The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced that they have activated forward Rutger McGroarty from injured reserve and have assigned him to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
The Penguins also shared that they have recalled forward Joona Koppanen from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
McGroarty has played in 16 games this season with Pittsburgh, where he has recorded two goals and one assist. This is after he had one goal and three points in his first eight career NHL games this past season with Pittsburgh.
Down in the AHL with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this campaign, McGroarty has posted four goals and seven points in five games. Now, after being reassigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, the 2022 first-round pick will be looking to make a big impact with the AHL squad.
Koppanen, on the other hand, has recorded one assist, four blocks, and nine hits in 10 games this season with Pittsburgh. Down in the AHL with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this campaign, he has posted six goals, five assists, and 11 points in 22 games.
The Penguins are set to face off against the Seattle Kraken in their next contest on Jan. 19.
The Penguins have recalled forward Joona Koppanen from the @WBSPenguins (AHL).
Forward Rutger McGroarty has been activated from Injured Reserve and re-assigned to WBS. pic.twitter.com/LsNSCgHPuN
Trade talk has never been higher this season for the Vancouver Canucks. Despite already dealing franchise star defenceman Quinn Hughes, Vancouver looks as though they’re set on moving on from more of their players as they prepare to transition into rebuild status. No player has been made safe from trade talk regardless of their position and tenure with the team.
Earlier today on his podcast, 32 Thoughts, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman mused about the possibility of Filip Hronek moving on from the organization if he decides to work with his no-move clause. This message got the attention of well-known NHL player agent Allan Walsh, who also happens to be Hronek’s agent. Via a post on X, Walsh cleared the air on Hronek’s status with the Canucks and how both the organization and the player feel about any possible trades.
“This is just wasted air. Great players are in demand everywhere. But the NHL is not fantasy hockey. Why bring up players that are not available for trade? Vancouver management and coaches are happy with Fil and Fil has no interest in going anywhere else,” the post reads.
Hronek has stepped up massively since Hughes’ departure. The defenceman is now wearing an ‘A’ for Vancouver and ranks second on the team in points with three goals and 24 assists. He is set to play in his 500th NHL game on Monday when the Canucks take on the New York Islanders.
While Canucks President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford did explain that “it’s [their] duty to take calls on everyone,” management has shied away from making Hronek available in recent history. Towards the end of November, management had shared that Hronek was “unlikely to go anywhere” despite the Canucks claiming they were open to moving on from their veteran players. With that being said, Hughes was the other player that Vancouver had claimed was “not their priority” to trade — so take that as you will.
Jan 2, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Filip Hronek (17) handles the puck against the Seattle Kraken in overtime at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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This week The Hockey Show featured one of the more surprising teams in the NHL this year.
In addition to their usual attention paid to the happenings of the Florida Panthers, THS co-hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork welcomed Shawn DePaz to the show.
Sean is the producer for the What Chaos! podcast and he’s also a massive Buffalo Sabres fan.
The Sabres just happen to the hottest team in the league, currently holding a playoff spot and looking to end the team’s 14-year postseason drought.
This week’s show also saw the boys discuss the disaster that is the New York Rangers and touched on some numbers that were retired in Detroit and Boston.
Wins and fails of the week included a player showing up to a game dressed as Batman, an unbelievably ridiculous assist by Abbey Murphy for the University of Minnesota, a collective wardrobe choice by a team visiting the White House and a poorly timed decision by Oilers goalie Tristian Jarry.
As a bonus this week, Roy's daughter Claire was in studio with us to record the show. She may or may not have taken over the telestrator at one point.
You can check out the full show and interview in the videos below:
The NHL Department of Player Safety announced on Sunday that Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos had been fined $2,500 for unsportsmanlike conduct towards an opponent while on the bench.
During Saturday's game, Golden Knights defenseman Jeremy Lauzon hit Predators forward Jonathan Marchessault, dumping him into the Predators' bench.
While trying to get back into the play, Stamkos stuck the blade of his stick under Lauzon's visor and in his face.
It's been disputed that Stamkos was trying to keep Marchessault's skate blade away from Lauzon's face. Ryan O'Reilly also shoved Lauzon from the bench during the altercation.
The irony of the situation is that Lauzon spent four seasons with the Predators and was traded to Vegas this past offseason for Nicolas Hague. Marchessault spent seven seasons with the Golden Knights before signing with the Predators in the 2024 offseason.
The Predators lost to the Golden Knights, 7-2.
This is the third time in his career that Stamkos has been fined by the NHL. On Nov. 23, 2017, he was fined $5,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct after spraying a water bottle at a referee.
On March 21, 2018, Stamkos was fined $5,000 for a dangerous trip against Toronto Maple Leafs' defenceman Morgan Rielly.
Stamkos has never been suspended. This is the first time this season a Nashville Predators player has been fined by the league.
The Nashville Predators will host the Buffalo Sabres next on Tuesday at Bridgestone Arena at 7 p.m. CST
"I think Leevi (Merilainen) made some good saves,” Sanderson stated when asked about the performance of the goaltending. “But, at the end of the day, you’ve got to make more than 10 saves to win the game.”
After a tough home loss to Montreal, Jake Sanderson, who's normally reserved in his post game comments, voiced his displeasure about goaltending and "playing an away game at home."
It would not count on the stat sheet, but it was one of the few shots that Merilainen faced Saturday night.
The 23-year-old goaltender allowed six goals on 19 shots. According to Natural Stat Trick’s game log, the Senators held the Canadiens to seven five-on-five shots, with the remaining shots occurring on the power play, while the Canadiens had an empty net, or in overtime.
Staked to a two-goal lead with less than five minutes left in the game, the Senators had complete control.
The loss created a unique situation for Sanderson.
Jake Sanderson is not typically at the forefront of candid commentary after difficult losses. Usually, when the Senators experience these types of games, the burden falls on the captain, Brady Tkachuk, or on other well-regarded veterans like Claude Giroux or Thomas Chabot.
The reason for that is two-fold. These players are part of the designated leadership group within the Senators’ room, but they are also comfortable in front of microphones and known for offering lengthy, measured reflections on the game.
It is not that Sanderson is incapable of doing that, but he often feels reserved. There is an enthusiasm for the game and the sport, but the defenceman never veers out of his lane.
Which is why Saturday night’s comment resonates so much.
It was blunt and unadulterated honesty.
In an organization that keeps its cards close to its chest, refusing to disclose lineups or the starting goaltender ahead of last night’s game, Sanderson said what everyone was thinking out loud.
After the game, I am sure Sanderson would have apologized to Merilainen for publicly calling out the goaltending, but I hope his comments last night do not dissuade him from being candid in the future.
His frustration is palpable and for good reason. His team’s season hangs in the balance simply because they have not gotten enough saves.
In the last 30 years, no team in the NHL has experienced a lower save percentage than the Senators’ current .865 save percentage. To find a worse mark, you would have to go back a couple of years earlier to the Senators’ first two seasons after they rejoined the NHL.
Keep in mind that the 1992-93 Senators were one of the worst teams in NHL history, winning just 10 of 84 games. Only the 1974-75 Washington Capitals have had a lower recorded points percentage (.131) than that inaugural Senators team (.143).
When asked to assess Merilainen’s performance last night, head coach Travis Green took issue with the goaltending, but did so while showing some empathy.“
It’s hard to give (Merilainen) a pass,” admitted head coach Travis Green. “Six goals on 18 shots and I’m sure he’d like to have one or two back, but I feel bad for him.”
It has to be tough for Merilainen, who has been thrust into the spotlight following Linus Ullmark’s decision to take a leave of absence from the team. Last night was his 11th consecutive start, a string of games born out of necessity because Ullmark’s absence and the lack of confidence the organization obviously has in the alternatives who have been recalled from Belleville.
After last night’s loss, Merilainen has -14.22 goals saved above expected metric through 20 appearances. Only the St. Louis Blues’ Jordan Binnington (-14.82 GSAx) has a lower mark, and he has played in seven more games.
Goalie is a volatile position, and the condensed schedule in this Olympic year probably has not helped, as Merilainen does not have much time between appearances to refine the technical aspects of his game. If bad habits or a shaky confidence creep into his game, the opportunity for them to bleed into his next start is real, given the team's schedule of playing every other night.
After two consecutive wins over the Canucks and Rangers, the hope was that Merilainen could build off those games and continue to tighten up his game.
Last night’s effort was disastrous, however.
The good news is that Green acknowledged in his postgame media availability that the plan was for Linus Ullmark to travel with the team on their three-game road trip through Detroit, Columbus, and Nashville. That may not mean he is on the verge of playing, but he has skated and practiced with his team these past few days.
Once Ullmark returns, the Senators should return Merilainen to Belleville to get his game and swagger back.
The expectation is that James Reimer will make his Senators debut on Sunday afternoon in Detroit. Despite the fact that he has not played in an NHL game since last April, the organization needs to see what they have.
“It’s a little bit frustrating,” Green acknowledged last night while describing the pattern of losing games where they outplay the opposition. “But, I give our team a lot of credit. They are battling. They are playing good hockey. Our goalies have not been at their best, and we know that. Our team is still bringing it.”
With a new and veteran goaltender likely making his debut, Green will need his players to continue to bring that fight and resiliency on Sunday (5 pm at Detroit).
Graeme Nichols The Hockey News Ottawa
This story is from The Hockey News Ottawa. You can visit the site here or click on one of their latest articles below:
The Detroit Red Wings have stayed hot with another exciting win, knocking off the San Jose Sharks on Friday, and they will continue their homestand with a late-afternoon matchup against the Ottawa Senators as the visitors arrive in the Motor City.
Over their last 21 games, Detroit is tied with the Buffalo Sabres for the most points in the NHL, posting an impressive 15-5-1 record during that stretch. Defense has been the backbone of this run, as the Red Wings have allowed just 2.43 goals per game, aided by several strong performances from goaltender John Gibson, who could get the start again against Ottawa.
The Senators, meanwhile, are trying to steady their season after going 4-6-2 over their last 12 games, though they have shown signs of improvement by winning two of their last three. This will be the second meeting between the division rivals this season, with Detroit earning a road victory in the first matchup in Ottawa.
Now the Senators will look to return the favor on the road, even though recent history has oddly favored Ottawa. In the past 11 meetings between the teams, the Senators have won eight times and have taken six of their last eight games in Detroit.
This Red Wings group, however, looks different. Revitalized and confident, Detroit is aiming to put past struggles against Ottawa behind them while extending their current surge. For the Senators, offense has been hard to come by during their recent skid, although defenseman Jake Sanderson has helped spark the attack with two goals and four assists over his last two games, making him a key player to watch.
Detroit will look to keep its top talent rolling, with Lucas Raymond back on the first line and contributing immediately, while Alex DeBrincat continues to produce on the second line. Together, the two have combined for 21 points over the last 21 games, averaging a point per game during the team’s hot streak.
All signs point to an entertaining and high-profile matchup, with the expected goaltending duel featuring Detroit’s John Gibson against an Ottawa crease that has struggled recently. Former Red Wings goalie James Reimer could be tasked with stabilizing the Senators’ net despite limited action this season and recent time spent in the AHL preparing for Sunday’s contest.
Detroit Red Wings’ Expected Line Combinations vs Ottawa (Sunday):
van Riemsdyk – Larkin – Raymond
DeBrincat – Copp – Kane
Kasper – Compher – Finnie
Soderblom – Rasmussen – Appleton
Edvinsson – Seider
Chiarot – Sandin-Pellikka
Johansson – Benard-Docker
Gibson
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The Ottawa Senators are back in action on Sunday, January 18, to take on the Detroit Red Wings.
This Atlantic Division matchup marks the second meeting between these teams in 2025-26 after they met just over a week ago.
My Senators vs. Red Wings predictions and NHL picks suggest that the Sens' usual shooters. including Brady Tkachuk, will continue their trigger-happy ways against Detroit after a tough loss to the Canadiens last night.
Senators vs Red Wings prediction
Senators vs Red Wings best bet: Brady Tkachuk Over 3.5 shots on goal (+120 at BET99)
Despite missing 20 games this season, Brady Tkachuk is one shot off the Ottawa Senators team lead, and will inevitably take it over.
Tkachuk is averaging 4.3 shots per game and has 28 shots in his last five games, hitting the Over in four of them.
The Detroit Red Wings rank in the middle of the pack in terms of shots allowed.
Tkachuk should be primed to pelt the opposing goaltender with a slew of pucks tonight.
Dylan Cozens has at least two shots in 16 of his last 18 games.
He's only been held shotless twice since November 15 and has hit the Over in nine of his last 10. He's riding a hot stretch with four points in his last two games.
Jake Sanderson has established himself as the Sens' clear-cut number one defenseman, ranking third among blueliners in assists over the last week with six in his last five games. He's tied for seventh among defensemen in helpers with 29 on the season, and he racked up three in the loss to the Canadiens last night.
The 23-year-old has 10 assists in his last nine games.
Senators vs Red Wings SGP
Brady Tkachuk Over 3.5 shots on goal
Dylan Cozens Over 1.5 shots on goal
Jake Sanderson 1+ assists
Senators vs Red Wings odds
Moneyline: Senators +105 | Red Wings -125
Puck Line: Senators +1.5 (-225) | Red Wings -1.5 (+185)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-110) | Under 6.5 (-110)
Senators vs Red Wings trend
Ottawa has won two of the last three meetings and six of the last eight against Detroit. Find more NHL betting trends for Senators vs. Red Wings.
How to watch Senators vs Red Wings
Location
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Date
Sunday, January 18, 2026
Puck drop
5:00 p.m. ET
TV
TSN5
Senators vs Red Wings latest injuries
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
The Los Angeles Kings are fading away from the playoffs, and that is largely because of the team's lack of offense and ability to score goals.
Los Angeles is the second-worst team in the NHL when it comes to putting the puck in the back of the net in two key categories. They've scored 121 goals and a goals-per-game average of 2.57.
Overall, the Kings' top players haven't been producing as expected. Right winger Adrian Kempe has 15 goals and 36 points in 47 games, and center Quinton Byfield has nine goals and 28 points in 46 contests.
Whether it's the defensive-heavy system that head coach Jim Hiller imposes on the team, or their stars have lacked consistency, it's not good enough for the Kings to latch onto a spot in the post-season.
It's been reported before that Los Angeles and GM Ken Holland are searching for a scoring winger, and one of the best in the league may have just become available.
On Friday, the New York Rangers sent a letter to its fans regarding the club's status for the rest of the season, saying they are looking to retool. That means they'll be open to moving off some veterans.
Artemi Panarin (Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images)
Furthermore, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman provided a report that with this transition in the Rangers' organization, they won't be offering a contract extension to star left winger and pending UFA Artemi Panarin.
Panarin does have a full no-move clause on his current deal. However, with the transparency from his team that they won't be contending for the playoffs, nor offering him an extension, maybe he'd like to explore a change of scenery.
Despite the Rangers hanging around the basement of the Eastern Conference, the Russian veteran has been having a solid year.
In 48 games, Panarin has scored 18 goals and 36 assists for 54 points. He leads the team in scoring, and would lead the Kings in scoring by nearly 20 points if he were to join them right now
That means the Kings will likely need the Rangers to either retain some of Panarin's salary or trade away some salary in a deal with New York or a separate deal.
Nonetheless, if Holland and the rest of the Kings' front office want to make a deal work with the Rangers, it certainly can be done.
If Los Angeles is interested in Panarin enough, they have plenty of assets to share. Top prospects such as Liam Greentree, Carter George, Jared Woolley, Jimmy Lombardi,
Henry Brzustewicz, and more. Not to mention the Kings have three first-round picks and four second-rounders over the next three seasons.
Although, the Kings brass must be careful with what they give up as Panarin is 34 years old and there's no guarantee he stays in Los Angeles beyond the rest of the campaign.
Furthermore, Panarin may not be traded as he holds all the cards with his no-move clause. He could remain a member of the Blueshirts for the rest of the season if he'd like.
But if Holland wants to make a deal, surely Rangers GM Chris Drury will listen.
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Saturday’s crushing 6-5 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens finally revealed what felt inevitable with each passing game: The league's worst goaltending is finally starting to break the Ottawa Senators.
Jake Sanderson led a 2nd period offensive outburst, assisting on 3 of the Senators’ 4 goals, and added his own goal to make it a 5-3 game midway through the 3rd period, tying a career high for points in a game with 4.
It was probably the best game of his career. He completely put the team on his back at both ends of the ice.
Jake Sanderson wasn't happy after Saturday night's overtime loss to Montreal (Senators on YouTube)
But instead of sheepishly answering questions from the media about his remarkable performance, the Senators’ star defenseman had to talk about how yet another game that his team deserved to win didn’t go their way.
Goaltender Leevi Meriläinen, making his 10th consecutive start and 11th consecutive appearance for the Senators in just three weeks, was dreadful.
It was his worst performance in the 11-straight games, in which he’s rocking a .847 save percentage. He cost the Senators another game as the team tries to claw back into the playoff race.
And Sanderson is making headlines for finally showing a glimpse into the mindset of the dressing room through this stretch.
Postgame, he said “Leevi made some good saves, but you know, I think at the end of the day, you gotta make more than 10 saves to win a game.”
It’s the type of quote that makes you want to see the video to see if the player misspoke.
He certainly didn’t. Sanderson was fuming. The silence after that bomb of a quote couldn’t be more telling.
It’s notable because players are usually quick to defend their goaltenders.
Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stützle had Meriläinen’s back after the loss. Tkachuk said the team needs to do more to help him. Stützle voiced his displeasure that the goaltending would even be brought into question.
But watch their reactions on the Canadiens’ tying goal.
"Just when I think you couldn't possibly have a worse night, you go ahead and do this... and completely redeem yourself!"
Those are not players who feel like they need to be better for their goalie. They deserve credit for sticking by their guy, but it’s obviously for show.
It doesn’t mean Sanderson should catch heat for being transparent either.
He doesn’t strike me as the kind of star player who is out of touch with his locker room. He was being as blunt as he could without directly saying it.
Saturday’s loss was just a punctuation mark on an issue that has been simmering all season, and has come to a boil in the new year. The goaltending has been breaking this team’s spirit for weeks.
And it falls on the front office.
Their negligence to address the most glaring issue on their otherwise impressive roster is making this a lost season in Ottawa.
Despite his putrid numbers, Meriläinen has been overplayed by the Senators. 11 appearances in 21 days is unheard of in today’s NHL, let alone for a developing goaltender who is struggling mightily.
Linus Ullmark’s status is the elephant in the room for this discussion, even though he wasn’t exactly having a Vezina-calibre season before taking personal leave from the team. And his reported attendance at games as early as a week into his leave, coupled with what we’ve watched in the crease in his absence, is strange.
James Reimer has been dressing as the back-up for 2 games now. If he isn’t ready now, when will he be?
Meriläinen feels like a pitcher who just keeps giving up home runs, so there are relievers warming up in the bullpen, but he gets left in the game because the analytics say to do so.
It’s dinger, after dinger, after dinger. The other team just keeps rounding the bases while Meriläinen withers away on the mound.
Last week, I wrote about how the pressure is rising on President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Steve Staios.
So why does one OT loss after back-to-back wins make the situation feel more dire?
Because it happened against Montreal, at home, in a game celebrating 30 years of the Canadian Tire Centre, while the building was flooded with Canadiens fans.
Tkachuk, Stützle, Dylan Cozens and Sanderson each had emphatic celebrations for their goals. The Senators get fired up for these games. They hate that their building gets taken over.
Sanderson was also candid when he was asked about the crowd.
This quote is the one that should be making the headlines.
Also dropped this one.
We're going to see more of this if things don't turn around. Can only push moral victories for so long before missing the playoffs becomes a reality. pic.twitter.com/kXtCkzJBfw
Patrick Kane’s best days are behind him, but he remains very productive at age 37, having gathered 28 points through 34 games.
He has been especially efficient against teams that bleed goals, and he has a matchup with one this afternoon. That’s why he headlines my three NHL player props for Sunday, January 18.
Miro Heiskanen has generated strong volume in Dallas all season long, averaging 2.6 shots on target per night and clearing this line at a whopping 81% clip.
He has consistently gotten the job done regardless of the level of competition. Facing stout defenses or low-event teams has made zero impact on his volume or success.
Isolating teams ranking Top-10 in shot suppression vs. defensemen, Heiskanen has recorded multiple shots in seven of eight home games.
The only Under was a one shot performance against the Kings in which Heiskanen still generated five attempts, which is more than enough volume to clear. He was just inaccurate in that one game.
Heiskanen will play a ton of minutes while matched up against the Lightning’s best players at 5-on-5. He also continues to quarterback the top power play over Thomas Harley.
There should be plenty of chances for him to test Andrei Vasilevskiy.
The biggest beneficiary of the Brayden Point injury is undoubtedly Brandon Hagel. More falls on his plate at 5-on-5 and he also takes on Point’s role playing on the No. 1 power play unit.
To say it’s made a difference in his shot volume would be an understatement.
Hagel has averaged 2.7 shots and 6.1 attempts per game with Point in the lineup while clearing his line at a 57% clip. Very solid but unspectacular numbers.
Those outputs go up several levels without Point. Hagel has produced a whopping 3.9 shots on 8.2 attempts per game, going Over 2.5 shots in eight of nine.
Hagel attempted 6+ shots in every single one of those games. For reference, his hit rate sits at 80% this season — with or without Point — when generating 6+ attempts, which has been the floor thus far.
Expect Hagel to continue firing away Sunday afternoon.
The Ottawa Senators can’t keep the puck out of their net. They just can’t. It doesn’t seem to matter how many shots or chances they give up — whoever is between the pipes continues bleeding goals.
That’s why they rank 29th in goals against per game despite sitting third in expected goals allowed, behind only the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights.
As you’d expect from a team giving up goals in bulk, the Senators allow a lot of production to opposing right wingers. The fourth-most, in fact.
Patrick Kane has produced at a high clip in similar matchups this season. He has points in eight of 11 games against teams ranking Bottom-10 in points allowed to right wingers, including seven of eight on home soil.
Ottawa is in a road back-to-back with 37-year-old journeyman James Reimer expected to get his first taste of action this season. This is not a spot where the goals should stop flowing.
Time: 5:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: RDS2, FDSN DET
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The Florida Panthers ended their season-long road trip with a strong effort on Saturday night in Washington D.C.
Both the Panthers and Washington Capitals are in need of every point they can get, each sitting on the outside of the playoff picture looking in.
Despite falling behind and trailing at the game’s halfway point, Florida dug in and scored four straight goals to conquer the Capitals 5-2 and head home with an even 3-3-0 record on the roadie.
The Cats got off to a good start on Saturday, as the only goal of the opening period came off the stick of a Panther.
Holding the puck behind Logan Thompson’s net, Sam Bennett attempted a wrap-around that was stopped, but the rebound tricked out to the top of the crease, where A.J. Greer was waiting to slam it home with 6:37 to go in the first period.
Back-to-back goals by Caps blueliner Jakob Chychrun, his 16th and 17th of the year, would energize the crowd and propel the home team into the lead, but it wouldn’t last very long.
Just 96 seconds later, with Florida cycling in the Washington end of the ice, Carter Verhaeghe threw the puck toward the net and it hit Bennett, who was causing a screen in front. He controlled the puck and, while falling down, fired a shot past Thompson to knot the score at two.
Later in the period, with Florida on the game’s first power play, Uvis Balinskis played catch at the blue line with Anton Lundell, with the defenseman eventually taking a one-timer that found its way past a screened Thompson to send Florida into the third period with a 3-2 lead.
Florida clamped down during the final frame, holding the Capitals to a single shot on goal during the first half of the period, and six total shots during the third despite Washington trying to come from behind.
A pair of empty net goals by Lundell and Verhaeghe cemented the gritty victory for the Panthers.
Photo caption: Jan 17, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Florida Panthers defenseman Uvis Balinskis (26) celebrates wth Panthers goaltender Daniil Tarasov (40) after their game against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena. (Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)
The Boston Bruins have interest in acquiring Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson, per multiple reports, but they aren’t the only team pursuing him.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported an update on the situation during Saturday night’s Hockey Night in Canada broadcast. He noted that the Bruins have been given permission to talk to Andersson about a potential contract extension.
“The Flames have called around to a bunch of teams that were interested, or other teams that maybe they hadn’t heard as much from yet, I heard today, and they said we want to decide if we’re going to proceed with this so we want everybody’s most serious offer. That is happening,” Friedman said.
“The team that appears to be in the driver’s seat, although nothing is done until it’s done, is Boston. Boston is very serious about its offer, and no one is confirming or denying this, but I believe they are the only team that has been given permission to talk to Andersson, and I do believe they’ve done some pretty significant extension talks. Nothing is done until it’s done. Both things have to work out. The Bruins are not believed to be interested in this without an extension.
“Vegas is there. It’s not believed their offer is as strong as Boston’s, but that’s for now, that can always change.”
Trading for Andersson would make no sense for the Bruins if he was a rental. The B’s are not in a position to be dealing assets for players who could walk in the summer. Andersson is in the final year of his contract and would become an unrestricted free agent in July without an extension.
The 29-year-old veteran would be a good fit for the Bruins, at least on paper. They need a top-four d-man who can play the right side, log a ton of minutes and add some offensive punch. He fits that description.
Andersson has tallied 30 points (10 goals, 20 assists) in 48 games for the Flames this season. He has scored nine or more goals in four consecutive seasons. He’s on pace to break the 40-point mark for the third time in his career.
The Bruins have won six straight games after beating the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2 on the road Saturday night. They entered Sunday in the first wild card spot with a 28-19-2 record.
Washington Capitals (24-19-6, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Colorado Avalanche (33-5-8, in the Central Division)
Denver; Monday, 4 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: The Washington Capitals visit the Colorado Avalanche after Jakob Chychrun's two-goal game against the Florida Panthers in the Capitals' 5-2 loss.
Colorado has a 19-1-3 record in home games and a 33-5-8 record overall. The Avalanche have gone 19-3-5 in games they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponents.
Washington is 24-19-6 overall and 10-9-3 in road games. The Capitals are 8-3-0 when they commit fewer penalties than their opponent.
Monday's game is the first time these teams square off this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Martin Necas has 22 goals and 35 assists for the Avalanche. Brock Nelson has 10 goals and five assists over the last 10 games.
Alexander Ovechkin has 20 goals and 21 assists for the Capitals. Ethen Frank has four goals and one assist over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Avalanche: 6-3-1, averaging 4.2 goals, 7.6 assists, 2.9 penalties and 6.4 penalty minutes while giving up 2.7 goals per game.
Capitals: 4-5-1, averaging 3.3 goals, 5.9 assists, 4.2 penalties and 11 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game.
INJURIES: Avalanche: None listed.
Capitals: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
At a critical juncture of the 2025-26 season for both teams, the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings participated in a Friday-Saturday home-and-home series this weekend.
The Ducks just saw their nine-game winless streak mercifully come to an end on Tuesday, with a 3-1 win over the Dallas Stars. They once sat atop the Pacific Division, but had fallen four games out of the playoff picture heading into Friday’s game.
The Kings weren’t in quite as severe a tailspin, but their recent play had dropped them out of the playoffs picture as well, as they had only won five of their prior 17 games heading into this series.
Before Friday’s game, the Ducks had traded for forward Jeff Viel from the Boston Bruins, Troy Terry was placed on IR, and Leo Carlsson underwent a procedure to treat a rare thigh lesion that will cost him the next 3-5 weeks. Sam Colangelo was recalled from the San Diego Gulls and played on Friday night. Viel made his Ducks debut on Saturday. Chris Kreider missed both games with an illness.
Lukas Dostal got the start for the Ducks on Friday and stopped 26 of 28 shots in a 3-2 shootout win for the Ducks. Ville Husso got the nod on Saturday and saved 17 of 18.
The Kings turned to Darcey Kuemper on Friday to oppose Dostal, and he mirrored Dostal by saving 26 of 28 shots. Anton Forsberg was given the cage for the Kings on Saturday, stopping 31 of 33.
Notes
Desperate and without a trio of top-six forwards, the Ducks basically iced two second lines and two fourth lines for these two games. The Kings are notoriously one of the stingiest, defensively diligent, and low-event teams in the NHL, but Anaheim managed to tweak their game plan, focusing more on chipping pucks below the goal line if clean entries were denied.
Defensively, Anaheim went back to quick, aggressive second pressures, which burned them in the first half of Friday’s game, but played a much more contained brand of hockey, akin to Tuesday’s game against Dallas, through the latter 90 minutes of the weekend.
Beckett Sennecke: Sennecke was the star of the weekend for Anaheim, notching three assists, positively impacting every shift, creating, and rendering himself dangerous not only every time he touched the puck (which was a lot), but every time he stepped foot on the ice. He filled in a significant percentage of the offensive vacancy left behind by Carlsson, Terry, and Kreider (and Cutter Gauthier, who didn’t play much as he was recovering from an illness of his own).
His most impressive quality, especially for a 19-year-old winger, is his anticipation skill. Either he has the puck, or he’s going to very soon. He has a “nose for the puck” and can sniff out how pucks are going to exit a battle, where opponents are trying to go with it, and how to get into positions to receive outlets or chips that he can pick up at full speed. The dynamism, puck skills, and tenacity in small areas speak for themselves.
Defensive Zone Coverage: In Friday’s game, LA forwards were able to spin off low defenders, find soft ice, and pop out for dangerous one-timers that Dostal was thankfully able to read and eliminate angles. All six Ducks defenders and all four centers made concerted efforts on Saturday to box out and pounce on rebound opportunities, protecting the low slot and not allowing LA forwards to occupy dangerous ice.
In an effort to counter, the Kings released their F3 high to the blueline so they could attempt to pull the Anaheim center high and cause confusion. However, the Ducks were solely focused on protecting the lower slot and underneath seams, succeeding in the process.
Cycle: Ducks' defensemen were far more involved in the offensive zone on Saturday, actively attempting to disrupt the Kings’ man coverage and pull defenders out of position. It allowed them to play the puck possession game they prefer and keep it out of their end for extended sequences. They were able to conduct cohesive weaves and switches at the top of the zone to create downhill ice and cross-ice seams to exploit.
Tim Washe: Washe’s five games into his NHL call-up and is becoming more impactful with each passing shift. He’s done well to adjust to the speed and details of the NHL game. Though he’s a serviceable puck transporter, he does his best work on the forecheck, influencing opposing retrievers and disrupting outlet attempts as an F1. He’s tenacious and effective when protecting pucks below the goal line and extending cycles. His first career goal on Friday was much-earned and an exemplification of what he can bring to the lineup. He’s becoming a reliable and versatile forward, winning seven of ten draws on Saturday after winning five of 11 on Friday.
The Ducks have seemingly gotten their season back on track a bit, but remain outside of the playoff picture. They’ll look to extend their winning streak to four games when they host the New York Rangers on Monday.
LAS VEGAS -- The Golden Knights used a five-goal third period to break things open and turn a close game into a 7-2 rout of the Nashville Predators on Saturday night.
Vegas won its seventh straight game while earning a point for the ninth time in 11 games.
Nashville held a 1-0 lead after one period thanks to Luke Evangelista's goal and the stellar play of goaltender Justus Annunen, who stopped all 15 shots he faced in the opening stanza.
But Vegas, which is averaging 5.14 goals per game during its seven-game win streak, got goals from seven different skaters and at least one point from 14 players.
Alexander Holtz, Shea Theodore, Pavel Dorofeyev, Mark Stone, Cole Reinhardt, Mitch Marner and Keegan Kolesar all scored for the Knights.
"We got guys in the room (who) historically have scored, so we figure at some point they'll get closer to their numbers," Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. "The team has scored. It's a lot of the same guys, so the analytics dictate that.
"We figured sooner or later, generally, that would follow suit, the pucks would go in. And now they are. And I hope it continues, where that evens out a little bit of where we feel we are, and with the numbers-crunching game, so to speak."
Goaltender Akira Schmid stopped 27 shots and improved to 15-4-5 on the year. The 15 wins are a career high.
KEY MOMENT
A 65-second moment was the highlight Saturday night, beginning with Holt's goal 17:17 into the second period and then with Theodore's goal 65 seconds later.
It appeared to steal the competitive edge Nashville held, especially after the Predators beat the league-leading Colorado Avalanche in Denver the night before, while somewhat deflating Annunen's mojo and sending the Knights into the locker room with all the momentum they'd need for a huge third period.
"We realized, I guess, as a team, that when we get pucks and bodies to the net, good things are gonna happen," Kolesar said. "And that just clicked in our mind going into third period. And you saw it, I don't think anyone was really passing up opportunities to get the puck to the net and get to the net. We get chance after chance after chance, and that can just wear them down."
600 - Theodore not only skated in the 36th game of the season, but it was the 600th of his career. The 30-year-old defenseman, one of the original members of the league's 31st franchise, finished with a goal and an assist, and now has 25 points - tied for 30th among all blue liners in the league. His seven goals rank 24th among all defensemen.
Theodore's 371 points with Vegas rank third all-time with the franchise, while is 291 assists rank No. 1 with the Knights.
WHAT A KNIGHT
After allowing the Predators' first goal to sneak by off a deflection, Schmid was brilliant between the pipes for Vegas. The 25-year-old netminder, who will represent the Swiss Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team that will compete at the Milano Cortina Winter Games next month, stopped 27 consecutive shots before Nashville's final shot of the game slipped by to provide the final margin.
Schmid's 15 wins are tied for the 14th most in the NHL, while his 2.45 goals-against average ranks fourth in the NHL among goaltenders with at least 25 games played.
"Just getting into a rhythm playing a lot of games, you know, you don't think as much," Schmid said about adding to his career-high numbers. "You don't have much time to practice, but you kind of get into a flow and feel good about yourself."
UP NEXT: The Golden Knights conclude their three-game homestand against the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night.
PHOTO CAPTION: Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) attempts to slow Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Jeremy Lauzon (5) as goaltender Justus Annunen (29) makes a save during the second period at T-Mobile Arena.
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Miro Heiskanen Over 1.5 shots on goal
Brandon Hagel Over 2.5 shots on goal
Patrick Kane Over 0.5 points
