The Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues are going to get together on Wednesday evening. Last time these two teams met, on December 12th, Connor Bedard was injured with less than one second remaining in regulation time. He hasn't played since. 

Bedard will not suit up for Chicago in this one, but Jeff Blashill said that he is day-to-day beyond this game. A return on Friday against the Washington Capitals is in the cards. 

The Blackhawks and Blues have a tied season series. The Blues won that December game 3-2. Back on October 15th, the Blackhawks won 8-3. Both of those matches were played in St. Louis. 

Scouting St. Louis

The St. Louis Blues have been better lately. They are on a two-game winning streak and are 5-4-1 in their last 10 games. At 17-18-8, they are still below NHL .500, but they are just three points below the playoff line. 

Neighbours-Thomas-Kyrou

Buchnevich-Schenn-Snuggerud

Stenberg-Dvorsky-Berggren

Toropchenko-Sundqvist-Walker

Broberg-Parayko

Tucker-Faulk

Fowler-Mailloux

Binnington

Hofer

This is a St. Louis Blues lineup that can score, defend, and win games better than their record shows. It was only a matter of time before they started to break out, and we've seen it more in recent weeks. 

Last season, the Blues had a terrible start and made it all the way back into the playoffs. They even did that in 2018-19, the year they won the Stanley Cup. Will that happen again? A win against the Blackhawks here could get them within one point of a playoff spot if everything goes their way. 

Robert Thomas is the driver for this St. Louis team. If he plays well, everyone follows. He should expect to see a heavy dosage of Chicago's top defenders. The Blackhawks' top players will frequently face Philip Broberg and Colton Parayko on the other side. 

Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago

The Chicago Blackhawks are on a three-game winning streak. They have been a much better team again following the holiday break. Like the Blues, they have played themselves back into the playoff conversation in a lowly Western Conference. 

Connor Bedard skated at practice on Tuesday and at morning skate with a regular sweater on Wednesday. Without him for what the Blackhawks hope is one last game, the lines will go as follows: 

Bertuzzi-Greene-Burakovsky

Donato-Dickinson-Mikheyev

Teravainen-Moore-Lardis

Dach-Foligno-Slaggert

Vlasic-Crevier

Kaiser-Levshunov

Grzelcyk-Murphy

Knight

Spencer Knight will be between the pipes on Wednesday. He played well in his last start, and he's looking to keep the hot hand going. Overall, this has been a great stretch for both goaltenders.

For a lot of this season, Jeff Blashill dressed 11 forwards and seven defensemen. Since Sam Rinzel's demotion to the AHL, however, the traditional 12/6 lineup has been used. Right now, with Artyom Levshunov playing so well alongside Wyatt Kaiser, this group is solid. 

Without Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar in the lineup, they've needed players to step up offensively. Andre Burakovsky, Ilya Mikheyev, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Teuvo Teravainen have done that. 

Nick Lardis has been impressive alongside Oliver Moore. Ryan Greene's game will reach a new level once he puts the puck in the net more often. His support of his line-mates and defensive game have been great otherwise. 

Overall, to the surprise of many, they have found a way to overcome their offensive woes with the players that have been healthy enough to play. The first few games without Bedard were rough, but they'v started to adjust. 

How To Watch

The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. To view this game, it can be found nationally on TNT, TruTV, and HBO Max. The puck will drop shortly after 8:30 PM CT. 

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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Seattle Kraken youngster Oscar Fisker Molgaard has been selected to Team Denmark's 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic roster. 

The 20-year-old is participating in his rookie campaign in the AHL with the Coachella Valley Firebirds. He's impressed so far, scoring six goals and 18 points in 28 games. His stellar two-way game earned him a call-up to the NHL, where he skated in two games, recording one assist. 

He has flown up the Kraken's prospect rankings and has shown consistently that he is a future NHL player.

Fisker Molgaard has plenty of experience playing with Denmark. He's represented Denmark at the World Championship three times in his career, notching two goals and 11 points in 23 games. Fisker Molgaard has also represented Denmark at the World Junior qualifying tournament and the U-18 qualifiers. He also skated in all three Olympic qualifier games last year, but failed to record any points. 

Denmark is bringing multiple NHL players, including Carolina Hurricanes' Nikolaj Ehlers and former Seattle Kraken and current Tampa Bay Lightning winger Oliver Bjorkstrand. Denmark is likely a long shot to win a medal, but they did upset Canada at the 2025 World Championship, which should give them confidence heading into the Olympics.

Denmark's Roster

Forwards:
Alexander True — JYP Jyväskylä (Liiga)
Christian Wejse — Fischtown Bremerhaven (DEL)
Frederik Storm — Kölner Haie (DEL)
Joachim Blichfeld — Tappara (Liiga)
Jonas Røndbjerg — Vegas Golden Knights (NHL)
Lars Eller — Ottawa Senators (NHL)
Mathias Bau — Herning Blue Fox (Metal Ligaen)
Mikkel Aagaard — Skellefteå AIK (SHL)
Morten Poulsen — Herning Blue Fox (Metal Ligaen)
Nick Olesen — Motor České Budějovice (Extraliga)
Nicklas Jensen — Rapperswil-Jona Lakers (NL)
Nikolaj Ehlers — Carolina Hurricanes (NHL)
Oliver Björkstrand — Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL)
Oscar Fisker Mølgaard — Seattle Kraken (NHL)
Patrick Russell — Kölner Haie (DEL)

Defenseman:
Anders Koch — Graz 99 (ICEHL)
Jesper Jensen Aabo — Klagenfurt KAC (ICEHL)
Markus Lauridsen — Pustertal HC (ICEHL)
Matias Lassen — Iserlohn Roosters (DEL)
Nicholas B. Jensen — Fischtown Bremerhaven (DEL)
Oliver Lauridsen — TPS Turku (Liiga)
Phillip Bruggisser — Fischtown Bremerhaven (DEL)

Goaltenders:
Frederik Andersen — Carolina Hurricanes (NHL)
Frederik Dichow — HV71 (SHL)
Mads Søgaard — Ottawa Senators (NHL)

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It seems like every time the Pittsburgh Penguins are on the cusp of a player returning to the lineup, another one takes his place on injured reserve. 

And, unfortunately, that pattern continues for the Penguins.

On Wednesday, the Penguins placed young forward Rutger McGroarty on injured reserve with a concussion, and the timetable for his return is indefinite at this point. This news came the day after center Evgeni Malkin returned to practice in a full capacity after missing the last month with an upper-body injury.

McGroarty was injured during practice Tuesday after colliding with a teammate during a drill.

The 21-year-old started training camp on injured reserve and missed the first month and a half of the regular season due to an upper-body injury. He spent five games in the AHL upon his return, registering four goals and seven points in five games before his return to the NHL, where he's posted two goals and three points in 16 games so far.

There is no indication yet if Malkin, 39, will return to the lineup against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday. On Wednesday, he skated on a second line as the left wing with Ben Kindel centering and Egor Chinakhov on the right side. 

Penguins Notebook: Malkin Returns To Practice, Forward Exits Early After CollisionAfter a long month, it appears the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> are close to welcoming one of their best players back to the lineup.&nbsp;

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Tuesday night offered a clear measuring stick for the Nashville Predators (19-19-4), and it wasn’t a forgiving one.

In a 6–2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers (21-16-4), Nashville was reminded how thin the margin is against teams built to contend deep into the postseason.

Connor McDavid got the scoring going for the Oilers on the power play. Per NHLStats, McDavid extended his point streak to 16 games and matched the third-longest run in his career.

Postgame: Andrew Brunette | Nashville PredatorsHead Coach Andrew Brunette speaks to the media after facing the Edmonton Oilers.

McDavid’s 15 goals during this stretch are his second most during a point streak, behind 16 during his 17-game run in 2022-23.

With the goal, McDavid recorded a point in 16 straight games against the Predators dating back to the 2018-19 season which is his second longest active streak behind the New Jersey Devils (17 GP since 2015-16).

The only other players with an active streak of as many contests against a single opponent are Leon Draisaitl (19 GP vs. Chicago Blackhawks) and Jake Guentzel (16 GP vs. Columbus Blue Jackets).

Nashville was able to show moments of pushback, particularly as the game wore on, but sustaining momentum seemed like a challenge. Too often, promising possessions ended before the Predators could establish extended offensive-zone time. Edmonton responded quickly to any pressure, resetting the pace and preventing the game from swinging back within reach.

Losses like this can serve as valuable checkpoints.

For a Nashville team fighting to remain in the Western Conference playoff picture, the game highlighted areas that need tightening.

"We have to be sharper all the way through for 60 minutes," Nashville center Ryan O'Reilly said. "We've got to reset tomorrow and get ready for our next one, but we know in this room we can be a very good team and it's sticking to our game plan."

The Predators will move on quickly, but the lesson remains. Competing with the league’s top contenders requires near-flawless detail. On Tuesday, even brief lapses were enough to turn a challenging matchup into a decisive result.

Nashville returns to Bridgestone Arena on Thursday against the New York Islanders at 7 p.m. CST after wrapping up a seven game road trip, going 4-3-0. 

The Buffalo Sabres appeared to be in good shape to rebound from the loss that ended their 10-game winning streak in Columbus on Saturday, leading the last-place Vancouver Canucks 4-1 midway through the third period, but two goals in 39 seconds narrowed the lead to just one goal and forced head coach Lindy Ruff to call a timeout to blunt the Canucks momentum. 

The Sabres successfully calmed the waters and responded with a empty netter to ice away their 11th win in the last 12 games, 5-3 over Vancouer at KeyBank Center on Tuesday night. 

Ruff spoke to the media after the game:

On the effort, the battles along the boards, and the penalty killing?

Overall, there was good stuff there, I thought some lateral plays on entries that didn't like, when we turn the pucks over, but for the most part, coming off a long road trip, getting a practice in, I thought we played pretty well.

Were you pleased with the club being comfortable when the game got close late in the third?

Yeah, we just talked about it. All I said was we've been in this position a lot of times, and we're going to be in it a lot more times. Just play our game. The system is locked in. Be ready for it.....I thought the execution after that was pretty good. (Vancouver) were putting some heat on. 

Other Sabres Stories

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

 

Were you happy for Zach Metsa being able to score his first NHL goal for the game-winner?

Anytime a guy gets his first goal, you can see his excitement. You play the game, you want to get on the board at some point, and it turns out to be a huge goal. (It was a) pretty good play, where he jumped through and and I think he just got inside (Evander) Kane for the goal and great shot.....He's defending well, I think his numbers speak for themselves

How pleased are you with where the club is through 41 games?

There's been a ton of injuries. When we walk in the dressing after the game, there's still six or seven guys standing there. We've had to kind of meander our way through starting the year, you're looking at Kulich being our #1 centerman, Norris, and both those guys being out for a long period of time. I think we've done a good job of kind of balancing that out and having guys fill in and play the game and help us win hockey games. We got ourselves on a good run. I thought the stretch were we lost a few in overtime, we played pretty well where we didn't capitalize on but just a one-game mentality, we fought ourselves into a good place at 48 points in 41 games. Usually 96 points, if you do that over the next 41 we'll get you in the playoffs.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram  @MikeInBuffalo

The midpoint of the NHL season is when we really get to evaluate teams and see their strengths and weaknesses. For the Los Angeles Kings, the halfway mark has brought a familiar feeling in years past, but this year it feels worse. 

The feeling is the same impression we've gotten from LA in the last few seasons, a competitive hockey team that finds a way to stay in the playoff mix, despite lingering question marks about whether this group can be trusted to make a deep playoff run, a feat they haven't accomplished in over a decade. 

Why Jim Hiller Is Quietly Sliding Toward The Hot Seat In Los AngelesLess than a year ago, Jim Hiller tied a franchise record for points and had the Kings playing strong night in and night out. The future was looking bright with Hiller and Los Angeles, but a year later, the Kings have one of the worst power plays and are currently out of the playoff picture.

The Kings were supposed to take the next step from a "first-round playoff exit" to legit title contenders. Even though they're coming off a recent mini-series sweep of the Minnesota Wild, who've been very good this season, Los Angeles hasn't been able to maintain a consistent culture of winning games. 

Los Angeles still remains in pole position to make the postseason, but sitting in fifth place, the race for a playoff spot remains tough in a loaded Western Conference with no margin of error. What follows next is a midseason report card, grading where the Kings stand now and where they'll most likely end this spring. 

Overall Grade: C

This isn't a bad hockey game, but it's also not a convincing one that should give fans hope of a deep playoff run this season. The Kings have hovered around the bottom part of playoff positioning despite stretches of inconsistent play, blown leads, and no effort at times, failing to gain separation in the standings. 

At the halfway point, the Kings look like a significantly below-average team that is worse than their record suggests, and one capable of making the postseason and going home early again. 

Offense: C +

On paper, when you look at this Kings roster, they have a plethora of players that are capable of scoring, including Adrian Kempe, Quinton Byfield, Corey Perry, Kevin Fiala, etc. Still, the offense ranks near the bottom in goals scored and shooting percentage, despite generating a decent number of shots on goal. 

Talent and roster-wise, the Kings' offense should definitely be way better than it is, but it's not, and you can point most of that to coaching, personnel, lineups, and the effort not being there on most nights. 

Too many nights, the Kings struggle to sustain pressure as games tighten. The scoring disappears for stretches, forcing the top line to shoulder the load. When the Kings score early, they're tough to beat, but when they fall behind early in games like they usually do, the comebacks get out of question. 

Defense: B - 

The Kings' defensive identity has remained intact, but has shown flaws at times, especially early and late in games. Drew Doughty continues to log heavy minutes at 36 years old. At the same time, their young defenseman core, Brandt Clarke, Joel Edmundson, and Mikey Anderson, have shown flashes of potential that could be valuable in the postseason. 

But that same youth has inconsistent plays, missed reads, and trouble under pressure in high-leverage moments. As of now, Los Angeles is a middle-of-the-pack defensive team, ranking 5th in goals allowed per game, 10th in shots per game, and 27th in power-play goals allowed. 

So, the defense has potential, the numbers speak for themselves, being just above average in some categories, but are terrible in allowing power play goals, which is the biggest reason they lose games late, taking too many penalties, and giving up goals late. 

Goaltending: B +

The grade here reflects the injury to Darcy Kuemper, which kept him out for a few games this season. But when Kuemper has been on the ice healthy, the Kings are tough to score on with him in the crease. 

There's been some struggles; Kuemper hasn't been great, but he's 12-7-6 when he starts with a .912 save percentage. His numbers have dropped a little from last year, mainly due to health and inconsistent goaltending, but he's won a lot of close games in the clutch for the Kings. 

The Kings haven't consistently received game-stealing goaltending, and in the Western Conference against very strong teams, that's going to be important for Kuemper to remain healthy and be prepared for that battle. 

Special Teams: D

 If there's one area that's really a concern for hurting the Kings' chances at even making the playoffs, it's here. 

The power-play has been very bad that fans have been calling Jim Hiller to be fired after every game whether they win or lose. Hiller driving an elite power play unit for the Toronto Blue Jays has Los Angeles now as one of the weakest power play units in the league, with a 16% power play percentage, ranking 27th in the league. 

The penalty kill has also been terrible, killing them in overtime and late-game situations, which has cost the Kings wins and valuable points. 

This is where the playoff series shifts to the other team, Los Angeles, which will be matched up against. One power play goal can change an entire series. We saw it last season when Los Angeles blew a 2-0 series lead against the Edmonton Oilers because of blown leads, poor penalty killing, and power-play goals. 

Right now, the Kings' special teams are a major liability and will be a significant reason they are another first-round exit.

Coaching: D

Jim Hiller's system and making adjustments after losses haven't worked all season; it's been a big disappointment after the success he had last year. Too often, questionable lineup decisions result in specific players not being able to play together on the same line, and the same mistakes repeat. 

The Kings' coaching staff doesn't appear to be on the same page with its players, and that can hurt the players' confidence and the plays being called on ice. In the playoffs, this distinction will be easy to game-plan against and will increase LA's chances of going home early.

Best Case Scenario

The Kings tighten up their special teams and get consistent play on offense, and enter the postseason strong. A first-round series win is possible if the Kings can get home ice and the matchups break right. 

Most Likely Scenario

A lower-seed playoff berth and a tough challenge against an elite Western Conference opponent. A competitive series where Los Angeles can keep it close, like they almost did against the Oilers when they were winning the series in the beginning, but failed to close it out. This would be a great result that would fill in the areas where Los Angeles has been inconsistent. 

Worst Case Scenario

Another first-round exit that raises questions about whether this core has reached its ceiling and whether a rebuild is on the way. 

Final Thought

At midseason, the Kings remain an above-average team that's searching for some semblance of hope to be a dangerous team come playoff time. The second half of the season can determine whether this group is built to finally get over the hump or strip it all down and start over. 

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

It's all the rage amongst Columbus Blue Jackets fans to argue against pulling their goalie late in the game in an attempt to score. Some say it's pointless. Some say it Evason does it too early. Some say he does it too late. Is there a right answer? Yes there is. 

The bottom line is that pulling the goalie HAS TO HAPPEN at some point when you're losing. If you want a "chance" to tie the game or give your team a "chance" to pull closer if down by multiple goals, it has to happen. 

So, let's talk about it. 

First, let's look at where the CBJ rank in terms of goals given up after pulling their goalie. 

The Blue Jackets have given up 10 Empty Net Goals, which ties them with the Carolina Hurricanes and Anaheim Ducks for 4th most in the league. The Predators have given up 12, the Sabres 13, and then the Panthers, Canucks, and Rangers all have 14, which is the most in the league. 

Columbus has pulled their goalie a total of 18 times this season, which is tied for the 4th most. Of those times pulling their goalie, they've only scored 2 times, which is tied with 6 other teams for the third fewest. The teams tied with them, or below them for fewest goals scored while having the extra attacker are the Jets, Mammoth, Blackhawks, Sabres, Flames, Red Wings, Bruins, Oilers, Capitals, Leafs, Lightning, and Blues. 

As you can see from the list above, it's a mixed bag in terms of the teams that just can't seem to score with the extra attacker. Some teams are atop the standings, some are at the bottom, some have great power plays, some have bad power plays. There seems to be no rhyme or reason. Is it the system maybe? 

Why do they pull their goalie?

It's quite simple - You pull the goalie when down a goal, or multiple goals late in the game, to try to gain an advantage with an extra attacker. 

When should teams pull their goalie?

There are several answers to this question, and it's determined by how many goals a team is trailing by. In today's NHL, just about everything is driven by analytics, including pulling goalies late in games. 

Studies have shown that teams that pull their goalies earlier than expected have a greater chance of scoring the tying goal. 

• If down by 1 goal - the best pull time is between 2:30 and 3:30 left in the game, with some data models even arguing that a team should pull the goalie with 5-6 minutes left.
• If down by 2 goals - 5–7 minutes left is the ideal time.
• If down by 3 goals - analytics say to pull the goalie as early as 10 minutes left in the game. You have to be able to score in order to come back, so pulling the goalie early is ideal. The Capitals were down to Columbus by 3 goals late in a game a few years ago and pulled their goalie with 8 minutes to go. They scored and made it interesting, but they wouldn't have made it interesting had they not pulled the goalie the first time, so early in the third period.

The stats above all depend on the strength of the opponent and where the zone start is. 

So, why does pulling the goal work?

There are several reasons as to why, including being able to retrieve more pucks due to having an extra attacker, should be able to put more pressure on the defense, which should be able to generate more quality scoring chances. 

A lot of fans complain that by pulling the goalie, you're doing nothing but giving the other team a chance to score. Well, you're right, but if you want to tie the game and extend it, you really have no choice. You're either going to lose by one goal, or two, and that makes not a bit of difference. The bottom line is you have to score, and whether you lose by one or two goals, it's still a loss on your record, so you might as well go for it. Pulling your goalie significantly increases your chance of scoring, so it's worth it to give up an empty netter if you have the advantage of having the extra attacker. 

NHL data over the years has shown that pulling a goalie increases a team's chance of tying the game.

• 15–20% of all 6-on-5 situations result in a goal.
• When a team pulls their goalie with 3-5 minutes left, the odds that the team that pulled their goalie will score, increases more significantly.
• Coaches are actually waiting too long to pull their goalies and are not paying attention to the analytics. Between 1:15 and 1:45 is the normal time most coaches are pulling their goaltender, when they should be doing it much sooner.

Coaches and fans can't be afraid to the pull their goalie, at any time in the third period while trailing. If you feel like you have momentum, and are starting in your offensive zone, why not pull him and go for it? As I stated above, a loss by one goal or a loss by two is still a loss. 

Blue Jacket fans voice their frustration with the coaches nearly every single time they pull their goalie and get scored on. Most of them say Evason's pulling the goalie too early. Some of them argue that they shouldn't pull the goalie at all, which is the wrong opinion - respectfully. 

Historically it feels like the CBJ never score with the extra attacker and always get scored on. Last season (24-25), Columbus allowed the 5th fewest empty net goals, while scoring the 2nd fewest goals with the extra attacker. Again, this year they've allowed 10 and scored just twice. 

They must keep pulling the goalie, despite what people think. 

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Up Next: Columbus travels to Vegas to take on the Golden Knights on Thursday. 

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Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Harrison Brunicke returned from the World Juniors on Tuesday before the Penguins made their decision on him on Wednesday.

They opted to send Brunicke back to his junior team, the Kamloops Blazers. He will be with them for the rest of the 2025-26 season before potentially joining the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for the AHL Playoffs, if the Blazers' season finishes by then. 

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Harrison Brunicke has been assigned to the Kamloops Blazers of @TheWHL.

Details: https://t.co/NhxVer9UV3pic.twitter.com/ypFBuZCd0z

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 7, 2026

Brunicke played in nine NHL games this season, compiling one goal. He made his NHL debut against the New York Rangers on Oct. 7. He also played in seven games at the World Juniors, compiling two assists. 

Because he played only nine NHL games, his entry-level contract for this season didn't kick in. Had he played his 10th game, it would've started. 

He'll now go back to a Kamloops team where he will see consistent playing time. 

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While Montreal Canadiens' blueliner Lane Hutson had a slow start to the season amidst the contract negotiation talk, once the matter was sorted, his play noticeably picked up, and he’s now on pace for an 82-point season. In 42 games, the 5-foot-9 rearguard has a plus-13 rating, and in his last five games, he’s gathered seven points. Three of his previous four games were multi-point efforts, and it’s easy to understand what Kent Hughes meant when he said he didn’t expect Hutson to be so good, so fast, in his mid-season review.

Much of the reason for Hutson’s success is just how good he is at puck possession. Despite his small frame, when he has the puck, it’s hard to take it away from him, as evidenced by his puck possession numbers. On Tuesday, Meghan Chayka published a telling Stathletes table highlighting NHL leaders in the percentage of time on ice with the puck, and the 21-year-old comes in second place.

Who controls the puck? @NHLpic.twitter.com/yFds1hTf6W

— Meghan Chayka (@MeghanChayka) January 6, 2026

Canadiens: Taking On The Struggling Flames
Canadiens: Laine Continues Rehab With Adam Nicholas
Canadiens: Hughes Believes His Team Is Ahead of Schedule

Newly minted Minnesota Wild blueliner Quinn Hughes comes in first at 14.52%, while Hutson gets second place with 12.40%. New York Islanders star rookie Matthew Schaefer is third at 11.95%, which is quite impressive given how limited his NHL experience is.

Hutson’s dominant puck-possession numbers are hardly surprising, given how often we’ve heard coach Martin St-Louis say the defenseman wants to be the guy, wants to have the puck when a big play is needed. The ease with which he can escape opponents is also part of the reason why he spends so much time with the puck on his stick.

His mobility and creativity make him unpredictable for his opponents, and sometimes even for his teammates, who cannot believe the plays he pulls off, a clear sign of his high hockey IQ. This is part of the reason he can link up so well with Ivan Demidov, who also has that same kind of instinct for the game.

When the Canadiens have a 5-on-3 power play, and they try to go without Hutson, using Noah Dobson instead, the man-advantage is too static and predictable. Dobson has a rocket of a shot, but he’s not as creative a passer as Hutson, and it shows.

At such a young age, it’s impressive to see just how patient Hutson can be with the puck; he doesn’t rush his plays. He either waits for the perfect opportunity or creates it from scratch, but he’s not a Hail Mary kind of guy. He might have taken more risks when he came into the NHL, but he’s become much more calculated and better at both reading and managing the game.

Whatever the mission, Hutson can do it. At even strength, on the power play or on the penalty kill, he’s always ready to report for duty. St-Louis may try to avoid using him on the PK, but when Mike Matheson had to miss some time, Hutson showed he could do it all.

The eight-year contract he signed with the team has a cap hit of $8,850,000, and the more he plays, the clearer it becomes that it’s a team-friendly deal. Over the next eight years, the youngster will be worth every single cent of those $70.8 million. While he wasn’t named to the Team USA roster last week, it’s only logical to think that he will be one day, even if it’s not for Milan.

Habs GM Kent Hughes on Lane Hutson:

“We have talent coming…I watched a lot of Lane Hutson, he played with my son. I watched him all the way up. I didn’t know when we signed him out of college, and I’d like to say I knew but I didn’t know he was gonna be that good that fast…” pic.twitter.com/Ohw4gp28xF

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) January 6, 2026

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The Winnipeg Jets are enduring a season to forget as they sit with the league’s worst record at 15-21-5, and Tuesday night offered another painful reminder of how quickly things have unraveled. Winnipeg appeared poised to snap its skid after a late goal from Kyle Connor gave the Jets the lead, but the Vegas Golden Knights responded with a late Reilly Smith tally to force overtime before winning the game on a point shot.

The loss extended Winnipeg’s winless streak to ten games, and the frustration continues to mount. With each passing week, it is becoming increasingly clear that this season may be better served as a reset rather than a rescue mission. The focus is shifting toward evaluating prospects, assessing long term pieces on the roster, and beginning the groundwork for a retool aimed at next season and beyond.

That outlook is echoed by a new prediction model from online hockey analytics site MoneyPuck, which outlines each team’s chances of reaching the postseason and advancing through it or in Winnipeg’s case, the odds of landing the first overall pick in the NHL Draft. MoneyPuck is well known for its in depth statistical analysis, tracking metrics such as expected goals, goaltending results in high danger situations, individual line combinations, and team statistics like even strength goal differential above expected.

The model estimates each team’s probability of winning a game using historical NHL data and three primary factors. Those include how often a team wins, the quality and quantity of scoring chances it creates and allows, and the strength of its goaltending. Contextual adjustments are made for shooting talent, recent performance without over weighting it, home ice advantage, rest, and goalie usage. Expected goals based simulations are then used to account for luck and uncertainty. Over time, the model has proven accurate by correctly identifying game winners roughly 60 to 64 per cent of the time.

According to MoneyPuck, the Jets currently have just an 8.4 per cent chance of making the playoffs, the second lowest odds in the league behind the Vancouver Canucks. Winnipeg’s chances of advancing in the postseason fall well below one percent, with the model projecting the Jets to finish the season with roughly 79.6 points.

Cup chances going into 2026 https://t.co/RbnckCMfDnpic.twitter.com/bISQHMnoOh

— MoneyPuck.com (@MoneyPuckdotcom) January 1, 2026

That projection places Winnipeg near the bottom of the league standings, a difficult reality in the present but one that could offer hope for the future. This year’s draft class is viewed as one of the strongest in recent memory. MoneyPuck gives the Canucks the highest odds to land the first overall pick at 11.6 per cent, with the Jets close behind at 11.1 per cent.

Two of the top prospects expected to go in the top three of the upcoming NHL Draft are Canadian forward Gavin McKenna and Swedish forward Ivar Stenberg. Landing either player would provide the Jets with an immediate impact option who could help elevate the offense as early as next season. When paired with a more extensive look at current prospects in the system over the remainder of this season, Winnipeg could enter the offseason with greater clarity about its core and its needs.

If the model proves accurate, the outlook is troubling in the short term but promising in the long run. Jets fans could be watching the early stages of a reset that positions the franchise for sustained success. With a potential top draft pick and the ability to target scoring help in free agency, players like Nick Schmaltz or Alex Tuch could help accelerate a fast turnaround.

After making the playoffs in seven of the last eight seasons but capturing only four playoff round wins, Winnipeg may finally be forced to take a step back in order to move forward. While this season continues to test patience, it could ultimately lay the foundation for a brighter and more competitive future.

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The day after suffering a 7-4 loss to the Washington Capitals, the Anaheim Ducks traveled to take on the Philadelphia Flyers in South Philly, a game that wasn’t short of storylines.

The Ducks entered play, hoping to snap a six-game winless streak and having only won two of their prior 12. It was to be Cutter Gauthier’s third game facing the team that drafted him and the second in the hostile environment that’s been created for him in Philadelphia since the trade in Jan. 2024 that sent him to Anaheim.

Ducks-Flyers More Than Just a Regular Season Matchup

Takeaways from the Ducks 7-4 Loss to the Capitals

This was to be Trevor Zegras’ and Ryan Poehling’s first game against their former clubs after they were traded for each other in June 2025.

The Ducks made a couple of transactions before puck drop, as they recalled goaltender Ville Husso from the San Diego Gulls of the AHL following an injury to backup Petr Mrazek, and placed forward Nikita Nesterenko on waivers.

The Ducks started this game with an 11/7 lineup, with Ryan Strome serving as the lone healthy scratch in this game. Here’s how they lined up to start:

Kreider-Carlsson-Terry

Gauthier-McTavish-Sennecke

Harkins-Granlund-Killorn

Johnston-Poehling

Zellweger-Trouba

LaCombe-Gudas

Mintyukov-Moore

Helleson

Lukas Dostal got the start in net for the Ducks. He had stopped all three shots he faced on Monday after entering in relief for the injured Mrazek. In this game, he stopped 34 of 38.

Dostal was opposed by fellow Czech Olympian Dan Vladar in Philadelphia’s net, who stopped 16 of 18 shots.

Game Notes

Anaheim started the game with 11 forwards, but that number fell to ten early in the second period when Ross Johnston received a five-minute interference penalty and a game misconduct for a collision that sent Flyers’ defenseman Jamie Drysdale out of the game with an injury.

Jansen Harkins only received 5:44 TOI, so the Ducks were effectively nine forwards deep (self-inflicted) for the majority of this game. Ian Moore’s night was also cut short after receiving a hit from Flyers’ forward Garnet Hathaway with 12:09 left in the third period.

Discipline: It seemed clear from the puck drop that Anaheim intended to set a physical tone in this game. What ensued was a parade to the penalty box, as they went down a man eight times in this game. Every opportunity to climb back into this game was thwarted by a trip to the box and postponed by at least two minutes. The most egregious offense was captain Radko Gudas' elbowing penalty with just over four minutes left in the game and down 4-2, which ended any hope of a comeback for his club.

Penalty Kill: Though they had to kill more than they would have liked, the Ducks' penalty kill went 7-8 in this game, one of the very few encouraging signs to emerge. Most of their pressure was focused high in the defensive zone, as Philadelphia elected not to work pucks low and to the front of the net, where the Ducks have struggled the most on the kill this season. Nevertheless, forwards and rotated high defensemen did well to close time and space for the Flyers on the perimeter and worked back through the middle to eliminate cross-ice seams.

Mikael Granlund (8:38), Pavel Mintyukov (8:28), Ryan Poehling (7:38), and Jacob Trouba (7:31) led the way for Anaheim in shorthanded TOI.

Lukas Dostal: One of Dostal’s biggest strengths is his puck-tracking ability, especially on east-west passes and through traffic. However, on Philadelphia’s first two goals, he was late to react and get to the short side post for one-timers from Zegras. Both instances came off the rush and from the middle of the slot to the bottom of the circle, so perhaps he was a bit further out from the goal line than he’d be otherwise.

He rarely allows a goal that trickles through his body, as he’s typically quick to collapse his arms to his torso, but that wasn’t the case on Philadelphia’s fourth goal, one that he was likely disappointed with, coming off Travis Sanheim’s stick at the point. All said, he saved .17 goals above expected, and he kept the Ducks in the game as they killed for 17:49 minutes in this game. If Dostal isn’t elite and the offense doesn’t outscore their problems, the Ducks will continue to struggle finding the win column.

Alex Killorn/Beckett Sennecke: Two more bright spots on what was, overall, a very dark night for the Ducks were Killorn and Sennecke, generating chances and providing the majority of the team’s offensive impact. Sennecke continues to flourish into a complete offensive weapon, as his willingness to get to the hard areas of the ice and his ability to manipulate defenders at full speed off the rush make him a threat to manufacture a chance whenever the puck is on his stick.

Killorn’s details aren’t as flashy as Sennecke’s raw skills. Still, his ability to protect pucks, evade probing sticks, and draw defensive attention creates ample amounts of open ice for his teammates, whom he’s able to find with clever slip passes. He can create his own shot or find soft ice off the puck, where he can present himself as a passing option. He racked up 5:59 TOI on the kill as well in this game, providing a complete 200-foot impact that will likely go unnoticed given the results of the evening.

The Ducks will continue their four-game road trip on Thursday with a trip to face the Stanley Cup-contending Carolina Hurricanes.

Just following puck drop, ESPN released an article reporting that a former Ducks employee filed a lawsuit against the Anaheim Ducks and the NHL, claiming to have faced “sexual harassment, bullying, and discrimination from 2022 to 2025.”

The Ducks, NHL, or OCSE (the Ducks’ ownership group) have yet to release a statement regarding the case.

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Biggest Questions Facing the Ducks in 2026

The Philadelphia Flyers’ first game against the Anaheim Ducks this season was always going to be a spectacle, from the minute the NHL released the official schedule. 

Cutter Gauthier would be back in Philadelphia, facing a sellout-crowd of Flyers fans that still haven't forgiven him for his refusal to suit up for the team that drafted him fifth overall in 2022, leading to the dramatic trade saga with Anaheim that brought defenseman Jamie Drysdale to the Flyers. 

"I don't know Cutter from a hole in the wall": The Flyers Organization Reacts to Gauthier-Drysdale TradeJohn Tortorella and other Flyers' reactions to Cutter Gauthier trade.

It was also Trevor Zegras' first game against his former team, and although he downplayed his excitement during morning skate, he made sure to let Anaheim know that he was doing just fine on the East Coast, and that there was no love lost for the team that, as Zegras put it postgame, "kind of shoved me out the door."

Philadelphia has now won its first meeting of the season series after sweeping Anaheim last year, and another tense and spectacular chapter has been written into the budding story of the Flyers-Ducks rivalry.

---

1. The Flyers Controlled the Game Territorially, Not Just Emotionally.

There was no shortage of external noise surrounding this matchup, and it showed early. The crowd was loud, consistently so, and the Flyers certainly fed off the energy. Not just fueled by pure adrenaline, however, they played like a team that understood where its advantages were and stayed there.

Anaheim scored first—a goal by Gauthier, naturally—but the response wasn’t frantic. Philadelphia’s forecheck remained layered, with strong second support and little overcommitment below the goal line.

Successful duck hunt. #ANAvsPHI | @Ticketmasterpic.twitter.com/TJvv4sBO6X

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) January 7, 2026

That approach paid off as the game wore on. The Flyers finished with a 38–18 edge in shots, outshooting the Ducks by 21—one of their largest margins this season—and that number reflected sustained offensive-zone time rather than a handful of flurries.

Sean Couturier brushed aside the idea that the emotion of the night, saying postgame, “I don’t know if it really factors into our preparation. It doesn’t matter who we play or what the situation is. We always try to prepare our best and prepare to play the way we want to play.”

---

2. The Lights Are Never Too Bright for Trevor Zegras.

Cutter Gauthier may have scored first, and for a brief stretch the Ducks had reason to believe they could dictate terms.

Trevor Zegras erased that idea almost immediately.

Zegras scored twice in his first game against Anaheim since being traded in June 2025, giving him four multi-goal games and nine multi-point performances on the season. But the more important part of his night was how little he forced. His reads were clean, his puck touches economical, and his decisions consistently put Anaheim’s defenders on the wrong side of the play.

“Yeah, it was cool,” Zegras said of scoring twice. “It was a tough ending with my time [in Anaheim]. I’ve been thinking about this game for a long time.”

Trevor Zegras is a Philadelphia Flyer 🔥 pic.twitter.com/yZf4s2ddMI

— NHL (@NHL) January 7, 2026

Those goals mattered not only because they were emotional punctuation, but because of when they came. Each arrived as Anaheim was trying to re-establish itself, and each pushed the game back toward a Flyers team that was already carrying most of the play.

Zegras also spoke fondly, as he tends to do, about his fit in Philadelphia.

“This is home for me," he said. "I love being here… I think I found some good chemistry with a couple of guys; me, [Christian Dvorak], and [Travis Konecny] have been playing great together.”

---

3. The Flyers’ Defense Went Duck Hunting.

If the game ever felt out of reach for the Ducks, it was because their offense never found rhythm. Philadelphia’s defense limited clean entries, closed quickly in the slot, and did an excellent job eliminating second chances.

Rick Tocchet described it in practical terms, saying, “[Anaheim] started to come a little bit, and it was guarded with a good hit or somebody blocked a shot, something to stop them.”

That pushback wasn’t so much about intimidation as it was about sequence-breaking. Anaheim would generate a look, only to see the next play die on a blocked shot or a disrupted pass. Over time, those interruptions add up.

The Flyers’ blue line also contributed offensively. Travis Sanheim scored for the second straight game and now leads Flyers defensemen with 19 points. Cam York added a goal and an assist, giving him three points in his last two games and eight points in nine career games against Anaheim. Philadelphia has now scored two or more goals from defensemen in consecutive games for the first time this season.

---

4. The Game Crossed a Line—but the Flyers Didn’t.

The most uncomfortable moments of the night had nothing to do with the score. Bobby Brink left the game after taking a heavy hit in the first period and did not return to the game.

Jamie Drysdale’s injury was even more alarming. After being hit from behind by Ross Johnston well away from the puck, Drysdale lay motionless on the ice long enough for a stretcher to be brought out before skating off mostly under his own power.

Jamie Drysdale is able to get to his feet and skate off the ice mostly on his own strength, going down the tunnel to "Jamie's better!" chants.

— Siobhan Nolan (@SGNolan) January 7, 2026

Trevor Zegras, a close friend of Drysdale’s, was candid afterward.

“It was tough," he admitted. "I didn’t really get to watch it. I don’t know if it was intentional or not. I’m hoping, because I know Ross, that it wasn’t, but it’s scary, man. It’s dangerous. I don’t know there’s a place in the game for that type of stuff, but hopefully Jamie’s alright.”

Rick Tocchet offered only what he knew, which wasn't much: “They’re gonna evaluate. Maybe it’s concussion; I’m not sure. We’ll see tomorrow.”

What mattered in the moment was how Philadelphia responded. There was no unraveling, no prolonged loss of discipline. The Flyers tightened up and continued to play a controlled game. Emotional situations didn’t turn into structural mistakes, which is often where games like this slip away.

---

5. The Ducks Tried to Disrupt the Flyers. They Failed.

As Anaheim scratched, clawed, and bit on their quest for leverage, the game grew chippier. Garnet Hathaway delivered several heavy hits and fought. Noah Cates dropped the gloves in defense of his longtime linemate after Brink went down in the first. Nikita Grebenkin played with edge late. None of it pulled the Flyers out of position.

Tocchet viewed that balance as essential.

“It’s an emotional game," he said. "A lot of stuff’s happening—a lot of weird, different things. [Garnet Hathaway] had a couple big hits, a fight, and he dragged a lot of people in the fight with us. And [Noah Cates] too, give him a lot of credit for sticking up for his teammate. Grebenkin was feisty at the end, too. That’s what you’ve got to do in your building.”

NOAH CATES STEPS UP TO DEFEND BOBBY BRINK#LetsGoFlyerspic.twitter.com/F8hKYQB1yY

— Flyers Clips (@Flyers_Clips) January 7, 2026

Philadelphia certainly didn’t avoid the physical side of the game, but also didn’t allow it to redefine the night. The Flyers finished with contributions across the lineup: two assists from Noah Cates, a goal and an assist from Nikita Grebenkin for his second career multi-point game, assists from Sean Couturier and Travis Konecny, and steady play behind them all.

---

Final Thoughts

What ultimately separated the Flyers was not emotion or momentum, but control.

They dictated the pace for long stretches, defended inside their structure, and forced Anaheim to play a game that required execution rather than chaos. Zegras’ goals mattered greatly, but they were the result of sustained pressure and repeatable offensive habits, not momentary swings.

When the game veered into uncomfortable territory — physical, uneven, and occasionally disjointed — the Flyers didn’t chase it. They stayed organized, kept their shifts short, and waited for the Ducks to give them openings. That restraint, coupled with a team that has each other's backs and that is more comfortable and confident in their playing style than ever, decided the night.

And safe to say, Flyers-Ducks matchups will be, ahem, circled on calendars for many seasons to come.

Edmonton Oilers prospect Josh Samanski will be joining Leon Draisaitl at the Winter Olympics. The German team announced their roster on Wednesday and on the squad is Samanski, who is currently playing extremely well for the Oilers' AHL team, the Bakersfield Condors. 

Samanski has 5-20-25/+6 in 32 GP for the Condor this season. He is earning a solid reputation for his tireless work ethic and tracking to be an impact NHL player far sooner than scouts expected. He'd been playing a lot with Ike Howard and Quinn Hutson. 

🇩🇪 German 2026 Olympic Winter Games roster is out!➡️

Athlete participation requires confirmation by their respective NOC.@deb_teams@olympics@nhl@nhlpa#Olympics#NHL#IIHFpic.twitter.com/D0ULSVEnBH

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) January 7, 2026

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The team, while not stacked like Team Canada or Team USA, does have a handful of very solid NHLers. Among them are Tim Stutzle of the Ottawa Senators and Moritz Seider of the Detroit Red Wings.  

One fan wrote of Samanski, "Samanski is my favorite prospect this season. What a personality and a great range of skills. Legit 3C potential." Interestingly, the Oilers are looking for a third-line center, and have been for some time. 

This Olympic appearance will be a great showcase for him, and with Draisaitl there and working alongside the young forward, one has to wonder if he'll get an advocate in his corner. 

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The Detroit Red Wings are having a season to remember as the franchise celebrates its centennial, marking 100 years of hockey in Detroit. In a season filled with nostalgia and renewed optimism, the Red Wings have also seen tangible progress on the ice, highlighted by the arrival of several top prospects who are beginning to make an impact at the NHL level.

Among the most encouraging developments has been the debut season of Emmitt Finnie and Axel Sandin-Pellikka, both of whom have stepped into professional roles and delivered strong early returns. Their performances have energized a fan base eager to see the next generation help push the team back into contention.

That excitement has been fueled by the standings as Detroit currently holds a 25-15-4 record, good for second place in the Atlantic Division. With that positioning comes the biggest question surrounding the team this season. Can the Red Wings finally end a playoff drought that has stretched close to a decade.

The path, however, is far from clear as the Atlantic Division is tightening as the Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs continue to heat up. Even the young and improving Montreal Canadiens remain in the mix, making the race for playoff spots one of the most competitive in the league. Every point will matter as the season moves toward its final months.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Cup chances going into 2026 https://t.co/RbnckCMfDnpic.twitter.com/bISQHMnoOh

— MoneyPuck.com (@MoneyPuckdotcom) January 1, 2026

To add perspective to the playoff race, online hockey analytics site MoneyPuck has released its latest prediction model outlining each team’s chances of reaching the postseason and advancing beyond it. MoneyPuck is well known for its detailed statistical analysis, tracking underlying numbers such as expected goals, goaltending performance in high danger situations, individual line combinations, and team metrics like even strength goal differential above expected.

The model estimates each team’s probability of winning a game using historical NHL data and three core factors. Those factors include how often a team wins, the quality and quantity of scoring chances it creates and allows, and the strength of its goaltending. The system also adjusts for context such as shooting talent, recent performance without over weighting it, home ice advantage, rest, and goalie usage. Expected goals based simulations are then used to account for luck and uncertainty. Over time, the model has shown accuracy by correctly identifying game winners roughly 60 to 64 percent of the time.

According to MoneyPuck, the Red Wings currently have a 61.4 percent chance of making the playoffs. They are given a 27.3 percent chance to win at least one playoff round, an 11.9 percent chance to reach the Conference Finals, and a 5.2 percent chance to make the Stanley Cup Final. Their odds of winning the Stanley Cup sit at 2.3 percent.

MoneyPuck projects Detroit to finish the season with 95.4 points. The Red Wings have the highest likelihood of reaching the playoffs as either the second or third seed in the Atlantic at a combined 35.7 per cent, while their chances of winning the division stand at 7.7 per cent. They are also given an 18 per cent chance to qualify through one of the wild card spots.

While those numbers may not match the outlook of teams like the Colorado Avalanche, who are given a 100 per cent chance of making the playoffs, they still reflect meaningful progress. In fact, some teams such as the Ottawa Senators hold a higher projected chance of winning the Stanley Cup despite being unlikely to reach the postseason themselves.

For Detroit, the projections are another sign that the team is moving in the right direction. As the centennial season continues and the playoff race tightens, the Red Wings remain firmly in the hunt, giving fans plenty of reason to believe that this historic year could also mark the long awaited return to postseason hockey.

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