really good skater," Islanders head coach Patrick Roy said. "He's got that ability to get the puck out on his own."

This season in Bridgeport, in which he sustained two longer-term injuries, one upper and one lower, the Oakville, Ontario native has recorded 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in 24 games. 

He's looked tremendous since returning from his latest injury. 

Latest On Isaiah George Since Returning To Bridgeport Islanders Lineup Isaiah George rebounds in Bridgeport. Discover his recent surge in play and what awaits the promising defenseman after overcoming injuries.

George will skate alongside Adam Boqvist, with Scott Mayfield lining up alongside Matthew Schaefer. 

After dropping a game they couldn’t afford to fall against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night, the Montreal Canadiens have another important divisional battle on Saturday night, this time against the Boston Bruins, at TD Garden. It will already be the third duel between the two sides this year, with each team bagging a win so far. Boston won the initial matchup 3-2 in November, while Montreal grabbed a 6-2 triumph right before the Christmas break.

Boston has been on fire since the start of the year; however, they are 8-2-0 in the last 10 games and won their previous game on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights. It has allowed them to surge up the standings, and they are currently hanging on to the second wildcard spot with 60 points, just three points away from the Canadiens, who have a precarious hold on the Atlantic Division’s third-place. Meanwhile, the Habs are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games.

Canadiens’ Hughes: It’s Not About Getting Bigger
Which Team Hits The Post Or Crossbar The Most Often?
Canadiens: Laine Is On The Trading Block

Jeannot and Anderson with a spirited tilt at centre ice right off the opening draw. pic.twitter.com/AXBZIOxxMX

— Matt Drake (@DrakeMT) December 24, 2025

It will be interesting to see if Martin St-Louis chooses to make some lineup changes. When the two teams last met, the Canadiens received 32 penalty minutes and the Bruins 36, after Josh Anderson and Tanner Jeannot dropped the gloves after three seconds of play, and Arber Xhekaj and Nikita Zadorov did the same after eight and a half minutes of play. The gritty defenseman has been a healthy scratch for the last two games, and Jayden Struble has not looked excellent in those two tilts.

if i tell that i'm literally OBSESSED with zadorov and xhekaj fighting yesterday, at the point of it's looping on my head, can you believe it? seriously, look how AMAZING those moves are. gods, i wish i could see this more often in nhl games.pic.twitter.com/XIXRiCcGBy

— triz⁷ ⭐ ARIRANG (@mytimeless7) December 24, 2025

Alexandre Texier could also be ready to return since he’s currently day-to-day with a lower-body injury, and if he is, someone would need to come out of the lineup. Kirby Dach has played the last two games on the first line, but it has proven to be quite a challenge for him after sitting out for so long, while Zachary Bolduc got some shifts alongside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield in the last game. The Canadiens are set to practice at 11:30 AM in Boston, and we should know more then.

The starting netminders have yet to be confirmed, and after Samuel Montembeault gave up three goals on just 16 shots (the 17th shot was in an empty net) on Thursday, one can certainly wonder if the Canadiens will opt to turn to Jakub Dobes. The Czech netminder also gave up three goals in his last start, on 19 shots, and he has 15 wins this season compared to Montembeault’s nine. The Becancour native has a 3-7-1 record against the Bruins with a 3.78 goals-against average and a .880 save percentage. He was in the net for the Habs’ defeat against Boston in November. Meanwhile, Dobes has yet to face Boston but has a 15-5-3 record this year with a 3.01 GAA and a .887 SV.

At the other end of the ice, Jeremy Swayman has played the two games against the Habs this season and has a 10-2-1 record against Montreal with a 2.92 GAA and a .894 SV. Meanwhile, backup Joonas Korpisalo has an 8-2-0 record, a 2.49 GAA, and a .916 SV.

Up front, Brendan Gallagher is the Habs’ biggest points producer against the Bruins with 30 points in 45 games. Captain Nick Suzuki is second with 16 points in 20 games, while Josh Anderson and Noah Dobson both have 13 points in 22 games. Suzuki and Cole Caufield are both on a four-game point streak, having recorded a matching seven-point record in that span. The center has two goals and five assists, while the sniper had five goals and two assists.

As for the Bruins, David Pastrnak is still the player to watch; he has 45 points in 34 games against the Habs, including three in the first two meetings this season, on top of being on a five-game point streak. Elias Lindholm comes in second place with 25 points in 36 games, and Charlie McAvoy wraps up the top three with 16 points in 25 games.

Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM, with Jake Brenk and Brian Pochmara officiating, while Brandon Grillo and Scott Cherrey will serve as linemen. After the game, the Canadiens will return home, where they will play their last two home games before the Olympic break this week, against the Golden Knights on Tuesday and the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday.

---

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

Subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. 

The Montreal Canadiens will visit the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Saturday, January 24, for a classic matchup between these two Atlantic Division rivals.

My Canadiens vs. Bruins predictions and NHL picks suggest yet another thrilling offense-driven game between the two Original Six teams.

Canadiens vs Bruins prediction

Canadiens vs Bruins best bet: Alexandre Carrier Over 1.5 blocked shots (-180)

Since January 7, no one has blocked more shots than Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexandre Carrier. He ranks one ahead of his teammate Noah Dobson despite playing significantly fewer minutes.

The Quebec City native has 27 blocked shots over his last nine games, and has scored four goals during that time for good measure.

He trails only Mike Matheson among Habs defensemen in shorthanded ice time, and will be largely entrusted to fend off the Boston Bruins' fourth-ranked power play. He's in line to hit the Over for blocked shots once again.

Canadiens vs Bruins same-game parlay

Nick Suzuki was recently named to Canada's Olympic roster, and deservedly so, as the 26-year-old leads the team in points (57) and ranks 11th in the NHL in assists (41). He has helpers in four consecutive games and 10 in his last 10 games.

With Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman underperforming thus far, it's worth noting Montreal has put up at least four goals on Boston in three of their last five meetings — including potting six behind Swayman just over a month ago.

Canadiens vs Bruins SGP

• Alexandre Carrier Over 1.5 blocked shots
• Nick Suzuki Over 0.5 assists
• Canadiens team total Over 3.5

Canadiens vs Bruins odds

• Moneyline: Canadiens +100 | Bruins -120
• Puck Line: Canadiens +1.5 (-230) | Bruins -1.5 (+190)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+100) | Under 6.5 (-120)

Canadiens vs Bruins trend

Boston has won seven of the last 10 meetings, but has lost two of the last three. Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Bruins.

How to watch Canadiens vs Bruins

Canadiens vs Bruins latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

Cody Glass lined up opposite Teddy Blueger.

The official dropped the puck, and Glass snapped it back to his teammate and New Jersey Devils defenseman, Simon Nemec. The 21-year-old’s shot was blocked by Marcus Pettersson.

The puck took a bounce off the boards behind Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen, and Devils rookie Lenni Hämeenaho pounced.

Only 1:41 into the game, New Jersey held a 1-0 lead at Rogers Arena. Glass was the first of Hämeenaho’s teammates to celebrate the winger’s first career NHL goal.

“It was a great feeling," Hämeenaho told NJD.TV of scoring, "Something you kind of don’t know before it happens, so it was great, a great feeling.”

It was a backhand shot that beat Lankinen, who was born a little over six hours south of Hämeenaho’s hometown of Kajaani, Finland.

Perfect first @NHL goal. 29/10. No notes. pic.twitter.com/uCFMwxZRm9

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) January 24, 2026

It took seven periods of play at the NHL level for Hämeenaho to score. A player who historically has taken time to get comfortable in new situations, whether it was the rookie tournament or the start of the season in the American Hockey League (AHL), has adjusted quickly to the NHL, never looking out of place.

"We have been kind of building towards this," head coach Sheldon Keefe told NJD.TV. "Obviously, Lenni’s development in Utica in particular is something that we have been monitoring and waiting and feeling like we would get a look like this when he was ready for it.

“As I spoke about this morning, Glass’s progression, his game in the last month or six weeks, he has been hot in scoring, but his overall game has been very, very solid,” Keefe continued. “Because of that, I think he is now able to help carry a line, and Gritsyuk has helped. Now you get Lenni involved, and you can move (Brown) around, and you can get more from your group that way. That is kind of what we have been waiting for. But Lenni’s development and the patience that we have shown to allow him to find his game and to come up when he is ready has really served us well in the early going.”

His offensive contributions continued in the second period as he picked up his first NHL assist on Glass’ 12th goal of the season at 3:14, giving the Devils a 3-0 lead.

The middle frame was a back-and-forth period with Nico Hischier and Connor Brown additionally scoring. Unfortunately, the Devils surrendered three goals to Canucks’ Linus Karlsson, Teddy Blueger, and Zeev Buium.

Entering the third period, the Devils held a 4-3 advantage over the Canucks. It was Glass, Hämeenaho’s linemate, that extended New Jersey’s lead to 5-3, securing the team’s third consecutive victory.

“There was a lot of chaos in the game, some that we created ourselves, particularly at the end of the game, but it is a lot better to learn inside the chaos after a win, there is no doubt about that,” Keefe said.

On Saturday night, in his third NHL game, Hämeenaho celebrated the first multi-point game of his career. By comparison, it took him 14 games with the Utica Comets (AHL) for him to have a two-point game.

The Devils will conclude their roadtrip on Sunday afternoon with one final stop at Climate Pledge Arena to face the Seattle Kraken.

"It’s been a really good road trip for us,” Keefe said. “I think as much as you don’t love some of the things that happened today, giving the game back a little bit in that second period, giving them life and hope at the end of the game, some of that can serve as a nice little jolt on this road trip to keep us focused and keep us improving along the way.”

Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils sitefor THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much 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.

It’s a relatively busy evening across the National Hockey League, with nine games on the schedule. My NHL player props will include Ryan O’Reilly, Ivan Demidov, and Nikita Kucherov.

Read more in my NHL player props for Saturday, January 24.

Best NHL player prop bets today

Get a first bet encore up to $800 with BET99 bonus code COVERSNHL.
(not available in Ontario)

Our best NHL player props for Saturday, January 24

Take a look at our best bets and expert analysis below.

Prop #1: Ryan O’Reilly Over 0.5 assists

-115 at BET99

Ryan O’Reilly is having a nice campaign for the Nashville Predators, scoring 18 goals and assisting 32. He’s been on fire as of late, cashing the Over in helpers in six consecutive appearances. During that span, the veteran has registered eight assists.

In a victory over the Ottawa Senators on Thursday evening, O’Reilly had three assists. On Tuesday, he also had a pair of goals and a helper. The Preds welcome the Utah Mammoth to town this afternoon, and O’Reilly has compiled 17 assists in 27 games in Nashville.

Also, he’s tallied a pair of helpers in two meetings with Utah in 2025-26. O’Reilly will stay hot.

• Time: 1:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Sportsnet, Sportsnet One

Prop #2: Ivan Demidov Over 0.5 assists

+120 at BET99

Ivan Demidov has already notched 32 assists for the Montreal Canadiens this season, serving as one of their top playmakers. He’s a dangerous weapon offensively. The Russian has cashed the Over in helpers in two of his last three outings, compiling three assists during that span.

While Demidov didn’t get in on the action on Thursday evening against the Buffalo Sabres, he did set up a pair of goals on Tuesday in a victory against the Minnesota Wild. The Habs hit the road tonight for a classic matchup with the Boston Bruins, and Demidov has played well away from the Bell Centre.

On the road, the 20-year-old has 15 assists in 25 games. He’s also tallied an assist in two meetings with the Bruins this season.

• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: TVA Sports, CBC, Sportsnet

Prop #3: Nikita Kucherov anytime goal

+145 at BET99

Nikita Kucherov is an absolute beast, sitting top-15 in the league in goals with 25 to his name. The veteran has scored 12 across his last 15 appearances, and he’s found the back of the net in four of his previous seven games.

Kucherov just scored on Friday evening against the Chicago Blackhawks, and he’s bagged 16 of his goals on the road. The Tampa Bay Lightning happen to be in Columbus this evening to face the Blue Jackets.

He scored once in three meetings with the Blue Jackets last season, and Kucherov is clearly thriving as a goal scorer when he’s away from Benchmark International Arena. He’ll produce the goods.

• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Sportsnet+

These props are available now at BET99, one of our best betting sites.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

Connor McDavid’s shot rates on home soil are nothing short of spectacular.

They’ve been especially high since Zach Hyman returned to the lineup, and my Capitals vs. Oilers predictions are banking on that remaining the case.

Let’s dive into my NHL picks for Saturday, January 24.

Capitals vs Oilers prediction

Capitals vs Oilers best bet: Connor McDavid Over 3.5 shots (+105)

Connor McDavid has generated a whopping 4.7 shots on 7.1 attempts per game in Edmonton. Those outputs have predictably led to a ton of Overs, with McDavid clearing this line in 18 of 24 home dates — a 75% clip.

His numbers have reached even greater heights with Hyman by his side. McDavid has averaged 5.2 shots on 7.3 attempts when Hyman rides shotgun, and recorded 4+ shots in 13 of his last 14 at home.

The Edmonton Oilers tend to go as their captain goes. Well, McDavid’s goals have dried up over the past handful of games, and they’ve dropped four of six as a result.

McDavid will want to snap this scoring funk sooner rather than later to help get his team back on track. The good news is he has a great matchup to help him take matters into his own hands.

The Washington Capitals rank 26th in shot suppression and 8th in pace over their past 10 games. They’re giving up a ton of volume and playing a high-paced brand of hockey that should suit McDavid perfectly.

Washington has also allowed the 2nd-most shots to centers during this stretch.

This is a fantastic matchup across the board. One I expect the league’s best player to take advantage of.

Capitals vs Oilers same-game parlay

McDavid and Hyman both rank in the Top 5 in goals over the past two months. They are scoring machines, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins skates with them at 5-on-5 and on the power play, making him a prime candidate to pick up a helper.

The Oilers have averaged 3.9 goals over their past 10 against Bottom-10 shot suppression teams.

The Capitals fit that criteria and are expected to start backup Charlie Lindgren after giving Logan Thompson the nod on Friday night. Edmonton’s offense should lead them to two points here.

Capitals vs Oilers SGP

• Connor McDavid Over 3.5 shots
• Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Over 0.5 assists
• Oilers moneyline

Capitals vs Oilers odds

• Moneyline: Capitals +150 | Oilers -180
• Puck Line: Capitals +1.5 (-150) | Oilers -1.5 (+125)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-105) | Under 6.5 (-115)

Capitals vs Oilers trend

Connor McDavid has averaged 5.5 shots on goal over his last 14 home games. Find more NHL betting trends for Capitals vs. Oilers.

How to watch Capitals vs Oilers

Capitals vs Oilers latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

The Ottawa Senators welcome the Carolina Hurricanes to the Canadian Tire Centre tonight, with tip-off scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET.

Thomas Chabot has been creating chances at home lately, and my Hurricanes vs. Senators predictions will focus on his ability to put the puck on net.

Read more in my NHL picks for Saturday, January 24.

Hurricanes vs Senators prediction

Hurricanes vs Senators best bet:Thomas Chabot Over 1.5 shots (-118)

Thomas Chabot is having a solid campaign as one of the Ottawa Senators' key defensemen, compiling 19 points. 

He’s averaging 1.6 shots on goal per game in 2025-26, and while that number sits at just 1.5 at home, there’s reason to believe he’ll be busy tonight. 

The 28-year-old has hit the Over in shots on net in five straight appearances at the Canadian Tire Centre.

In his last game at home a week ago against the Montreal Canadiens, Chabot had two SOG. A few days before that? Another three shots on target against the Vancouver Canucks.

He’ll put another two pucks on net, at the very least, tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Hurricanes vs Senators same-game parlay

We’ll stick with Dylan Cozens for both legs of my SGP. The former first-round pick has tallied assists in back-to-back games, and he’s registered four helpers across his last five appearances. 

In Cozens’s last game at home, he set up a goal against the Habs. He’s compiled nine helpers on home ice this season as well.

Cozens is averaging 2.34 SOG per contest, and he’s comfortably cashed the Over in six consecutive outings. Also, he had two shots on target at home against Montreal last Saturday.

At the Canadian Tire Centre, the 24-year-old is averaging 1.95 SOG per contest.

Hurricanes vs Senators SGP

• Thomas Chabot Over 1.5 shots
• Dylan Cozens Over 0.5 assists
• Dylan Cozens Over 1.5 shots

Hurricanes vs Senators odds

• Moneyline: Hurricanes -125 | Senators +110
• Puck Line: Hurricanes -1.5 (+195) | Senators +1.5 (-235)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-104) | Under 6.5 (-112)

Hurricanes vs Senators trend

The Ottawa Senators have hit the 1P game total Over in 13 of their last 15 games (+11.45 Units / 55% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Hurricanes vs. Senators.

How to watch Hurricanes vs Senators

Hurricanes vs Senators latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

In what was arguably the biggest game of the year — with Mitch Marner returning to town for the first time — the Toronto Maple Leafs started and ended flat.

"Not good enough," Scott Laughton bluntly put it following the 6-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.

Yup, he described the game to a T. 

Now, going into this game, you'd expect every Maple Leafs player to be jacked up, for many reasons.

One: They're playing against a former teammate in Marner, whose return couldn't have been more anticipated. Two: Goaltender Anthony Stolarz, out for over two months with an injury, was returning to the lineup. Three: They lost to Vegas in overtime just over a week ago.

It had all the signs of being a big game from Toronto.

That was, until Vegas took over early and didn't let up. Even with a late push in the second period with goals from John Tavares, Laughton, and then Bobby McMann to make it a one-goal game, the Maple Leafs couldn't catch up to the Golden Knights.

"They were on their toes, and we weren't," head coach Craig Berube said on Friday night following the loss.

"[We] made a push in the second period. Got us back in the game. I thought probably 10, 11 minutes of that period were really good and played the way we wanted to start the game.

"Third period, we've got to be better. We've got to make a bigger push than that."

Scott Laughton is not happy with the lack of urgency in Toronto's game, among other things.

"It's simplicity, too. I mean, you're D are tired. You don't need to come back with the puck and make it harder. You chip pucks in, you fill lanes, you make it easy on your D, and you…

— David Alter (@davidalter) January 24, 2026

This isn't something we haven't seen before. For some reason, whenever the Maple Leafs need to go all in, they turn around and fold.

Why?

"I don't have that answer for you. I wish I did," Berube continued.

"I mean, we've been a real good home team here for a long time this year. I remember the last road trip we went on, and we came back home, we were a little bit the same way, kind of like in and out in the games, not quite detailed, not playing with the urgency that is needed and the simplicity that's needed.

"That's something definitely I talk to the team about after the game. We've got to fix it."

Beyond all the reasons listed of why Toronto should've come out firing, there's still the playoff picture: if the Maple Leafs defeated Vegas on Friday, they would've moved one point behind the Boston Bruins for second in the wild-card race.

Every game matters right now, and the Maple Leafs lose yet another at home.

"Yeah, it's concerning," said Laughton. "They come in off probably a late night. We know how that feels. Stolie's first game in a month, two months, and that's what we put up."

Craig Berube on tonight's game.

"For me, the standard's got to be better and higher. We're at home here. We're not playing consistently enough with the urgency that is needed."

— David Alter (@davidalter) January 24, 2026

It won't get any easier either.

Toronto welcomes the NHL's leader, the Colorado Avalanche, into the city on Sunday afternoon. They'll then face the Buffalo Sabres, who are a few points ahead of them, currently in the first wild-card spot.

After that, the Maple Leafs set off on their Western Canada road trip before the Olympic break.

Six games left; a possible 12 points on the line.

How they handle this next stretch will not only dictate their plans for the trade deadline in March, but likely their entire season.

"I think we understand where we're at and the importance of every game," said Tavares, who had Toronto's first goal on Friday against Vegas, "but just the need to execute, to be sharp, to battle through whatever challenges there might be, whether you feel good, whether you don't.

"Just the way we have to give ourselves the best possible chance to win hockey games, earn results. We just haven't been as consistent for 60 minutes coming back home here."

The Columbus Blue Jackets are back home for the third game of a five-game home stand to take on the Tampa Bay Lightning at 7 PM.    

Tampa Bay Lightning - 32-13-4 - 68 Points - 9-0-1 in the last 10 - Won 2 - 2nd in the Atlantic

Columbus Blue Jackets - 23-20-7 - 51 Points - 5-4-1 in the last 10 - Won 1 - 7th in the Metro  

Team Notes Per CBJ PR

• Columbus won for the fifth time in the last six games overall since Jan. 11 (5-1-0) and collected points in five of its past six home contests since Jan. 3 (4-1-1) with a 1-0 shutout victory over Dallas on Thursday.

• The club continues a season-long five-game homestand on Saturday and is in a stretch of seven-of-eight games played at Nationwide Arena from Jan. 13-28 (3-1-0).

• The Jackets scored the lone goal on Thursday in the opening period. The club has scored the first goal in 14 of the last 19 contests and 17 of the past 24 and ranks T-sixth in the NHL in games scoring first in 2025-26 (29).

• Columbus leads the NHL in goals by defensemen and ranks fourth in points with 38-87-125 in 50 contests.

• The Blue Jackets (9-5-1) rank fifth in the NHL in team save percentage (.912), T-eighth in goals-against per game (2.67) and 11th in points pct. (.633) since Dec. 22.

Player Notes Per CBJ PR

• Charlie Coyle, who is one goal shy from 200 for his NHL career, became the fifth player to play in his 1,000th game while in a Blue Jackets uniform (Sergei Fedorov, Vinny Prospal, Scott Hartnell, Jakub Voracek) on Thursday.

• Jet Greaves turned aside all 28 shots faced on Thursday for his first shutout of the season. He leads the NHL in saves and ranks fourth-T in wins and sixth-T in SV% since Dec. 22 (min. 6 GP) with a 7-3-1 record, 2.32 GAA, .922 SV% and 320 saves in 12 games.

• Boone Jenner sits three assists from tying David Vyborny (204) for third on the club's all-time list in assists.

• Kirill Marchenko has notched points in 11 of the last 15 contests dating back to Dec. 22 (8-7-15).

• Mathieu Olivier combined for 26 hits in the last five contests and ranks second in the NHL with 67 hits since returning from injury on Dec. 28.

• Zach Werenski leads NHL blueliners in goals (19) and multi-point efforts (17) and sits one goal from becoming the third American defenseman in NHL history with two-straight 20-goal seasons (Phil Housley-6, Reed Larson-5). He has points in 25 of his past 30 contests overall to lead league defensemen in goals, points and points-per-game since Nov. 13 (15-27-42, 1.40).

Blue Jackets Stats

• Power Play - 19.4% - 19th in the NHL
• Penalty Kill - 75.7% - 28th in the NHL
• Goals For - 145 - 21st in the NHL
• Goals Against - 163 - 24th in the NHL 

Lightning Stats

• Power Play - 20.7% - 14th in the NHL
• Penalty Kill - 84.2% - 3rd in the NHL
• Goals For - 168 - 6th in the NHL
• Goals Against - 119 - 2nd in the NHL

Series History vs. TheLightning   

• Columbus is 17-29-1-6 all-time, and 12-12-1-2 at home vs. The Lightning.
• The Blue Jackets are 6-4-2 in the last 12 games against the Bolts at home.
• The CBJ has scored a power play goal in 4 of the last 6 games in the series against Tampa.

Who To Watch For TheLightning

• Brandon Hagel leads the Lightning with 25 goals.

• Nikita Kucherov leads the Bolts with 49 assists and 73 points.
• Goalie Jonas Johansson is 10-6-1 with a SV% of .896.
• Andrei Vasilevskiy is 21-7-3 but played on Friday night against the Blackhawks.

CBJ Player Notes vs. Stars 

• Zach Werenski has 21 points in 25 games vs. the Lightning
• Charlie Coyle has 16 points in 32 games.
• Kirill Marchenko has 11 points in 9 career games against Tampa Bay.

Injured Reserve

• Brendan Smith - Lower Body - Missed 12 Games IR - Out for the rest of the regular season.
• Miles Wood - Lower Body - Missed 11 Games - Week to week.
• Denton Mateychuk - Lower Body - Missed 5 Games - Day to day.

TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 142

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 97.1 The Fan, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.   

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story. 

Let us know what you think below.

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.

It’s never fun for fans to see their favourite team hit the post of the crossbar; in fact, whichever level you play hockey at, you hate posts. Just think about Gordon Bombay’s fantastic minor hockey career coming to a grinding halt after his triple deke hit the post on a penalty shot in the Mighty Ducks. It’s drama nobody likes, but nobody escapes it.

Each fanbase feels like their team is hard done by and is undoubtedly the one who’s hitting the most posts and/or crossbars, but who’s actually hitting the most? Where do the Montreal Canadiens rank in that category?

Well, the team that has fallen victim to iron the most so far this season is the Carolina Hurricanes, with 80 occurrences as of January 23, 2026, followed by the Washington Capitals at 72, the Buffalo Sabres and the Anaheim Ducks with 69, and, in fifth place, the Canadiens with 64, just like the Detroit Red Wings.

Canadiens: Laine Is On The Trading Block
Canadiens Dug A Big Hole They Couldn’t Get Out Of
Canadiens’ Defence Corps Having Big Impact

At the other end of the spectrum, the San Jose Sharks have only been robbed by iron 29 times this season, that’s twelve fewer times than the St. Louis Blues, who have suffered that fate 41 times, and 14 fewer times than the Philadelphia Flyers, who are 30th in the category with 43 times.

Why have the Hurricanes hit the post so much? Well, they have taken the second most shots in the league so far this season, with 1649 shots, meaning that they’ve been frustrated by the goal on just five percent of their shots. As for the Capitals, they’ve taken 1487 shots, meaning they struck iron on five percent of their shots as well. The Sabres? Their percentage is five percent as well, while the Red Wings’ is also five percent. The Canadiens? Well, with 64 posts/crossbars on 1339 shots, they’ve also fallen victim to the net on five percent of their shots.

Meanwhile, with just 29 misfortunes on 1239 shots, the Sharks have only hit iron on two percent of their shots, while the Blues have done the same on three percent of theirs and the Flyers on three percent of theirs.

In other words, those who shoot less, hit iron less, and those who hit the post most often all do it 5% of the time; no one is jinxed or plagued by players with sub-par accuracy. Oh, and no, the Bell Centre ghosts can’t move the goal posts…

---

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

Subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. 

The Philadelphia Flyers might have just saved their season with a sensational road trip punctuated by a 7-3 thrashing of the NHL's best team, the Colorado Avalanche.

Going 2-0-1 in their three-game trip without starting goalie Dan Vladar, the Flyers found a way to stay afloat in the playoff race.

They're still 3-5-2 in their last 10 games and remain three points back of the Boston Bruins for the second wildcard spot in the East, but the five points they just earned in the standings are the difference between being ninth in the Conference and 15th.

To be clear, with 57 points, the Flyers are still going to face stiff competition from the surging New Jersey Devils (56), Toronto Maple Leafs (57), Washington Capitals (56), and Florida Panthers (55) for a playoff spot, but a few bounces and different results this week would've had them down for the count.

Instead, the Flyers saw their playoff odds jump up a rather significant 7.2% with their regulation win over the Avalanche, which now sits them at a respectable 35.9% chance of reaching the postseason, according to Moneypuck.

The Flyers remain much more likely to miss the playoffs than make them, and perhaps some of that is a fair assessment by the model.

After all, we all saw the self-immolation against the Utah Mammoth that spoiled what would have otherwise been the perfect three-game road trip for a struggling club that appeared to be on its last legs.

It's still too early to tell if the Flyers are willing to pull off some type of trade for a center like Shane Wright, Elias Pettersson, or Robert Thomas to really give themselves an opportunity, but that's likely what it will take if the results stay middling, more or less, for the next four weeks.

Egor Chinakhov has made an instant splash since joining the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 24-year old has been able to unlock his talents, which are readily apparent. Chinakhov has scored five goals and added one assist in his 12-game stint with the Penguins. On the surface that isn’t overwhelming. With more context, it stands out since all of his goals and points so far have come at even strength. It’s a small sample to date, though the data is encouraging; Chinakhov’s 2.17 goals/60 at even strength with the Pens is a massive number (tops in the NHL this season with a longer run of data is Brad Marchand with 1.89, Nathan MacKinnon is second at 1.70).

What makes the figure stand out even further is that is this isn’t a player going to the net and knocking in loose rebounds or deflecting pucks or even building his sample largely off of teammate’s passing plays that leave a goalie vulnerable for back-door tap ins. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with gaining results that way either, but Chinakhov is producing in a way that is more tantalizing and excites on a deeper level. Chinakhov is doing most of his work on the rush and using his overpowering shot and fast release to torch goalies. He’s shown a knack to pick corners and tendency to snipe on the shortside, hallmarks of a quality NHL goal scorer.

MALKIN ➡️ CHINAKHOV 🙌 pic.twitter.com/v8dIP7naUg

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 16, 2026

Raise your hand if you're happy Chinny is a Penguin 🖐️ pic.twitter.com/VNWnBvdiqa

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 23, 2026

The full mastery of his ability was on display in this goal against Calgary, drawing the puck in prior to releasing it, changing the shooting angle in the type of advanced move that differentiates a normal shooter from an exceptional one in today’s NHL.

TIC. TAC. TOE. 🎯

WHAT A RELEASE FROM CHINNY 🔥 pic.twitter.com/IhxQE5XZeU

— SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) January 22, 2026

There’s no doubt Chinakhov has had a boost in the classic ‘change of scenery’ to enter a new situation by coming to the Penguins. Given normal stat rates, we can’t expect him to carry 2+ goals per 60 for the long haul, though the current production will undoubtedly open doors for more opportunity to increase actual totals despite the decline in the rate of time it takes to get there. Chinakhov has played with the second power play group, getting an average of 1:14 per game often coming from short shifts as the power play is expiring. The potential of an increased role and an eventual promotion to the top power play could be the next step to unlock even more total production. The most important thing for now is he has proved his shot can’t be denied, now it will be up to the coaches to figure out how they can maximize his abilities.

The other absolutely apparent standout skill for Chinakhov is his skating ability. Per NHL Edge, his max skating speed is right up there with anyone in the league, his ability to have 20 or 22+ mph bursts are incredible. The only thing holding down his percentile ranking on 18-20 mph bursts has been a lack of playing time and opportunity relative to the other players in the league.

The raw tools of being a lightning fast skater with an absolute rocket of a shot are standing out with the Pens as the player gets a chance to show what he can do.

In a sense, the challenge of maximizing the abilities has been the ready made story of Chinakhov’s career. It was a frustrating one for both him and the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first chapter. He couldn’t find much in Columbus, being moved all over the place and given limited opportunities in a rapidly changing cast of linemates couldn’t have helped matters.

Egor Chinakhov in CBJ:
22 different linemates & 21 Different Line Combos in 204 GP

Egor Chinakhov in PIT:
3 Different Linemates & 3 Different Combos in 11 GP

His career has been riddled with being unable to find chemistry, but it seems him and Malkin have found it.

Amongst…

— ARAnalytics (@ARAnalytics) January 22, 2026

If a team wants a player to bring consistency, it stands to reason the team should return the favor. It’s not hard to see that the Blue Jackets failed in that regard, resulting in failing to unlock the player as a whole into his full potential.

The Penguins have been able to provide more steadiness, since Evgeni Malkin returned from injury he’s been a constant with Chinakhov. Tommy Novak has been there all along. The results have followed as the trio continues to grow in chemistry with their complimentary offensive skills and proclivity to get on the rush fitting Chinakhov’s strengths of skating and shooting ability like a glove.

That’s made for a great first impression with his new team and shown an instant ability to impact games in special ways. The Penguins have a lot to be excited about in the coming days, weeks and months to see just how much more Chinakhov can add.

The Islanders are back from the road and primed for that classic “first game after the trip” letdown, although several games on their Western sojourn were a letdown, so hopefully they don’t feel like they can ease into things.

Meeting them this afternoon in Elmont are the Buffalo Sabres, who have been on an absolute tear taking them from the basement to passing the Islanders in the Eastern standings. The roster’s the same, so the fired Kevyn Adams must be wondering what it was about him that they were able to turn it on as soon as the GM was fired.

There was some lineup news from practice yesterday as Bo Horvat was a full participant and is expected to play today. Ryan Pulock, however, is listed as day to day.

First Islanders Goal picks go here.

Islanders News

• Day to day: Those lineup updates, plus appreciation for Horvat, and an opportunity for Cole McWard if Pulock can’t play. [Isles | Post]
• “Phenomenal teammate” Tony DeAngelo on turning what could’ve been a blip appearance into a year and counting with the Isles. [Newsday]
• Athletic “sources” now confirm the prior reports of the Islanders’ plan to move their AHL affiliate from Bridgeport to Hamilton. A few key steps remain, however. [Athletic]
• On the Island, Episode 4, including Marshall Warren’s debut as family and friends cheer him on:

Last night’s NHL scores included the Flyers, Devils and Capitals picking up wins — and yes, Mitch Marner was booed in Toronto and yes Vegas beat the Leafs.

A “tense” reunion as boos “rained down” on Marner. Barbarians. [Sportsnet]