The Toronto Maple Leafs continue to get absolutely no breaks from the rest of the NHL when it comes to their hunt for a playoff spot.
Following games played on Jan. 26, the Toronto Maple Leafs fell to six points out of a playoff spot after the Boston Bruins picked up a single point in a 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Rangers on Monday.
It was a disappointing result for the Bruins, who had a 3-2 lead in the third period against the openly rebuilding New York Rangers before Will Borgen tied the game with 6:17 to go in regulation time.
That additional point means the Leafs were pushed further down to six points out the second wild card spot. They went into Monday's action down five points out of a playoff spot. It turns out that had the Bruins won the game, it wouldn't have impacted the Leafs' deficit at all, since the Montreal Canadiens would have moved down to the second wild card position ahead of the Leafs by the same six points.
The Leafs certainly have their work cut out for them with five games remaining before the NHL schedule pauses for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
NHL Eastern Conference Wild Card Chase
The Maple Leafs host the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday. The Sabres are six points up on the Leafs, but hold the third-place spot in the Atlantic Division by virtue of fewer games played over Boston and Montreal (both with 63 points). Needless to say, this game is big for Toronto, who are on a four-game losing streak and needs to pick up some points before heading west, where they will embark on a four-game road trip against the Seattle Kraken, Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames and wrap up against the Edmonton Oilers.
MoneyPuck.com opened Monday by listing the probability of the Leafs making the playoffs at 7.6 percent.
The Montreal Canadiens have now lost their last two games and four out of five crucial divisional matchups in just over two weeks. As a result, they now find themselves in the first wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference, although the Boston Bruins now have 63 points as well after their overtime loss against the New York Rangers on Monday night. Montreal remains ahead thanks to having a game in hand, but it now has its back right up against the wall. This team needs a spark, something that will allow it to right the ship and get back on the right trajectory.
The last time it needed that in December, the Habs brass was forced to call up Jacob Fowler from the Laval Rocket, and unless the goaltenders find a way to step up, that may soon be in the cards as well. After Samuel Montembeault failed to make the big saves in the last two games, Jakub Dobes will be given the net tonight against a strong Vegas Golden Knights side.
The Nevada outfit is comfortably installed atop the Pacific Division and has a 7-3-0 record in its last 10 games, but it is coming off a humiliating 7-1 blowout loss against the Ottawa Senators. It likely means the players will be absolutely pumped when they jump on the Bell Centre Ice on Tuesday night. While the Habs have won the last duel between the two sides, they’ve only beaten Vegas three times in their previous 10 meetings.
Tuesday night’s tilt will be Dobes’ first game against Vegas, and he’s got a 15-5-3 record on the season with a 3.01 goals-against average and a .887 save percentage. Meanwhile, Montembeault has a 2-2-2 career record against the Knights with a 3.20 GAA and a .910 SV. The Becancour native was in net for the first game between the two teams this season, a 4-1 win in which he made 30 saves on 31 shots, which was perhaps his best performance of the year.
Based on Monday’s practice, it’s unlikely that there will be any other changes to the Canadiens’ lineup since Patrik Laine, Samuel Blais, Joe Veleno and Jayden Struble were taking rotations as extras.
Meanwhile, the Knights have yet to confirm who will be manning their net. Aidin Hill, who has recently come back from injury, was in the net for the entirety of Sunday night’s 7-1 blowout loss, and it will be interesting to see if he’s given a chance to get back on the horse right away. He’s 5-2-0 against the Canadiens with a 2.71 GAA and a .900 SV. Meanwhile, Akira Schmid has a 1-1-0 record with a 2.02 GAA and a .905 SV against the Habs. As for Carter Hart, who signed with Vegas earlier this season, he’s currently out with a lower-body injury and is being evaluated every week.
Up front, Phillip Danault is the Canadiens’ most productive forward against the Knights, thanks to playing them a lot when he was a member of the Los Angeles Kings. He has 17 points in 20 games against Bruce Cassidy’s men. Captain Nick Suzuki comes in second place with 11 points in as many games, followed by Mike Matheson, who has eight points in 13 duels. Cole Caufield sits right outside the top three, but he’s still a point-per-game player against the Knights with seven points in as many games. The sniper is red hot lately; he has goals (8) in his last five games and 10 points in that span. Suzuki is also on a five-game point streak with two goals and seven assists, while Matheson has an assist in each of the last four games.
Meanwhile, Mitch Marner is the visitors' most productive player against Montreal with 40 points in 39 games, followed by Jack Eichel (24 points in 25 games) and Mark Stone (24 points in 28 games). What do the three have in common? They all took on Montreal regularly when they played in the Atlantic Division for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres, and Senators, respectively. Newly acquired defenseman Rasmus Andersson is the only player currently running a point streak, with two assists in as many games as a member of the Golden Knights.
If the Canadiens hope to win the game, they’ll have to provide a real 60-minute effort; the Knights have a plus-23 differential in the third frame, meaning the Habs can’t afford to let up in the final frame, even if they have the lead. That has been an issue for the Habs lately, and it was discussed at the team meeting after practice on Monday.
The game is set for 7:00 PM, and you can catch it on RDS, TSN2, and SCRIPPS. Mike Sullivan and Jon McIsaac will be the referees, while Michel Cormier and Jeremy Faucher will be the linemen.
Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander apologized twice for pointing his middle finger during the broadcast of his team’s 4-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.
First, he did it on his Instagram account via a story. He later addressed the issue with the media, speaking to reporters when he normally wouldn’t be available due to team policy for injured players.
During the scrum, he apologized again for the gesture, explaining he was frustrated over the injury that had kept him out for five games. He will also miss a sixth game this Tuesday when the club hosts the Buffalo Sabres.
Despite these apologies, the NHL Department of Player Safety decided to fine Nylander $5,000 for the act. “Nylander directed an inappropriate gesture at a television camera operator while the camera was directed at Mr. Nylander and his teammates in the press box," NHL Senior Vice President of Player Safety George Parros said in a statement. "This serves as a reminder that the code of conduct governing players extends throughout the arena at NHL games and in public game situations”.
Many were quick to point out that when Utah Hockey Club defenseman Mikhail Sergachev seemingly pointed his middle finger in front of a camera during a game last season, he escaped without a fine. This has prompted Leafs fans and conspiracy theorists to wonder if Parros is issuing the fine simply because the incident involved a Leaf.
On the surface, I don’t disagree with the fine. Is there an inconsistency in terms of how the NHL’s Department of Player Safety hands out discipline? Absolutely. While there is certainly outrage, it’s just a fine; Nylander is not missing any games because of it. Did he do something dumb? Yeah, I think so.
Toronto’s William Nylander has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for making an inappropriate gesture while in the press box during NHL Game #819.
He apologized twice, and that should have been enough to put things to an end. And yet, the NHL extended the issue by issuing a fine. The Leafs didn’t have to make Nylander available to speak on the matter, and they should be commended for doing so. Ultimately, the fine doesn’t accomplish anything other than inciting more debate. I suppose the NHL could have imposed a suspension had he not apologized, although that would have subjected the discipline department to even more scrutiny—something they clearly do not care about.
The upcoming Olympic break could potentially be coming at a good time for a few banged-up Penguins players.
The biggest concern likely involves Evgeni Malkin, who appeared to be in pain on the bench Sunday night following a seemingly light shoulder tap from Anthony Mantha.
When asked about that moment after the game, head coach Dan Muse said there was “no update” regarding Malkin.
Pittsburgh Hockey Now’s Dan Kingerski reported that Muse told reporters afterward when asked again about Malkin’s injury status: “No, there’s nothing there.”
There’s less reassuring than it might have been otherwise given that Muse described Malkin as “day-to-day” shortly before he was sidelined for a month with a shoulder injury in December.
Malkin said earlier this month he felt normal immediately after the Dec. 4 game against the Tampa Bay Lightning in which he was initially injured, but woke up in pain the next morning. After a Feb. 5 game at the Ottawa Senators, the Penguins don’t play again until Feb. 26.
The upcoming schedule break could be a problem for the Penguins in terms of disrupting their momentum, but could also provide some respite if Malkin is dealing with any lingering issues.
Speaking of potentially injured players: Jack St. Ivany left Sunday’s win over the Vancouver Canucks with an upper-body injury. The Athletic’s Josh Yohe identified it as a left hand injury and said St. Ivany “is expected to miss sometime.”
That one could sting for the Penguins. After some struggles earlier this season, St. Ivany has been part of the reason for the blue line’s success while missing Erik Karlsson and/or Kris Letang during this recent stretch.
The Penguins didn’t provide any updates on either player’s status Monday, so it’ll be something to keep an eye out today. Injury updates will at least come before Thursday’s home game against the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Penguins will also be looking out for news regarding Bryan Rust. NHL Player Safety said he is scheduled to have a hearing for his hit on Canucks captain Brock Boeser this morning.
Pittsburgh’s Bryan Rust will have a hearing tomorrow morning for an illegal check to the head against Vancouver’s Brock Boeser. https://t.co/K8cMz139Hz
The Penguins have five games remaining before the Olympic break, starting with a three-game homestand against the Blackhawks, New York Rangers and Senators and finishing out with a two-game road trip against the New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres.
Potential updates today on Malkin, St. Ivany and Rust will determine if the Penguins are missing any starters for that stretch.
The Pens will especially hope to have as healthy a lineup as possible against the Islanders and Sabres, two teams who could possibly be in direct competition for a playoff spot down the stretch.
As the city digs out from a major winter storm that dumped over a foot of snow on the region, the Pittsburgh Penguins were out west taking care of business to remain one of the hottest teams in hockey. Now they will return home and enjoy a few days off before starting a five-game stretch over the next week and half leading into the Olympic break. This stretch run into the break is highlighted by a three-game homestand and a special Stanley Cup reunion for the 2016 squad this weekend.
Pens Points…
Coming off a perfect 4-0 Western Conference road trip, the Penguins return home for a three-game homestand beginning on Thursday night. These will be their final three home games before the Olympic break and it’s another big opportunity to bank some points. [Pensburgh]
Not only did the Penguins sweep their western road trip, they did so in relatively dominating fashion. Besides a few late hiccups against the Canucks, the Penguins dominated play over the course of four games, showing us that this team might very well be for real. [PPG]
There is a chance the Penguins are without Bryan Rust when they return to game action on Thursday night against the Chicago Blackhawks. For once this is not an injury related situation with Rust, but he could potentially be suspended following a hit against the Cancucks. [Pensburgh]
With January wrapping up, it’s a good time to check in on some young prospects to see how they are faring in their development. Prospects are spread across several different leagues right now both in North American and even over in Europe. [Pensburgh]
It’s been a difficult in this native Sweden for Penguins prospect Melvin Fernstrom and the team is stepping in to help with his development. On Monday, the Penguins recalled Fernstrom from his SHL side Orebro and he heading to North America to continue the season. [Trib Live]
With the Penguins preparing to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their 2016 Stanley Cup triumph this weekend, the team website is doing a round-by-round lookback of that playoff run. On Monday, it was a flashback to a thrilling six game victory over the Washington Capitals. [Penguins]
Goalie masks have turned into their own art form over the years with many artists specializing in making masks for the NHL’s best. For Penguins goalies, they turn to a local artist for all their goalie mask needs, including the newest Penguins netminder, Stuart Skinner. [Trib Live]
Expectations were low when the Penguins acquired Stuart Skinner back in December, many viewing him as a placeholder for the rest of the season. With a strong run of play since Christmas, Skinner has suddenly shifted the conversation to perhaps a longer stay in Pittsburgh. [Daily Faceoff]
NHL News and Notes…
Nine points in three games set the pace for all players this week and it was done by Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov who was named the NHL’s First Star of the Week on Monday. Joining Kaprizov as weekly award winners were Nikita Kucherov and Lukas Dostal. [NHL]
Colorado Avalanche (35-6-9, in the Central Division) vs. Ottawa Senators (24-21-7, in the Atlantic Division)
Ottawa, Ontario; Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: The Colorado Avalanche visit the Ottawa Senators after Brock Nelson's hat trick against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Avalanche's 4-1 win.
Ottawa is 24-21-7 overall and 12-10-4 in home games. The Senators have a 4-10-3 record in games their opponents commit fewer penalties.
Colorado has a 15-4-5 record on the road and a 35-6-9 record overall. The Avalanche have a +80 scoring differential, with 197 total goals scored and 117 given up.
Wednesday's game is the second meeting between these teams this season. The Avalanche won 8-2 in the last matchup. Josh Manson led the Avalanche with two goals.
TOP PERFORMERS: Tim Stutzle has scored 23 goals with 29 assists for the Senators. Jake Sanderson has two goals and nine assists over the past 10 games.
Nathan MacKinnon has 38 goals and 50 assists for the Avalanche. Nelson has scored nine goals and added four assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Senators: 4-4-2, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.7 assists, 4.5 penalties and 11.4 penalty minutes while giving up 3.6 goals per game.
Avalanche: 4-4-2, averaging 3.4 goals, 6.2 assists, 2.8 penalties and 6.2 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game.
INJURIES: Senators: None listed.
Avalanche: None listed.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: The Boston Bruins host the Nashville Predators after Elias Lindholm scored two goals in the Bruins' 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Rangers.
Boston has gone 19-8-1 in home games and 30-20-3 overall. The Bruins have committed 257 total penalties (4.8 per game) to rank first in the league.
Nashville has gone 10-11-2 in road games and 24-23-4 overall. The Predators have a -29 scoring differential, with 145 total goals scored and 174 given up.
The teams meet Tuesday for the first time this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: David Pastrnak has scored 21 goals with 45 assists for the Bruins. Charlie McAvoy has three goals and nine assists over the last 10 games.
Steven Stamkos has 25 goals and 12 assists for the Predators. Ryan O'Reilly has seven goals and eight assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Bruins: 8-1-1, averaging four goals, 7.2 assists, 3.7 penalties and 10 penalty minutes while giving up 2.3 goals per game.
Predators: 5-5-0, averaging 2.9 goals, 4.7 assists, 3.3 penalties and 6.9 penalty minutes while giving up 3.5 goals per game.
INJURIES: Bruins: None listed.
Predators: None listed.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The Boston Bruins had the third-worst record in the Eastern Conference standings on Dec. 30, which was the product of a six-game losing streak. They were in danger of digging themselves a hole that would be tough to climb out of.
But since then, they have won 10 of their last 13 games (10-2-1 record), and as a result the B’s enter Tuesday in the second wild card playoff spot.
What’s behind the Bruins’ impressive turnaround in January?
Let’s look at some of the key factors.
Charlie McAvoy’s fantastic two-way play
McAvoy had a tough start to the season after suffering a jaw injury in mid-November that kept him sidelined for about a month. But he has kicked it into high gear in January with 14 points (three goals, 11 assists). He had just 20 points in the previous three months combined.
He’s making more of an impact than just scoring, though. McAvoy defends at a high level, he blocks shots, he dishes out huge hits, he kills penalties — everything you’d expect from a true No. 1 defenseman.
“He’s been outstanding as of late, for a while now,” Bruins head coach Marco Sturm said after a win over the Vegas Golden Knights last week. “He’s like a horse out there. It’s almost like you want to play him for 60 minutes because he does everything. Blocking shots is part of his game, too. I’m just very happy with the way he’s playing right now, especially in those crucial moments in the game where we need to stay calm and be in the right spot. He’s been there for us all year long.”
McAvoy logs a lot of tough minutes against the opposing team’s top forwards, and yet the B’s still have a positive goal differential and an edge in scoring chances during his even-strength minutes this month.
Whether it’s 5-on-5, the power play or the penalty kill, McAvoy is making a positive impact all over the ice, and that’s what you expect from a player who is top 10 at his position when healthy.
Morgan Geekie is back
After going 12 straight games without scoring a goal from Dec. 21 through Jan. 17, Geekie has tallied six points (four goals, two assists) in the last four matchups.
Geekie scored twice against the Canadiens on Saturday night, including the game-winning tally with 5:53 left in the third period.
Geekie RIPPED it so hard it got lodged in the back of the net, BUT NO ONE KNEW HE SCORED BESIDES HIMSELF AT FIRST!!!! 😱🚨 pic.twitter.com/FtOvdx18df
Geekie was shooting 28.2 percent right before that 12-game goalless drought began. He wasn’t going to maintain that percentage forever — some kind of regression was coming. But Geekie’s success is no fluke. He’s a tremendous goal scorer with an excellent shot and a high hockey IQ without the puck.
If the Bruins are going to remain in the playoff race past the Winter Olympics, they’ll need Geekie to be a consistent goal scorer at even strength and the power play.
Power play is much improved
One of the primary reasons why the Bruins finished with the fifth-worst record in the league last season was their horrendous power play, which ranked 29th with a 15.2 percent success rate.
The power play has been much improved this season, and one man who has been influential in that turnaround is assistant coach Steve Spott. He was brought in after Marco Sturm was hired as head coach, and one of his main responsibilities was fixing the power play.
It’s hard to argue with the results.
The puck movement is more crisp. There’s more traffic in front of the net and the zone entries are cleaner.
The Bruins have the NHL’s third-best power play right now at 27.5 percent. The only teams ahead of them are the Edmonton Oilers (31.8) and Dallas Stars (29.1) — two squads with loads more elite offensive talent than Boston.
The Bruins scored three times on the power play versus the Canadiens on Saturday, and in January they’re scoring on a league-best 37.5 percent of their opportunities with the man advantage.
Korpisalo’s inability to give the Bruins quality outings as the backup goalie for much of the season was a huge burden on the team’s playoff chances. He posted a sub-.900 save percentage in October, November and December.
But to his credit, Korpisalo has been awesome in January with a 4-0-1 record, a .931 save percentage and a 1.89 GAA in six appearances (five starts).
If Korpisalo can be more consistent and allow Jeremy Swayman to get some much-needed rest in the second half of the season, that would be a huge boost for the Bruins.
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Fraser Minten making Maple Leafs look foolish
The Toronto Maple Leafs included Fraser Minten as part of the Brandon Carlo trade with the Bruins last season, and it’s a decision they probably regret.
Minten has been a key player for Boston with a career-high 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists) in 53 games. His 13 goals would be the fifth-most on the Leafs roster and one more than 23-year-old forward Matthew Knies, who has a $7.75 million salary cap hit.
Minten has really started to hit his stride in January with 10 points — including a team-leading seven goals — in 12 games this month.
The Bruins have a plus-10 goal differential and a plus-22 edge in scoring chances during Minten’s 5-on-5 ice time this season. His two-way skill set, including an ability to kill penalties (third-most shorthanded ice time per game among B’s forwards), has given the Bruins much-needed depth.
David Pastrnak quietly having another elite season
Pastrnak has been a force all season, especially in January. He has tallied 23 points (four goals, 19 assists) in 12 games this month. For the full season, he leads the team with 67 points (21 goals, 46 assists) in 48 games. No one else on the roster has more than 48 points.
The veteran right wing currently is on pace for 101 points, which would get him past the century mark for four consecutive seasons.
Pastrnak is one of the league’s most talented goal scorers, but he’s also a superb passer. His playmaking skills have been on full display this season, evidenced by his 2.87 assists per 60 minutes, which would easily be a new career high. Pastrnak set up a Geekie goal on Saturday with a brilliant assist.
The New York Rangers’ 4-3 overtime win over the Boston Bruins on Monday night may not mean a whole lot when it comes to the standings and playoff chances, but there’s a lot to be encouraged about, specifically when it comes to the young players.
Entering this matchup, the Rangers had lost three straight games and were without Carson Soucy, who was held out for roster management reasons as a trade between the Rangers and the New York Islanders was on the verge of being completed, which was made official after the game.
With Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury releasing a letter last week outlining the team’s intentions to retool the roster, this win in the grand scheme of things doesn't hold much significance.
The focus now shifts from making the playoffs with a clearly depleting roster to fully developing the young core and giving them opportunities to thrive.
In Monday night’s victory, the young core served as the driving force to securing these two points.
It was Will Cuylle who scored the Rangers’ first goal in the first period to set the tone. Cuylle, Noah Laba, and Brennan Othmann form a prominent third line, built on youth, physicality, and grit.
“Lobs (Laba) is continuing to grow and develop,” Sullivan said. “He brings a speed game. I think when he plays with Will Cuylle, I think they have a pretty good north-south game, a speed game there. They're fairly reliable defensively, so they can play on both sides of the puck. We have no issues playing them against anyone.”
Gabe Perreault set up the Blueshirts’ second goal with a pinpoint pass to J.T. Miller, who capitalized to give the Rangers a 2-1 lead.
As of late, Perreault has been playing his best hockey. From seeming to be overwhelmed by the pace of NHL play when he was originally called up, Perreault is now generating offense at a high rate.
The 20-year-old forward’s vision allows him to slow down the game and create for his teammates, while his offensive prowess is providing the Rangers with some much-needed explosiveness on a roster mostly barren of high-end skill.
Perreault has thrived in a top-six role playing on a line alongside Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller, and he’s certainly deserving of a larger role given that he didn’t even touch the ice for the entirety of overtime.
“I think Gabe has done a great job playing with Mika and J.T. You can see his offensive instincts. I think he's getting more comfortable with the game, with each game that he plays and the experience that he gets, but he has the instincts to play with those guys, and I think it's evident,” Sullivan said of Perreault.
“That pass he made to J.T., that's an elite play. There are a lot of guys that don't have the vision or the skillset to execute the play, and it was a really smart play on his part, but just the vision to see it. We're really excited about the progress he's made.”
It was Matthew Roberston, who delivered the overtime-winning goal, going coast to coast and finishing with a nifty move to get the puck past Joonas Korpisalo.
It’s been a long journey for Robertson, who spent four full seasons in the American Hockey League playing for the Hartford Wolf Pack, and quite frankly, it didn’t appear as if he would make the jump to the NHL, at least not with the Rangers.
This season, Robertson not only made the Rangers’ opening-night roster out of training camp, but he has carved out a consistent role for himself, making for a real feel-good story.
The 24-year-old defenseman had his shining moment on Monday night, and admitted that he thinks that this was his only overtime goal that he could remember.
“Honestly, I just blacked out and just smiled,” Roberston emphasized. “I was excited.”
Roberston also took time to reflect on the mountain he had to climb to be able to experience that moment and knows he can’t take anything for granted.
“I remind myself, honestly as much as I can, just how hard it is to get here and just to keep pushing,” Robertson said. “You can go back to where I was easily. You can get sent down at any time.”
At the end of the day, it’s just one game, and the Rangers have a long way to go in the retooling process, as we have yet to see the true implications of Drury’s letter outside of the minor Soucy trade.
However, it’s all about the young talent, and for the Rangers’ sake, hopefully Monday night’s emotional victory is a sign of what is to come in the future.
It feels like just yesterday we were all watching Evan Bouchard get his hat trick and listening to Mattias Ekholm sing his praises. Okay, so it was literally the last game. But it's the same difference.
Now it's Ekholm's turn. The veteran defenseman recorded a hat trick against the Anaheim Ducks, becoming just the fourth defenseman in Edmonton Oilers history to accomplish the feat. And here's the wild part: when Bouchard did it, he was only the third. Fifty-four years of Oilers hockey, and only two defensemen—Paul Coffey and Marc-Andre Bergeron—had managed it. No Oilers defenseman with a hat trick in 20 years. Then all of a sudden, two games, not even a week apart, two D-partners pull off the same statistical miracle.
If this isn't a sign that things are trending in the right direction, I don't know what is.
Connor McDavid certainly thinks so. When asked about Ekholm's performance, he didn't hold back.
"We're not talking greatness, we're talking legendary," McDavid said.
Legendary might be strong, but it's not wrong. Ekholm's been a steady, reliable presence on the Oilers' blue line since arriving from Nashville. He doesn't typically light up the scoresheet—he's more about shutdown defence, smart positioning, and veteran leadership. So when he scores three goals in one game? Yeah, that's legendary.
"Some nights the bounces go your way. I will try to enjoy this one because it will probably be my last," Ekholm said with a laugh. "I couldn't buy a goal for twenty games, then three in one."
That's hockey for you. Sometimes the puck just finds you. But give Ekholm credit—he's been a pillar on the Oilers blue-line for a while.
"Obviously he (Ekholm) has a bomb of a shot, and he knows how to use it," Leon Draisaitl said.
He does. Ekholm's not just getting lucky bounces—he's picking his spots, loading up, and firing. When a defenseman with his experience and shot gets opportunities, good things happen.
But here's what makes this stretch even more significant: it's not just Bouchard and Ekholm. It's the entire Oilers defence. Against the Ducks, Edmonton's blue line combined for five goals, two assists, and a plus-10. Five goals from defensemen in one game. That's absurd. That's the kind of offensive production from the back end that Stanley Cup teams get.
Spencer Stastney chipped in. Darnell Nurse scored. Bouchard's been a force all season. And now Ekholm's joining the party. The Oilers' defence isn't just preventing goals — it's creating them.
Sometimes (most of the time, let's be honest), the Oilers get a reputation for having a lousy defensive structure. And some games, it's warranted. We've watched them lose games because of defensive breakdowns, missed assignments, and untimely turnovers. But we've also seen this — two world-class performances from the top defensive pairing against two decent teams in less than a week.
It's a bit perplexing. But it also shows things are coming together on the back end. The Oilers now have two solid goalies — Tristan Jarry and Connor Ingram (sorry, Calvin Pickard; you will be missed). They've got outstanding performances from their top D-pairing. And they're getting contributions from depth defensemen who are stepping up when needed.
"If we're going to have success down the road, it's going to be from the defensive side out," Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said.
He's absolutely right. The Oilers have always been able to score. McDavid, Draisaitl, Hyman—they'll put up goals. But Cups aren't won on offence alone. You need goaltending. You need defensemen who can move the puck, shut down opposing forwards, and contribute offensively when opportunities arise.
Right now, the Oilers are getting all of that. Bouchard and Ekholm are playing on another level. The depth defensemen are contributing. The goaltending's been solid. And the structure—when they commit to it—is there.
Two hat tricks from defensemen in a week. That's not normal. That's not something you can count on happening again. But it's a reflection of how dangerous this team can be when everything works. When the defence is active, when they're shooting, when they're confident—this team becomes nearly impossible to stop.
Ekholm might never score another hat trick in his career. He's probably right about that. But for one night against Anaheim, he was legendary. And the Oilers' defence? It's starting to look like it might actually be good enough to win something.
Keep your eye on the blue line. It might just take the Oilers to that next level.
The Islanders brought a wholly different set of forward lines with them to Philadelphia.
After getting beat 5-0 by the Sabres on home ice Saturday, all four lines were switched up Monday against the Flyers, and Cal Ritchie was out due to a lower-body injury.
Ritchie was called day-to-day by the team, while Simon Holmstrom also missed the game due to illness.
Marc Gatcomb drew back in for Ritchie, with coach Patrick Roy reuniting the fourth line of Gatcomb, Casey Cizikas and Kyle MacLean that had considerable success before being broken up.
Anders Lee and Maxim Tsyplakov — originally intended to be a healthy scratch before Holmstrom came down ill — played on the third line on either side of Jean-Gabriel Pageau. Jonathan Drouin skated with Mathew Barzal and Anthony Duclair, while Max Shabanov jumped up to the top line with Bo Horvat and Emil Heineman.
Philadelphia Flyers’ Nick Seeler, left, and New York Islanders’ Marc Gatcomb collide during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, in Philadelphia. AP
“We try a bit of a mix of everything,” Roy told reporters in Philadelphia before the game. “Mostly Bo’s been playing really well with, let’s say, Heiny. So, feel comfortable to put a guy like Shabby there. Barzy’s been playing well with Anthony Duclair [but] lately with Anders, the line was not performing as well as we wish.”
The configuration did come down to the final minutes before the game, as Holmstrom had skated in the morning on Barzal’s line, prompting more changes when he was made a scratch.
“A lot of talk, a lot of communication on the ice, makes it way easier when you’re on the ice and you know where your teammates are,” Pageau said after scoring twice, the second off Tsyplakov’s backhand feed. “When one guy was in trouble, we supported him quick in the corners. Same on the forecheck.”
Saturday’s loss marked the first time in over a month the Islanders had dropped back-to-back games, and put them at risk of losing three in a row for just the third time all season.
Max Shabanov #49 of the New York Islanders skates against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 26, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NHLI via Getty Images
The line shuffling, though, has been going on for much longer than that, as the Islanders have struggled to find any combinations that can bring them some needed consistency.
One game, of course, doesn’t tell you much about whether they’ll achieve that here. But it’s a good sign at least.
Ilya Sorokin’s 21 saves were his fewest in a shutout since Oct. 17, 2023, when he had a 14-save shutout against the Arizona Coyotes.
Jonathan Quick’s first stretch as the Rangers starting goaltender — taking over for an injured Igor Shesterkin — had been filled with struggles. An 0-5-0 record entering Monday’s game against the Bruins. A .795 save percentage, too.
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But Quick finally did enough to pick up his first win since Nov. 7 and his first since Shesterkin landed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury earlier this month, making 21 saves during their 4-3 overtime victory.
He also moved past Glenn Hall and into 12th place in NHL history with 408 career wins, which head coach Mike Sullivan called an “incredible achievement.”
“I just think that speaks volumes for his body [of] work in this league,” Sullivan said of Quick moving past Hall. “He means a lot to this team. He’s a great leader. He competes extremely hard. He’s one of the more popular guys in our dressing room for good reason. I just think all of us that are a part of this team have so much respect for what he’s accomplished in this game and his passion for the game as he continues to strive for excellence every single day.”
New York Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick #32 watches as the puck hits off the goal post during the second period. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Quick had been pulled on two different occasions with Shesterkin out, but he bounced back after allowing two goals early in the second period Monday that gave the Bruins a 3-2 lead. And with Shesterkin still on injured reserve and just skating on his own, the Blueshirts will need to continue relying on Quick — who turned 40 on Jan. 21 — until their $92 million star returns.
“His work ethic is impressive to watch day in and day out, and I think that speaks to his ability to play at such a high level at the age that he’s at,” Sullivan said. “That’s not easy to do. Couldn’t be happier for him because he’s competing hard for us.”
The six-game absence was filled with frustration. At the time the Rangers decided to remove him from their lineup, Matt Rempe had trouble gripping his stick, passing and shooting pucks. He couldn’t deliver the physical presence the Rangers wanted because his left thumb was still recovering from the surgery after a fight with the Sharks’ Ryan Reaves in October that left it broken.
But that disappointment, for at least one night, faded as Rempe returned to his spot on the fourth line and finished with two shots and two hits across 8:43 of ice time.
Artemi Panarin extended his point streak to 13 games (five goals, 14 assists) with an assist on Will Borgen’s goal late in the third period.
The Rangers held their latest centennial theme night of the season, this time honoring legendary Blueshirts from 1991-2004, including members of their 1994 Stanley Cup-winning team. Darren Turcotte, Radek Dvorak, Neil Smith, Mike Keenan, Kevin Lowe, Sergei Nemchinov, Craig MacTavish, Brian Noonan, Mike Hartman, Jeff Beukeboom, Jay Wells, Joe Kocur, Stephane Matteau, Glenn Anderson, Mike Richter, Adam Graves, Brian Leetch and Mark Messier all were in attendance, while Wayne Gretzky appeared on a video on the scoreboard.
Pittsburgh Penguins rookie center Ben Kindel probably didn't even expect to play what is approaching 50 games for the big club this season.
Yet, here he is. He appears to be in Pittsburgh to stay, and his presence on the NHL roster could mean much more than merely just helping the team win hockey games in the now.
Kindel, 18, has thoroughly impressed Penguins' brass this season, as the rookie center has 10 goals and 22 points in 48 games. But if you ask anyone about the impact that Kindel has made, it hasn't necessarily been about the production.
Instead, it's been about the maturity in his all-around game. The veteran-like play from the "kid" has impressed teammates - inlcuding his linemates - and they know how advanced his two-way game is for an 18-year-old.
"Sometimes, the lights can be pretty bright if you're up here at 18, but he's handled it so well, and he does such good things on the ice as far as playing two-way hockey," said Justin Brazeau, who has been Kindel's linemate in recent games. "He's probably way ahead of the curve as far as defensive play for young guys. And then just his ability to kind of just hang onto pucks, move pucks through the neutral zone, makes it easy for guys like me and 'Mo' [Anthony Mantha]... I think he's fit in really nicely."
Of course, everyone knows by now how the young center impressed so much in training camp that he earned a spot - along with 19-year-old defenseman Harrison Brunicke - on the opening night roster. Brunicke's play faded a bit down the stretch, and he didn't quite hit the 10-game mark with the NHL club this season before eventually being sent back to juniors, meaning his entry-level contract will not activate until next season.
But the Penguins elected to give Kindel that 10th game. And then, they elected to keep him beyond his 40th game as part of the active roster, meaning he gets to unrestricted free agency a year sooner.
But that didn't seem to faze GM/POHO Kyle Dubas and the Penguins. He's not only become a mainstay in the Penguins' lineup, he's also proven himself a very important player for them - too important to jettison from the roster and send back to junior hockey with the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL.
In fact, Kindel's sooner-than-anticipated emergence could, potentially, have a pretty big impact on their approach to roster-building in the next calendar year. He has already seen some minutes as a second-line center this season, and his role is likely only going to grow heading into 2026-27. Plus, if Evgeni Malkin does end up returning next season, it appears more and more likely that he will play on the wing, which speaks to how confident the Penguins feel about Kindel and Tommy Novak, who has one year remaining on his current deal.
So, the fact that the Penguins already have a legitimate top-six center for the future on their NHL roster - and the fact that Sidney Crosby does not seem to be slowing down at 38 - may pave the way for them taking some bigger swings in terms of acquiring talent.
With Pittsburgh holding firmly onto the Metropolitan Division's second spot - and playoffs becoming more and more of a reality - they probably won't rely on the draft lottery to bring in an elite talent, and they may not even draft in the top-20. Without Kindel in the picture, the Penguins probably wouldn't feel as good about that.
But he is in the picture, and he's already excelling. And there are two other centers selected in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft in Bill Zonnon (22nd overall) and Will Horcoff (24th overall) who are also both excelling this season and could crack the NHL roster sooner rather than later.
Kindel's emergence this season is no small deal. But the crazy thing is that there is still so much room for him to grow. He's already seen ample time on both special teams units this season, he's counted on in some defensive zone starts and key situations, and he's consistently helping drive offense for his third line.
In other words - like Brazeau said - Kindel already has so many of the details nailed down that often take younger players years to master. So, once the production catches up? The Penguins will probably have a pretty special player on their hands.
"To be that young and doing the things he does in this league is pretty special," Brazeau said. "And it speaks to him, not only with his skillset, but just kind of how he carries himself."
And, fear not, the production will come. In a 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday, Kindel tallied two goals - his first in 19 games - in front of 192 family members and friends, and he, Brazeau, and Mantha were a force most of the evening.
Hopefully, that two-goal spark lights the fire for Kindel, who is already the first rookie Penguins' player since Jake Guentzel in 2016-17 to record double-digits in goals.
"Obviously, you want to try to help the team as much as you can, and scoring is one of those areas," Kindel said after Sunday's win. "I don't know if it's as much about confidence, but [I'll] just keep playing my game, and goals will come and go."
Before the 2025-26 season started, Evgeni Malkin told the Pittsburgh Penguins coaches and management staff that he wanted to play with Tommy Novak.
Novak was acquired by the Penguins from the Nashville Predators, along with Luke Schenn, for Michael Bunting and a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, before last year's trade deadline. Novak would go on to appear in only two games before suffering a season-ending injury.
Coming into the season, Novak started the year playing a lot of minutes with rookie Ben Kindel on the third line, while Malkin centered Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazeau. Novak and Malkin had chemistry on their own lines before the Penguins suffered some injuries, including one to Malkin in early December.
Malkin missed a month with a shoulder injury before returning to the lineup on Jan. 8 against the New Jersey Devils. He was originally on a line with Kindel and Egor Chinakhov before head coach Dan Muse swapped out Kindel for Novak ahead of the Jan. 13 game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Novak and Malkin have been on the same line ever since that game, and the Penguins have a 5-0-2 record during that time. The two have also shown outstanding chemistry together, and it was on display again during Sunday's game against the Vancouver Canucks.
In the second period, Chinakhov did a great job winning the puck along the boards before spinning and passing the puck to Novak, who delivered a great cross-ice pass to Malkin in the offensive zone for the game's opening goal. Malkin made no mistake with the puck on that play.
Novak's a great distributor of the puck, and when you combine that with Malkin's ability to finish chances, that's what you get.
During the game against the Calgary Flames on Jan. 21, Malkin and Novak both scored great goals, but it was their play on Chinakhov's goal that really stood out. Malkin took the puck from Ryan Shea and galloped into the offensive zone before passing it off to Novak. Novak then had a small, one-touch feed to Chinakhov, who used his wicked release to make it 2-0 at the time.
Novak has four points in his last three games and two goals and eight points in January, while Malkin has five points in his last three games and five goals and 11 points for the month.
Jan 15, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Egor Chinakhov (59) celebrates his goal with Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) and center Tommy Novak (18) against the Philadelphia Flyers during the second period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Novak and Malkin have played 173 minutes together at 5v5 this season, and have been on the ice for 48.3% of the shot attempts, 47.7% of the expected goals, 49.7% of the scoring chances, and 47.8% of the high-danger chances. While all of those numbers are below 50%, I expect them to improve down the stretch, given how they've been playing. They also have a +8 goal differential at 5v5.
Malkin is slated to hit free agency after the season, and it's been a big story this year, given the season that he's having. Malkin has 13 goals and 40 points in 36 games and is one of the biggest reasons why the Penguins are in second place in the Metropolitan Division.
His representatives are expected to meet with Penguins president and general manager Kyle Dubas during the Olympic break to discuss a possible extension. If I'm the Penguins, this is a no-brainer. I'd sign Malkin to a one-year deal to return for another year. He'd probably take at least a little bit of a discount, and the front office can also attach a full no-move clause to the deal.
He's playing like a player who still has something left in the tank and more than deserves an extension. It would also give the Penguins another opportunity for Malkin and Novak to play together for a second season in a row, since Novak still has a year remaining on his contract after this year. Novak isn't slated to be a free agent until after the 2026-27 season.
Both players have been a blast to watch on the same line this month and are a threat to score each time they're on the ice. Assuming the Penguins make the playoffs, they could be a matchup nightmare for other teams in a seven-game series.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Andrei Vasilevskiy made 28 saves for his second shutout of the season and 42nd of his career, Darren Raddysh scored on a power play late in the second period, and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Utah Mammoth 2-0 on Monday night.
Brandon Hagel added a power-play goal in the final minute for the Lightning, who have won 15 of 17 and swept the season series against Utah. Tampa Bay moved atop the Eastern Conference standings with 70 points, one ahead of Carolina and Detroit.
Vasilevskiy, who leads the league in goals-against average, improved to 2-0-0 against the Mammoth, both shutouts. He blanked them last season, the inaugural campaign for the Utah franchise.
Raddysh took a feed from Nikita Kucherov and one-timed it above the shoulder of Karel Vejmelka for a 1-0 lead with 2:22 left in the second.
Vejmelka made 25 saves for Utah, which lost in regulation for only the second time in its past 12 games.
RANGERS 4, BRUINS 3, OT
NEW YORK (AP) — Matthew Robertson scored at 3:53 of overtime as New York beat Boston to snap a three-game losing streak.
Will Cuylle, J.T. Miller and Will Borgen also scored for the Rangers, and Jonathan Quick got his 408th career win — passing Hall of Fame goalie Glenn Hall for 12th place on the NHL list. Quick made 21 saves and assisted on the overtime winner.
The Rangers, last in the Eastern Conference, took two of three against Boston this season. They improved to 6-13-4 at home and won for only the third time in 14 games overall.
Elias Lindholm had two goals and Morgan Geekie also scored for the Bruins. David Pastrnak added three assists to reach 900 career points. He has nine assists in his last five games. Joonas Korpisalo stopped 24 shots.
ISLANDERS 4, FLYERS 0
NEW YORK (AP) — Ilya Sorokin stopped 21 shots for his NHL-best sixth shutout of the season and Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored two goals to lead New York to a win over Philadelphia.
Mathew Barzal and Tony DeAngelo also scored for the Islanders. The Islanders scored power-play, short-handed and even-strength goals.
A game after they were shut out for the first time this season, Pageau snapped the scoreless streak with his ninth goal of the season on a short-handed shot past Samuel Ersson.
The Flyers allowed their fifth short-handed goal of the season.
OILERS 7, DUCKS 4
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Mattias Ekholm scored a hat trick and Edmonton rode a dominant second period to a victory over Anaheim.
Zach Hyman and Connor McDavid each added a goal and an assist for the Oilers, Spencer Stastney scored his first in an Edmonton jersey and Darnell Nurse also scored.
Leon Draisaitl contributed four assists and Tristan Jarry stopped 36 of the 40 shots he faced.
Three of Anaheim’s four goals came from Mikael Granlund on the power play, starting with his 10th tally of the season 3:24 into the game.
