Ivan Barbashev is having another productive season for the Vegas Golden Knights, pacing for 58 points, which would be a new high during his tenure with the team.
My Flyers vs. Golden Knights predictions expect Barbashev to build on those outputs on his home ice.
Let’s take a closer look at my NHL picks for Monday, January 19.
Flyers vs Golden Knights prediction
Flyers vs Golden Knights best bet: Ivan Barbashev Over 0.5 points (+115)
Ivan Barbashev has points in 63% of his home games compared to just 39% when playing on the road.
His numbers are even better when rested, hitting the scoresheet in 10 of 15 in Vegas after an off day, tallying 16 points in total.
He is currently riding shotgun with Jack Eichel and Mark Stone on the top line, which is a dream spot to be.
Eichel leads the Vegas Golden Knights in points, while Stone is producing at by far the highest level of his career, averaging more than 1.5 points per game.
The Golden Knights have filled the net at an unbelievably high rate with that trio on the ice. They’re averaging nearly five goals per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 play, numbers comparable to the Nathan MacKinnon-Martin Necas duo (5.25 per 60).
The Philadelphia Flyers are also dealing with goaltending issues. Starter Dan Vladar is banged up, and the Flyers have not gotten any saves without him. Even if Vladar can return, he’s not invincible.
Vladar is giving up an average of 2.82 goals per game to Top-10 scoring offenses and has won only three of 11 appearances.
Flyers vs Golden Knights same-game parlay
Stone has skated with Eichel and Barbashev for 10 games this season. He recorded multiple shots on goal in nine of them, averaging 2.9 in total.
It’s hard not to get excited about Owen Tippett right now. He has generated 3+ shots in seven straight, including twice against an excellent Lightning squad. His 5-on-5 shot volume is particularly strong, which is important as Vegas doesn’t take many penalties.
Flyers vs Golden Knights SGP
Ivan Barbashev Over 0.5 points
Mark Stone Over 1.5 shots on goal
Owen Tippett Over 2.5 shots on goal
Flyers vs Golden Knights odds
Moneyline: Flyers +170 | Golden Knights -210
Puck Line: Flyers +1.5 (-135) | Golden Knights -1.5 (+115)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+110) | Under 6.5 (-130)
Flyers vs Golden Knights trend
Ivan Barbashev has nine points over his last 10 home dates. Find more NHL betting trends for Flyers vs. Golden Knights.
How to watch Flyers vs Golden Knights
Location
T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV
Date
Monday, January 19, 2026
Puck drop
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBCSP+, SCRIPPS
Flyers vs Golden Knights 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
The Florida Panthers entered the fifth game of their six-game road trip last Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes, feeling better about their hockey after winning two straight.
When the final buzzer sounded, the only feeling was one of dread and embarrassment. The Panthers found themselves tied 1-1 early in the second period, but they went on to allow six goals in the third period, losing 9-1.
Sergei Bobrovsky was in goal for all nine goals, finishing with a .743 save percentage, turning away just 26 of the 35 shots he faced. The Panthers’ penalty kill percentage took a significant blow as they allowed four goals on five opportunities.
When the Panthers travelled to Washington to take on the Capitals, Daniil Tarasov backed the Panthers, turning away 22 of the 24 shots he faced en route to a 5-2 victory.
Although Tarasov’s numbers are significantly better than Bobrovsky’s, Tarasov is still taking on very few starts, and prior to his start against Washington, it had been five games since he last played.
The 37-year-old Bobrovsky will be back in goal tonight against the San Jose Sharks, looking to slow down Macklin Celebrini and the rest of the young, high-flying forwards the Sharks dress. The Sharks are tied for third place in the Pacific Division with 51 points and a 24-20-3 record.
The Sharks average the 16th most goals per game (3.11), 29th most shots on goal (25.3), and the fifth-best shooting percentage (12.3 percent). Bobrovsky has at times shown he is the goaltender who backstopped the Panthers to consecutive Stanley Cup wins, but his inconsistency has plagued the Panthers.
The Panthers remain in the hunt for a playoff spot, but are now four points back of a wild card spot with two teams ahead of them. They are also eight points back of third place in the Atlantic Division, with three teams ahead.
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Nathan MacKinnon leads the NHL in goals with 36, but he hasn’t scored in three straight games, tying his season-long dry spell.
My Capitals vs. Avalanche predictions expect MacKinnon to find the back of the net while leading the charge for a Colorado team looking to rebound from a pair of losses.
Let’s dive into my NHL picks for Monday, January 19.
Capitals vs Avalanche prediction
Capitals vs Avalanche best bet: Nathan MacKinnon anytime goal (+100)
Nathan MacKinnon has filled the net at an incredible pace this season, scoring at least one goal in 54% of his appearances, and 57% at home.
He has often led the charge in winning efforts, scoring in 64% of the Colorado Avalanche’s wins. That’s certainly noteworthy as the Avalanche are 19-1-3 at home and more than -200 favorites against the Washington Capitals in this game.
Also working in his favor is rest. The Avalanche have had a couple of days off, and they’ve been borderline unstoppable when that’s the case.
Colorado is 12-1-1 following 2+ days of rest. They've scored 3+ goals in all 14 games and are averaging 4.57 in that span — absurd production.
As you’d expect, MacKinnon has played a huge part in that. MacKinnon has scored in four of the last five games following two off days, potting six goals in that span.
He is the tone-setter for the Avalanche, and he’s undoubtedly licking his chops to get back out there after suffering a pair of losses in a row.
The Capitals haven’t defended all that well of late, either.
They rank 22nd in expected goals against at 5-on-5 and on the kill over the last 10 games. They’ve also played at the 10th-highest pace, which MacKinnon and the Avalanche will certainly welcome at altitude.
Capitals vs Avalanche same-game parlay
Sam Malinksi is playing a much larger role in the absence of Devon Toews, averaging just over 20 minutes spanning the past five. His numbers reflect the spike in usage, with Malinski producing 3.0 shots on 6.2 attempts per game in that span.
The Avalanche have won by 2+ goals in nine of 12 victories following at least two days off. They’ve only lost multiple games in a row two different stretches this season, and exited both of them with eight-goal performances.
Capitals vs Avalanche SGP
Nathan MacKinnon anytime goal
Sam Malinski Over 1.5 shots on goal
Avalanche -1.5
Capitals vs Avalanche odds
Moneyline: Washington +175 | Colorado -215
Puck line: Washington +1.5 (-130) | Colorado -1.5 (+110)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-105) | Under 6.5 (-115)
Capitals vs Avalanche trend
The Avalanche have covered the Puck Line in 17 of their last 25 games at home (+10.30 Units / 37% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Capitals vs. Avalanche.
How to watch Capitals vs Avalanche
Location
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Date
Monday, January 19, 2026
Puck drop
4:00 p.m. ET
TV
TNT, HBO Max
Capitals vs Avalanche 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
The Carolina Hurricanes (30-15-4) have been on fire over their last two games and they are looking to continue that level of play this afternoon at 1:30 PM against the Buffalo Sabres (26-16-5) at home.
After dominating the Florida Panthers 9-1 on Friday, including six third period goals, the Canes blew past the New Jersey Devils 4-1 on Saturday thanks to an Andrei Svechnikov hat trick. There’s a lot to be excited about as Carolina currently sits with a seven point lead atop the Metropolitan Division.
The same reigns true on the other side of this matchup, too. Ever since the firing general manager Kevyn Adams on December 15, the Sabres have completely turned things around. In that span, Buffalo has gone 12-2-1, including a seven game winning streak. The Canes and Sabres have split the season series so far, but it’s safe to say this isn’t the same Buffalo team from October and November.
Tage Thompson has led the way for the Sabres over that stretch, netting nine goals and 21 points in that span. On the year, Thompson leads Buffalo in goals and points, with 25 and 50 in 47 games. Alex Tuch and Josh Doan have been effective complimentary goal scorers, with the pair netting 17 and 15 goals this season.
On the defensive end, Rasmus Dahlin is still showing why he was the first overall pick in the 2018 draft and one of the top defenseman in the league. Dahlin has 34 points in 43 games so far this year to lead Buffalo’s defensive core.
Between the pipes, starter Alex Lyon has missed the last nine games due to injury. In 21 games this season, Lyon has posted a 2.82 GAA and .906 save percentage.
Lyon practiced on Sunday for the first time since the injury, but it should be backup Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen getting the nod this afternoon. Despite the Sabres recent surge, Luukkonen has not been strong in net, posting a 3.40 GAA to go along with a .896 save percentage over his last five games.
Getting pucks to the net and generating good offensive chances will be key to coming out on top today for Carolina.
It is not clear whether Shayne Gostisbehere will suit up today. The defenseman has missed the last two games and is still listed as day-to-day. William Carrier, who has missed the last four games due to injury, is also listed day-to-day.
In net, the most likely option looks to be Brandon Bussi, who stopped 15 of 16 shots in his last start on Friday in the 9-1 win over the Panthers. Bussi will be looking for 18th win of the year.
After winning two straight, the Canes are looking to carry their recent momentum into today’s matchup against a red-hot Sabres team.
Here’s how to catch this afternoon’s game:
Time: 1:30 PM
TV: TNT
Streaming: HBO Max
Radio: 99.9 The Fan
Odds: Hurricanes -196 Moneyline, Hurricanes -1.5 at +120
The Florida Panthers are getting one of their top forwards back in the lineup.
On Monday, the Panthers held a morning skate at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Coral Springs ahead of their matchup with the San Jose Sharks.
Injured forwards Matthew Tkachuk and Brad Marchand were both on the ice, but only Tkachuk was taking regular line rushes, skating on the right side with Evan Rodrigues and Mackie Samoskevich.
Following the skate, Tkachuk told media members in the locker room that he would in fact be making his season debut against the Sharks.
Tkachuk has not played since Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final last June when he helped the Panthers win their second straight championship.
He then underwent surgery on a torn adductor and sports hernia in July, and has been working his way back to health in the weeks and months since.
Tkachuk joined his Panthers teammates for regular practices back in December, but it took him a couple weeks to shed his non-contact jersey, and couple weeks after that for him to work his way back to game shape and get clearance from the medical staff.
We’ll have to wait and see how the Panthers make it work financially, having to fit Tkachuk’s $9.5 million AAV (average annual value) underneath the salary cap.
Remember, the start time to Monday’s matchup with San Jose was moved up an hour to 6 p.m. due to the Miami Hurricanes playing the CFP Championship Game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens at 7:30 p.m.
Photo caption: May 9, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) looks on against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period in game three of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
The Winnipeg Jets head to the Windy City this evening for a matchup with the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center.
Kyle Connor continues to play like the superstar that he is, and my Jets vs. Blackhawks predictions and NHL picks expect him to get in on the action tonight.
Jets vs Blackhawks prediction
Jets vs Blackhawks best bet: Kyle Connor Over 0.5 assists (-120)
Kyle Connor signed a mammoth $96 million contract extension before the 2025-26 campaign began, and he’s been worth every penny.
The 29-year-old has 23 goals and 33 helpers this season. While the Winnipeg Jets have been struggling, Connor is certainly doing his part.
Connor has compiled six helpers in January, and he’s logged an assist in four of his last six games. While he didn’t have a helper on Saturday against the Maple Leafs, Connor did register back-to-back assists before that contest.
The winger has dished out 15 helpers in 23 road games this season, and he dominated the Chicago Blackhawks earlier this season with a goal and two assists. He’ll keep it rolling tonight.
Jets vs Blackhawks same-game parlay
Josh Morrissey is averaging 1.76 SOG per game this season, and he’s also collected 39 points. The Calgary native has managed to go Over 1.5 shots on net in four of his last six appearances.
Alex Iaffalo has nine goals and 10 helpers for Winnipeg, and he’s done a lot of his damage in January, posting six points. He's logged a point in four straight.
The Jets have cashed the Over in 15 of their last 20 games for +9.65 units and a 44% ROI. Find more NHL betting trends for Jets vs. Blackhawks.
How to watch Jets vs Blackhawks
Location
United Center, Chicago, IL
Date
Monday, January 19, 2026
Puck drop
8:30 p.m. ET
TV
TSN3, CHSN
Jets vs Blackhawks 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
The Colorado Avalanche have accomplished a lot of firsts this season.
First team in the League to reach 70 points. First team to win 30 regular season games. First team to have multiple ten game winning streaks. First team to lose just one game in regulation on home ice.
With a win against the Washington Capitals this afternoon, the Avalanche will ensure that last statistic doesn’t change.
Colorado Avalanche (33-5-8)
The Opponent: Washington Capitals (24-19-6)
Time: 2:00 P.M. MST/4:00 P.M. EST
Watch: TNT/HBO Max, TruTV (US National Broadcast), MNMT (Washington Capitals Broadcast Area Only) SN+, NHL Centre Ice (Canadian Broadcast Areas)
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio KKSE-FM 92.5 FM
Colorado Avalanche
It took over one hundred days (one hundred and one, to be exact) for the Avalanche to suffer their first regulation loss on home ice since the start of the 2025-2026 season. The Nashville Predators, who made their final trip of the regular season to Ball Arena last Friday, secured a 7-3 victory off a four point night from former Avalanche center Ryan O’Reilly (which included his seventh career hat trick) and a three point night from captain Roman Josi. Goaltender Juuse Saros stopped 40 of 43 shots for Nashville’s third straight win, which has pushed them into contention for the last wild card spot in the Western Conference.
Head Coach Jared Bednar didn’t mince words after his team’s performance, citing “no positives” could be gained from his team’s effort against Nashville. He didn’t stop there, saying he “hated that game from start to finish”.
Pretty accurate: the Avalanche surrendered the first goal of the game right out of the gate with just thirty seconds played to O’Reilly (a bit of payback of sorts for Brent Burns scoring just fifteen seconds on Saros in the Avs’ 3-0 victory at Bridgestone Arena back on November 22), which was the beginning of a very long night for the returning Mackenzie Blackwood. Blackwood, who had missed the past six games due to injury since recording a 6-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues on New Year’s Eve, stopped 23 of 28 shots in his first action of 2026. While some of those goals that got past him could be explained away as incredibly unfortunate (Sam Girard deflecting a puck past him), or near unpreventable (O’Reilly’s point-blank redirect of Luke Evangelista’s shot through heavy traffic), there were certainly others that Blackwood surrendered (Michael Bunting’s breakaway late in the second period) that would have been nice to see him come through with a save.
While many of the Avalanche skaters certainly deserve their fair share of criticism for their performance on Friday night, Brock Nelson may be one of the few who could be spared. Nelson matched O’Reilly goal for goal in the first period and gave his teammates opportunities to build on his efforts. Unfortunately, a completely uninspired second period allowed Nashville to take control of the game. Martin Nečas’ early third period goal that pulled the Avs within one provided a blip of hope, but Nashville rolled off three goals within a 2:28 span late (including a pair of empty net goals) to put the game out of reach.
While the loss to Nashville certainly stings, and they have played the Avalanche very tough this season, it’s important to keep in mind that this was the first regulation loss on Ball Arena ice this season, and it was due to happen at some point. Had they put together a more complete game and still came out on the losing end, the loss may not taste quite so bitter.
The loss also didn’t impact the Avs’ position as the undisputed leader across the Central Division, Western Conference, and entire League standings. Factor in that Dallas has only won twice this calendar year (and lost ten of its last twelve games) and Minnesota has won just three times in January, a lopsided loss for the Avs to Nashville—the single regulation loss on home ice this entire season—seems comically light by comparison.
Nathan MacKinnon remains the League leader in goal scoring (36), and will have a chance to reclaim the League lead in overall points from Edmonton’s Connor McDavid; MacKinnon is one point behind McDavid’s 83 points for the mark. Cale Makar still leads all defensemen in points (53), but Columbus’ Zach Werenski is one point shy of tying him for that mark. Scott Wedgewood still leads the League for the lowest goals against average (2.19), and while it seems plausible for Bednar to turn to him after being idle since the Avs’ overtime loss against Toronto, he may start Blackwood to keep him working to return to form and save Wedgewood for Wednesday’s game against Anaheim.
Today’s game against Washington will be the fifth game of the seven game home stand for the Avs. Prior to splitting the season series last year, Colorado enjoyed a four game winning streak against Washington dating back to November 19, 2022.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Nečas Gavin Brindley – Brock Nelson – Valeri Nichushkin Victor Olofsson – Jack Drury – Ross Colton Zakhar Bardakov – Parker Kelly – Ivan Ivan*
Defense: Cale Makar – Sam Girard Josh Manson – Brent Burns Ilya Solovyov – Sam Malinski
Between the Pipes: Mackenzie Blackwood Scott Wedgewood
*Ivan Ivan, who was recalled from Loveland ahead of the Nashville game, was sent back down after the loss. It’s possible he could be recalled again since he played in Saturday’s Colorado Eagles game but sat out on Sunday.
Washington Capitals
Washington can also relate to the struggles of Dallas and Minnesota, having only three wins to their credit to begin the month of January. They have lost six of their previous nine games since the start of the calendar year, the most recent being a 5-2 defeat at the hands of the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on Saturday at Capital One Arena. As Brock Nelson was the primary source of offense for Colorado against Nashville, defenseman Jakob Chychrun filled that role for Washington against Florida, scoring the team’s only goals in the contest. After giving his team a 2-1 lead near the halfway mark of regulation, Florida scored four unanswered goals against goaltender Logan Thompson and never looked back.
Washington currently sits in fourth place in the Metropolitan Division, and trail the Buffalo Sabres (yes, the Buffalo Sabres) by three points for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. With today’s game marking the start of a five game road trip through the Western Conference, which includes some winnable contests against Vancouver, Calgary, and Seattle, Washington can gain some ground (or build some momentum, at least) in the wild card race before wrapping up their road swing in Detroit prior to returning to the District.
If you were asked who was leading Washington in goals, you’d probably say it was Alex Ovechkin. Incredibly, Tom Wilson leads all Capitals skaters in goals (22), just eleven shy of his career best he posted last season (33). He also leads the team in points (42), and was recently named to Team Canada’s roster for the upcoming Olympics in Italy. Wilson, however, has not played for Washington since a 3-2 shootout loss to Chicago on January 3 due to injury. As for the NHL’s all-time leading goal-scorer, Ovechkin is second in goals (20) and points (41). Defenseman John Carlson is third on the team in points (38), and leads all Washington skaters in assists (29). Chychrun is second among Washington skaters in points (35), but leads all defensemen in goals (17).
Despite losing his last three starts, Thompson ranks sixth in goals against average among goaltenders (2.38), just behind Colorado’s Blackwood (2.26). He will likely get his fourth straight start in today’s contest against the Avalanche.
Washington skated away with a 5-2 victory over Colorado in their only visit to Ball Arena last season on November 15, 2024. They wrap up the season series against Colorado at home on March 22.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Alex Ovechkin – Dylan Strome – Anthony Beauvillier Aliaksei Protas – Connor McMichael – Ryan Leonard Ivan Miroshnichenko – Nic Dowd – Ethen Frank Brandon Duhaime – Hendrix Lapierre – Brett Leason
Defense: Jakob Chychrun – John Carlson Martin Fehérváry – Matt Roy Rasmus Sandin – Trevor van Reimsdyk
Between the Pipes: Logan Thompson Charlie Lindgren
The Vancouver Canucks (16-27-5) continue their eight-game homestand on Monday when they battle the New York Islanders. These two teams met just before the holiday break, with Vancouver picking up a 4-1 win. Unfortunately for Canucks fans, they will not be able to see former captain Bo Horvat play as he is currently out of the lineup due to injury.
History could be made on Monday as Vancouver enters the game having lost 10 straight games. While the Canucks have gone 13 straight without a win, the team has never lost 11 straight games, meaning any form of defeat would be a franchise record. Even though it won't go down as the longest losing streak in franchise history as per NHL records due to two overtime losses, Monday could be the day that the organization does something it has never done before.
As for notes, Monday could be the long-awaited return of center Teddy Blueger. The 31-year-old has only played twice this season, with his last game coming on October 19, 2025. Blueger was skating on a line with Conor Garland and Liam Öhgren at practice on Sunday, which is a good indicator that he is planning to play on Monday night.
Players To Watch:
Conor Garland:
Garland is one of the hardest-working players on the team, but like Vancouver's other wingers, has struggled to score this season. The 29-year-old has seven goals in 37 games, with his last tally coming over a month ago. If the Canucks are going to snap this losing streak, Garland needs to find a way to get back on the scoresheet.
Mathew Barzal:
Mathew Barzal is once again having a strong season. The pride of Coquitlam leads the Islanders in points with 38 in 47 games and has a plus/minus of +11. Barzal is always dangerous when he plays Vancouver, as he has 19 points in 12 games against his hometown team.
Mar 26, 2025; Elmont, New York, USA; Vancouver Canucks center Teddy Blueger (53) skates into New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) during the first period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images
Vancouver Canucks (16–27–5):
Points:
Elias Pettersson: 13–16–29
Filip Hronek: 3–24–27
Kiefer Sherwood: 17–6–23
Jake DeBrusk: 12–10–22
Brock Boeser: 10–12–22
Goaltenders:
Thatcher Demko: 8–10–1
Kevin Lankinen: 6–13–4
Nikita Tolopilo: 2–3–0
Jiří Patera: 0–1–0
New York Islanders (26–17–5):
Points:
Matthew Barzal: 11-27-38
Bo Horvat: 21-12-33
Matthew Schaefer: 13-19-32
Anders Lee: 11-16-27
Simon Holmström: 12-12-24
Goaltenders:
Ilya Sorokin: 15-11-2
David Rittich: 11-6-3
Marcus Högberg: 0-0-0
Game Information:
Start time: 7:00 pm PT
Venue: Rogers Arena
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: Sportsnet 650
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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The Chicago Blackhawks have had some special players come through town over the last two decades. A lot of them helped the franchise win three Stanley Cups over a span of six seasons, creating a modern-day dynasty.
Few of those players were as special, talented, or important as Jonathan Toews. In 2010, Jonathan Toews became the youngest captain to ever hoist the Stanley Cup, and he has gone on to become one of the most legendary players in franchise history.
On Saturday night, the organization honored over 25 alumni as they honored "The Banner Years" chapter of their centennial season.
Toews was unable to be one of those players recognized, as he is still an active player in the NHL. On Monday night, he will make his first-ever visit to the United Center as a visiting player, representing the Winnipeg Jets.
The Jets are Toews' hometown team, and he signed with them last summer after a two-year hiatus from the NHL. Toews, in a recent video posted by the Jets online, talked about what this means to him.
Tomorrow. Jonathan Toews and the Jets, versus the Chicago Blackhawks.
"I'm excited to go back; it's going to be strange," Toews said. "We won championships, exceeded expectations. Nobody knew how crazy it was going to be."
Toews will get one of the warmest welcomes a player has ever received from his former team. It will be similar to the one that the crowd gave to Patrick Kane when he returned as a member of the Detroit Red Wings.
"You never really know what the reception is going to be like and how it's going to feel in the moment," Patrick Kane said of Toews' return to play against the Blackhawks. "You take guesses and kind of think about what it's going to be like. I remember I did three or four laps, and they were still cheering. I'm sure it's going to be the same for him. Maybe more."
There has been a lot of nostalgia floating around the United Center over the past few weeks with the third chapter celebrating "The Banner Years", so Toews's return couldn't have come at a better time.
Will Toews score an overtime winner like Kane did in his return? Well, anything is possible. He'd like to help his Jets keep their hot little stretch going with a win over his old team in one way or another.
For the current Blackhawks players, this is another opportunity to see the love that they can receive if they win big as members of the Blackhawks.
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This was a weird week for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and when all was said and done they walked out of it having collected four out of a possible six points in the standings. That was a very reasonable goal at the beginning, and probably the bare minimum of what they needed to do given the competition they were facing.
They very easily could have walked away with all six points if they could ever win a game in a shootout.
They also could have very easily walked away with only two points had it not been for two late 6-on-5 goals to send their games against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Columbus Blue Jackets to overtime.
Could have been better. Could have been worse. Ultimately ended up being what it needed to be. It just may have had a weird path in getting there. Which is pretty much a great description for what this entire season has been anyway.
They enter this week still holding on to a playoff position, and are in fact in the No. 3 spot in the Metropolitan Division as of Monday morning.
Now they head out west for their Western Canadian (and Pacific Northwest) road trip. The Penguins have seen all four of these teams already this season and produced some mixed results. This needs to be a redemption trip of sorts, because there are some very winnable games on the schedule this week.
The road trip begins on Monday night in Seattle against a Kraken team that already beat the Penguins on home ice earlier this season. It was part of that ugly back-to-back homestand with Minnesota that had head coach Dan Muse fuming when it was over. The Kraken are in a playoff spot, but there is not much overly impressive about how they are doing it.
They do not score goals.
They are 32nd in the NHL in 5-on-5 expected goal share, 29th in shot attempt share and rely almost exclusively on their goaltending to carry them. Given the way the Penguins have controlled possession and defended in recent weeks, they should have a good chance to slow the Kraken down. They just need to find some offense for themselves and figure out a way to solve Seattle’s goaltending.
After playing in Seattle on Monday, the Penguins have a back-to-back situation in Calgary and Edmonton on Wednesday and Thursday.
The Flames are in a very similar situation as Seattle in the sense that they do not score a lot of goals and have some increasingly poor possession numbers. They also beat the Penguins at home, winning a low-scoring game just a couple of weeks ago where the Penguins were unable to beat Devin Cooley
Calgary is also beginning its sell-off having just traded top defenseman Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday, so that is one less top-player the Penguins are going to have to face.
Thursday is going to be, by far, the toughest game of the trip. Not only because Edmonton is the best team they will face on it, but also because the Penguins will be playing the second half of a back-to-back, on the road, with travel, against a rested Oilers team.
The Oilers still have some serious depth issues beyond their top players, but their top players are still outstanding and have given the Penguins fits in recent years. They also have Zach Hyman back in the lineup and he is on an absolute tear right now offensively.
The road trip concludes on Sunday against a Vancouver Canucks team that is just simply awful. The Penguins already dominated the Canucks earlier this season on home ice, and the current roster is worse than the one the Penguins saw earlier in the year, mostly due to the fact superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes has been traded away. Vancouver enters the week having lost 10 games in a row and has very little going for it at the moment.
Given the schedule, and the way the Penguins have been playing lately, this has the potential to be a big week for the Penguins. There are three very winnable games on the schedule here, and it would be in the Penguins’ best interest to take care of business in them. This is a week where they should be able to get at least five points, and hopefully six points out of eight that are on the table.
If they can do that it would have them at a 98-point pace going into next week, which would still be an extremely strong position in the playoff race.
Here are your Pens Points for this Monday morning…
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ newest acquisition, forward Egor Chinakhov, has found early success while on a line with fellow countryman Evgeni Malkin. [Trib Live]
Injured Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson rejoined the team for practice on Sunday. He has missed the past three games with an undisclosed injury that landed him on injured reserve. [Trib Live]
The Penguins recalled forward Joona Koppanen from the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Sunday, while rookie forward Rutger McGroarty was activated and assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. [Trib Live]
News and notes from around the NHL…
A reset in the Big Apple? New York Rangers general manager Chris Drury said in a letter to fans on Friday that the team will begin the process of a “retool” this season, which likely results in the trade of players such as star forward Artemi Panarin. [ESPN]
The San Jose Sharks placed veteran defenseman Nick Leddy on waivers Sunday. [TSN]
Phil Goyette, the former NHL forward who won four Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens and became the New York Islanders’ first coach, has died at age 92. [Associated Press via ESPN]
The Calgary Flames will trade defenseman Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for defenseman Zach Whitecloud, prospect Abram Wiebe, a 2027 first-round pick and a conditional 2027 second-round pick, which will become a first if Vegas wins the Stanley Cup this year. The Flames will also retain 50% of Andersson’s salary. [Sportsnet]
The Islanders have two games left on the big seven-game trip, with tonight in Vancouver feeling like a “gotta have it” two points. With the Olympic break nearing, these next two games could be big for not only how the trip ledger balances out but also where the season heads. Dan and Mike talk about that on the latest Islanders Anxiety podcast (along with some epic Master-foe Theatre).
Tonight, it’s an opponent (16-27-5, 37 points) that is so far in the league basement, they’re even 11 points behind the “Strongly Worded Letter” Rangers.
Day to Day: Ilya Sorokin is due back in net, and it looks like Max Tsyplakov will get a chance next to Cal Ritchie and Emil Heineman, with Max Shabanov coming out. [Isles | THN]
Line shuffling for Patrick Roy is a matter of necessity. [Newsday]
The Skinny: Anders Lee’s 300th goal was the first for the Islanders since Miro Satan. [Isles]
Takeaways from the loss to the Flames: Just didn’t bear down on chances, and what-not. [Isles]
Health has been huge for Adam Pelech’s bounce-back season. [Post]
Roy isn’t worried about Cal Ritchie hitting a rookie wall. [Post]
On Isaiah George working back into form following multiple injury stints. [THN]
Catching up with Wade Dubielewicz, who’s loving life. On poke-checks, which were a massive part of his game: “I was an undersized goalie, not in the greatest physical condition either.” [Isles]
R.I.P. Phil Goyette, 92, the first coach of the Islanders who made his mark as a Cup-winning Canadien, Lady Byng-winning Blue and briefly a player with some other team. [NHL]
Elsewhere
Yesterday’s scores were few — evidently there were other sports in action? — but they included Detroit getting an OT win with Ottawa picking up the consolation point.
We have a trade: Rasmus Andersson finally gets his trade, and the Flames finally get their price, from Vegas: Zach Whitecloud, a first-rounder and a second that could become a first if Vegas wins the Cup. [NHL]
An original Knight, Whitecloud is excited to be a Flame. [Sportsnet]
Craig Conroy felt the time was right to make the deal, with Andersson saying he would not entertain sign-and-trade scenarios. [Sportsnet]
Will that trade, and the Rangers throwing in the towel, open up the trade market a bit? [Sportsnet]
Boston Bruins (28-19-2, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Dallas Stars (27-13-9, in the Central Division)
Dallas; Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: The Boston Bruins visit the Dallas Stars trying to build upon a six-game win streak.
Dallas has a 27-13-9 record overall and a 12-7-3 record in home games. The Stars rank eighth in NHL play with 160 total goals (averaging 3.3 per game).
Boston has an 11-11-1 record on the road and a 28-19-2 record overall. The Bruins have a +13 scoring differential, with 162 total goals scored and 149 given up.
The matchup Tuesday is the first meeting this season between the two clubs.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jason Robertson has 27 goals and 29 assists for the Stars. Wyatt Johnston has five goals and three assists over the past 10 games.
Morgan Geekie has 25 goals and 17 assists for the Bruins. Marat Khusnutdinov has six goals and four assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Stars: 2-6-2, averaging 2.4 goals, 3.8 assists, 3.7 penalties and 7.7 penalty minutes while giving up 3.2 goals per game.
Bruins: 8-1-1, averaging 4.1 goals, 7.6 assists, 4.4 penalties and 13.2 penalty minutes while giving up 1.9 goals per game.
INJURIES: Stars: None listed.
Bruins: None listed.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
As part of what was a busy offseason for the Detroit Red Wings, they signed veteran James van Riemsdyk to a one-year contract not long after trading Vladimir Tarasenko to the Minnesota Wild.
While van Riemsdyk missed all of Training Camp and the pre-season because of a family matter and got off to a slower start than he would have liked, he has more than made up for lost time.
van Riemsdyk scored a spectacular between-the-legs goal during Sunday evening's 4-3 overtime victory over the Ottawa Senators, his 13th tally of the season and 10th since the start of December.
The Middletown Township, New Jersey native was the second overall pick in the 2007 NHL Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers, one pick behind his future Red Wings teammate Patrick Kane, who went first overall to the Chicago Blackhawks.
While van Riemsdyk's family has spent the majority of their time in Minnesota so far during his tenure in Detroit, several of them were able to make the trip to Michigan for Sunday's game.
"Tonight, I was fortunate enough to have my family, my oldest three kids, my wife and father-in-law here," he explained afterward. "Those kind of games become more special when you spend a lot of time away from them."
Having a dad who plays professional hockey for the Red Wings comes with a few built-in perks for the van Riemsdyk kids.
"They've been to a couple (games) this year, I'll go see them now and I'm sure they'll be fired up to come into the locker room and have some snacks," he said with a grin.
The NHL veteran has already played for two other Original Six clubs in the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins, and he's got nothing but good things to say about his experience so far with the Red Wings.
"As far as the hockey component and how i've been treated, I can't say enough good things about it," he said of his experience in Detroit. "I've really enjoyed it."
Not only is van Riemsdyk loving his time in Detroit, the Red Wings are reaping major benefits from having him on the team.
So far, he's proven to be one of the most underrated contract signings of the offseason.
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VANCOUVER, British Columbia — When Patrick Roy put on the tape of Max Tsyplakov as a KHL player, he saw a markedly different player than the one who’s been struggling to keep his spot in the lineup with the Islanders.
“He was a power forward. A guy that would brings pucks to the net, a guy that played really well defensively,” Roy said after the Islanders practiced Sunday. “So to me, that’s his DNA. And I want him to play his game.”
Tsyplakov will get another chance to do so Monday night against the Canucks as he reenters the Islanders lineup with Max Shabanov drawing out. He’ll play on the second line with Cal Ritchie and Emil Heineman, which should in theory give him a good opportunity to show off those skills.
“[They’re] guys who have really good speed,” Tsyplakov told The Post. “And Heiny has a good shot and Ritchie, good speed, can make a good shot. I just need to work hard, make it my job down low in the O-zone. Be good on the half-wall in the D-zone, just break out [the puck].”
New York Islanders right wing Maxim Tsyplakov (7) tries a wrap around shot on Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) in the third period at Grand Casino Arena. Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
Roy took a diplomatic tack when asked about Shabanov’s recent play, but the winger has struggled of late. He’s gone five games without a point and has just one goal in his last 26.
“I thought he played OK in his games,” Roy said. “Sometimes you just try different things.”
Tsyplakov has struggled to gain traction this season, and has played just four times since Dec. 9 as a result.
“It’s tough,” Tsyplakov said. “Just need to try to be positive. Practice, work hard, get the chance and use the chance.”
Phil Goyette, a four-time Stanley Cup winner with the Canadiens and the first head coach of the Islanders, died at age 92 on Sunday, the Canadiens announced in a statement.
Goyette, who played seven seasons with the Rangers, including with the 1972 team that lost to the Bruins in the Cup Final, went 6-40-4 as the coach of the expansion Islanders before Earl Ingarfield took over behind the bench.
The Canadiens did not provide a cause of death in their statement, but said that Goyette’s family “would like to thank the public for their wishes of sympathy.”
Ilya Sorokin will start in goal for the Islanders on Monday against the Canucks.
