The Montreal Canadiens visit the Minnesota Wild on Monday, February 2. This exciting matchup featured on Amazon Prime Video consists of two teams in the midst of three-game winning streaks.
My Canadiens vs. Wild predictions and NHL picks suggest a red-hot Jakub Dobes will continue to keep the Canadiens afloat in a jam-packed Atlantic Division.
Canadiens vs Wild prediction
Canadiens vs Wild best bet: Jakub Dobes Over 24.5 Saves (-105)
The Montreal Canadiens are turning to Jakub Dobes to make his fourth consecutive start tonight. He's won the last three, comfortably hitting the Over for saves in each, averaging 31.3 per game.
The Minnesota Wild average nearly 29 shots per game, and Dobes is riding his hottest streak of the season. He made 36 stops in a crucial win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night.
The Czech native has looked as cool and collected as Jon Cooper did with his Scarface-inspired outfit and cigar during the Stadium Series thriller in Tampa yesterday. Look for him to hit the Over yet again.
He's hit the Over for shots in six consecutive games, totaling 15 SOG. He also has six assists in his last seven games — perhaps indicative of his offensive eagerness.
Meanwhile, captain Nick Suzuki has a whopping 15 assists in his last 14 games and four multi-assist games in his last 10. His 47 helpers this season are good for 10th in the NHL.
Montreal snapped a nine-game losing streak against Minnesota with a 4-3 win on January 20. Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Wild.
How to watch Canadiens vs Wild
Location
Grand Casino Arena, St. Paul, MN
Date
Monday, February 2, 2026
Puck drop
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
Prime
Canadiens vs Wild 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.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
This is a Senators team that has had the Penguins' number as of late, winning eight of the last 10 games between the two teams. One of those eight wins came back on Dec. 18, a 4-0 shutout in Ottawa. The Penguins haven't beaten the Senators in regulation since Jan. 20, 2023, when they won 4-1 at home.
The Senators have won three in a row heading into this game, and two of those wins came against the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights. They have outscored their opponents 16-4 during this three-game winning streak.
Offense hasn't been the issue for the Senators this year. They rank ninth in goals per game (3.33) and, according to MoneyPuck, have the third-best 5v5 expected goals percentage in the league (54.7%). They just can't get saves and have gotten the worst goaltending in the league this year.
Linus Ullmark will start in goal for the Senators on Monday, and while his numbers are down this year (2.89 goals-against average and .884 save percentage), he has played very well against the Penguins during his career. He is 7-0-0 against the Penguins with a 2.32 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage.
Tim Stutzle is having another great year for the Senators, compiling 25 goals and 57 points in 54 games. Drake Batherson has also been great with 19 goals and 46 points in 51 games, ditto for Jake Sanderson, who has 10 goals and 44 points in 54 games.
The Penguins will go with the same lineup that they had on Saturday against the New York Rangers. Arturs Silovs will start in goal after he backed up Stuart Skinner for that game.
Forwards
Rakell-Crosby-Brazeau
Chinakhov-Novak-Malkin
McGroarty-Kindel-Mantha
Dewar-Lizotte-Acciari
Defensive pairs
Wotherspoon-Karlsson
Kulak-Shea
Solovyov-Clifton
Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Fans can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'
The Chicago Blackhawks have played against every team in the NHL this season at least once, except for the San Jose Sharks. That will change on Monday night with a match set to take place at the United Center.
The San Jose Sharks are 27-22-4, which is a record (58 points) keeping them on the playoff bubble. At 21-25-9, the Blackhawks are 7 points behind them. Although each team has been in the bottom five over the last several years, there has been steady improvement shown by both.
Bedard vs Celebrini
This is a matchup between two of the NHL’s brightest young stars. Connor Bedard was the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, while Macklin Celebrini went first one year later at the 2024 NHL Draft. These two are compared for a variety of reasons. With that said, this matchup is much more than two young stars going head-to-head.
The San Jose Sharks do rely on Celebrini a lot in terms of their offensive production. He currently has 79 points, which is good for fourth in the entire NHL. The next closest Sharks player is Will Smith with 38. This will get him in Hart Trophy conversations if they do end up making the playoffs.
Smith-Celebrini-Toffoli
Eklund-Wennberg-Graf
Regenda-Misa-Kurashev
Goodrow-Gaudette-Reaves
Orlov-Liljegren
Ferraro-Mukhamadullin
Dickinson-Desharnais
Askarov
The Chicago Blackhawks are going to see Yaroslav Askarov in San Jose's net, who is another good young goalie trying to make his way as an elite player in the league.
Outside of Celebrini and Smith, other young skaters like William Eklund, Michael Misa, and Sam Dickinson are there forming what promises to be a great core for a long time. Veterans like Tyler Toffoli, Alex Wennberg, and Dmitri Orlov are there for support as well. It's a good group that's only going to get better as the years go on.
Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago
The Chicago Blackhawks will still be without Nick Foligno for this game. He is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, although he skated with the team at practice on Sunday.
Nazar-Bedard-Bertuzzi
Teravainen-Greene-Burakovsky
Donato-Dickinson-Mikheyev
Slaggert-Moore-Dach
Vlasic-Crevier
Kaiser-Rinzel
Grzelcyk-Murphy
Knight
Spencer Knight will start in goal for Chicago, as each team will go with their young up-and-coming star goalies. Sam Lafferty is the healthy scratch up front, and Artyom Levshunov will continue his development program, keeping him out of the lineup.
Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar have started to gain some chemistry together at even strength. In this game, they will be with Tyler Bertuzzi. With Landon Slaggert and Colton Dach on Oliver Moore's wing, they will form an energy line.
Jeff Blashill is continuing to evaluate what he has in Moore, who has shown versatility in terms of where he is in the lineup and what position he plays.
How To Watch
The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. To view this game, it can be found on CHSN locally. Nationally, it can be streamed on ESPN+. The puck will drop shortly after 7:30 PM CT.
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There are a lot of reasons why the 2025-26 Pittsburgh Penguins are finding success that they haven't found in the last few years.
For one, they're getting contributions from up and down their lineup. They already have eight players with 10 or more goals - more are on the way, too - and seven players are on pace to score more than 20 goals (and, it could be eight if Rickard Rakell - injured for 20 games this season - gets hot, as he is currently on pace for 19). In addition, 10 players are on pace to clear 40 points this season.
In addition, they're getting solid and timely goaltending. Stuart Skinner has a combined .895 save percentage since he was dealt to the Penguins from the Edmonton Oilers in December, but that's including three shaky starts to begin his tenure in Pittsburgh. Since those three starts, he is 8-1-0 with a .916 save percentage. Arturs Silovs has been solid, too, going 5-1-2 with a .905 save percentage since the holiday break.
And, of course, the Penguins are playing better defense, as they are pretty much near the middle of the pack in most major defensive metrics - a step up from where they were at earlier in the season. They've gotten the most out of guys like Parker Wotherspoon and Ryan Shea on the back end, and Erik Karlsson is having a renaissance season.
But beyond personnel, the Penguins' new system under head coach Dan Muse and his staff is also doing them a ton of favors. So, too, is this team's ability to capitalize on momentem swings.
And that ability to not just capitalize on those swings, but outright dominate because of them, has been a pretty big factor behind this team's success.
"Hockey's a weird game, and when pucks go in, they go in in bunches sometimes," forward Tommy Novak said. "It seems like the next line up is always hungry for another one and to keep [the opposition] in the d-zone."
First thing's first: There is a glaring disparity between when the Penguins strike first this season in comparison to when the opposition does. Pittsburgh is 23-3-5 when scoring the first goal of the game this season as opposed to 5-11-6 when they allow it, which speaks to their ability to control play from the drop of the puck.
But, digging deeper, there are some pretty interesting figures behind the Penguins' quick-strike offense and their ability to keep piling on once they seize momentum.
Through 53 games this season, the Penguins have scored:
- Two goals within a minute 10 times - Two goals within two minutes 19 times - Three goals within 10 minutes eight times - Four goals within 20 minutes three times - Three-plus consecutive goals 25 times - Four-plus consecutive goals 11 times - Five-plus consecutive goals five times
In other words, this team is not only generating a lot of offense from different parts of their lineup, they are able to string together shifts where they dominate possession, roll four lines, and pile on offense in order to give themselves either a good chance at a comeback or some always-needed insurance.
So what's behind this team's ability to take full advantage of momentum swings within games?
The truth is, no one really knows why this team is able to do this as often as it does.
"I wish I could say it's something that's, like, planned," Muse said. "I have nothing to do with it. It's the guys on the ice. I think, sometimes, it's just a little bit of that momentum. You're feeling it, the bench is feeling good, so you get that next opportunity. On the flip side of it, for the team on the other side, when momentum's going against you, you're kind of back on your heels.
"You've seen it where it's the same line doing it twice, then another line doing it next. But, sometimes, when you're kind of on the right side of things, it's just continuing to build traction, continuing to go in the right direction. It's a credit to the group and that next line or that next pair that's jumping over the boards after a goal. Whether it's a goal or it's just another good offensive shift keeping the momentum on our side, it's always a good thing."
"Momentum" will certainly be a theme for the Penguins over the next month-plus, as they're the hottest team in hockey with three games left to play before the near-three-week Olympic break. They're currently on a six-game win streak, sit second in the Metropolitan Division with 67 points, and have scored 31 goals in their past six games.
Perhaps the Olympic break is coming at a tough time for this team, especially because they have so much momentum. But the key for the Penguins is continuing to build on the formula that has made them so successful this season.
"Every line's able to bring some offense," Mantha said. "And if there's one goal, you know the next line's going to be able to hop on the ice and do the same thing.
"It's maybe a little bit of luck, it's maybe the good work we're putting in. But, at the end of the day, it's good for our team."
Seattle Kraken winger Jared McCann has been named the NHL’s first star of the week.
The 29-year-old was dominant, notching four goals and seven points in three games. He picked up points in all three games, including two goals and two assists against the Washington Capitals, a goal and an assist against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Kraken won all three games with McCann leading the way.
McCann has missed a large part of the season dealing with several lower-body ailments. The Kraken haven’t indicated whether they are all separate issues or the same, but he’s been on injured reserve multiple times because of lower-body injuries.
Despite all the game action he’s missed, McCann has recorded 16 goals and 29 points in 30 games, ranking second in goals and sixth in points on the Kraken.
"McCann registered 4-3—7 in three games to lift the Kraken (26-19-9, 61 points) to a perfect week and into third place in the Pacific Division. He notched his second career four-point performance (also Feb. 22, 2024 vs. VAN: 1-3—4) with 2-2—4, including his 26th career game-winning goal, in a 5-1 victory over the Washington Capitals Jan. 27. McCann then posted 1-1—2, his sixth multi-point effort of the campaign, in a 5-2 triumph versus the Toronto Maple Leafs Jan. 29. He capped the week by scoring his 200th NHL goal (and 134th with Seattle) in a 3-2 win against the Vegas Golden Knights Jan. 31. The 29-year-old McCann, the Kraken’s all-time leader in goals and points, ranks second on the team with 16 goals and sixth with 29 points despite only playing in 30 of Seattle’s 54 total contests this season (16‑13—29)."
Joining McCann as stars of the week were Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andre Vasilevskiy, who was named second star after posting a 3-0-0 record, a .930 save percentage, a 1.95 goals-against average, and a shutout. The third star of the week was Philadelphia Flyers winger Travis Konecny, who scored five goals and seven points in four games.
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The Winnipeg Jets visit the Dallas Stars in a Central Division clash at the American Airlines Center on Monday, February 2.
My top Jets vs. Stars predictions and NHL picks are headlined by emerging Winnipeg winger Cole Perfetti.
Jets vs Stars prediction
Jets vs Stars best bet: Cole Perfetti Over 1.5 shots on goal (-105)
Winnipeg Jets winger Cole Perfetti has upped his shot volume out of the holiday break, recording two or more shots in 14 of 19 games for 39 total on 79 attempts.
I also value Perfetti being promoted to the No. 1 power-play unit in addition to pacing Winnipeg forwards in Corsi For percentage at 5-on-5 during the same 19-game stretch.
While the Dallas Stars limit opposing shots to the sixth-fewest per game (25.1), they also rank 30th in CF% at 5-on-5, so Perfetti is set to tilt the ice in his favor for stretches and generate shooting opportunities tonight.
Jets vs Stars same-game parlay
Dallas has only won by multiple goals once across its past nine games, and Winnipeg No. 1 Connor Hellebuyck has a sterling .926 save percentage and 2.28 GAA across his past four road starts.
The key to success for the Jets is to play solid defense in front of Hellebuyck, and Winnipeg has tidied up defensively with the eighth-fewest expected goals against per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 out of the holiday break. With Dallas allowing the fifth-fewest xGA per 60 at 5-on-5, I’m anticipating a close, low-scoring game.
Jets vs Stars SGP
Jets +1.5
Under 5.5
Cole Perfetti Over 1.5 shots on goal
Jets vs Stars odds
Moneyline: Jets +125 | Stars -145
Puck Line: Jets +1.5 (-200) | Stars -1.5 (+165)
Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-115) | Under 5.5 (-105)
Jets vs Stars trend
The Dallas Stars have only hit the Over in three of their last 10 games (-4.95 Units / -44% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Jets vs. Stars.
How to watch Jets vs Stars
Location
American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Date
Monday, February 2, 2026
Puck drop
8:30 p.m. ET
TV
TSN3, Victory+
Jets vs Stars 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.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
Matthew Tkachuk has hit the ground running this season, leading Florida in points and expected goals, while sitting second in shots over his first seven games.
My Sabres vs. Panthers predictions expect another active offensive performance from Tkachuk against Buffalo.
Let’s break down my NHL picks for Monday, February 2.
Sabres vs Panthers prediction
Sabres vs Panthers best bet: Matthew Tkachuk Over 2.5 shots on goal (-155)
Matthew Tkachuk has shot the puck at a healthy clip since returning from injury, averaging 2.9 shots on target through seven games.
He has posted better numbers at home, where he attempted at least five shots in all three showings.
His outputs have also shown spikes following a day of rest. He has generated 3.8 shots per game through four games under those circumstances.
Tkachuk is at home and rested, and the matchup against the Buffalo Sabres doesn’t get much better.
The Sabres are a high-event side that gives up a lot of shot volume. They’ve allowed the second-most shots to wingers over the past 10 games while playing at the sixth-highest pace.
This is a big pace-up spot for the Florida Panthers, who sit 31st in pace during that span. The Sabres should speed the Panthers up a bit, creating a better game environment for offense.
In an important inner-division clash against a team just ahead of the Panthers in the standings, Florida will be heavily reliant on its star winger to lead the charge.
Sabres vs Panthers same-game parlay
Tkachuk has only scored in one of his seven games this season, but he is getting a lot of looks around the net, and the Panthers are favorites in a game with a total of 6.5. This would be a good spot to get one.
Carter Verhaeghe is playing on Tkachuk’s opposite wing, and the two are both featured on the No. 1 power play. Dating back to last year, Verhaeghe has 15 assists over his past 18 games with Tkachuk in the lineup.
Matthew Tkachuk has averaged 4.5 shots on goal over his last eight games against Buffalo. Find more NHL betting trends for Sabres vs. Panthers.
How to watch Sabres vs Panthers
Location
Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL
Date
Monday, February 2, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
MSG-Buffalo, SCRIPPS
Sabres vs Panthers 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.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
Both the Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins rank in the Top 10 in goals per game, but it's the Under that stands out in this matchup.
My Senators vs. Penguins predictions expect a lower-scoring affair between two Eastern Conference teams riding winning streaks.
Let’s break down my NHL picks for Monday, February 2.
Senators vs Penguins prediction
Senators vs Penguins best bet: Under 6.5 (ODDS)
The Pittsburgh Penguins have done a very good job defensively under first-year head coach Dan Muse, ranking 13th in shot suppression, fifth in penalty kill percentage, and tied for ninth in goals allowed.
The Ottawa Senators have had a more difficult time keeping the puck out, but they’ve largely held up when facing other teams that defend well.
Seven consecutive Senators games vs. Top 10 teams in goal prevention have featured five goals or fewer. They allowed 25 shots or less in each of those games, helping make life as easy as possible on their goaltenders.
This stretch includes a matchup with the Pens back in December. Just four goals were scored in that contest — a 4-0 victory for Ottawa — and the two sides combined for only 50 shots on target.
Defense is Ottawa’s calling card, and the Senators will be looking to keep things tight as they try to inch back towards a playoff spot.
The suspension of Bryan Rust and injury to Kris Letang should also take a bite out of their offense and make them easier to slow down.
Senators vs Penguins same-game parlay
Dylan Cozens has generated shots at a very consistent clip, averaging 2.7 on 4.5 attempts over his last 10 games. He cleared 1.5 shots in nine of them, only failing to do so against the No. 1-seeded Colorado Avalanche.
While Thomas Chabot left Ottawa’s last game with an injury, it was cited as precautionary. If he’s good to go, two shots is not much to ask for the minute-muncher who has registered multiple shots on target in 14 of his past 20.
The Over is just 2-7-1 over the past 10 head-to-head matchups. Find more NHL betting trends for Senators vs. Penguins.
How to watch Senators vs Penguins
Location
PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
Date
Monday, February 2, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
TSN5, SportsNet-Pittsgurgh
Senators vs Penguins 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.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
It was a frustrating end to January for the Florida Panthers.
After reeling off wins in six of eight, Florida appeared to be rounding a corner and building some momentum heading into an extremely crucial point of the season.
That was until the past week, when the Panthers dropped each of their three games, two of which coming on home ice and all by a single goal.
Before the defeats, Florida had climbed to within three points of the second Wild Card spot (which was Boston at the time), with a game in hand, and four points back of third place in the Atlantic Division (back then it was Buffalo).
Fast forward to now, where the Cats enter play on Monday eight points behind the Sabres, who hold the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, and ten points back of third-place Montreal with one game in hand.
With only 28 games remaining on their schedule, it’s getting to the point where Florida is losing any margin for error in terms of failing to accumulate points in the standings. Losing three straight games to teams who all had less points than the Panthers is something that simply can’t happen.
This will be the third of four meetings between Florida and Buffalo this season.
A 3-0 road loss to the Sabres back on Oct. 18 capped an early-season four-game losing streak for the Cats, while Florida picked up a 4-3 win in Buffalo on Jan. 12 that was actually the first home loss for the Sabres in about six weeks.
When the Panthers hit the ice on Monday they’ll be in the familiar position of shorthanded thanks to another pair of key forwards missing the game.
Both Brad Marchand and Anton Lundell are considered day-to-day and could play before the NHL breaks for the Olympics, but it won’t be against Buffalo.
Photo caption: Jan 12, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) controls the puck during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. (Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images)
The Detroit Red Wings are beginning to feel their momentum slow. Once the hottest team in the NHL, they now find themselves on a three-game losing streak and losing four of their last five games before heading into one of the most difficult road environments in the league: Colorado.
This trip marks the Red Wings’ first journey west and into the Rocky Mountains this season. They will be looking to bounce back from a 5–0 blowout loss to the Avalanche last Saturday on home ice. Detroit now has a chance to return the favor, though improving their recent road form will be key after posting two wins and two losses over their last four away games.
Colorado has also struggled recently, but Saturday’s win over Detroit may have helped halt an eight-game slump in which the Avalanche lost six of their previous eight contests. Both teams are eager for a victory, setting the stage for an exciting showdown in this marquee matchup.
Lineup Storylines
The Red Wings are going through a noticeable shift in form. Their offense has slowed considerably during a five-game losing streak, and while the defense has tried to hold things together, cracks have begun to show.
Detroit’s once red-hot goaltender John Gibson has now lost three straight starts, with his most recent defeat coming against Colorado. In that game, he allowed four goals on 21 shots, making it his most deflating performance in recent weeks.
The hope is that the potential Vezina Trophy contender can steady himself and regain his rhythm, especially as the defense continues to adjust without Simon Edvinsson in the lineup. Offensively, the usual leaders remain Alex DeBrincat and Lucas Raymond, while Marco Kasper has surprisingly tied for third on the team in points over the skid with one goal and two assists.
The concern is how quickly the scoring has dried up as DeBrincat and Raymond have combined for seven goals during the five-game stretch, while the rest of the roster has contributed just five. Depth scoring has swung wildly this season, starting as a major weakness, turning into a strength during winning streaks, and now slipping once again.
This downturn could prompt general manager Steve Yzerman to explore a move for additional offensive help, especially with rumors linking Detroit to New York’s Artemi Panarin. Regardless of roster speculation, the Red Wings need secondary scoring to reemerge.
Rookie Emmitt Finnie has gone 18 games without a goal, while second-line center Andrew Copp has failed to score in nine straight games after previously being on pace for a career year alongside Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane. Even Kane himself has been held without a goal in 11 consecutive games.
Detroit will need to rediscover its offensive identity sooner rather than later, especially against a Colorado team that demands near-perfection from its opponents.
Despite their recent struggles, the Avalanche have had little trouble generating offense, scoring 29 goals during an eight-game skid that still averages out to 3.22 goals per game. Their main issue has been on the defensive side, as the absence of key blueliner Devon Toews has forced constant changes to their pairings.
Those adjustments have not gone smoothly, with Colorado allowing 3.78 goals per game over that span, the fifth-worst mark in the NHL during that stretch. The Avalanche are also dealing with significant offensive absences, as captain Gabe Landeskog, Martin Necas, and Drew O’Connor are all sidelined heading into Monday.
If the Red Wings can rediscover their scoring touch and turn the game into a high-tempo shootout, they may be able to pull off a surprising victory.
Goalie Matchup
Detroit: John Gibson (21-11-2 record, 2.68 GAA, .903 SV% | VS COL: 10-12-2 record, 2.59 GAA, .920 SV% in 26 games)
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Mike and Dan look back at a packed week of trades, wins, a season sweep and one terrible loss that makes an already daunting upcoming week for the Islanders even more scary.
For five days last week, Islanders fans were feeling good. Three wins, two over the Rangers in a humiliating season sweep complete with chirps from a goofball kid who’s already a star, and trades for Carson Soucy and Ondrej Palat that, while open to criticism, have yielded good early results. Then Saturday happened, when the Islanders played a sloppy, maddening game against the Nashville Predators at home and took a giant step back after three steps forward. It was the last thing we wanted to see with a huge slate coming up and an Olympic break looming that will put us all in stasis for three weeks.
We look back at all of last week’s games and ahead to games against the Capitals, Penguins and Devils to close out the pre-Olympic schedule. One against a team directly behind you, one against a team directly in front of you and one that should be easy on paper but might end up being necessary. It’s a massive week that will tell us a lot about how the trade deadline might shape up. Of course, we said that before this week, too…
Finally we look at an article that ranked NHL arena experiences and at UBS Arena’s fair placement. It’s a great venue with one huge issue keeping it from the league’s upper echelon.
Be sure to count the times Dan says he wants to talk about something and then just never does. This might be an all time record.
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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER 28: Georgii Merkulov #42 of the Boston Bruins skates against the New York Rangers at the TD Garden on November 28, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Providence Bruins beat the Charlotte Checkers 3-0 on Sunday afternoon, their seventh win in a row and eighth in their last ten games.
However, the win was a bit more notable for another reason: Georgii Merkulov became the new all-time leading scorer in franchise history, as he recorded an assist in the win.
That assist gave Merkulov 211 career AHL points, one more than Andy Hilbert recorded as a member of the Providence Bruins.
In his AHL career, the Russian winger now has 84G-127A-211PTS totals in 240 games over parts of five AHL seasons.
Hilbert, who had cups of coffee with the NHL Bruins and went on to have a decent NHL run with the New York Islanders, recored 101G-109A-21oPTS totals in 234 games with Providence.
Frankly, I was a bit surprised to see that this is Merkulov’s fifth AHL season, and even more surprised to see that he was now the franchise’s leading scorer.
That’s not meant as a knock on Merkulov, rather that I assumed there might have been a more prolific, long-time AHLer who had a higher mark over a longer period of time.
However, Merkulov has been consistently productive for Providence: coming into the current season, he led the P-Bruins in scoring three seasons in a row, which had never happened before.
Regardless, it’s a nice milestone for Merkulov, who has played 11 games at the NHL level and is still looking for his first goal.
The Bruins signed Merkulov to an entry-level contract in April of 2022, after just one season at Ohio State University.
He signed a one-year, two-way contract extension last summer. He’s now waiver-eligible, and had to clear when he was cut from training camp prior to this season.
Whether or not he gets another crack at the NHL roster remains to be seen, but being any franchise’s all-time leading scorer is no small feat.
Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz will announce on Feb. 2 that he is stepping down, according to a report from Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
The report from Friedman also indicates Trotz will continue in the role until his replacement can be found.
The Predators have announced a news conference on Feb. 2. The release said Trotz will have an announcement at Bridgestone Arena along with CEO Sean Henry and owner Bill Haslam. The Predators did not disclose the nature of the announcement.
The timing of this decision sets up a challenging rest of the season. With the Predators' record at 25-23-6 (56 points) and four points out of the final wild card spot, they are within striking distance of the playoffs. But in the ultra competitive Western Conference, their chances of a deep playoff run are slim. Trotz has indicated he's been willing to listen to offers on players like Ryan O'Reilly, Michael McCarron, and Michael Bunting at the trade deadline, which is on March 6.
Trotz, 63, took over as general manager in 2023 after the retirement of David Poile. Trotz was the first coach in Predators history, coaching from 1998 until 2014.
When Trotz took the job, he made a flurry of changes in an attempt to change the locker room culture. Matt Duchene's contract was bought out, Ryan Johansen was traded to Colorado, and the team signed center Ryan O'Reilly. The moves worked to transition the team away from the previous core and into a new look.
But many moves by Trotz came under heavy scrutiny. The decision not to sell Alex Carrier at the deadline in 2024, then sign him over the summer, then trade him just two months into the next season. The decision to sign Juuse Saros to an eight-year contract, instead of transitioning to Yaroslav Askarov in net. Losing Dante Fabbro in waivers to Columbus. Trading Luke Schenn to the Penguins for a third round pick, then seeing the Penguins immediately flip him for a second round pick. It was hard to find wins among the many apparent losses.
As the team looks for its next general manager, it will be worth noting if they keep with tradition and stay within the "Predators family" or if they look outside of the organization.
PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 31: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins carries the puck against Vladislav Gavrikov #44 of the New York Rangers at PPG PAINTS Arena on January 31, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
There were some sketchy moments over the past two games, but the Pittsburgh Penguins kept their winning streak going this past week with a 6-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night and a 6-5 win over the New York Rangers on Saturday afternoon. The week got off to a rocky start with a sloppy first period against the Blackhawks before they flipped the switch and absolutely steamrolled them over the remaining 40 minutes. Saturday’s game against the Rangers was pretty much the exact opposite as they dominated the first 44 minutes and jumped out to a 5-1 lead, before having to cling to a one-goal lead in the closing seconds after allowing four third period goals.
The third period goals against are concerning given what this team has done previously this season, but they still managed to get the two points. They enter this week having won six games in a row, seven of their past eight games and have at least one point in each of their past nine games. That has them sitting on Monday with the sixth-best points percentage in the entire NHL and the third-best points percentage in the Eastern Conference.
Lately, they have done what you would expect a good team to do and beat up on teams below them in the standings.
This week the schedule gets a little bit tougher with three pretty significant games against potential Eastern Conference playoff contenders as they go into the Olympic break.
The week begins on Monday night, at home, against the Ottawa Senators.
From a record and standings perspective, the Senators have been one of the more disappointing teams in the NHL this season having gone from a playoff spot in 2024-25, to a team that is struggling to stay in contention. But their record is also a little misleading and not a great reflection of the way the team has played.
There might not be a team in the NHL that has been hurt by goaltending more than them.
Ottawa is a top-10 goal-scoring team this season (ninth in the NHL at 3.33 goals per game) with a 54.01 percent expected goals share during 5-on-5 play (fourth-best in the NHL). They do a lot of things well, and have typically controlled the pace of play in their games.
They just can not get a save. From anybody. The Senators enter play on Monday with an all-situations team save percentage of just .868, which is 32nd out of 32 teams in the NHL. With even adequate or league average goaltending this might be a playoff team again. This is not a game to be taken lightly, especially with the Senators coming in having won three games in a row, outscoring their opponents by a 16-4 margin. It is also worth noting that two of those wins were against the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche.
They are capable of playing very well. Lately, they are. They are also finally getting some saves. Ottawa won the first meeting this season by a 4-0 margin, in Ottawa, back in December.
The Penguins then have a quick turnaround with a back-to-back situation on Tuesday night when they travel to Long Island for a massive game against the New York Islanders.
The Islanders are right behind the Penguins for the second spot in the Metropolitan Division.
Entering play on Monday, the Penguins are two points ahead of the Islanders for that second spot with two games in hand.
The Islanders also play on Monday night against the Washington Capitals (at Washington), so both teams will be playing the second half of a back-to-back with travel. That helps even things out for both teams.
The outcomes of Monday’s games could really change the stakes for that Tuesday game on Long Island.
A Penguins win, combined with an Islanders loss, would give the Penguins a four-point lead over the Islanders going into Tuesday’s game (with still two games in hand) and give them a chance to take a really commanding lead in that race for the second spot in the Metropolitan Division.
A Penguins loss on Monday, combined with an Islanders win, would draw the Islanders even in terms of total points and give them a chance to move ahead on Tuesday with a win.
There is potentially a lot happening there.
This Islanders team is also winning in the most New York Islanders way imaginable. They do not really do anything particularly well. They are not a great offensive team. They are 32nd out of 32 teams in expected goals against per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 play. They are 29th in the NHL in expected goal share during 5-on-5 play.
So how are they winning and staying in the race? It is the goaltending. Ilya Sorokin is playing out of his mind, and after a couple of down years (by his standards, anyway) he is back to playing like one of the truly elite goalies in the NHL.
They also have Matthew Schaefer. The No. 1 overall pick has stepped right into the NHL and made an almost unbelievable impact. We really have not seen an 18-year-old defenseman impact games and a team the way he has in decades. If ever. He is legit. He is the real deal. The Penguins won the first meeting of the season by a 4-3 margin in their home opener.
The Penguins then close out their pre-Olympic break schedule on Thursday with a road game at the Buffalo Sabres. It was not even two months ago that game looked like a potential win that you could pencil in given how bad the Sabres started the season and how they looked like every other Sabres team from the past 14-15 years. Lately, though, they have been one of the hottest and best teams in the league, look like a playoff team, and are playing like a playoff team. That is not going to be an easy game.
Not only is Buffalo playing exceptionally well, it also has some really high-level players that can take over games in forward Tage Thompson and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin. The Penguins won the first meeting of the season against the Sabres, in Pittsburgh, but it was not one of their crisper or cleaner games.
This is going to be a challenging week, not only in terms of opponent, but also because of going on the road and having another back-to-back situation. The good news: They will have Bryan Rust back for Tuesday’s game against the Islanders, even if that creates a lineup crunch that will probably take Rutger McGroarty out of the lineup. If the Penguins can get three or four points out of this week, that would be a fine result and really keep their momentum going into the Olympic break and keep them in a great position in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
WASHINGTON, D.C -- Former New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz is stepping down as Nashville Predators' general manager, per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
Trotz will stay on until he can hire his replacement.
The now 63-year-old took over for longtime Nashville general manager David Poile on July 1, 2023, just a season after former Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello relieved him of his coaching duties following a disappointing 2021-2022 season.
Trotz, who helped lead the Islanders to back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals in 2020 and 2021, won the Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals in 2018 and made the playoffs in his first season at the helm in Nashville, losing in the first round to the Vancouver Canucks after six games.
After missing the playoffs in 2024-2025, Trotz's current team sits four points out of the second wild-card spot, last beating the Islanders 4-3 at UBS Arena on Saturday.
The Predators will be holding a press conference at 12 PM CT to make this move official.
