Category: NHL

When the Pittsburgh Penguins traded for Egor Chinakhov back on Dec. 29, I was a bit surprised. It came out of nowhere, and I didn't think they'd be in the market for another forward since their forward depth was already really good. 

Chinakhov had been hoping for a fresh start since the summer, when he requested a trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets, which they granted. The Penguins sent a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 third-round pick, and forward Danton Heinen back for Chinakhov, which shows what they think of him.

He's the type of player that Dubas has routinely gone after over the past couple of years. When he sees that a young player needs a change of scenery, he pounces. He did the same for Philip Tomasino, Jesse Puljujarvi, Cody Glass, and Emil Bemstrom. Yes, it didn't work out for those four players in Pittsburgh, but that doesn't mean history will repeat itself here with Chinakhov. 

I know it's only been six games, but I've really liked the way he's played since making his Penguins' debut against the Detroit Red Wings on Jan. 1. He has two goals and three points in those six games for the Penguins and has showcased his blistering release multiple times. 

His first goal with the Penguins came off a brilliant stretch pass from Ben Kindel on Jan. 3, but it was his release that really stole the show. He came in on a breakaway against Red Wings goaltender John Gibson, and before you could even blink, the puck was in the back of the net. 

His second goal came against the Calgary Flames this past Saturday, and it capped off an awesome two-on-one with Evgeni Malkin. Chinakhov dished the puck to Malkin, who gave it right back to him, and made no mistake with a blistering one-timer. Flames goaltender Devin Cooley had no chance on this shot. 

EGOR CHINAKHOV GETS THE PENS ON THE BOARD pic.twitter.com/xNMvQox4Ur

— SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) January 10, 2026

That goal brought the crowd at PPG Paints Arena to life in the second period before Matt Coronato scored the game-winner early in the third. The loss snapped the Penguins' six-game winning streak that had vaulted them into a playoff spot. 

Outside of Chinakhov's release, his speed has been on display. He can fly up the ice and really burn opposing players when going for loose pucks. He really showcased his speed on Sunday against the Boston Bruins when he came in on a semi-breakaway and had a good chance against Joonas Korpisalo, but it was ultimately saved. 

Chinakhov has also been good in his own zone and has done a nice job defending against chances. His backchecking has been really solid, and I've liked how he anticipates plays before they happen. He hasn't been out of position, either. 

He has played 65:09 at 5v5 with the Penguins and has been on the ice for 51% of the shot attempts, 50.7% of the scoring chances, 51.8% of the high-danger chances, and 45.5% of the expected goals, though I think that latter number will go up in the second half of the season. 

Chinakhov and Kindel have spent a good chunk of time together on the same line and have shown some chemistry, even if some of the metrics are below water. They have played 49:46 at 5v5 together and are +1 in shot attempts, -3 in scoring chances, and -2 in high-danger chances. The latter two numbers will likely improve with more minutes together. 

Penguins Defenseman Sent To Wilkes-Barre/Scranton On Conditioning AssignmentPenguins defenseman Caleb Jones is inching closer to a return.

They could potentially play on the third line with Tommy Novak once Bryan Rust is healthy, while Evgeni Malkin reunites with Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazeau. Malkin works better at center and showed a ton of chemistry with the big wingers earlier in the season.

With a Novak-Kindel-Chinakhov line, you'd have a nice balance. Novak is a good playmaker, but has been scoring more as of late. Kindel has excellent vision, and Chinakhov can finish chances. 

Chinakhov still has 38 more games to show the Penguins' brass that he should be extended since he's slated to be a restricted free agent this summer, but he's off to a good start. 

(Data via Natural Stat Trick). 

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The Winnipeg Jets have made a surprising move on the blue line, recalling defenseman Isaak Phillips from the Manitoba Moose (AHL) while placing Colin Miller on injured reserve retroactive to January 11th.

Miller sustained his injury during Sunday’s game against the New Jersey Devils after a collision along the boards that required assistance off the ice. This marks the second recent injury to the Jets’ defense corps, following Haydn Fleury, who remains sidelined after a serious fall into the boards that left him stretchered off with multiple injuries.

TRANSACTIONS: The #NHLJets have recalled D - Isaak Phillips from the Manitoba Moose (AHL). The Jets have also placed D - Colin Miller on injured reserve retroactive to Jan. 11.

— Winnipeg Jets PR (@WpgJetsPR) January 12, 2026

Phillips’ call-up comes as a surprise, as many anticipated Jets prospect Elias Salomonsson would get the promotion. Salomonsson, who received his first recall earlier this season, played four games with Winnipeg, going minus-four before returning to the AHL.

Phillips brings a different look to the Jets’ lineup. The 23-year-old defenseman has NHL experience, having appeared in 56 games over four seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks. Originally a fifth-round pick by Chicago in 2020, Phillips was eventually sent to the AHL and traded to Manitoba, where he has continued his development.

The Jets hope Phillips can tap into his potential and provide a steady presence on the blue line. He is expected to make his Winnipeg debut Tuesday against the New York Islanders.

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Former Los Angeles Kings center and current member of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Blake Lizotte, has signed a three-year contract extension.

Lizotte will earn a total of $6.75 million under this deal, averaging $2.25 million per season and against the Penguins' salary cap, beginning next season.

This new deal will expire following the 2028-29 campaign, and he'll be 31 years old.

Lizotte has spent the past two seasons with the Penguins after his first six years were with the Kings.

The 28-year-old has spent nearly his entire career as a fourth-line center. This year, he's averaged 13:57 of ice time. That's just one second below his career-high of ice time that was set in 2019-20 with Los Angeles.

He's featured in 35 of 44 games for Pittsburgh and has recorded five goals and five assists for 10 points on the year. With that, he has a respectable 51.4 faceoff percentage and a plus-six rating.

Last season was his first in Pittsburgh. He ended that 2024-25 campaign with 59 games to his name, as well as 11 goals and 20 points.

Lizotte's time with the Kings began when he signed in April 2019. He was an undrafted forward who joined Los Angeles following two seasons at St. Cloud State from 2017-18 to 2018-19.

He made his NHL debut in 2018-19, but played his first full season in 2019-20. Lizotte scored six goals and 17 assists for 23 points in his rookie season as a 21-year-old.

His best NHL season was in his fifth year with the Kings. In 81 appearances for Los Angeles, he scored 11 goals and recorded 23 assists for a total of 34 points. He averaged 12:57 of ice time that season and registered a plus-11 rating.

From Kopitar to Uncertainty: The Kings’ Center CrisisLOS ANGELES, CA — For two decades, the Los Angeles Kings have had the luxury franchises spend years chasing: a true number one centerman in Anze Kopitar. Alongside Jonathan Quick and Drew Doughty, the Kings formed Hockey's Holy Trinity—three franchise-level pillars down the middle, on the back end, and in net. In their primes, all three ranked among the very best at their respective positions. That spine was the foundation of two Stanley Cups in three years, before the Mike Richards and Slava Voynov situations derailed the Lombardi administration.

Lizotte also accumulated a whopping 70 penalty minutes that year. He never reached more than 28 in any other NHL campaign.

His tenure with Los Angeles ended in the 2023-24 off-season when he signed with the Penguins as a free agent. Lizotte inked a two-year contract at $1.85 million per season, the same deal that is set to expire at the end of this season.

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MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- The St. Louis Blues believe they came out with a best-case scenario with defenseman Philip Broberg.

Broberg is in concussion protocol and is doubtful to play on Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes after leaving Saturday’s 4-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights early in the first period.

Broberg, who had an assist in his 55 seconds of game time, left the game when he was checked into the defensive zone boards by Vegas captain Mark Stone, who was questioned for his follow-through on the hit that ultimately upended Broberg backwards landing on his head and face. Stone fought Brayden Schenn later in the period for his actions.

But Blues coach Jim Montgomery had a good report on Broberg, who earlier in the day signed a six-year, $48 million extension.

“Broberg's doing well, but he's still day to day in the concussion protocol,” Montgomery said. “But we are very happy with his progress.”

The reason for the optimism was, “No headaches, was able to work out today and we'll see how he progresses with that,” Montgomery said. “I think it's very doubtful (for Tuesday) just with the concussion protocol.”

It was obvious what missing Broberg meant for the team needing to play pretty much the entire game with five defensemen.

“We felt it in the last game, right,” Montgomery said. “We were at the end of three in four (games) and we had to play five D-men the whole game and you just don’t have one more guy that’s not an elite puck-stopper and ending plays and joining plays. With him being out and possibly others again tomorrow, it’s an opportunity for more people to seize more ice time.”

Other injury news includes Dylan Holloway and Pius Suter, each dealing with a high ankle sprain, skating prior to Monday’s practice at Centene Community Ice Center. Montgomery did call Holloway’s progress last week prior to a three-game road trip as “baby steps.”

Also, Robert Thomas (lower-body injury) had a maintenance day on Monday, and the center is questionable for Tuesday against the Hurricanes; it’s something Montgomery said the team will have to deal with the maintenance days, probably leading into the Winter Olympic break.

Also, Mathieu Joseph was absent from practice with an elbow infection that Montgomery called, “day to day right now, but he’s just on some antibiotics to clear up the infection.”

Also, Nick Bjugstad, who's been out since Dec. 9 against the Boston Bruins (15 games), skated on a regular line on Monday and appears set to rejoin the lineup Tuesday, if that's what is needed with Thomas out. Bjugstad centered a line with Pavel Buchnevich and Jonatan Berggren.

St. Louis Blues Weekly Prospect Report (Jan. 11)Zach Dean back playing hockey; Jiricek picks up where he left off for Brantford; Kaskimaki picking up scoring since going back to AHL; Carbonneau reaches 30 goals

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Monday evening promises to be a historic night at Little Caesars Arena, as the Detroit Red Wings will officially raise the iconic No. 91 jersey number of Sergei Fedorov to the rafters. 

One of the most exciting and dynamic players in NHL history, Fedorov played an integral role in Detroit's Stanley Cup wins of 1997, 1998, and 2002 while also providing the fans of Hockeytown endless highlights. 

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Forward Patrick Kane, who recently made some history of his own by becoming the 50th player ever to reach the 500-goal plateau, was still a youngster during the prime of Fedorov's career with the Red Wings.

Like many other current NHL players, Kane was amazed by Fedorov's on-ice abilities, as well as his flashy white Nike skates, which he wore for several years. However, there was only one holdup when it came to purchasing some of his own. 

"Oh yeah, for sure. My Dad wouldn't let me get them," Kane said with a smile when asked if he wanted a similar pair of Nike skates. "I tried to find some of the Nike covers that go over the skate,s but couldn't find those. Never had the white Nikes, but it was always something I wanted to do." 

Fedorov's legendary performance against the Washington Capitals in December 1996 in which he tallied all five goals, including the overtime game-winner, as part of Detroit's 5-4 victory at Joe Louis Arena, was an especially memorable performance that sticks out in Kane's mind. 

"I think the five-goal game, the overtime winner, that one really sticks out," he said. "He had so many highlights where he was going in and through guys and scoring, he seemed to be a better skater than everyone else at that time and made others look silly." 

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Former Buffalo Sabres goalie James Reimer has officially landed a contract for the 2025-26 season.

The Ottawa Senators have announced that they have signed Reimer to a one-year, $850,000 contract for the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign. 

The Senators signed Reimer to an American Hockey League (AHL) professional tryout (PTO) last week, and the expectation was that he would end up getting an NHL contract from the Atlantic Division club. Now, that has officially come to fruition with this latest news, and the 37-year-old veteran goaltender is set to continue his NHL career as a member of the Senators because of it. 

Reimer played in one AHL game for the Belleville Senators during his PTO. During it, he allowed six goals on 28 shots in an overtime loss to the Sabres' AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans. 

Reimer will now be looking to provide the Senators' goaltending with a bit of a boost. Fellow former Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark is currently on a leave of absence, while Leevi Meralainen has struggled. As a result, it is understandable that the Senators have brought in Reimer for more insurance. 

In 22 games this past season with the Sabres, Reimer had a 10-8-2 record, a 2.90 goals-against average, a .901 save percentage, and one shutout.

The NHL has celebrated the remarkable career of Sergei Fedorov, highlighting his dazzling dekes, acrobatic goals, and jaw-dropping no-look passes that left fans and defenders alike in awe. As Hockeytown prepares to honor Fedorov by retiring his iconic No. 91, we take a closer look back at some of the greatest moments that defined his storied career. Moments that showcased not only his incredible skill, but also his intelligence, versatility, and sheer impact on the game of hockey.

Through‑the‑Legs Assist to Kozlov vs. Sharks

One of Fedorov’s most memorable highlight‑reel plays came early in his career against the San Jose Sharks when he made an improvised through‑the‑legs pass to teammate Vyacheslav Kozlov on the rush. Instead of shooting, Fedorov manipulated the puck between his own skates and threaded it to Kozlov for a goal, a play that instantly made highlight reels and showed off his elite puck control and vision that helped redefine offensive creativity in the NHL.

Game‑Winning Playoff Goal vs. Rangers (Capitals)

After leaving Detroit and joining the Washington Capitals, Fedorov delivered one of his most dramatic clutch goals in a playoff series against the New York Rangers. In Game 7, with the series on the line, Fedorov fired a quick wrister over Henrik Lundqvist’s shoulder late in the third period to give Washington a decisive lead. This goal became one of the defining moments of his later career, demonstrating that even after leaving Detroit he could still produce at the highest level in critical playoff situations.

Bardown Goal vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

In a classic Original Six rivalry, Fedorov put on a show against the Toronto Maple Leafs when he executed a sharp deke that left a Leafs defenseman on the ice, then cut to the net and fired a bardown shot. The goal stood out not only for the finish itself but for the confidence and skill he displayed in tight traffic against a tough divisional rival, adding to his legacy as one of the most skilled forwards of his era.

Fake Slap Shot, Clever Goal vs. Phoenix Coyotes

Fedorov’s hockey IQ shone in a matchup with the Phoenix Coyotes when he faked a slap shot from the point, causing the goalie and defenders to react prematurely, then pulled the puck back and slid a low shot along the ice and into the net. This kind of deception and precision was a hallmark of Fedorov’s game, blending patience with execution.

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Breakaway Finish vs. Dallas Stars

Fedorov turned transition hockey into highlight material when he stole the puck from a Dallas Stars defender and went in alone on net. As goalie Artūrs Irbe charged to disrupt the play, Fedorov deftly pulled the puck across and slid it into the open net. This goal captured his elite speed and breakaway knack, often turning defensive plays into instant offense.

Ice‑Slide Goal vs. Colorado Avalanche

During the Red Wings’ 70th anniversary season, Fedorov delivered a memorable goal against the Colorado Avalanche. After receiving a pass in the low slot, he was tripped up mid‑play but still managed to finish the scoring attempt while sliding on the ice, batting the puck in despite the awkward angle. The goal captured his relentlessness, competitive fire, and ability to finish even when plays broke down.

Coast‑to‑Coast Goal vs. Ottawa Senators

One of Fedorov’s most electrifying solo efforts came versus the Ottawa Senators when he took the puck in his own zone and skated it coast to coast, beating multiple defenders with quick dekes before sliding the puck through the goalie’s five‑hole. Plays like this demonstrated not just speed but an uncanny ability to judge timing and space, making him a constant threat the moment he touched the puck.

One‑Handed Bat‑In vs. Vancouver Canucks

Fedorov’s hand‑eye coordination was on full display in a game against the Vancouver Canucks when he batted a puck out of mid‑air with one hand while in the slot and directed it past the goalie. While specific archived box scores for this moment are sparse, fan recollections and highlight reels have kept this play alive as one of Fedorov’s most technically impressive finishes, a goal that seemed to defy normal scoring mechanics.

Top‑Shelf Breakthrough vs. St. Louis Blues

In a dynamic attack against the St. Louis Blues, Fedorov quickly shed a defenseman, even slipping the puck through his legs, to turn a rush into a fast break. He then elevated a precise shot top shelf over the goalie’s glove, highlighting his combination of speed, stickhandling, and shot accuracy. Goals of this type were common from Fedorov during his prime, which helped him become one of the league’s most feared scoring threats.

Five‑Goal Night and Overtime Winner vs. Washington Capitals (December 26, 1996)

Fedorov’s defining moment came on December 26, 1996, when he scored all five goals for the Detroit Red Wings in a 5‑4 overtime victory over the Washington Capitals at Joe Louis Arena. He became the first player in NHL history to score every goal for his team in a game in which at least five goals were scored, a feat that stood as one of the most remarkable individual performances in league history.

After tallying four goals in regulation, he capped the night by scoring the overtime winner at 2:39 of OT on a wrist shot from between the circles, assisted by Vladimir Konstantinov. The performance was the second‑highest individual goal total in a game by a Red Wing and remains one of the franchise’s most iconic single‑game efforts.

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Former Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender James Reimer is officially an Ottawa Senator after playing just one game with the AHL's Belleville Senators on a professional tryout.

The veteran goaltender signed a one-year, $850,000 deal (which'll end after this season) with the Senators on Monday morning. It comes one day after his game with Belleville, where he allowed six goals on 28 shots in a loss to the Rochester Americans.

Reimer joins the Senators as they're without their number-one goaltender, Linus Ullmark, who's been on a personal leave of absence from the team since Dec. 28.

Before joining AHL Belleville, Reimer played for Team Canada at the Spengler Cup. He finished the tournament with a 1-1 record and a .906 save percentage in two games, with Canada being eliminated in the quarterfinals by Sparta Prague.

Reimer initially participated in training camp with the Maple Leafs last fall, signing a PTO after Joseph Woll left the team on a personal leave of absence.

"I haven't had that much fun in a long time. It's been a special experience to be back here," Reimer said one day after signing his PTO with the Maple Leafs. "A lot of memories and a lot of good emotions. And really enjoying the moment and just enjoying being back. It's a lot of fun."

Reimer inked the PTO with Toronto on Sept. 26 and played just half a preseason game, on Oct. 4 against the Detroit Red Wings, before being released from the tryout on Oct. 6.

The Maple Leafs claimed Cayden Primeau off waivers from the Montreal Canadiens, meaning they didn't need Reimer's services anymore.

We all know the history of Reimer with Toronto, though: A 2006 fourth-round pick, who played 207 games, and finished with an 85-76-23 record, and a stellar .914 save percentage, from 2010 to 2016.

Scott Laughton's Face-Off Success Is 'A Great Weapon' As Maple Leafs Set Out On Tough Road TripIt's not just Laughton who's had success in the face-off dot this season; all of the Maple Leafs' four centers have a winning percentage above 50 percent.

The 37-year-old now finds himself with the eighth organization of his NHL career and hopes to remain at the highest level.

In 525 NHL games, split between the Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks, Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks, and Buffalo Sabres, Reimer has a 225-187-65 record and a .910 save percentage.

The Vancouver Canucks will be without their leading goal scorer on Monday. As reported by Thomas Drance of The Athletic, Kiefer Sherwood has sustained an injury and won't play against the Montréal Canadiens. Drance also reported that, as per Head Coach Adam Foote, Sherwood is listed as day-to-day, but "could miss as much as a week."

Sherwood is not just Vancouver's goal leader, but also ranks second in the NHL with hits. His absence will be significant as he plays both on the penalty kill and the power play. Sherwood has not missed a game this season and is one of five players who have skated in all 44 games this year. 

The added layer to this injury is that Sherwood's name continually comes up regarding trade rumours. The 30-year-old is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year and is projected to be traded before the March 6 deadline. Based on Foote's comments, this injury appears minor, which is a positive for the team. 

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Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Caleb Jones is getting closer to a return,

Jones, who has been injured since the end of October, was sent to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Monday for a conditioning assignment, which can last for up to two weeks. He'll get to play in some games for the Penguins' AHL affiliate since he's been out for over two months. 

Jones has played in seven games this season, compiling one point. He was signed by the Penguins as a free agent over the summer. 

Defenseman Caleb Jones has been assigned to the @WBSPenguins (AHL) on a conditioning loan. pic.twitter.com/Y5RDvQAYH8

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 12, 2026

Prior to the 2025-26 season, Jones was with the Los Angeles Kings for one season, the Colorado Avalanche for one season, the Chicago Blackhawks for two seasons, and the Edmonton Oilers for three seasons. 

Jones has played in 255 NHL games, recording 14 goals and 56 points. 

The Penguins are coming off a 1-0 loss to the Boston Bruins on Sunday and will be back in action against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday. 

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Senators GM Steve Staios announced on Monday that the team has signed goaltender James Reimer to a one-way deal for the rest of this season with an average annual value of $850,000.

The 37-year-old veteran made his debut for the organization on Sunday. He gave up six goals on 28 shots for the AHL's Belleville Senators who came away with a 6-5 overtime loss to Rochester. The hope is that Reimer can help stabilize shaky goaltending and keep the Senators from falling completely out of the race even before the Olympic break happens.

He joined the Senators for practice on Monday morning in Ottawa as they prepare for a home game against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday.

James Reimer is on the ice in Ottawa this morning after signing an NHL contract. pic.twitter.com/k8G55qxwBx

— TSN 1200 Ottawa (@TSN1200) January 12, 2026

Reimer has had a solid NHL career, playing in 525 regular season games, with a record of 225-187-65, a goals-against average of 2.89 and a save percentage of .910. He's played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, San Jose Sharks, Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks, and Buffalo Sabres. In 22 games with the Sabres last season, he went 10-8-2 with a goals-against average of 2.90 and a save percentage of .901.

Over the holidays, he got into two games for Team Canada in the Spengler Cup tournament in Davos, Switzerland. Canada fell to HC Sparta Prague 5-1 in the quarterfinals, though it was former Carleton Place Canadians goalie Connor Hughes who was chosen to play in that elimination game.

Reimer signed a PTO with the Leafs ahead of the 2025-26 season, but was released by the team in October.

With the Senators recently dealing with controversy over a false social media rumour about one of their goalies, Reimer is a goalie who arrives with some past controversy of his own. In 2023 with the San Jose Sharks, he chose not to wear a pregame warmup jersey in support of the team’s week-long “Pride Night” festivities.

With Linus Ullmark away from the team on a personal leave of absence, backup Leevi Merilainen has not shown the form he displayed last season. It's quite likely that Merilainen is sent to Belleville to get his confidence back at some point when Ullmark returns, though much will depend on how much Reimer has left in the tank.

Goaltending has been a large part of why the Senators have lost four straight and seven of their last nine games.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News - Ottawa

New York Islanders goaltending prospect Dmitry Gamzin has signed an extension with CSKA Moscow, Hockey News Hub reported on Monday.

#Isles prospect goaltender Dmitri Gamzin has signed a two-year extension with CSKA.

Contract to May 31 2028. #KHLpic.twitter.com/aOgiRKU3Cj

— Hockey News Hub (@HockeyNewsHub) January 12, 2026

Listed as a two-year extension, Gamzin's current deal runs through 2027.

The 22-year-old fourth-round pick by the Islanders in the 2024 NHL Draft has been phenomenal this season. In 26 appearances this season, he owns a 14-6-4 record, leads the KHL with a 1.71 GAA as well as a .933 SV%, and has three shutouts. 

Could we see Gamzin come over following the 2028-29 season?

Two of the NHL’s most exciting rookies will face off when the Vancouver Canucks take on the Montréal Canadiens later today. The Canucks and up-and-comer Zeev Buium are coming off an uninspired 5–0 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, with this being their sixth-straight defeat. Montréal and the NHL’s rookie points leader, Ivan Demidov, were also shut out in their last game, facing a 4–0 defeat to the Detroit Red Wings. 

When it comes to points leaders on the season, Montréal and Vancouver both rely on a couple of defencemen to collect points for the team. Lane Hutson ranks second on the Canadiens in points with eight goals and 36 assists, while Noah Dobson ranks sixth with eight goals and 20 assists. For Vancouver, Filip Hronek is tied with Elias Pettersson for first on the team with 26 points. Their next highest-scoring defenceman is Buium, who ranks eighth on the Canucks with four goals and 14 assists.  

Tonight will be an interesting matchup between two teams that were shut out in their last game. Montréal has been shut out twice within the past five games, as they also lost 2–0 to the St. Louis Blues on January 3. Between these two shutouts, however, Montréal had no issues finding the back of the net, as they scored 14 goals over the span of their three previous games. Somehow, despite being tied with the New York Rangers in shots per game with 25.9 (26th in the NHL), the Canadiens still rank within the NHL’s top-10 in overall goals-for with 149 in 45 games. 

While Montréal’s lack of shots is an issue the Canucks can try to combat, it will be hard considering that Vancouver hasn’t quite been able to generate the type of quality shots that would get them more goals. Vancouver’s goal-scoring stats have slowly started to depreciate, going from three goals scored against the Buffalo Sabres, to one against the Detroit Red Wings, to none against Toronto. In all three of these games, the Canucks surrendered five goals against. To bump their current six-game slump, Vancouver will want to take advantage of Montréal’s low-shot hockey and generate good chances of their own. 

Players To Watch: 

Zeev Buium 

Buium made his Canucks debut in electric fashion, scoring the eventual game-winner and adding an assist against the New Jersey Devils on December 14. The defenceman’s offence has cooled, as he has only registered two points since then. As a rookie, it’s not a surprise that Buium is still figuring out the NHL, especially as a defender on a team that’s been at the bottom of the standings. Regardless of whether Vancouver has been winning or not, these games will provide good experience for Buium as his NHL career progresses. With that being said, Buium’s last point came against the Boston Bruins on January 3. Tonight’s game would be a good occasion for him to provide a little more offence, especially against one of his fellow NHL rookies. 

Ivan Demidov

The NHL’s rookie scoring race has been a close battle between players like Matthew Schaefer, Beckett Sennecke, and Demidov. However, Demidov managed to pull away from the group after putting together a five-game point streak that saw him put up two points in four of these five matches. Interestingly enough, since then, he has only recorded one assist in his past five games. Like with Buium, tonight feels like the night that two of the NHL’s most prolific rookies could find the scoresheet after minor dry spells.

Vancouver Canucks (16–23–5): 

Points: 

Elias Pettersson: 11–15–26

Filip Hronek: 3–23–26

Kiefer Sherwood: 17–6–23

Jake DeBrusk: 12–10–22

Conor Garland: 7–15–22

Goaltenders: 

Thatcher Demko: 8–10–1

Kevin Lankinen: 6–11–4

Nikita Tolopilo: 2–1–0

Jiří Patera: 0–1–0

Montréal Canadiens (25–14–6): 

Points: 

Nick Suzuki: 14–34–48

Lane Hutson: 8–36–44

Cole Caufield: 21–21–42

Ivan Demidov: 10–26–36

Juraj Slafkovský: 16–19–35

Goaltenders: 

Jakub Dobeš: 13–5–3

Samuel Montembault: 8–6–1

Jacob Fowler: 4–3–2 

Game Information: 

Start time: 4:30 pm PT 

Venue: Centre Bell 

Television: Amazon Prime

Radio: Sportsnet 650

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After a disappointing outing against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night, the Montreal Canadiens will attempt to get back to their winning ways when they take on the Vancouver Canucks at the Bell Centre on Monday night. It’s been a tough season for tonight’s visitors, who are currently dead last in the standings with just 37 points. In its previous 10 games, the British Columbia outfit has a 2-6-2 record and has lost its previous three.

The Canucks have struggled all season, as evidenced by their abysmal goal differential of minus-37, second-to-last to the St. Louis Blues’ minus-47. They have often been without starting netminder Thatcher Demko, who landed back on injured reserve on Sunday because of a lower-body injury. Since trading away captain Quinn Hughes on December 13, Vancouver has a 5-6-2 record despite going on a four-game winning streak right after the deal.

Canadiens Surrender The Divisional Lead To the Red Wings
Canadiens: Suzuki Reaches Significant Milestone
Canadiens: Worrying Trend Must Be Addressed

Monday night’s tilt will be the last duel between the two sides this season, Montreal having won the first in Vancouver by a score of 4-3 with Jakub Dobes in net for the Habs and Kevin Lankinen handling the Canucks’ net. The two teams have split their last 10 meetings, but the Canadiens have won the previous three.

Neither coach has confirmed their starting netminder yet, and all three of the Canadiens' netminders were on the ice with goalie coach Eric Raymond on Sunday, even though the practice was optional. Samuel Montembeault and Jacob Fowler have split the last five starts, with the former playing two games while the latter got three. As for Dobes, he hasn’t played since January 1.

Montembeault has a 3-3-1 record against the Canucks with a 4.13 GAA and a .862 save percentage, while Dobes has won his only start against them and has a 3.00 GAA and a .903. As for Fowler, he has never taken them on.

At the other end of the ice, Lankinen has a 0-2-1 record against Montreal with a 4.08 GAA and a .838 SV. As for Nikita Tolopilo, who was recalled on an emergency basis, he has never faced Montreal and has only played six games in the NHL. He’s 3-2-0 with a 2.57 GAA and a .906 SV.

Up front, captain Nick Suzuki is the Canadiens’ most productive forward against Vancouver with 19 points in 20 games, followed by Phillip Danault with 15 points in 32 meetings and Brendan Gallagher with 14 points in 31 duels. As for sniper Cole Caufield, he has just eight points, but he got them in just nine games, while Lane Hutson has four points in just three games.

Meanwhile, Evander Kane, who has just 20 points in 43 games since the start of the season, leads the Canucks in points against the Habs with 23 points in 36 games. Tyler Myers comes in second place with 20 points in 56 games, and Jake DeBrusk wraps up the top three with 18 points in 24 games.

The game is set for 7:30 PM, and you can catch it on Amazon Prime and on RDS. Dan O’Rourke and Pierre Lambert are set to officiate, with Steve Barton and Dan Kelly acting as linesmen. Tonight’s tilt will be the first of a back-to-back for the Canadiens, who’ll be travelling to Washington after the game as they take on the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night.

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