The Vancouver Canucks are 50 games into the 2025–26 season. After dropping 11-straight games and trading Kiefer Sherwood to the San Jose Sharks, the Canucks won their first game of 2026 against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday. This marks their 17th win of the season and fifth home win of 2025–26. Here’s how the Canucks stack up to the rest of the NHL 50 games into the season.
Team Stats
Vancouver Canucks team stats 50 games into 2025-26.
While the Canucks weren’t doing phenomenally before it, their 11-game losing streak didn’t exactly help their team statistics. Vancouver now ranks 32nd in the NHL in exactly half of these particular team stats. Aside from their record and points-percentage, the Canucks’ goals-against (182) and penalty kill (71.3%) sit at the very body of the league. Their highest-ranking stat remains their power play, which sits at 20th in the NHL with a success rate of 19.3%.
Individual Skaters
Vancouver Canucks individual stats 50 games into the 2025-26.
Vancouver’s individual stat leaders start to shift now that Sherwood is no longer part of the team. Elias Pettersson has now taken the team lead in goals (13), while Aatu Räty now leads them in hits (94). The Canucks’ individual stat leaders chart also shows a brief glance at how big of a role Filip Hronek has taken since Quinn Hughes’ departure from the team. The defenceman shares the team lead in points with Pettersson (29), while also leading his team in assists (25) and total minutes played (1222:18). The only listed individual stats in which Vancouver ranks higher than 32nd in the league are their overall TOI (Hronek, 11th), power play TOI (Brock Boeser, 20th), and penalty-killing TOI (Marcus Pettersson, 15th).
Goaltenders
Vancouver Canucks goaltending stats 50 games into the 2025-26.
Another injury to Thatcher Demko means that the Cancuks’ goaltending stats are likely to change again in the coming days. Demko still leads Vancouver in SV% (.895%), GAA (2.90), and wins (8), while Kevin Lankinen tops the Canucks’ charts in all other goalie stats. In the four stats that Lankinen leads in for the Canucks, three of his totals rank higher than 32nd in the NHL — his minutes played (25th), shots-faced (22nd), and high-danger shots faced (16th). Lankinen also ranks 33rd in the league in high-danger SV% with 0.807%.
The next five Canucks games will take place on home-ice. Vancouver will face the New Jersey Devils tonight at 7:00 pm PT, then the Pittsburgh Penguins in a 3:00 pm PT matinee on Sunday, and then the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday at 7:00 pm PT. Games against the Anaheim Ducks at 7:00 pm PT on January 29th and the Toronto Maple Leafs at 4:00 pm PT on the 31st round out Vancouver’s next run of games at home.
Jan 21, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen (32) and forward Brock Boeser (6) and forward Teddy Blueger (53) celebrate their victory against the Washington Capitals at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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The Nashville Predators' game time against the Utah Mammoth on Jan. 24 at Bridgestone Arena has moved up to 12:30 p.m. CT in response to the pending winter weather this weekend, the team announced.
The game time moved up two hours, from 2:30 p.m. to 12:30 p.m., with winter weather moving into the area in the morning of Jan. 24.
Bridgestone Arena doors will open at 11 a.m. on Jan. 24, according to the team.
The National Weather Service currently forecasts snow in the morning of Jan. 24, followed by a possible mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain throughout the rest of the day.
The Predators plan to honor defenseman Roman Josi in a pregame ceremony. He played in his 1,000th career NHL game on Jan. 22.
The Buffalo Sabres did not come out of the 4-2 win over Montreal unscathed, as head coach Lindy Ruff indicated after the game that defenseman Jacob Bryson would miss some time with an upper-body injury. Bryson left the game in the middle of the second period and did not return.
“He went back to Buffalo today and we'll find out (the severity of the injury),” Ruff said after the team’s practice on Friday. “We'll know next couple days. He'll probably see the doctors today, and we'll get a better idea.”
The Sabres recalled defenseman Zac Jones from AHL Rochester and placed Bryson on injured reserve. Jones is leading the Amerks in scoring with 37 points (6 goals, 31 assists) in 32 games.
Winger Zach Benson scored the game-winner in the second period, but was on the receiving end of an elbow from Habs forward Zachary Bolduc. Benson was on the ice and showing no ill effects at the Northwell Heath Ice Center on Long Island on Friday.
"Incidental or not, I felt it was a little bit of a cheap shot,” Ruff said. “But no, he's back smiling and laughing this morning, so he's doing good."
Team captain Rasmus Dahlin missed practice after blocking a shot in the third period against the Habs, but Ruff stated that it was for maintenance purposes and that they felt that he would be good to go. The Sabres play an afternoon game against the Islanders on Saturday, and will return home to practice before completing their road trip in Toronto on Tuesday.
Technically, Olen Zellweger is 49 games into his third NHL season after playing 62 games in 2024-25 and 26 in 2023-24. The Anaheim Ducks selected the dynamic, “undersized” defenseman with the 34th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. As one of the youngest players in that year’s draft, he was six days from eligibility for the 2022 draft.
Following his draft, Zellweger (22) went on to a decorated junior career in his final two seasons in the WHL, scoring a combined 158 points (46-112=158) in 110 regular season games, 38 points (13-25=38) in 20 playoff games, winning two World Junior Championship gold medals, two Bill Hunter trophies as the WHL’s top defenseman, and one CHL defenseman of the year award.
In his rookie year (2023-24), Zellweger played 44 games for the San Diego Gulls in the AHL, scoring 37 points (12-25=37), earning a spot as the Gulls’ AHL All-Star representative, and he seemed well on his way to fulfilling his offensive potential.
If anyone were to convey that Zellweger would one day become a top-four defenseman in the NHL, they’d have likely guessed he’d play the role of a team’s top power play unit point man and offensive point producer, with very little defensive responsibility.
The transition into the NHL has been anything but smooth for the now 5-foot-10, 194-pound defender who oozes refined skill and is as flawless a skater as one can find. He had difficulty carving a role for himself under former Ducks head coach Greg Cronin, who favored veterans for key roles, and he, along with Pavel Mintyukov, fell victim to a logjam on the blueline in 2024-25 that caused him to serve as a healthy scratch for 20 games and play a non-conductively safe brand of hockey.
He worked tirelessly, as the last Ducks player off the ice for nearly every morning skate and practice, to refine all areas of his game and iron out any deficiencies on the defensive end, and he became a complete NHL defenseman.
Zellweger was projected as one of the players who would benefit most from the Ducks' hiring of Joel Quenneville as their new coach for the 2025-26 season. The logjam was relieved, and on paper, the wide-open, offensive, pressure system seemed perfectly catered to Zellweger’s play style.
Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Though his now-polished defensive prowess has earned him the third-most TOI (873:15) among Anaheim blueliners this season, following a difficult stretch for Anaheim’s power play to start the season, in which Zellweger was firmly on the team’s second unit, he’s seen his offensive responsibility evaporate completely.
“The core of strength is still, I think, our power play,” Zellweger said. “I still think I have a lot of untapped potential there (that) I need to find a way to get out. Penalty kill has been really good, a challenge for me. I hadn’t played penalty kill in the NHL until this year, so I really enjoy it. It’s super important, getting lots of kills.”
Though he’s now a bona fide top-four defenseman and is being utilized as such at 5v5, during the Ducks' 15 games since Dec. 16, Zellweger has only logged a grand total of 84 seconds on the power play and not even one second in the last four games.
On the flip side, Zellweger now holds a role on the team’s second penalty kill unit, and over the team’s last eight games, he’s averaging 2:05 TOI on the PK. The Ducks have only allowed one goal when he’s been on the ice for the PK during that stretch.
“I like that versatility in his game, that he can do both things,” Quenneville said. “I think Zelly gives us a great presence when exiting our zone, joining the attack, off the point in the offensive zone, and finding holes in spots. He’s quick to pucks as well. I think when we started him penalty killing, it was a good opportunity for him to get quality ice time as well.
“So far, in a short amount of time, he looks like he’s enjoying the opportunity, but his quickness can help him get to pucks and pressure in the right situations, and get the clear as well. Young guys on defense, that’s a big job description to get done. You gotta like the way he started.”
Zellweger’s been a point producer and point defenseman on the power play at every level he’s played at below the NHL, and is finding ways to translate that skill to his new role as a defensive stalwart.
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
“I’ve played power play my whole life, so I think just the subtleties when I see a guy have the puck. Maybe he’s looking down, and I can pressure him,” Zellweger continued. “Small things like that, I can kind of see the seams unfolding. I think that helps me a lot going on the PK. It makes it less of a transition to be effective. Using my quickness, and trying to read a play as it unfolds and be in the right positions.”
At 5v5, Zellweger is Anaheim’s second-best defenseman, behind only Jackson LaCombe. When he’s on the ice, the Ducks account for 53.68% of the shot attempts share, 50.87% of the shots on goal share, and 51.25% of the expected goals share. He’s driving 5v5 offense from the blueline, as when he’s on the ice, the Ducks have notched 2.99 expected goals for per 60 minutes (2nd on ANA) and 3.27 goals/60 (1st on ANA). He’s either been too unproductive or hasn’t been given enough of a chance with the man advantage.
That may leave some to wonder what his role is for the Ducks organization moving forward. Is he destined to cap out as a good top-four defenseman who kills penalties on a second unit? If that’s the case, Zellweger will have tough competition nipping at his heels in the Ducks’ pipeline, with Stian Solberg (23rd overall in ’24) and Tyson Hinds (76th in ’21) in the AHL, Lasse Boelius (60th in ’25) in Liiga, Tarin Smith (79th in ’24) in the WHL, and Drew Schock (101st in ’25) in the NCAA.
He’s been passed on the Ducks’ power play depth chart by both Mintyukov and Jacob Trouba, with LaCombe assuming top unit TOI. If he can’t find consistent time with the man-advantage, one could even wonder how the Ducks’ front office views the player and if he has a long-term spot on the roster.
Zellweger has as much puck skill and skating ability as any defenseman in the NHL. He’s worked endlessly to round out his 200-foot game, performing well defensively at 5v5 and on the kill, but his biggest impact comes on the offensive side of the puck. He has 18 points (6-12=18) in 49 games this season and 47 points (15-32=47) in 137 games in his career.
Zellweger is in the final year of his entry-level contract and will be an RFA when the Ducks’ season concludes. How general manager Pat Verbeek and the Ducks’ front office approach the trade deadline, home stretch of the season, and offseason as it pertains to Olen Zellweger will be immensely telling on how they view him within the framework of the present and future of the organization.
The Buffalo Sabres moved one step closer to a top three spot in the Atlantic Division with a 4-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on Thursday. The Sabres followed the same script as they did in Nashville earlier in the week, jumping out to an early lead and holding on for dear life in the latter part of the game.
Jason Zucker, Beck Malenstyn, and Zach Benson staked Buffalo to a 3-0 lead early in the second period, but the Habs responded before the end of the middle frame with tallies by Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki, and outshot the Sabres 15-3. Buffalo maintained their lead through the third, and Samuel Montembeault pulled for the extra attacker. Peyton Krebs iced the game away with an empty-netter.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 32 saves in the win.
Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff spoke after the game:
Sabres sign Josh Doan to a seven-year contract extension
What can you say about your team holding on to leads in these games?
We came out, played a really good first period. You've got to give Montreal a lot of credit. They had a big push in the second. We made a couple errant plays that they took advantage of. (Luukkonen) made some great saves. But then I thought we played a rock-solid third period where maybe gave up one chance in a one-goal game, which I got to give our guys a lot of credit for just locking back into our game.
Does it help your team to play in a heated environment like Montreal?
I think you can see in the East that every team is winning every night. We know how much the game meant to us, and Montreal knows how much the game means to them. And every game, you can win a game. With the run we've had, and you're sitting two points inside a playoff race. It's good training for high-intensity games. For the most part, our guys have been able to pass the test, we've been able to weather some storms, and we've been able to push through and win games.
The Buffalo Sabres have made a roster move, as they have called up defenseman Zac Jones from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans.
Jones being called up to the Sabres' roster comes after fellow defenseman Jacob Bryson exited Buffalo's most recent contest against the Montreal Canadiens due to injury. Now, by recalling Jones, the Sabres have another defenseman to work with.
Jones has been called up several times this season by the Sabres, but he has yet to make his regular-season debut with the NHL club. Yet, he will now be hoping that changes after landing this latest call-up to the Sabres' roster.
Jones has been simply excellent this season down in the AHL with Rochester. In 32 games so far this campaign with the Amerks, the left-shot defenseman has recorded six goals and 37 points. He is also tied for first in the AHL with 31 assists, so he has certainly been making an impact offensively with Rochester.
Jones was also recently named to the 2026 AHL All-Star Game due to his strong play with Rochester this season.
Craig Berube had 241 fighting majors in his NHL career, but the massive wound he showed off Friday didn’t come from dropping the gloves.
The Maple Leafs head coach suffered a nasty cut requiring several stitches across his forehead and a black out in an accident while working out at a gym Thursday.
“Yeah, I’ll address it, because you’re gonna see it tonight. I had an accident in the gym yesterday,” Berube said when asked by a reporter if he was “OK” following the morning skate ahead of Friday’s game against the Golden Knights. “The other guy looks way worse. There was three of ’em.
Craig Berube showed off a gnarly cut on his head after what he described a a gym accident.
“No, it’s tough. It was stupid. It was just a bad accident, and it’s on me. My fault, and yeah, I’m fine.”
When asked if he expects to be behind the bench against Vegas, the 60-year-old Berube nodded and replied, “yes.”
Berube played 17 NHL seasons for five teams, including one with the Islanders in 2000-01, amassing 159 points and 3,149 penalty minutes over 1,054 games.
Leafs HC Craig Berube reveals a massive gash on his head as the result of an accident in the gym. pic.twitter.com/zVQ25tDGVi
The former enforcer in his second year coaching the Maple Leafs (76-43-13) after spending the previous six seasons with the Blues, leading them to a Stanley Cup title in 2019. The Alberta native was fired by St. Louis in Dec. 2023 following a 13-14-1 start.
On Wednesday, the New Jersey Devils called up Colton White from the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Earning four assists, White has contributed in over 23 games with the Devils this season.
Drafted 97th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft by the Devils, the 28-year-old is now back with the team.
Over six seasons, White played 107 NHL games: first with the Devils, then with the Anaheim Ducks after signing as a free agent in July 2022, before returning to New Jersey in July 2024. He has earned 14 points, all assists.
White, a defenseman, spent his first four NHL seasons with the Devils, then joined Anaheim as a free agent on July 14, 2022.
On July 1, 2024, he rejoined the Devils as a free agent.
Meeting the Devils in Vancouver, the defenseman prepares for Friday’s match-up against the Canucks.
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Though it has been no secret that the Senators’ goaltending has left a lot to be desired this season, statistics have come to the fore to highlight exactly how bad.
Not since the Ottawa Senators' second season in the league, when they won 14 games out of 84, have the Senators had a lower combined team save percentage than they had a few days ago (.865).
One could hardly compare the lineup that suited up that season to the 2025-26 team that currently sits 8th in the Atlantic with a 23-20-7 record through 50 games.
The Senators have not had a great track record as an organization with drafting goaltenders.
Steve Warne and Gregg Kennedy discuss why James Reimer has been so quickly embraced in Ottawa.
In fact, they have never drafted a goaltender who has occupied the status of #1 starter for the Ottawa Senators. Robin Lehner in the second round in 2009 and Joey Daccord in round seven in 2015 both went on to start elsewhere but played very little for the Senators.
No sense crying over spilled milk. It’s time to examine the pipeline and see if help is on the way. For argument’s sake, Leevi Merilainen will not be part of this evaluation.
Mads Sogaard, Age 25, Belleville Senators – Selected in 2nd round of 2019 NHL Draft
Though Sogaard is on a one-way deal, he has never shown the ability to stay healthy at any level, nor has his play been consistent at the NHL level.
He has moved from the status of prospect to suspect, and unless he can seize the reins and put the B-Sens on his back for a nice playoff run, his future with the Senators could be coming to an end.
As it stands right now, his numbers in the AHL this season are very pedestrian, though injuries have limited Sogaard to only 15 starts. There is still time to make something of this season, but the sands in Sogaard’s hourglass are running out quickly.
Jackson Parsons, Age 21, Belleville Senators/Allen Americans – 2025 free agent signing
Parsons has only played 12 games thus far this season and is currently back in Allen, Texas, where he can start more regularly. He spelled Sogaard during his injury absence and acquitted himself nicely.
Parsons is something of a late bloomer who was never drafted, yet he won goalie and overage player of the year for the 2024-25 OHL season.
For a rookie season, he got on the radar in a good way, and now that Hunter Shephard is back in the AHL, Parsons can continue his development with regular work. The 21-year-old Embrun native is a work in progress, but his trajectory is headed in the right direction. His numbers have been very respectable, and at 6’2” and 200 lbs, he has the frame of an NHL goalie.
The real issue is that the Senators need an NHL goalie, and right now, Parsons is still proving himself as an ECHL starter.
Definitely a prospect, but a starter prospect? Time will tell.
Kevin Reidler, Age 21, Penn State University – Selected in 5th round of 2022 NHL Draft
The 6-foot-6 Swedish netminder has never had a save percentage below .900 since being drafted. But except for his time in Dubuque (USHL), he hasn't been a starter.
Last year at the University of Nebraska/Omaha appears to have been a write off with only eight starts due to some issues with his back. But he did post a .920 save percentage in those games.
Through the transfer portal, Reidler is now at Penn State, playing with the presumptive number one overall selection in 2026, Gavin McKenna. Reidler has also played more than half the games with some impressive results (9-3, 2.92, .910).
Again, until he proves himself capable of being a number one goalie in the NCAA, it’s hard to view him as more than a B-level prospect.
Reidler's height is intriguing, assuming he has the athletic ability to leverage it. But if the 6-foot-7 Mads Sogaard is any indication, Reidler may need extra time to adjust to his height before becoming a goalie who could suit up for the parent club.
More to follow on this one.
Vladimir Nikitin, Age 21, New Hampshire Mountain Kings (NAHL) – Selected in 7th round of 2023 NHL Draft
To say that Nikitin has taken the scenic route since being drafted would be an understatement.
The Kazakh goaltender has played in the BCHL (2023-24), RUS-MHL (2024-25 top junior league in Russia), back to the BCHL with the Nanaimo Clippers (2024-25), USHL (2025-26) and moving yet again to the NAHL (2025-26) where he currently resides.
He also represented Kazakhstan at the World Junior Hockey Championships in Ottawa in 2025.
Changing teams in two of the three seasons since being drafted does not scream prospect and his numbers are just okay.
His WJHC appearance revealed a vulnerable trapper.
Not writing him off, but like the Senators in the current NHL standings, Nikitin doesn’t just need to improve his play, but he also has other people ahead of him that he needs to catch.
Lucas Beckman, Age 18, Chicoutimi Sageneens, Selected in 4th round of 2025 NHL Draft
This one is a little intriguing. Up until recently, Beckman was playing for the worst team in the QMJHL, Baie Comeau, where he was getting shelled almost every night as their starting goalie.
Somehow, he still managed to post a .905 save percentage.
Beckman has now been traded to Chicoutimi, the best team in the league, and after missing some time with injury, he's now returned to the lineup. The Senators are hoping he can go on a long playoff run and get some valuable experience.
Still just 18, with a good run the rest of the season, Beckman could end up as part of Canada's World Junior conversation. He represented Canada at the World U18s last year.
The key point here is that Beckman has a starting goaltender pedigree and a potential championship QMJHL team thought enough of him to acquire him for their run.
It’s too early to ordain Beckman as the future but it seems clear that he has one.
Andrei Trofinov, Age 19, Magnitigorsk RUS-MHL, Selected in 7th round of 2025 draft
With the likes of Bobrovsky, Vasilevskiy, Shesterkin, Sorokin and even Askarov all starting in the NHL with pretty impressive starting goalie resumes, it’s hard to blame the Senators for wanting to see if they could strike gold in Russia as well.
That said, two of them were first round selections and none were chosen in the seventh round after being passed over in their first year of eligibility.
It’s early with this one and if the Russian Federation starts to take note of him, Sens Nation should as well, but not before then.
The Senators have not drafted a goalie in the first round since Mathieu Chouinard in 1998, and they drafted him twice.
Things could change, but looking at this stable of goalies, other than Beckman, it’s hard to see anyone who is currently tracking to be a potential starting goalie in the NHL. Regardless, their help is still years away, and barring a trade, the Senators have no choice but to rely on their current group to hold the fort.
Pat Maguire The Hockey News - Ottawa
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The Winnipeg Jets have reassigned forward Danny Zhilkin to the AHL on Friday afternoon following the 22-year-old’s NHL debut earlier this month.
The Russian winger appeared in four games with the Jets, averaging seven to ten minutes of ice time per game. While he did not record a point, he finished plus-two and showed promise in a bottom-six role. Zhilkin will now look to carry that momentum back to the AHL with the Manitoba Moose ahead of a challenging matchup against the league-leading Grand Rapids Griffins.
Speaking to media shortly after the news of his demotion, Zhilkin was reflective but positive about the experience. “It was awesome,” he said, calling his two weeks with the team “an unbelievable experience.”
He added that the opportunity was meaningful, noting that it was rewarding to see his hard work pay off. “It was a dream come true,” Zhilkin said.
Zhilkin also spoke about forming a quick bond with fellow Russian forward Vladislav Namestnikov, who guided him before his NHL debut. “Yeah, he was awesome, gave me a couple tips before my first game, to just go out there and play and just enjoy, you have one first NHL game,” Zhilkin explained on his relationship with Namestnikov. “He was a good help for sure, he's an amazing guy, and a good player.”
The young winger said that adjusting to the NHL game was not as difficult as he had anticipated. He found certain aspects easier, thanks in part to the quick thinking of his NHL teammates.
“Whenever I wanted to put in the puck in certain spot that teammates could always get into the right spots,” he said, adding he was impressed with the speed and precision of puck movement at the NHL level.
Zhilkin also enjoyed playing in front of larger crowds at Canada Life Centre. “It's cool, they provide so much energy, and it's good to play in front of that crowd,” he said, laughing about one game where he caught the crowd doing the wave. He admitted that playing in front of Jets fans gave him goosebumps.
As he returns to the Moose, Zhilkin will face a tough challenge against the Grand Rapids Griffins, who have tied for the best start in an AHL season through 35 games. He hopes to bring confidence and new skills to the Manitoba lineup.
Zhilkin and the Manitoba Moose return to the ice Friday night at Canada Life Centre to host Grand Rapids. Tickets for the matchup are available at moosehockey.com/tickets/single-game-tickets/
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Berube, 60, was sporting a major black eye when he addressed the media on Friday, Jan. 23, before his team took on the Vegas Golden Knights that evening.
He said it was from an accident in the gym on Thursday.
"The other guy looked way worse," he joked. "There were three of them."
He then lifted his cap to show a major gash on his forehead that had been stitched up.
"It was stupid," he said. "It was this bad accident. It's all on me. It's my fault, and I'm fine."
Leafs HC Craig Berube reveals a massive gash on his head as the result of an accident in the gym. 🫢🤕 pic.twitter.com/zVQ25tDGVi
The Colorado Avalanche are known as a high-flying offensive side — understandably so — but they are also the league’s best at keeping the puck out.
Playing at home against a low-event team, my Flyers vs. Avalanche predictions expect a relatively low-scoring affair.
Let’s dive into my NHL picks for Friday, January 23.
Flyers vs Avalanche prediction
Flyers vs Avalanche best bet: Under 6.5 (-115)
The Colorado Avalanche are 20-1-4 on home soil this season and have conceded a league-low of 2.08 goals per game in Colorado.
As good as they are offensively, they’re equally as effective at controlling the puck and giving opposing teams very few chances to generate opportunities.
That should be the case in this matchup. The Philadelphia Flyers rank Bottom-12 in goals per game, and they’ve played at the league’s slowest 5-on-5 pace this season.
Philadelphia will be looking to turn this contest into a snoozefest, happy to punt on offense if it gives them a better chance of holding up defensively.
They are expected to get Dan Vladar back between the pipes for this game as well. He owns a solid .905 SV% on the season and has drastically out-performed backup Sam Ersson.
Slowing down a lethal Avalanche offense is a difficult task, but Vladar is capable of holding them to a manageable number.
These two sides have already played this season, and that game finished 3-2 with 53 total shots. Don’t be surprised if we see something similar this time around.
Flyers vs Avalanche same-game parlay
The Avalanche have won 20 of 25 home games this season. Coming off a disappointing loss to a banged up Ducks team, we should expect a good response in this spot.
Brent Burns has teed off without Devon Toews in the lineup. He is averaging 3.5 shots on 6.3 attempts and has cleared this line in seven of eight, including seven in a row.
Burns also had three shots on seven attempts against Philadelphia back in December.
The Avalanche have hit the Moneyline in 20 of their last 25 games at home (+8.75 Units / 14% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Flyers vs. Avalanche.
How to watch Flyers vs Avalanche
Location
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Date
Friday, January 23, 2026
Puck drop
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBCS-Philadelphia, ATL2
Flyers vs Avalanche latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
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It may not have been their best overall performance of the season so far, but the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night is certainly high on the rankings. They had every reason to lose that game just simply based on the schedule and the matchup.
The Oilers have dunked on the Penguins pretty much every time they have played them over the past four or five years, the Oilers were rested, the Penguins were playing the second half of a back-to-back and their fourth game in six days, they are three games into an extended road trip and they did not have one of their top defenseman in the lineup (Kris Letang). They were also playing their backup goalie.
When the week began I had that game penciled in as a loss just based on all of that. Not only did the Penguins win, they did to the Oilers what the Oilers have recently done to the Penguins and just dunked all over them. They gave up some chances, but Arturs Silovs was great and the Penguins feasted on their former goalie (Tristan Jarry). Anthony Mantha scored two goals, Evgeni Malkin showed he still has the juice, and Egor Chinakhov scored another goal on a shot so ridiculous nobody even saw it actually go into the net.
It has the Penguins in the second spot of the Metropolitan Division after 50 games and starting to very much look like a playoff team. Not just in the results, but also in the process behind the results.
They have a top-10 points percentage in the NHL, tied for the fifth-best in the Eastern Conference and are only two points back (with a game in hand) of the fourth-best team in the Eastern Conference.
They are also a top-10 team league-wide in pretty much every underlying 5-on-5 metric when it comes expected goals and scoring chances, while also consistently improving their overall defensive metrics.
If it looks like a duck, and if it quacks like a duck….
This is all important to keep in mind because the Penguins have just 11 games before the 2025-26 NHL Trade Deadline, and general manager Kyle Dubas and his staff have to be having a lot of discussions right now. Not only about potential trades, but also simply what their overall plan is going to be.
Buy? Sell? Stick to the plan? All of the above? It is going to be fascinating to watch.
Just for laughs, here is where the Penguins have been (and ranked) after 50 games over the past eight seasons in terms of their place in the league standings, and their overall ranks in 5-on-5 goal differential, expected goal share, scoring chance share, high-danger scoring chance share and expected goals against per 60 minutes.
Season
Games Played
Record
Points
Points Percentage
5-on-5 GF%
5-on-5 xGF%
5-on-5 SC%
5-on-5 HDSC%
xGA/60
2025-26
50
25-14-11
61
.610 (9th)
51.2% (10th)
51.4% (9th)
51.2% (9th)
52.7% (10th)
2.65 (14th)
2024-25
50
20-22-8
48
.480 (26th)
43.7% (29th)
50.2% (17th)
48.7% (23rd)
50.1% (18th)
2.63 (26th)
2023-24
50
23-20-7
53
.530 (19th)
53.1% (8th)
52.4% (8th)
52.2% (10th)
52.7% (7th)
2.62 (19th)
2022-23
50
25-16-9
59
.590 (14th)
49.5% (19th)
52.3% (9th)
50.9% (15th)
52.0 (13th)
2.65 (19th)
2021-22
50
31-11-8
70
.700 (7th)
55.3% (8th)
53.4% (8th)
52.8% (7th)
53.5% (8th)
2.25 (6th)
2020-21
50
32-15-3
67
.670 (9th)
55.1% (8th)
49.4% (18th)
51.3% (11th)
48.3% (19th)
2.19 (13th)
2019-20
50
31-14-5
67
.670 (4th)
54.8% (5th)
53.8% (3rd)
53.1% (5th)
54.0% (3rd)
2.06 (2nd)
2018-19
50
27-17-6
60
.600 (11th)
54.4% (5th)
51.4% (10th)
51.5% (11th)
52.1% (11th)
2.49 (23rd)
This is the Penguins best record and best placement in the standings since the 2021-22 season, which was also their most recent Stanley Cup Playoff appearance. It is also one of the few times over the past eight years where they have consistently been in the top-10 across all of the scoring chance and expected goal metrics. They are 13 points ahead of where they were at this point a year ago and significantly better in terms of where they rank in their underlying metrics. The 2023-24 team had similar rankings in those metrics, but were not getting the same results and were eight points back of the current pace. That team missed the playoffs by just three points. They are two points ahead of the 2022-23 pace, but that team was much worse with its process. That team missed the playoffs by one point.
This team does not just simply have a better record than their most recent teams. It is also playing better. Significantly so.
This is not a Stanley Cup contending team right now. Not this season. It might be a pretty good team. It is starting to look like it is a pretty good team. Even during that losing streak back in December they were still carrying and controlling games for the most part. They have certainly left some points on the table, and that might end up looming large, but they have also picked up a lot of points. There is a lot to be said for that response. There is a lot to be said for how they have played, how they are playing and perhaps more importantly, how (and where) they are improving.
The forward group has no real weaknesses. There is not a single line you do not want to see on the ice at any point in any game. They can roll four lines and keep controlling the game with any of them. The goaltending has been inconsistent at times, but winnable. Erik Karlsson is playing the way they expected Erik Karlsson to play when they originally traded for him a few years ago.
So how do the Penguins play this over the next month-and-a-half? There is obviously going to be a wait-and-see element to this and how those 11 games go. The most sensible approach is stay the course and let these guys show what they have. Whatever happens, you have a full season sampling here and can make your adjustments and changes as needed in the offseason.
Mantha is going to be the curious case because I always imagined he was signed with the intention of being this year’s Anthony Beauvillier. Cheap contract, hope for some production in the top-six of the lineup, then flip him at the trade deadline in March for some additional future assets. He has been better and way more productive than Beauvillier, and should not only bring a comparable return (a second-round pick), but perhaps even more given how much more he has produced. He is also the big-body presence that NHL general managers love at this time of year. Trading him could also open up a roster spot for one of the young kids in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton right now like Rutger McGroarty or Ville Koivunen.
If this group keeps playing the way they are, however, it would be difficult to disrupt that. They deserve a chance to take a kick at the can and see what happens.
The Penguins still have more draft capital, and especially in the first three rounds, than any other team in the NHL over the next three-or-four years. They could certainly use more of those assets, but it is also not a huge necessity.
Strategic buying is certainly within reason. The Penguins should not trade anything significant for a short-term rental, but if you can find a player that has long-term value beyond this season, that should be in play.
Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson has been the big name kicked around given his contract status, and the Penguins certainly have the salary cap space to pay him what he wants in the future, but that does not seem like a trade deadline move. That is an offseason move. The option for that discussion will almost certainly still be there then when Dallas might be more inclined (or likely) to make a move involving him.
The ideal trade option would be trying to find a young defenseman (or some sort of young high-level talent) that has upside and term/team control remaining. Depending on the player, the contract and the upside, I would not be opposed to being aggressive if it is a true hockey trade. The Penguins have salary cap space and assets to move, and given how active Dubas and the Penguins have been over the past year-and-a-half I can not imagine they are going to just sit and do nothing.
Even if it requires a young forward or one of those draft picks, if you can find somebody that fills that need you should not ignore it. Even if the cost is high. As long as it is a hockey trade and fits in to the long-term plan, it can work.
With that in mind, I am going to say something controversial here: I do not think the first-round pick should be off the table *in the right move.*
There should be lottery conditions attached to it. It should only be for a player that fits for multiple seasons. Do not trade that pick for a rental. That would be outrageously stupid. But keep something in mind here: If the Penguins do end up as a playoff team, that first-round pick is going to be in the back half of the round. The Penguins still have that Winnipeg Jets second-round draft pick that is very likely to be very high in the second-round. At that point the difference between, let’s say, pick No. 22-25, and perhaps pick No. 34, is not overly significant. You also still have plenty of assets to potentially move up from that spot high in the second-round if you needed or wanted.
Even thinking about moving that pick is obviously only something you do for somebody in their early-mid-20s, and somebody that is a high level player. That is a difficult trade to find, and chances are you will not find it, but it is definitely something to keep an eye out for given where the team is, where the pick could end up being. and what you still have to work with in terms of assets. This is why stockpiling assets the way Dubas has is so important. It gives you flexibility. It gives you options. The Penguins certainly have a lot of them. This will be fascinating to watch.
Will Smith is enjoying a strong sophomore campaign. He has 31 points through 36 games, trailing only superstar Macklin Celebrini in points per contest among Sharks.
My Rangers vs. Sharks predictions expect Smith to further build on those totals at home against a struggling New York team.
Let’s dive into my NHL picks for Friday, January 23.
Rangers vs Sharks prediction
Rangers vs Sharks best bet:Will Smith Over 0.5 points (-140)
Will Smith has hit the scoresheet at least once in 56% of his appearances this season. He’s done his best work with the San Jose Sharks, picking up a point in 65% of his games and 10 of the past 13.
There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic Smith’s home success will continue vs. the New York Rangers.
They are without star goaltender Igor Shesterkin as well as top defenseman Adam Fox. Predictably, they have bled goals as a result.
New York has conceded 49 goals over the past 10 games, slotting them dead last in the NHL with plenty of room to spare.
Isolating the seven games since Shesterkin joined Fox on the sidelines, the Rangers have conceded 39 goals. That’s an average of 5.57 per.
The Sharks possess a solid offense more than capable of exploiting teams that can’t keep the puck out, especially when goaltending is a big reason why.
They rank 4th in the NHL in shooting percentage and have averaged 3.62 goals per game against Bottom-10 teams in goals against.
Playing on the top line and No. 1 power play alongside a Hart Trophy candidate in Macklin Celebrini, Smith is primed to produce.
Rangers vs Sharks same-game parlay
Celebrini hasn’t scored in six consecutive games, his longest drought of the season. Four of those came against playoff teams, though, and two exceptions were the back-to-back Stanley Cup winners and the Washington Capitals, who finished second in points last year.
This is a much more advantageous matchup for Celebrini. It’s also worth noting he has scored 10 goals through 13 games working on two days of rest this season.
Going the other way, Alexis Lafreniere has multiple shots in 12 of 17 games vs. Bottom-10 shot suppression teams. He also cleared 1.5 shots in seven of the past eight when playing on a line with Artemi Panarin.
Rangers vs Sharks SGP
Will Smith Over 0.5 points
Macklin Celebrini anytime goal
Alexis Lafreniere Over 1.5 shots
Rangers vs Sharks odds
Moneyline: New York -105 | San Jose -115
Puck Line: New York +1.5 (-250) | San Jose -1.5 (+205)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-110) | Under 6.5 (-110)
Rangers vs Sharks trend
Will Smith has 12 points through 10 meetings with Bottom-10 teams in points allowed to forwards. Find more NHL betting trends for Rangers vs. Sharks.
How to watch Rangers vs Sharks
Location
SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, CA
Date
Friday, January 23, 2026
Puck drop
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
MSG, NBCS-California
Rangers vs Sharks latest injuries
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