Category: NHL

Nathan MacKinnon leads the NHL in scoring by a healthy margin, sitting four goals clear of Connor McDavid and eight ahead of the closest player beyond No. 97.

MacKinnon has gone a little quiet of late, but my Avalanche vs. Red Wings predictions see him snapping out of his funk in this matchup.

Let’s break down my NHL picks for Saturday, January 31.

Avalanche vs Red Wings prediction

Avalanche vs Red Wings best bet: Nathan MacKinnon anytime goal (-120)

Nathan MacKinnon hasn’t scored in five consecutive games, his longest stretch of the season. This is a sneaky good spot to get back on track.

The Detroit Red Wings are without Simon Edvinsson, who plays on their matchup pairing alongside Moritz Seider. Jacob Benard-Docker has filled in effectively thus far, but he’s not the same level of player as Edvinsson.

Not having all hands on deck against MacKinnon could be problematic.

Detroit is also allowing a lot of slot shots. They rank 29th in defending the slot over the past 10 games. That happens to be the area MacKinnon shoots from most frequently — and it isn’t close.

The Red Wings also rank Bottom 10 in PK% their last 10 games. They should make it easier for the Avalanche — who have surprisingly struggled on the power play — to find a goal.

While John Gibson has performed well for the Wings between the pipes, he has still had a tough time going up in class. Gibson has given up at least three goals in seven of his last nine games against Top 10 scoring offenses.

The Colorado Avalanche should score a few in this spot, and I like one to come off MacKinnon’s stick.

Avalanche vs Red Wings same-game parlay

Martin Necas has 40 assists through 52 games, putting him on pace to shatter his previous high of 43. Playing with MacKinnon at 5-on-5 and on the power play, Necas shares the ice more with him than anybody. He’s the most likely candidate to set him up for a goal.

The Avalanche haven’t played their best hockey of late, yet 11 of their past 13 wins following a day off have come by multiple goals.

Avalanche vs Red Wings SGP

• Nathan MacKinnon anytime goal
• Martin Necas Over 0.5 assists
• Avalanche -1.5

Avalanche vs Red Wings odds

• Moneyline: Colorado -145 | Detroit +125
• Puck line: Colorado -1.5 (+160) | Detroit +1.5 (-190)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-110) | Under 6.5 (-110)

Avalanche vs Red Wings trend

Nathan MacKinnon has scored in five of his past six games against Detroit. Find more NHL betting trends for Avalanche vs. Red Wings.

How to watch Avalanche vs Red Wings

Avalanche vs Red Wings latest injuries

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

The Calgary Flames will welcome Macklin Celebrini and the San Jose Sharks to Scotiabank Saddledome this afternoon, with puck drop scheduled for 4:00 p.m. ET. 

Jonathan Huberdeau has been creating chances lately, and I’m eyeing him to keep it up in my Sharks vs. Flames predictions. 

Read more in my NHL picks for Saturday, January 31.

Sharks vs Flames prediction

Sharks vs Flames best bet: Jonathan Huberdeau Over 1.5 shots on goal (-140)

Jonathan Huberdeau is having a respectable campaign for the struggling Calgary Flames, collecting a total of 23 points. He’s averaged 1.70 shots on goal per contest, and has picked it up as of late. 

The Quebec native has hit the Over in shots on target in four consecutive appearances. Across his last two games, Huberdeau has nine SOG alone. On Thursday, Huberdeau tallied four shots on net against the Wild. 

Last Sunday, he also had five SOG. Three of his last four games where he cashed the Over were at home as well, and the San Jose Sharks are 30th in the NHL in shots allowed. 

Sharks vs Flames same-game parlay

Huberdeau had six points in four meetings with San Jose in the 2024-25 campaign. 

Morgan Frost has scored 11 goals for Calgary in 2025-26, and he’s netted three times in January.

Sharks vs Flames SGP

• Jonathan Huberdeau Over 1.5 shots on goal
• Jonathan Huberdeau Over 0.5 points
• Morgan Frost anytime goal 

Sharks vs Flames odds

• Moneyline: Sharks -110 | Flames -110
• Puck Line: Sharks +1.5 | Flames -1.5
• Over/Under: Over 6 | Under 6

Sharks vs Flames trend

The Flames have covered the Puck Line in 17 of their last 25 games at home (+13.20 Units / 32% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Sharks vs. Flames.

How to watch Sharks vs Flames

Sharks vs Flames latest injuries

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

They often say that the third time’s the charm, and the Montreal Canadiens will be hoping that’s the case for them when they take on the Buffalo Sabres for the third time in as many weeks. Lindy Ruff’s men won the first duel 5-3 in Buffalo and the second 4-2 in Montreal. Jacob Fowler was in the net for the first, and Samuel Montembeault got the net for the second.

The Canadiens didn’t practice yesterday as they were travelling to Buffalo, so Martin St-Louis has yet to confirm his starting netminder, but considering Jakub Dobes convincingly won his last two games, it would make sense to give him the net for this must-win game. The Czech netminder has not lost in regulation since December 9 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He has won his last five games and seven out of his previous nine tilts. He has taken on the Sabres twice in his career and is 2-0-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage. Meanwhile, Samuel Montembeault has a 5-6-0 record against the hosts with a 3.04 GAA and a .900 SV.

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At the other end of the ice, Ruff has not confirmed his starter either, but in the Sabres’ win over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday, Alex Lyon broke a franchise record by winning his 10th consecutive game. Given the importance of Saturday night’s tilt, it would be shocking if he wasn’t between the pipes. He has a 4-3-0 record against the Habs with a 3.14 GAA and a .883 SV. The Sabres currently have two other goalies on the roster, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Colten Ellis. The former has a 2-2-0 record against Montreal with a 3.95 GAA and a .871 SV, while the latter has a 1-0-0 record with a 3.01 GAA and a .870 SV.

Up front, Nick Suzuki is the Canadiens’ most productive player against Buffalo with 24 points in just 20 games. Brendan Gallagher also has 24 points, but in 46 games. Cole Caufield completes the top three with 13 points in just 17 games. The sniper was held off the scoresheet in the 7-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday, putting an end to his six-game goal-scoring streak. However, Mike Matheson is on a six-game point streak with six assists in as many games.

Meanwhile, the Habs will need to find a way to contain the Sabres’ first line if they want to have any hope of winning. Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch and Zach Benson have been a thorn in the Canadiens’ side this season so far. Thompson leads his team in points against the visitors with 22 points in 19 games, followed by Rasmus Dahlin, who has 20 points in 23 games, and Tuch completes the top three with 19 points in 21 games. The latter scored a hat trick in the Sabres’ last game and has five goals in his previous three games.

Tonight’s winner will take sole possession of third place in the Atlantic Division, which the Sabres currently hold. Both teams have 67 points (just like the Boston Bruins), but Buffalo has only played 53 games while Montreal has played 54 and Boston 55.

The Sabres might have won the last two duels, but the Canadiens have won six of the previous 10 duels. Buffalo has won its last five games and is 7-2- 1 in their previous 10 matches. Meanwhile, the Canadiens have won their last two games and are 5-4-1 in their previous 10.

The game is set for 7:00 PM, and you can catch it on TVA Sports, City TV and Sportsnet East. Francis Charron and Kendrick Nicholson will be the referees. James Tobias and Mark Shewchyk will be the linemen. This is the Canadiens’ second-to-last game before the Olympic break. The Habs will head to Minnesota on Sunday, where they’ll take on the Wild on Monday night before meeting the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday night. Then Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovsky, Oliver Kapanen, and Alexandre Texier will all head to Italy for the games, while their teammates will get 12 days off with practices set to resume in Brossard on February 17.

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The Winnipeg Jets and Florida Panthers face off for the second time in 10 days following a tight 2-1 shootout win for the back-to-back Stanley Cup champs in their first meeting.

Despite a low-scoring battle last time, I’m expecting a different story with plenty of goals this time around. I’ll break down why I’m on the Over in my Jets vs. Panthers predictions and NHL picks for Saturday, January 31.

Jets vs Panthers prediction

Jets vs Panthers best bet: Over 5.5 (-130)

It’s no secret that the Winnipeg Jets have suffered from subpar goaltending this season.

Winnipeg owns an .896 team SV% (18th), while reigning Hart and Vezina Trophy winner, Connor Hellebuyck, is carrying just a .902 SV% himself.

That’s translated to the Jets allowing more than three goals per game this season and cashing the Over in 59.6% of their contests — the sixth-highest rate in the NHL.

The Florida Panthers have a reputation as a defensive juggernaut, but the reigning back-to-back Stanley Cup champions have not been the same team this season.

The Cats are giving up 3.57 GPG since the calendar flipped to 2026 — the sixth-worst mark in the league over that span. Florida has also cashed the Over in 58.5% of its games this season.

Both teams give up a lot of goals. Give me the Over this afternoon.

Jets vs Panthers same-game parlay

Josh Morrissey is having another productive season despite the Jets’ struggles.

Morrissey ranks among the Top 10 in points among blueliners and has excelled at getting pucks on net. The Jets defenseman has Over 1.5 shots on goal in five of his last six games.

Mark Scheifele has been hot to start the new year with a team-leading eight goals in 15 games. The Jets center has four goals in his last six road contests. 

Jets vs Panthers SGP

• Over 5.5
• Josh Morrissey Over 1.5 shots on goal
• Mark Scheifele anytime goal

Jets vs Panthers odds

• Moneyline: Jets +128 | Panthers -154
• Puck Line: Jets +1.5 | Panthers -1.5
• Over/Under: Over 6 | Under 6

Jets vs Panthers trend

The Jets have hit the Over in 10 of their last 15 games (+5.80 Units / 35% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Jets vs. Panthers.

How to watch Jets vs Panthers

Jets vs Panthers latest injuries

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

Many have wondered how the Colorado Avalanche would handle adversity after such a prolonged run of unrivaled success to start this season.

Adversity came in spades throughout January, but the Avalanche have one more chance to finish the month on a positive note, but they’ll have to do it against their longtime (and much improved) rival, the Detroit Red Wings.

Colorado Avalanche

Today’s game is the final game of a four game road trip, and the first of a home and home series with Detroit, who will fly out to Denver to wrap up the season series against the Avalanche on Monday night at Ball Arena. The Avalanche are coming off consecutive losses to the Ottawa Senators and Montréal Canadiens in consecutive nights, losing both games by a combined score of 12-5. The Avs looked limp and lifeless as Ottawa shelled Mackenzie Blackwood for five goals on Wednesday night, and Scott Wedgewood fared worse as Montréal pumped seven goals—including two from behind the goal line—behind him on Thursday.

Despite feeling his team put together a more competitive effort against Montréal than what they showed in Ottawa, head coach Jared Bednar noted the struggles that his team is having on both ends of the ice. “We’re having trouble putting the puck in the net; we’re having trouble keeping it out of our net right now, too […] It’s kind of tough sledding for us right now, but we’ve got to be a little better in some areas again than we were tonight.”

Brock Nelson has continued to shine bright for the Avs in the goal scoring department, scoring four goals in his last three games. His 28 goals rank second to League leader Nathan MacKinnon (38), and his 47 points are good for fourth place on the team. MacKinnon, however, has not scored a goal since January 19 against Washington. The goal scoring drought isn’t limited to just MacKinnon; Martin Nečas hasn’t scored since January 12 against Toronto.

When asked about the lack of production from both MacKinnon and Martin Nečas, Bednar said, “It’s not like they’re not doing some good things, because they did. They’re creating some chances; they’re not scoring on them like they normally would, right? Part of it is that, you’re going to finish off some of the chances, so I think they fall into that category.”

Currently, the Avs sport a 5-6-2 record for the month of January. Without a win today, the Avs will finish with a sub-500 record for a given calendar month since going 5-6-0 in October 2024. Despite their struggles this month, they still remain the undisputed leader across the Central Division, Western Conference, and League standings. With three games remaining on their schedule before the Olympic break, they’re not in any danger of losing much ground to the third second place Minnesota Wild or the Dallas Stars prior to heading to Italy.

The Avs have won three of their last four regular season games against Detroit, including the most recent matchup on March 25, 2025, by a 5-2 decision.

Projected Lineup

Forwards:
Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Nečas
Victor Olofsson – Brock Nelson – Valeri Nichushkin
Ross Colton – Jack Drury – Gavin Brindley
Zakhar Bardakov – Parker Kelly – Joel Kiviranta

Defense:
Sam Malinski – Cale Makar
Josh Manson – Brent Burns
Keaton Middleton – Sam Girard

Between the Pipes:
Mackenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood

Detroit Red Wings

Detroit currently sits in second place in the Atlantic Division standings, just two points shy of the first place Tampa Bay Lightning. Given the packed standings in the Eastern Conference, a playoff spot isn’t guaranteed at this point in the season, but Detroit’s chances of seeing their first playoff berth in nine seasons is looking more and more likely. With the franchise currently celebrating its centennial season, a return to the postseason would be a noteworthy accomplishment to commemorate the occasion.

Detroit has fared better than Colorado throughout the month of January overall, going 6-2-2 in their previous ten games. However, Detroit has lost two of their current three game home stand at Little Caesars Arena, losing 3-1 to the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday evening, and a 4-3 shootout loss to the Washington Capitals on Thursday. Despite the loss, right winger Patrick Kane recorded his 1,375 point of his career to become the highest scoring American-born player in the NHL, surpassing one-time former Red Wing Mike Modano.

Alex DeBrincat currently leads Detroit in goals (30), and is one point shy of the team lead in overall points behind Lucas Raymond (58). Raymond also leads the team in assists (40). Team captain Dylan Larkin ranks second on the team behind DeBrincat in goals (25) and third in points (48).

Goaltender John Gibson, who was acquired from the Anaheim Ducks during the offseason, is enjoying a bit of a renaissance in his first full season with Detroit. He currently has 21 wins on the season, the most he’s had since the 2018-2019 season (26), and setting a new career high in wins (Gibson won 31 games during the 2017-2018 season) isn’t out of the question, but if Detroit has its sights set on the postseason, Gibson’s career best will have to come this spring.

Detroit’s last victory over Colorado came on February 22, 2024, a 2-1 victory on an overtime goal from Kane.

Projected Lineup

Forwards:
Marco Kasper – Dylan Larkin – Lucas Raymond
Alex DeBrincat – Andrew Copp – Patrick Kane
Emmitt Finnie – J.T. Compher – James van Riemsdyk
Elmer Söderblom – Michael Rasmussen – Mason Appleton

Defense:
Jacob Bernard-Docker – Moritz Seider
Axel Sandin-Pellikka – Ben Chiarot
Albert Johansson – Travis Hamonic

Between the Pipes:
John Gibson
Cam Talbot

Something amazing is happening over the next several days in Sunrise.

When the Florida Panthers host the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday afternoon, it will be the start of something that hasn’t been seen in South Florida for quite some time.

For the first time in a month, the Panthers will be hosting an actual, real life homestand.

Even better, they won’t have to play any back-to-back sets! It’s truly like Christmas in July for the Panthers.

All joking aside, it will be nice for the Cats to have some stability in their lives for a couple weeks.

The only road game the Panthers will play between now and March is on Feb. 5 against Tampa, which also happens to be the last game Florida will play for the NHL breaks for the Winter Olympics.

Now the important next step for Florida will be to resume winning games on home ice.

Saturday’s game on Winnipeg, which comes on Jan. 31, will be the fifth home game of the month for the Panthers, including the Winter Classic that was planed at loanDepot park in Miami.

Florida has won just once on home ice this month, all the way back on Jan. 4 against Colorado.

Getting back on the right track and picking up some crucial points in the standings will go a long way toward Florida climbing back into striking distance of a playoff race.

Entering play Saturday, Florida’s 59 points is eight points back of Boston and Montreal, who are tied for the two Wild Card spots in the Eastern Conference, and Buffalo, who hold the third spot in the Atlantic Division.

Florida has two games in hand on the Bruins, one on Montreal and the same amount of games played as Buffalo.

Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Saturday’s matchup against Winnipeg:

Carter Verhaeghe – Evan Rodrigues – Sam Reinhart

Sandis Vilmanis– Sam Bennett – Matthew Tkachuk

Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Mackie Samoskevich

A.J. Greer – Cole Schwindt – Luke Kunin

Gus Forsling – Aaron Ekblad

Niko Mikkola – Uvis Balinskis

Tobias Bjornfot – Jeff Petry

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Photo caption: Jan 22, 2026; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) shoots wide of Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) in overtime at Canada Life Centre. (James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images)

Who: New York Rangers (22-27-6, 50 points, 8th place Metropolitan Division) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (27-14-11, 65 points, 2nd place Metropolitan Division)

When: 3:30 p.m. ET

How to Watch: National broadcast on ABC

Pens’ Path Ahead: The Penguins have a busy next few days heading into the Olympic break. The Pens have a back-to-back set next Monday and Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators at home and New York Islanders on the road, then get one day off before wrapping up this portion of the season with a Thursday road game against the Buffalo Sabres.

Opponent Track: It hasn’t gone as former Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan was likely hoping for his first year in Manhattan. The Rangers are reportedly sitting Artemi Panarin in case of a potential trade. They’ve waved the white flag with a Jan. 16 letter to fans. They’re 3-9-1 since the start of the calendar year, they’ve sunk down to bottom of the Eastern Conference and Tankathon currently gives them the fourth-best odds at the first overall draft pick this spring. They most recently dropped a 2-1 home loss to the New York Islanders on Thursday.

Season Series: The Pens and Rangers met twice early in the season, with the Penguins shutting the Rangers out 3-0 at Madison Square Garden to kick off the campaign before losing 6-1 at home four days later.

JT Miller was asked what more the Rangers can do:

"At some point, it's hard to come up with answers other than put the puck in the net more often. I think we all believe if you do the same thing a lot more times than you don't, you'll get the results" pic.twitter.com/a4FRucnPvF

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) January 30, 2026

Hidden stat: The Rangers just went 0-4-0 against the Islanders in their cross-city rivalry. This marked the first time in franchise history the Rangers never held a lead in the season series, per The Athletic’s Peter Baugh.

Getting to know the Rangers

Projected lines

FORWARDS

J.T. Miller – Mika Zibanejad – Gabriel Perreault

Will Cuylle – Vincent Trocheck – Alexis Lafrenière

Brennan Othmann – Noah Laba – Taylor Raddysh

Brett Berard – Sam Carrick – Matt Remde

DEFENSEMEN

Vladislav Gavrikov / Braden Schneider

Matthew Robertson / Will Borgen

Urho Vaakanainen / Scott Morrow

Goalies: Jonathan Quick, Spencer Martin

Potential scratches: Artemi Panarin (roster management), Jonny Brodzinski, Connor Mackey

Injured Reserve: Conor Sheary, Adam Fox, Adam Edstrom, Igor Shesterkin

• Artemi Panarin hasn’t played since Jan. 26. He isn’t expected to slot back into the lineup before rosters freeze for the Olympic break on Feb. 4, and ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reportedly it’s “likely” he’s already skated in his final game for the Rangers.
• The Rangers lost two key players to injury earlier this month when star goaltender Igor Shesterkin and top defenseman Adam Fox were placed on injured reserve the same day. Fox was placed on LTIR, and Saturday is the first day he’s eligible to return. He returned to practice in a non-contact jersey on Wednesday.

Here’s Adam Fox pic.twitter.com/EW5EbfqkwA

— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) January 28, 2026

Season stats
via hockeydb

• With Panarin sidelined, Mika Zibanejad is the most dangerous Rangers player to look out for. He’s got goals in two straight games, although the Rangers were outscored by a total of 8-3 in those outings, and he was the lone player to score Thursday against the Islanders.
• The Rangers have been leaning on Jonathan Quick and Spencer Martin in net since Sorokin went down with injury. The two have been alternating starts for the last six games. Quick hasn’t recorded a regulation win since Nov. 7— his lone victory since then came on Jan. 26 against the Boston Bruins in overtime. He got the last start Thursday against the Islanders, so it could potentially be Martin back in net tonight.

And now for the Pens

Projected lines 

FORWARDS

Anthony Mantha – Sidney Crosby – Rickard Rakell

Egor Chinakhov – Tommy Novak – Evgeni Malkin (?)

Kevin Hayes – Ben Kindel – Justin Brazeau

Connor Dewar – Blake Lizotte – Noel Acciari

DEFENSEMEN

Parker Wotherspoon / Erik Karlsson

Brett Kulak / Kris Letang (?)

Ilya Solovyov / Ryan Shea

Goalies: Arturs Silovs and Stuart Skinner

Potential Scratches: Bryan Rust (serving the second game of his three-game suspension), Connor Clifton

IR: Ryan Graves, Filip Hallander, Caleb Jones, Jack St. Ivany

• What the Penguins’ lineup looks like today will depend on the status of Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin. The Pens announced Friday that an update was coming on both players.

Forward Evgeni Malkin and defenseman Kris Letang will not practice today. Their statuses will be updated tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/as1DAv0noI

— Penguins PR (@PenguinsPR) January 30, 2026

• If Letang and Malkin are unable to play Saturday, Kevin Hayes will likely slot in on the second line and Connor Clifton will draw in on defense, while the Penguins will hope the upcoming Olympic break gives their veterans a chance to rest up. As one player pointed out to the Tribune-Review’s Seth Rorabaugh, they are “closer to 40,” after all.

Dan Muse confirmed Letang and Malkin were absent for health-related concerns. Still being evaluated.

A teammate suggested they should be available for Saturday's game and joked they're each middle-aged.

"When you’re closer to 40, I’m sure your body aches every day." https://t.co/Vts3WfXrfq

— Seth Rorabaugh (@SethRorabaugh) January 30, 2026

• Penguins team reporter Michelle Crechiolo shared a fun article Friday about the chemistry on the Penguins this season, both in terms of the coaching staff and among the players in the locker room. That’s included Evgeni Malkin taking Arturs Silovs, Sergei Murashov, Egor Chinakhov and Ilya Solovyov out for meals, according to Crechiolo.

• Erik Karlsson will enter Saturday’s matchup one assist away from career helper No. 700.

The American television drama Heated Rivalry - about two male professional ice hockey players in a secret relationship - has become the first viral show of 2026.

For most viewers, it is entertainment to be talked about at work or online. For Jesse Kortuem, it hit deeper.

Born, raised and still living in Minneapolis, he grew up with skates on his feet and loved ice hockey - but stepped away from the sport at 17 as he felt he would not be accepted because of his sexuality.

More than two decades later, watching Heated Rivalry inspired Kortuem to come out as gay, believing it shows attitudes within the sport have shifted for the better.

His Instagram post has since gone viral, leading to a "very surreal" start to the year.

"I'm just so grateful for where my life has ended up," he tells BBC Sport. "To finally have that relief... to bring 110% of myself into the locker room. Something was speaking to me through the show - I had to let something out.

"Then that release was shared with the entire world. For the first couple of days, it was shocking, but now it is humbling - people have reached out to say it inspired them to have the conversation with their parents. I'm honestly speechless."

Kortuem played ice hockey in local leagues in Minneapolis during his teenage years, and occasionally dipped back into the amateur game as an adult.

It was not until he joined Cutting Edges, an LGBT-inclusive team who play across North America, in 2017 that he re-engaged with the sport - and it was only this year that he felt comfortable to be open about his sexuality with the wider hockey community.

Now 40, Kortuem says he had to "edit" himself in hockey - and life - to fit in.

But seeing the show, in which two athletes enter a loving relationship, stirred repressed feelings.

"I had to hide, and looking back now it was tough," he says. "It was still a place of comfort, but a place I had to edit myself.

"It was time to put a real face to what this story has done for athletes, to get it out there. And it took off!"

• Heated Rivalry: What does the show's success mean for ice hockey?

'The hockey is terrible, but they like the story'

Like many LGBTQ+ amateur athletes, Kortuem has a nagging feeling that having to repress a part of his personality stopped him being his best - and potentially cost him sporting opportunities.

But he says former team-mates getting in touch in recent weeks has helped.

"I didn't know what would happen if I disrupted the brotherhood you have in the locker room," he says. "Would I be a target?

"But I'm now at peace. I don't know where hockey could have brought me, if I would have had a career, but to have that pride on the ice, it feels like home."

Despite Heated Rivalry's overtly queer themes, the show has been embraced by the wider hockey community.

It is, of course, escapism rather than a realistic portrayal of what life would be like for a homosexual player in the American top-tier National Hockey League (NHL).

But Kortuem thinks a popular show with a positive attitude towards gay athletes can only do good.

"It really hit me and a lot of gay athletes; our whole lives we were taught it was not OK to be gay," he says.

"To see the positive reception - not only from gay people, but straight hockey fans - and watching them cheer on these queer hockey players really resonated, even if these are fictional characters who get this Cinderella story.

"Even ex-NHL players have embraced it - they say the hockey is terrible, but they like the story. It can resonate with people, and it means finally, for someone at my age, that it is a positive gay story.

"Not of heartbreak, of being beaten up, or about the Aids crisis - but an inspiring love story."

'I'd like the NHL to say they were wrong'

There are currently no active NHL players who are out as gay, though the sport does have more elite LGBTQ+ representation than many others.

In 2021, Luke Prokop became the first player contracted to an NHL club to come out as gay. The following year, Zach Sullivan, who plays for Manchester Storm in the Elite League - the top tier of UK ice hockey - revealed he was bisexual.

Women's ice hockey, meanwhile, has its own version of Heated Rivalry. Julie Chu and Caroline Ouellette were respective captains of the US and Canada Olympic teams. Since retiring, they have married and started a family.

The NHL, meanwhile, has been keen to capitalise on the popularity of the show, with commissioner Gary Bettman saying he binge-watched all six episodes in one night.

But Kortuem says "a lot of gay people" are "very hesitant" about what the NHL says.

During the 2022-23 season, the league eliminated Pride jerseys after some players refused to wear them. Bettman said shirts had become "more of a distraction" but Kortuem believes the message it sent to gay people was they were "not welcome".

In an interview with The Athletic, Bettman said: "You know what our goals, our values and our intentions are across the league, whether it's at the league level or at the club level. But we also have to respect individual choice. And part of being diverse and welcoming is understanding those differences."

Later that season, the NHL banned players from using using stick tape to express support for social causes, before reversing that decision.

"Actions speak louder than words," says Kortuem. "I would like to see the NHL say they were wrong."

Heated Rivalry itself has come in for criticism, for creating an impression that there is a secret network of gay athletes in the NHL - and some have found the explicit scenes too much to handle.

"The sex part in the first two episodes might have been a bit much," says Kortuem. "I had to tell my 77-year-old parents to stick with the whole show.

"But hopefully it opens people's minds. I wouldn't want my 12-year-old niece watching it, but for it not to be edited down speaks volume about wanting to show positive representation of a love story."

CHICAGO - The Chicago Blackhawks returned home for the second half of a back-to-back on Friday night. Chicago hosted the Columbus Blue Jackets with a chance to quickly move past their bad loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins one night prior. 

The first period looked like it was going to be scoreless as both goalies (especially Spencer Knight) were brilliant. In the final minute of the opening frame, however, the two teams exchanged goals. 

Charlie Coyle scored a power play goal at 19:13 to give the Blue Jackets a 1-0 lead. With less than three seconds remaining, Connor Bedard tied it up at 1. That 1-1 score held through the first intermission. 

In the second period, Columbus dominated the first half. They scored two goals (Charlie Coyle again and Mathieu Olivier) and outshot Chicago 7-0 to begin the middle frame.

The second half of the period is where the Blackhawks took over. They ended up getting the second period shot counter to 9-8, and one of their shots went in via Frank Nazar. Nazar desperately needed a goal, and Connor Bedard set him up for a great chance that he didn't miss. 

This 3-2 score went to the second intermission. In a game where the Blackhawks were being mostly outplayed, they were within one with one period to go. 

In the third period, the Blackhawks were the better team, but the only goal was Charlie Coyle's hat-trick marker into an empty net. Both goalies were strong in the final frame, which favored the Blue Jackets because they came in with a lead and skated away with a 4-2 victory. 

Once again, the power play was held off the board for Chicago. They are currently in a 0-26 drought as a unit after going 0/2 on Friday. One of their power plays came with under 6 minutes to go and down a goal, but they were unable get one to tie the game. It's getting to a back-breaking point of no production. 

Before the game, the Blackhawks called up Sam Rinzel from AHL Rockford. Artyom Levshunov is going to take a seat for a while, so Rinzel's chance to prove he deserves to stay is staring him in the face. 

Blackhawks Have A Plan In Place For Artyom Levshunov's DevelopmentThe Chicago Blackhawks have a plan to make sure that Artyom Levshunov continues on a positive development track.

It was a good start for Rinzel as he played a clean, safe, mistake-free game. He led all Blackhaws defensemen in time on ice with 22:18, earning ice time in all situations. 

Chicago, as mentioned before, can make a claim that they were the better team in the second half of the game, but that isn't good enough when they can't find the tying and winning goal. It will take a full 60-minute effort to get back in the win column.

Watch Every Chicago Goal

with THREE seconds left in the period 👏 pic.twitter.com/XcLWFP88xW

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 31, 2026

Friday Night 𝗙𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗞 🤩 pic.twitter.com/dLaiU64ViU

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 31, 2026

What’s Next For The Blackhawks?

The Blackhawks are back in action on Monday night. Macklin Celebrini and the San Jose Sharks will be at the United Center for a battle of two young and exciting squads. 

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

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With the NHL's Olympic roster freeze coming into effect at midnight on February 4, Winnipeg Jets' general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff should be a popular man within the league's 31 other front office staffs.

With his team currently enduring the worst season it has had in both recent and distant memory, the league's second-longest tenured GM is in a place no one expected him to be following last season's Presidents' Trophy winning campaign.

Winnipeg could become just the fifth team in NHL history to miss the postseason after finishing first the year before. But the Jets could also do something way more catastrophic: they could be competing for the first overall selection at June's 2026 NHL Draft.

Yes, things have been that bad for Winnipeg over the 2025-26 season.

And you really can't blame injuries for the significant portion of the year. Sure, Connor Hellebuyck missed three weeks with a knee injury and Dylan Samberg did not start the year until November, but those injuries pale in comparison to Winnipeg's record even with their stars in the lineup. 

The Jets are currently tied with St. Louis for the 30th spot league-wide, and despite their 6-3-2 record in their last 11 games, remain 10 points out of the final wild card spot in the Western Conference.

It's just not worth the effort to fight for that final spot only to get a first round matchup with juggernaut - and recent postseason fiend - Colorado or Dallas. 

A surge up the standings might make the typical, fair-weather Winnipeg fan happy in point production. But it's the true die-hards who will take more offence from the compounding victories.

Each point gained is a percentage point lost at the first overall selection this June.

Sure, Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg look very appealing, but at this point, one of them is Vancouver's to lose and the other will likely go to one of the teams within that bottom-five standings placement (lottery odds have not been generous to the biggest losers over the last few seasons). 

A player of McKenna's or Stenberg's caliber will immediately fix offensive issues left gaping by Nikolaj Ehlers' departure this past summer.

For Cheveldayoff and Co., the biggest need is that of the 'develop' aspect of True North's tried and true 'draft and develop' mantra.

At this point, the team may have actually lost more players than it has gained through the development stage: think Sami Niku, Rutger McGroarty, Pierre-Luc Dubois (not a draft pick), Evander Kane, Jacob Trouba, Patrik Laine - and now recently Luke Schenn, Ville Heinola and Brad Lambert? At one point Logan Stanley had event expressed his desire to leave the city. 

At this point, with the Olympic roster freeze (February 4) and the NHL's trade deadline (March 6) fast approaching, Cheveldayoff has a number of priorities on his hands.

The first is that of allowing his younger players a chance to shine.

That said, packaging up a struggling veteran forward with a more highly-regarded piece (Stanley) could be a centrepiece to Winnipeg's long-term success. 

Players considered to be more highly sought after are that of Stanley, Schenn and Cole Perfetti - all of whom could benefit from a change of scenery.

Perfetti should demand the highest return, with Stanley a close second. 

Veteran forwards Nino Niederreiter, Tanner Pearson, Gus Nyquist and Vlad Namestnikov could also be considered moveable candidates. 

They should be no-brainer 'throw-ins' to complete larger trades involving Stanley, Schenn or Perfetti that would demand significant returns on draft capital. 

With Lambert, Nikita Chibrikov, Colby Barlow, Brayden Yager, Parker Ford and Danny Zhilkin all waiting in the wings, the time is now to truly bring that 'develop' aspect to the fold. 

There is no reason to keep those young prospects in the minors. The time is now to sell the aging vets and promote the farm - Jonathan Toews aside. 

Let the losses keep piling up, shut down injured players preventatively, waive the leftovers who weren't picked up as trade bait and watch the ping pong balls stack up. 

Now is the time - to let off the throttle.

With the NHL trade deadline approaching and the playoff picture growing increasingly bleak, the Winnipeg Jets appear poised to shift into seller mode.

The Jets currently sit ten points out of a playoff spot, and the gap could widen further given a challenging upcoming schedule that features matchups against the Florida Panthers, Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens and Anaheim Ducks. As the losses have mounted, so too has speculation that Winnipeg will begin moving pieces with an eye toward the future.

That speculation gained traction this week following comments from Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman on Friday’s episode of his 32 Thoughts podcast. Friedman revealed that, according to one source, the Jets and the Detroit Red Wings have a “match” when it comes to a potential trade.

While Friedman emphasized that he was unaware of the exact framework of a possible deal, he suggested the discussions could involve defensemen Luke Schenn or Logan Stanley.

Detroit is well positioned to engage in trade talks, boasting significant draft capital and a deep prospect pool. Those assets could make it relatively easy for the Red Wings to put together a competitive offer for either Stanley or Schenn.

The Red Wings have reportedly been prioritizing players with term on the open market, but they could still have interest in Stanley, a 27-year-old blueliner who may fit their long-term plans. Should he prove to be a good fit in Detroit, the organization could look to negotiate an extension following a trade.

Regardless of whether a deal materializes with the Red Wings, the growing number of rumors around Winnipeg’s roster has created a clear sense that the Jets are preparing to pivot. With postseason hopes fading, the organization appears increasingly focused on selling at the deadline and retooling for next season rather than chasing a long-shot playoff push.

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The Montreal Canadiens picked up an impressive 7-3 win against the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night. Juraj Slafkovsky played a role in the Canadiens' win over the Avalanche, as he scored a goal and recorded an assist. 

With his two-point game, Slafkovsky now has 20 goals, 23 assists, and 43 points in 54 games this season with the Canadiens. With numbers like these, there is no question that the 21-year-old winger has taken a nice step in the right direction with his development this campaign. 

Due to his strong play this season, Slafkovsky is already nearing a new career high with February just about here. 

Slafkovsky needs to score only one more goal to hit a new career high of 21. The 2022 first-overall pick scored 20 goals in 82 games for the Canadiens during the 2023-24 season.

Slafkovsky also needs only 10 more assists and nine more points to set new career highs with those stats as well. With this, there is no question that he is having himself a nice year, and it will be interesting to see what his offensive totals are once we get to the end of the 2025-26 season. 

On Friday afternoon, the Chicago Blackhawks announced that they were calling up Sam Rinzel. He has spent a couple of months working on his game with the Rockford IceHogs, and now he's ready to jump back in and show what he's got. 

Part of this was the need to give Artyom Levshunov a break. He's been a regular in the lineup since he made his NHL debut last season, and he seems to have hit a rookie wall. Over the last 9 games, in particular, he has struggled mightily. 

Not only does he have 0 points in those games, but his defensive game has left a lot to be desired. Shutting down gaps, being smart with his stick, and proper positioning have allowed teams to walk all over him during this tough stretch. 

With Rinzel back in the lineup, Levshunov is going to be a healthy scratch against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night. He is also going to have limited playing time, if any, leading up to the Olympic break. 

Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill confirmed that they have a program for Levshunov to work on during his time off. He is going to work on three things in particular, which include shooting, playing with the puck, and his defensive game. 

"Rather than send him down and play more games, I don't think that's what he needs." Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill said. "What he needs is a chance to reset some foundational things."

All of the tools are there for Levshunov to be a high-end player in the best league in the world. He has the skating, the overall skills with the puck, and the will to win necessary to become an elite player.

Where the Blackhawks need to see improvement is in taking those talents and using them to be a winning player. If he improves on some of the skills emphasized in his new program, it should all come together. 

For a defenseman to have regular playing time in the NHL at Levshunov's age (20) is incredibly rare. It doesn't happen often. It is even more rare for there to be no struggles along the way, no matter what age they are at in their development. 

If Levshunov takes this opportunity to develop his game now with an open mind, he will come back stronger for it. 

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Leave it to Tom Willander to keep things honest. The Vancouver Canucks rookie may be in his first season with the team that drafted him 11th overall in 2023, but he’s already proving himself as a driven, strong player who knows how to keep himself accountable. 

“[It’s been] good and bad, we’ve had a rough patch, obviously,” the defenceman told The Hockey News regarding how things have gone for both himself and the Canucks as of late. “I’m having a good time still.” 

At the beginning of the 2025–26 season, Willander didn’t quite know what to expect from himself or the NHL. Having signed his entry-level contract with the Canucks back in May of 2025, the defenceman was making the hop from the NCAA to his first pro-season. With a backlog of young defencemen in Elias Pettersson and Victor Mancini, many weren’t sure whether Willander would start the season with Vancouver or whether he’d be sent to  the Abbotsford Canucks. Ultimately, he ended up spending five games in the AHL, grabbing a goal and an assist in his final couple of games. For Willander, getting those first few games was instrumental in helping him figure out how to approach the NHL. 

“I think that was huge for me, because that kind of gave me a few games in the system with having that freedom and confidence that I feel like I wouldn’t necessarily have up here. So I think that was very important, to kind of kickstart it.” 

Willander is one of two rookies to make their NHL debuts for the Canucks this season, the other being centre Braeden Cootes. The fact that Willander has stuck in the lineup is, in itself, a testament to how strong of a player he’s been this season. When you look at the NHL’s overall rookie scoring race, it’s even more impressive. He’s currently sixth in rookie defenceman scoring with three goals and 12 assists. When asked about what kind of expectations he had for himself this season, Willander kept things honest yet again. 

“I didn’t really have any. It’s easy to watch the game on the TV, but you don’t really know it until you’re in it. It’s a hard league. I think I’ve experienced that firsthand. It’s been pretty good. Now, I think [I’m] starting to feel like I’m getting into it.” 

His debut itself was something that many people probably didn’t expect until later on in the season, but a smattering of injuries in late October resulted in Vancouver calling Willander up less than a month into the regular season. Since then, the soon-to-be 21-year-old has stuck in the lineup consistently — and it doesn’t look like he’ll be leaving anytime soon. 

“I actually didn’t see myself sticking long term for that at all,” he admitted, a thought that once-again circles back to his candidness and unexpected expectations. “[I] kind of surprised myself in that a little bit, but it’s been fun.” 

Despite Vancouver’s blueline sporting its fair share of young players, the total experiences of veterans like Tyler Myers, Marcus Pettersson, and Filip Hronek comes to a total of over 2000 NHL games. The Canucks have been outspoken about how important it is to them to keep quality veterans as they prepare to transition into rebuild-mode. For Willander, these three have made a big difference in how he’s settled in and what he’s taken away from the league. 

“I think they’ve been doing a great job,” he explained. “It’s always a tight group. I think you learn a lot from watching them play. Obviously, they all have their thing that they’re very good at. I’ve played a lot with Marcus, and watching Fil and watching Myesy, you learn a lot. I think they’ve all been very good teachers in the way that they’re definitely not shy from helping and lending a helping hand.” 

As the NHL shifts into the Olympic break in February, Willander and the Canucks will be faced with many questions regarding the long-term trajectory of the team. For a player like Willander, who is finding more and more comfort with every NHL game that he tucks under his belt, the final few months of the 2025–26 season will be the time to fully iron-out his play at the NHL level. 

“I look to better myself and better my game. Obviously, it’s a solid stretch of games where I feel like there’s still a lot of experience to be gained, and I think there are a lot of parts of my game that need a lot of working on — really, all parts of my game. I see it as a great opportunity to put myself in a good spot.” 

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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Let’s be honest. The Ottawa Senators have one of the worst prospect pools in the NHL. Trading top picks in 2022 and 2023 is starting to rear its ugly head, as the cupboards are bare when it comes to high-end talent. 

But Carter Yakemchuk, the 7th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, represents the slightest glimmer of hope. He has the potential to be a top-pair offensive defenseman in the NHL if he develops properly.

Consensus seems to be that the 20-year-old needs time in the American Hockey League with the club’s affiliate team, the Belleville Senators, to work on his defensive game.

But Yakemchuk, who recently returned from an injury that kept him out of the lineup for 13 games, might actually be better served developing in the NHL.

Let me make the case.

Before diving into why the Senators should get Yakemchuk to the NHL sooner rather than later, I want to make it clear that his development is critical for the future of this roster. 

There isn’t much top-end help coming in the pipeline, but if he pans out and reaches his potential, the Senators could be set on the blueline for years to come with Jake Sanderson and Yakemchuk leading the way. 

So the pressure is on GM Steve Staios and his front office to find the right path for Yakemchuk, who was this regime’s first official draft pick.

The easy answer is patience. The organization has predicated itself on making calculated moves during Staios’ tenure, earning him the nickname Steady Steve. 

It would feel out of character for the Senators to hand the keys to Yakemchuk and let him figure things out at the NHL level, instead of being patient and letting him get reps in the AHL while adapting to playing professional hockey.

On the surface, it looks like he has struggled to start his professional career. He is a -24 on the season with 19 points in 31 games. When a player is that far in the minuses, it raises eyebrows.

But the stout defensive game that the NHL team has developed under head coach Travis Green is not quite trickling down the 416 and the 401 just yet.

Belleville is dead last in goals against in the AHL, despite having a team save percentage of .894. The BSens give up way more shots than the NHL team, which leads us back to Yakemchuk.

Is it smart for a player who has undeniable offensive talent but needs to work on his defensive game to be on a team that struggles to defend?

-24 is an ugly stat line for a rookie defenseman, but +/- needs to be taken with a grain of salt. Jake Sanderson was -14 last season, yet no Senators fan was saying he needed to work on his game defensively.

I’m not pretending I’ve seen every single shift Yakemchuk has played in Belleville. The organization is obviously monitoring him closely, given his importance to the Senators’ future.

But it’s important to remember what Yakemchuk was drafted for. He is an offensive defenseman with skills that could help the NHL team today. I look at the Senators’ quietly struggling power play, which is ranked 31st in the NHL since Christmas.

Would it be crazy to get Yakemchuk on the first power play unit right away?

Sanderson’s game has reached a new level this season, and reducing his minutes with the man advantage would allow the Senators to use him at even strength more often, and could rejuvenate that area of the Sens’ game offensively.

The power play just so happens to be where Yakemchuk has excelled in his first professional season, helping lead a top-5 power play in the AHL. Despite missing time with an injury, Yakemchuk ranks 8th in the league in power play assists, leading all rookies.

And with the way the Senators defend as a team, there might not be a better situation for a young defenseman to work on his defensive game. 

His minutes could be sheltered behind Artem Zub and Jordan Spence, who have been excellent this season and would likely see more time at even strength than Yakemchuk.

He is also a 7th overall pick from two years ago. It’s fair to assume a player drafted that high can make an impact in the NHL at a young age. 

It’s worth noting that during his midseason media availability in December, Staios said Yakemchuk would likely have been called up by that point had he not been injured.

So maybe we will see him in Ottawa sooner than we think.

The bottom line is the Senators probably need to make an upgrade on veteran defenseman Nick Jensen if they want to push for a playoff spot, and the solution might be right under their noses.

They need to take a look at Yakemchuk in the NHL before shipping out assets to acquire another right-shot defenseman.

Jack Richardson
The Hockey News - Ottawa

This article was first published at The Hockey News. Read more from The Hockey News Ottawa:

Linus Ullmark’s Former Goalie Coach Now Part Of Senators’ Coaching Picture
One-On-One With Senators Captain Brady Tkachuk
Next Level: Ridly Greig 'Does Whatever Needs To Be Done To Win'
Jake Sanderson's Blunt Goaltending Critique Hits Hard In Ottawa
Time Is Running Out For The Senators... And Steve Staios Knows It