It’s been two years since the Vancouver Canucks acquired Elias Lindholm from the Calgary Flames in exchange for Andrei Kuzmenko, Hunter Brzustewicz, Joni Jurmo, and a 2024 first-round pick. While Lindholm departed from the Canucks organization only a few months after being acquired, some pieces acquired by the Flames have remained within their organization. Here’s a look at where all five pieces of this trade are now. 

Elias Lindholm Would Be A Welcome Piece In Vancouver’s Centre Depth

Lindholm’s first year as a member of the Boston Bruins, who he signed with during the 2024 off-season, didn’t exactly go as planned. The centre finished the season with 17 goals and 30 assists throughout a full 82 games — not ideal considering his past offensive abilities with the Flames. However, it appears things are starting to shift for Lindholm now, as the centre has put up 11 goals and 26 assists in 44 games this season. While this point total puts him ahead of any Canucks so far this season, Lindholm is also currently playing in a first-line centre role alongside David Pastrňák and Morgan Geekie. His linemates if he were still in Vancouver would likely be much different. 

Andrei Kuzmenko Is On His Fourth NHL Team In As Many Years

Vancouver was the first NHL team that Kuzmenko played for before he was traded to the Flames in January 2024. However, since then, the forward also made his way to the Philadelphia Flyers before finally appearing to settle down with the Los Angeles Kings. Kuzmenko played alright during his first 22 regular season games with the Kings, scoring five goals and 12 assists, but proved to the Kings why they acquired him with a three-goal, three-assist effort in six playoff games. As a result, Kuzmenko signed a one-year, $4.3M contract with Los Angeles that will make him a free-agent at the end of this season. He currently has 11 goals and 10 assists in 47 games throughout 2025–26.      

Hunter Brzustewicz Is Carving Out Some NHL Playing Time With The Flames

After making his NHL debut on April 17, 2025 against the Kings, it looks like Brzustewicz is getting his first look at an extended period of NHL minutes. The defenceman made his season debut for the Flames on December 10 and has stuck in Calgary’s lineup primarily since then. With Jake Bean on the IR and Zayne Parekh taking part in a conditioning stint after dealing with an injury, Brzustewicz has been playing on the Flames’ third-pairing, putting up a goal and an assist throughout 18 games. In his 23 AHL games played with the Calgary Wranglers this season, Brzustewicz has four goals and eight assists. 

After Some Time With The Flames Organization, Joni Jurmo Has Returned To Finland 

Jurmo is the last player who was sent to Calgary in exchange for Lindholm. The defenceman spent one season with the Flames organization before making his return to Finland, where he currently plays for Kiekko-Espoo in Liiga. His time with the Flames was split between the Wranglers and the Rapid City Rush in the ECHL, the latter of which saw him score two goals and eight assists in 12 games. After this season, Calgary put Jurmo on unconditional waivers with the purpose of terminating his contract despite his deal carrying only one more year on it. 

Vancouver’s 2024 First-Round Pick Turned Into A Surprising Prospect  

The most intriguing part of Calgary’s return in the Lindholm trade may very well be the first-round pick they snagged from Vancouver during it. The pick, which ended up at 28th overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, was ultimately used by the Flames to select forward Matvei Gridin. Gridin played for the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL and Shawinigan Cataractes of the QMJHL before joining the Flames organization in 2025–26. He scored his first NHL goal in his NHL debut on October 8 against the St. Louis Blues, playing in a total of four games before being sent down to the Wranglers. Calgary has since called Gridin up, with the forward having played with the team since the middle of January. 

There are pros and cons for both teams when it comes to the repercussions of this trade. On one hand, Lindholm was one of the Canucks’ top performers during their 2024 playoff run, but ultimately was with Vancouver for less than six months. Calgary has only retained two parts of this particular trade, though they acquired two big pieces to their forward core when they traded Kuzmenko. Overall, Calgary was the team to win this trade given the pieces they have managed to keep as well as those they acquired in return for those that were flipped. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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Two teams fighting desperately to hold onto their playoff chances will meet tonight when the Ottawa Senators host the New Jersey Devils.

Brady Tkachuk has been doing his part to keep the Sens alive, and my Devils vs. Senators predictions and NHL picks for Saturday, January 31 like him to score tonight.

Devils vs Senators prediction

Devils vs Senators best bet: Brady Tkachuk anytime goal (+135)

It’s crunch time for the Ottawa Senators, who sit 10 points back of a playoff spot with less than 30 games to go in the regular season.

Brady Tkachuk has stepped up at the perfect time for this desperate Sens team, scoring a team-leading seven goals and 15 points in January.

The Senators captain has found the back of the net in five of his last eight outings, and I expect him to do the same tonight vs. the New Jersey Devils.

The Devils will likely send Jake Allen to man the crease tonight, which could be a blessing for the Senators. Allen is carrying an .884 SV% through five starts this month while allowing four goals in three of his last four outings.

Ottawa, which has scored 12 goals over its last two games, should be able to keep the offense rolling while Tkachuk stays hot.

Devils vs Senators same-game parlay

Jake Sanderson has come into his own as one of the NHL’s best defensemen this season. The Ottawa blueliner has 13 assists in 15 games this month, collecting at least one helper in 11 of those contests.

The Senators have cashed the Over in 60.4% of their games this season, tied for the third-highest rate in the NHL. Ottawa is coming off two high-scoring wins, so this could be another fun game.

Devils vs Senators SGP

• Brady Tkachuk anytime goal
• Jake Sanderson Over 0.5 assists
• Over 5.5

Devils vs Senators odds

• Moneyline: Devils +125 | Senators -150
• Puck Line: Devils +1.5 (-205) | Senators -1.5 (+170)
• Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-130) | Under 5.5 (+110)

Devils vs Senators trend

The Senators have hit the 1P Game Total Over in 15 of their last 20 games (+9.00 Units / 32% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Devils vs. Senators.

How to watch Devils vs Senators

Devils vs Senators latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

Marc-Andre Fleury retired from hockey after the 2024-25 season but that hasn't stopped him from lacing up the skates during the 2025-26 season. 

Fleury, 41, retired after playing in 26 games for Minnesota last year and 1,051 career NHL games.

In his last season, Fleury went 14-9-1 with a 2.93 goals-against average and a .899 save percentage.

He even started the season off by playing a preseason game for the Pittsburgh Penguins. But has since said he is retired and won't play in the NHL.

That isn't stopping him from strapping the pads on.

The future Hall of Famer has been on the ice many times this year. He has played in alumni games and has regularly been on the ice for practices with the Wild.

how retirement is going: https://t.co/pdKvDXuI9Cpic.twitter.com/XYXFQlyygL

— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) January 29, 2026

Not only has he been to most home games and been shadowing Wild General Manager Bill Guerin, Fleury also will practice with injured players who are in Minnesota when the team is on the road.

A few days ago he actually was on the ice for the Wild's practice and did not look out of place. There is no question he would still be good enough to play.

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Recent Wild Stories

Wild Expected To Pass On New York Rangers' Star Artemi PanarinThe Minnesota Wild aren't pursuing a trade for star winger Artemi Panarin, squashing recent rumors and trade speculation.

- Quinn Hughes Breaks Franchise Record In 18th Game.

- Immediate Impact: Quinn Hughes' Start With The Wild Has Been Historically Fast.

- 'You Want To Get Out Of Your Zone': Why Quinn Hughes Changes The Game For The Wild.

- 'We Want To Compete For The Stanley Cup': Why Bill Guerin Went All In.

Erik Karlsson is quietly having a strong season, pacing for his highest point total since being traded to Pittsburgh.

My Rangers vs. Penguins predictions see Karlsson finding success in a dream matchup against a free-falling team.

Let’s break down my NHL picks for Saturday, January 31, with puck drop set for 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

Rangers vs Penguins prediction

Rangers vs Penguins best bet: Erik Karlsson Over 0.5 points (-120)

Erik Karlsson has points in 61% of his home games this season and enters play red-hot, having piled up 12 over his last 10 in the Steel City. He produced more multi-point efforts (four) than zeros (two) during that span.

The veteran offensive defenseman has consistently taken advantage of strong matchups all season. Karlsson has points in 79% of his home games against teams in the bottom half of the league in goals against.

The New York Rangers meet the criteria. They have allowed more goals than anybody in the 11 games since Igor Shesterkin went down, pushing them closer to the bottom feeders in goals allowed.

Predictably, the increase in goals against is leading to a lot more production for opposing defensemen. The Rangers have allowed the sixth-most goals and fourth-most assists to blueliners over the past 10.

Karlsson will be put in positions to succeed at 5-on-5 and quarterback the top power play against a PK unit clicking at 75% over its last nine.

Expect him to take advantage.

Rangers vs Penguins same-game parlay

The Rangers haven’t just allowed a ton of points to defensemen of late, but they’ve given up a lot of shots as well.

They’ve conceded the second-most shots to the position over the last 10, and Kris Letang has multiple shots in 67% of his games against sides ranking Bottom-16 in shots against vs. defenders.

Last but not least, we are backing the best player of his era. Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby still knows how to put the puck in the net, and he’s scored in seven of nine home games against Bottom-10 teams in points allowed.

Rangers vs Penguins SGP

• Erik Karlsson Over 0.5 points
• Kris Letang Over 1.5 shots on goal
• Sidney Crosby anytime goal

Rangers vs Penguins odds

• Moneyline: New York +165 | Pittsburgh -200
• Puck line: New York +1.5 (-145) | Pittsburgh -1.5 (+125)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+100) | Under 6.5 (-120)

Rangers vs Penguins trend

Erik Karlsson has points in eight of his last 10 home games. Find more NHL betting trends for Rangers vs. Penguins.

How to watch Rangers vs Penguins

Rangers vs Penguins latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

Ilya Sorokin will start again tonight as the Islanders host Barry’s Predators.

After starting what looked like another lost, tankable season, Nashville has rebounded a bit and is in shouting distance of the Western playoff wild card slots. But the odds are still slim and the question persists of whether they should dump assets like Ryan O’Reilly (still very useful) and Steven Stamkos (streaky, big-contract-laden) if they can.

Tonight is the return match of the opener from that big ol’ Western road trip, where the Isles fell annoyingly in a shootout.

First Islanders Goal picks go here.

Islanders News

• Preview before the preview: Mostly stats from the past week plus Predators notes. [Isles]
• Morning preview: Casey Cizikas will return from illness, likely pushing Max Shabanov back out and they hope adding energy that was missing in the second half of the sweep of the Rangers. Also: Calum Ritchie will not return before the Olympic break. [Isles]
• (Yester)day in Isles history: Bo Horvat acquired. [Isles]
• On Matthew Schaefer calling into WFAN to banter with Rangers grouch Boomer Esiason: [Newsday] Full audio in this reddidit thread. Gross: Schaefer still the talk of the town.

The most striking thing to me right now is Schaefer is so damn lovable that he adds fun to the rivalry but also takes some of the bite out of it, at this point. Like, the way he approaches it in a familial way makes it feel a little less vicious and kind of turns a mirror to the absurdity of us getting overly worked up about it. (This feeling will change with the first dirty hit or important meeting, if the latter ever happens again.)

Elsewhere

Just one game in the league last night, for some reason (after 15 Thursday and before 14 today). Columbus doubled the Blackhawks.

• Nikita Tolopilo was denied a shutout due to the weird rule for that and a concussion spotter. [TSN]
• Kris Letang will be out four weeks for the Penguins, good timing with the Olympics. [NHL]
• And Jack Hughes is still being evaluated after his latest malady. [NHL]
• But Linus Ullmark is set to return for the Senators. [Sportsnet]
• Bourne: Could the Leafs plummet so well that they keep the top-five-protected pick they sent to the Bruins last year? [Sportsnet]

The Detroit Red Wings kick off a two-game set Saturday against the Colorado Avalanche in what shapes up to be one of their toughest tests of the season. Based on the rest of their schedule, it may only be the start of a grueling stretch.

Holding onto a top-two position in the Atlantic Division has been a challenge for Detroit. The Red Wings are pushing for home-ice advantage in the playoffs and have played at a high level to protect their spot, but consistent play throughout the division has made it difficult to create separation in the standings.

As of Saturday, Detroit faces the most difficult remaining schedule in the NHL. The Avalanche are just the beginning. The Red Wings will also see the Carolina Hurricanes, Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars, the red-hot Buffalo Sabres, the Utah Mammoth, and the Vegas Golden Knights. The road only gets harder with two games against the Tampa Bay Lightning and three matchups against the Florida Panthers.

Protecting their place in the division will not be easy, as these upcoming games represent the most critical portion of the season. Detroit enters the stretch with a 32-17-6 record. Buffalo, Montreal, and Boston sit just three points behind and could overtake the Red Wings for second place at any time with a strong run. Florida also remains a factor. Despite dealing with injuries, the Panthers are eight points out of a playoff spot and are expected to push for one of the final postseason positions.

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

The race is shaping up to be tight down the stretch. Detroit will need to stay competitive in its toughest matchups while capitalizing on games against more vulnerable opponents.

That includes upcoming contests against the Calgary Flames, New York Rangers, and Nashville Predators, along with two games each against the struggling Ottawa Senators and New Jersey Devils. The stretch concludes with three important games against the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Red Wings have the roster capable of executing and securing a favorable playoff position. Avoiding a midseason slump will be crucial, as any misstep could open the door for a division rival to gain ground in an increasingly crowded Atlantic race.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins will honor their 2016 Stanley Cup team during Saturday's game against the New York Rangers. 

Numerous members of that team will be inside PPG Paints Arena to be honored and watch the Penguins try to secure their sixth-straight victory.

The Penguins and Rangers have split the previous two meetings this season, both in October. The Penguins won 3-0 in New York, while the Rangers won 6-1 in Pittsburgh. 

A lot has changed since those two meetings. The Penguins are currently second in the Metropolitan Division, while the Rangers are at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings and will be a seller when the trade deadline rolls around. The Rangers have lost two in a row and eight of their last 10 games. 

Rangers forward Artemi Panarin is still being held out for roster management reasons, and they'll also be without defenseman Adam Fox and goaltender Igor Shesterkin for this game. Fox and Shesterkin are still recovering from their respective injuries. 

Despite playing on a bad team, Mika Zibanejad is having a good season for the Rangers, compiling 23 goals and 51 points in 54 games. JT Miller has 14 goals and 35 points in 46 games, and Vincent Trocheck, who is also on the trade block, has 11 goals and 33 points in 41 games. 

The Penguins will be without defenseman Kris Letang for Saturday's game and for at least the next four weeks after the team announced he fractured a bone in his foot. 

Evgeni Malkin is still questionable for the game after missing Friday's practice. Stuart Skinner is set to start in goal for the Penguins.

Puck drop is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Fans can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'

---

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The Montreal Canadiens will face the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday, January 31, in a massive Atlantic Division matchup. 

My Canadiens vs. Sabres predictions and NHL picks suggest a red-hot Mike Matheson will continue to produce, while Jakub Dobes will look to further establish himself as the go-to man in the Habs' crease.

Canadiens vs Sabres prediction

Canadiens vs Sabres best bet: Mike Matheson Over 1.5 shots (+100)

Perhaps no Montreal Canadiens defenseman has been on more of a tear than Mike Matheson over the last few weeks. He's on a six-game assist streak and has hit the Over for shots in five straight games.

He's tied for eighth among blueliners in shots since January 20.

The Canadiens allot a sizeable chunk of ice time to himself, Lane Hutson, and Noah Dobson, and it's Matheson that leads the group with an average of 24:46 per game — good for ninth in the NHL.

Opportunities for shots on goal will undoubtedly be there tonight. The Buffalo Sabres rank 26th in shots allowed, and the Quebec native put up two against them just over a week ago.

Canadiens vs Sabres same-game parlay

The Habs have turned to Jakub Dobes in goal against two of the league's top teams in the Vegas Golden Knights and the Colorado Avalanche this week, and he earned the win in both while comfortably hitting the Over for saves.

He'll look to make it three in a row tonight.

Captain Nick Suzuki is enjoying a generous stretch with 13 assists in his last 13 games and eight in his last seven. He's recorded a helper in all three games against Buffalo this season.

Canadiens vs Sabres SGP

• Mike Matheson Over 1.5 shots
• Jakub Dobes Over 23.5 saves
• Nick Suzuki Over 0.5 assists

Canadiens vs Sabres odds

• Moneyline: Canadiens +110 | Sabres -130
• Puck Line: Canadiens +1.5 (-215) | Sabres -1.5 (+175)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-125) | Under 6.5 (+105)

Canadiens vs Sabres trend

Montreal has won six of the last 10 games versus Buffalo, including five consecutive from November 2024 to October 2025. Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Sabres.

How to watch Canadiens vs Sabres

Canadiens vs Sabres latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

Many have wondered how the Colorado Avalanche would handle adversity after such a prolonged run of unrivaled success to start this season.

Adversity came in spades throughout January, but the Avalanche have one more chance to finish the month on a positive note, but they’ll have to do it against their longtime (and much improved) rival, the Detroit Red Wings.

Colorado Avalanche

Today’s game is the final game of a four game road trip, and the first of a home and home series with Detroit, who will fly out to Denver to wrap up the season series against the Avalanche on Monday night at Ball Arena. The Avalanche are coming off consecutive losses to the Ottawa Senators and Montréal Canadiens in consecutive nights, losing both games by a combined score of 12-5. The Avs looked limp and lifeless as Ottawa shelled Mackenzie Blackwood for five goals on Wednesday night, and Scott Wedgewood fared worse as Montréal pumped seven goals—including two from behind the goal line—behind him on Thursday.

Despite feeling his team put together a more competitive effort against Montréal than what they showed in Ottawa, head coach Jared Bednar noted the struggles that his team is having on both ends of the ice. “We’re having trouble putting the puck in the net; we’re having trouble keeping it out of our net right now, too […] It’s kind of tough sledding for us right now, but we’ve got to be a little better in some areas again than we were tonight.”

Brock Nelson has continued to shine bright for the Avs in the goal scoring department, scoring four goals in his last three games. His 28 goals rank second to League leader Nathan MacKinnon (38), and his 47 points are good for fourth place on the team. MacKinnon, however, has not scored a goal since January 19 against Washington. The goal scoring drought isn’t limited to just MacKinnon; Martin Nečas hasn’t scored since January 12 against Toronto.

When asked about the lack of production from both MacKinnon and Martin Nečas, Bednar said, “It’s not like they’re not doing some good things, because they did. They’re creating some chances; they’re not scoring on them like they normally would, right? Part of it is that, you’re going to finish off some of the chances, so I think they fall into that category.”

Currently, the Avs sport a 5-6-2 record for the month of January. Without a win today, the Avs will finish with a sub-500 record for a given calendar month since going 5-6-0 in October 2024. Despite their struggles this month, they still remain the undisputed leader across the Central Division, Western Conference, and League standings. With three games remaining on their schedule before the Olympic break, they’re not in any danger of losing much ground to the third second place Minnesota Wild or the Dallas Stars prior to heading to Italy.

The Avs have won three of their last four regular season games against Detroit, including the most recent matchup on March 25, 2025, by a 5-2 decision.

Projected Lineup

Forwards:
Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Nečas
Victor Olofsson – Brock Nelson – Valeri Nichushkin
Ross Colton – Jack Drury – Gavin Brindley
Zakhar Bardakov – Parker Kelly – Joel Kiviranta

Defense:
Sam Malinski – Cale Makar
Josh Manson – Brent Burns
Keaton Middleton – Sam Girard

Between the Pipes:
Mackenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood

Detroit Red Wings

Detroit currently sits in second place in the Atlantic Division standings, just two points shy of the first place Tampa Bay Lightning. Given the packed standings in the Eastern Conference, a playoff spot isn’t guaranteed at this point in the season, but Detroit’s chances of seeing their first playoff berth in nine seasons is looking more and more likely. With the franchise currently celebrating its centennial season, a return to the postseason would be a noteworthy accomplishment to commemorate the occasion.

Detroit has fared better than Colorado throughout the month of January overall, going 6-2-2 in their previous ten games. However, Detroit has lost two of their current three game home stand at Little Caesars Arena, losing 3-1 to the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday evening, and a 4-3 shootout loss to the Washington Capitals on Thursday. Despite the loss, right winger Patrick Kane recorded his 1,375 point of his career to become the highest scoring American-born player in the NHL, surpassing one-time former Red Wing Mike Modano.

Alex DeBrincat currently leads Detroit in goals (30), and is one point shy of the team lead in overall points behind Lucas Raymond (58). Raymond also leads the team in assists (40). Team captain Dylan Larkin ranks second on the team behind DeBrincat in goals (25) and third in points (48).

Goaltender John Gibson, who was acquired from the Anaheim Ducks during the offseason, is enjoying a bit of a renaissance in his first full season with Detroit. He currently has 21 wins on the season, the most he’s had since the 2018-2019 season (26), and setting a new career high in wins (Gibson won 31 games during the 2017-2018 season) isn’t out of the question, but if Detroit has its sights set on the postseason, Gibson’s career best will have to come this spring.

Detroit’s last victory over Colorado came on February 22, 2024, a 2-1 victory on an overtime goal from Kane.

Projected Lineup

Forwards:
Marco Kasper – Dylan Larkin – Lucas Raymond
Alex DeBrincat – Andrew Copp – Patrick Kane
Emmitt Finnie – J.T. Compher – James van Riemsdyk
Elmer Söderblom – Michael Rasmussen – Mason Appleton

Defense:
Jacob Bernard-Docker – Moritz Seider
Axel Sandin-Pellikka – Ben Chiarot
Albert Johansson – Travis Hamonic

Between the Pipes:
John Gibson
Cam Talbot

The Columbus Blue Jackets are on the road to take on the St. Louis Blues at 7 PM. 

St. Louis Blues - 20-25-9 - 49 Points - 3-6-1 in the last 10 - Won 1 - 8th in the Central

Columbus Blue Jackets - 26-20-7 - 59 Points - 8-2-0 in the last 10 - Won 4 - 4th in the Metro.

Team Notes Per CBJ PR

• Columbus has won four-straight and eight of its past nine games overall while outscoring opponents 34-23 since Jan. 11 after its 4-2 victory at Chicago last night.
• CBJ lead the NHL in points pct. (.889) and rank fourth in shots on goal (30.3), fifth-T in power play pct. (30.4) as well as seventh-T in goals for/game (3.78), goals-against/game (2.56) and team save percentage (.909) over that stretch.
• The club has scored the opening goal in four consecutive games and eight of the past nine. The team has scored the first goal in 32 games, tied for third-most in the NHL in 2025-26.
• Columbus leads the NHL in goals by defensemen and ranks fourth in points with 39-95-134 in 53 contests.
• CBJ conclude their 10th of 16 back-to-back sets of the season tonight at St. Louis. The club ranks third in the league in points pct. in back-to-back settings in 2025-26 (.658; 11-5-3).
• The Jackets have allowed one power play goal over the last six contests (16-of-17; 94.1 pct.).

Player Notes Per CBJ PR

• Charlie Coyle notched his second career hat trick and fourth career four-point outing with 3-1-4 at Chicago last night. He has notched multiple points in three consecutive games (5-4-9) and has posted 9-5-14 in the last nine contests.
• Jet Greaves (4-0-0, 2.35 GAA, .915 SV%) and G Elvis Merzlikins (4-1-0, 2.49 GAA, .910 SV%) have each won four games for the Blue Jackets since Jan. 11.
• Kirill Marchenko collected an assist at Chicago and has points in three-straight games (1-3-4) as well as 14 of the last 18 contests dating back to Dec. 22 (9-10-19).

• Mathieu Olivier has posted 1-1-2 efforts in two-straight, and F Cole Sillinger has points in three-straight games (1-3-4).

• Zach Werenski, who has notched two assists in three consecutive contests, leads NHL blueliners in goals (19), points (tied, 59), multi-point efforts (20), points-per-game (1.20) and shots on goal (175) this season. He has set club records for most assists and points by a defenseman in a single month with 5-14-19 in 14 contests in January.

Blue Jackets Stats

• Power Play - 19.7% - 17th in the NHL
• Penalty Kill - 76.5% - 28th in the NHL
• Goals For - 162 - 19th in the NHL
• Goals Against - 173 - 23rd in the NHL   

Blues Stats

• Power Play - 17.0% - 25th in the NHL
• Penalty Kill - 73.8% - 29th in the NHL
• Goals For - 134 - 30th in the NHL
• Goals Against - 163 - 18th in the NHL

Series History vs. TheBlues

• Columbus is 38-50-3-5 all-time, and 13-31-1-3 on the road in St. Louis.
• The Blue Jackets are 5-0 in the last 5 against the Blues. They're also 3-2-1 in the last six games in St. Louis.
• The CBJ beat St. Louis on November 1st, 2025, by a score of 3-2.

Who To Watch For TheBlues

• Jake Neighbours leads the Blues with 13 goals.
• Robert Thomas leads the team with 22 assists and 33 points.
• Goalie Joel Hofer 12-10-3 with a SV% of .899.
• Jordan Binnington is 8-15-6 with a SV% of .867.

CBJ Player Notes vs.Blues

• Zach Werenski has 10 points in 16 career games vs. the Blues.
• Boone Jenner has 8 points in 18 games.
• Charlie Coyle has 23 points in 41 games against St. Louis.

Injured Reserve

• Brendan Smith - Lower Body - Missed 15 Games IR - Out for the rest of the regular season.

TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 149

How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on FANDUEL SPORTS NETWORK. The radio broadcast will be on 97.1 The Fan, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.  

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After dropping consecutive games, the Detroit Red Wings will be looking to rebound as they open a challenging home-and-home series against the NHL’s top-seeded Colorado Avalanche. Colorado has been one of the league’s most dominant teams this season, with just 17 losses through 52 games, but this matchup may come at an ideal time for Detroit. 

After bursting out of the gates to start the year, the Avalanche have cooled off considerably, posting a 4-6-2 record over their last 12 games. By contrast, the Red Wings have surged during that same stretch, going 8-2-2, which is an encouraging sign as they prepare to take on one of the league’s elite. 

Detroit will look to capitalize on Colorado’s recent slide and take advantage of the opportunity while the Avalanche search for consistency. Whenever these two teams meet, memories of their fierce late 1990s battles come rushing back, and this series has the potential to reignite the rivalry once again.

It sets up as an intriguing matchup between two teams built on different strengths. Colorado boasts the league’s most explosive offense, averaging 3.88 goals per game, and is tied with the Tampa Bay Lightning for the NHL’s best defense at just 2.48 goals against per game. 

Even during their recent skid, the Avalanche offense has remained dangerous, producing 3.25 goals per game, but their defensive play has suffered. Over that 12-game stretch, Colorado ranks among the bottom ten defensively, allowing 3.50 goals per game.

Detroit, meanwhile, features a middle-of-the-pack offense this season, but its defense has been a strength, ranking inside the top 12 at 2.96 goals against per game. The setting also favors the Red Wings, as the game will be played in the Motor City, where Detroit owns an 18-9-2 record, tied for the fifth-best home mark in the NHL alongside fierce rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

While Colorado still holds the league’s third-best road record at 15-6-5, the Avalanche enter Saturday having lost four of their last five games away from home, adding another layer to what should be a compelling clash.

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Detroit Red Wings’ Expected Line Combinations vs Colorado (Saturday)

Kasper – Larkin – Raymond

DeBrincat – Copp – Kane

Finnie – Compher – Appleton

Soderblom – Rasmussen – van Riemsdyk

Benard-Docker – Seider

Sandin-Pellikka - Chiarot

Johansson – Hamonic

Gibson

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Comeback bid falls short as skidding Flyers suffer tough OT loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

A desperate Flyers team wasn’t able to complete a comeback effort Saturday afternoon.

They stomached another loss, this one a 3-2 overtime decision to the Kings at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Trevor Zegras and Travis Konecny scored the Flyers’ goals. Konecny’s marker tied the game 25 seconds into the third period. With a chance to win it in OT, Konecny couldn’t convert on a breakaway, hitting the right post.

“I’ve got to put it away there in overtime,” Konecny said.

Quinton Byfield scored the OT winner for Los Angeles. The Flyers fell to 2-7 in overtime.

The Flyers (24-20-10) are on a four-game losing streak, a stretch in which they’ve been outscored 18-8.

Rick Tocchet’s club has dropped 11 of its last 13 games (2-8-3) and has allowed 4.46 goals per game over that span.

The Flyers’ slide has been a precipitous one. They were in third place Jan. 6 after an emotion-filled win over the Ducks. Now, they’re in seventh place with 28 games to go. They entered Saturday eight points back of the third-place Islanders.

“Maybe you guys are doubting us; we are not doubting ourselves,” Dan Vladar said. “We are a confident group, we know this is just a stretch, it comes for every team. Even if you look at Tampa, they didn’t start well, obviously they’re hot now. It’s every team.

“It’s just up to us, we have a young group. It’s up to the older guys, including myself, just to bring up the energy here, the confidence. We still believe, the season’s not over.”

The Flyers see the Kings (23-17-13) again March 19 when they visit Los Angeles.

• Vladar made 18 saves on 21 shots.

In a span of 3:58 minutes during the first period, the Flyers fell behind 2-0. Adrian Kempe scored both goals for the Kings.

On the first one, Vladar was scrambling to get back up to his feet as Kempe fired from the slot 3:10 minutes into the game. On the second, the Flyers lost Kempe streaking through the middle for a one-timer.

The Flyers somehow prevented a total unraveling in the first period. The Kings had a third goal taken off the board after the Flyers’ coach’s challenge showed the play was offside.

Tocchet’s club also committed a pair of penalties, but was able to kill them off.

The Flyers turned it up in the second period. Zegras struck on the power play just 39 seconds into the period, cutting the Flyers’ deficit to 2-1.

Vladar was able to find his game. In the middle stanza, he made a huge stop on a Los Angeles breakaway just after the Flyers’ power play came up empty. The save kept the game 2-1.

Aleksei Kolosov was recalled from AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley to back up Vladar. Samuel Ersson left the Flyers’ 6-3 loss Thursday night to the Bruins after two periods with a lower-body injury. There has been no further word on his status.

Los Angeles netminder Darcy Kuemper stopped 19 of the Flyers’ 21 shots.

• Zegras rediscovered his offense when the Flyers were starving for it.

The 24-year-old didn’t have a point over the previous four games, but he ended that slump with his 20th goal of the season.

That goal early in the second period seemed to energize the Flyers and it certainly relieved some pressure.

But the Flyers had to settle for just one point and another tough loss.

• The Flyers are back in action Tuesday when they host the Capitals (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

The Los Angeles Kings (22-17-13) look to respond after suffering a tough loss Thursday afternoon against the Buffalo Sabres as they continue their road trip against the Philadelphia Flyers (24-20-9).

It's the first meeting between the two teams this season, and both clubs enter the matchup needing points, especially the Flyers, who are 2-8-1 in their last nine games after a 22-12-7 start. 

Start Time and TV Schedule

When: 9:30 a.m. PT, Jan. 31

Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena

Watch: FanDuel Sports Network

Kings Projected Lineup

Corey Perry - Alex Laferriere - Adrian Kempe

Trevor Moore - Quinton Byfield - Warren Foegele

Kevin Fiala - Joel Armia - Andrei Kuzmenko

Kenny Connors - Samuel Helenius - Taylor Ward

Mikey Anderson - Drew Doughty

Joel Edmundson - Brandt Clarke

Brian Dumoulin - Cody Ceci

Darcy Kuemper

Anton Forsberg

Flyers Projected Lineup

Nikita Grebenkin - Christian Dvorak - Travis Konecny

Denver Barkey - Noah Cates - Owen Tippett

Matvei Michkov - Trevor Zegras - Bobby Brink

Nicolas Deslauriers - Sean Couturier - Garnett Hathaway

Travis Sanheim - Rasmus Ristolainen

Cam York - Jamie Drysdale

Nick Seeler - Noah Juulsen

Dan Vladar

Samuel Ersson

The Kings' last outing was one they'll want to forget. Defesnive breakdowns, missed assignments in transition, and a lack of aggression to start from opening tap plaugued them for the entire game. 

Critical Call Dooms Kings To 4-1 Loss Against The Buffalo SabresOne overturned call was the deciding factor in tonight's game, as the Kings were left chasing a 4- 1 loss to the Sabres.

It's a loss they need to quickly forget and move on from. The Sabres are one of the hottest teams in hockey right now, so the loss was accepted, but it was how they lost. Now heading into Philadelphia against a Flyers team that's struggled mightily recently with consistency and is 0-5 in their last home games, the last one coming on Jan. 6, nearly three weeks ago.  

The Flyers rank near the bottom in both offense and defense this season, and they are also playing their third game in four nights, while the Kings had a lot of rest before playing the Red Wings and Sabres. 

It's the perfect opportunity for the Kings to reset against a struggling team and close out this stretch of the six-game road trip on a positive note. The Kings' defense has struggled in their last ten games, and the offense has been up and down, but the team has relied heavily on its depth scoring recently, and it's been very effective at times. 

Philadelphia, meanwhile, has been one of the worst defensive teams in this nine-game stretch, going 2-8-1. They've held their opponents to just one goal twice in this stretch and have given up a total of 49 goals while scoring 26 goals, so Los Angeles has to take advantage of that defense and get the easy win.   

Injuries

For the Kings' injury report, Anze Kopitar (upper body) and Alex Turcotte (upper body) are listed as out. 

The Flyers are expected to be without Tyson Foerster (arm) and Rodrigo Abols (lower body). 

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Nathan MacKinnon leads the NHL in scoring by a healthy margin, sitting four goals clear of Connor McDavid and eight ahead of the closest player beyond No. 97.

MacKinnon has gone a little quiet of late, but my Avalanche vs. Red Wings predictions see him snapping out of his funk in this matchup.

Let’s break down my NHL picks for Saturday, January 31.

Avalanche vs Red Wings prediction

Avalanche vs Red Wings best bet: Nathan MacKinnon anytime goal (-120)

Nathan MacKinnon hasn’t scored in five consecutive games, his longest stretch of the season. This is a sneaky good spot to get back on track.

The Detroit Red Wings are without Simon Edvinsson, who plays on their matchup pairing alongside Moritz Seider. Jacob Benard-Docker has filled in effectively thus far, but he’s not the same level of player as Edvinsson.

Not having all hands on deck against MacKinnon could be problematic.

Detroit is also allowing a lot of slot shots. They rank 29th in defending the slot over the past 10 games. That happens to be the area MacKinnon shoots from most frequently — and it isn’t close.

The Red Wings also rank Bottom 10 in PK% their last 10 games. They should make it easier for the Avalanche — who have surprisingly struggled on the power play — to find a goal.

While John Gibson has performed well for the Wings between the pipes, he has still had a tough time going up in class. Gibson has given up at least three goals in seven of his last nine games against Top 10 scoring offenses.

The Colorado Avalanche should score a few in this spot, and I like one to come off MacKinnon’s stick.

Avalanche vs Red Wings same-game parlay

Martin Necas has 40 assists through 52 games, putting him on pace to shatter his previous high of 43. Playing with MacKinnon at 5-on-5 and on the power play, Necas shares the ice more with him than anybody. He’s the most likely candidate to set him up for a goal.

The Avalanche haven’t played their best hockey of late, yet 11 of their past 13 wins following a day off have come by multiple goals.

Avalanche vs Red Wings SGP

• Nathan MacKinnon anytime goal
• Martin Necas Over 0.5 assists
• Avalanche -1.5

Avalanche vs Red Wings odds

• Moneyline: Colorado -145 | Detroit +125
• Puck line: Colorado -1.5 (+160) | Detroit +1.5 (-190)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-110) | Under 6.5 (-110)

Avalanche vs Red Wings trend

Nathan MacKinnon has scored in five of his past six games against Detroit. Find more NHL betting trends for Avalanche vs. Red Wings.

How to watch Avalanche vs Red Wings

Avalanche vs Red Wings latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

The Calgary Flames will welcome Macklin Celebrini and the San Jose Sharks to Scotiabank Saddledome this afternoon, with puck drop scheduled for 4:00 p.m. ET. 

Jonathan Huberdeau has been creating chances lately, and I’m eyeing him to keep it up in my Sharks vs. Flames predictions. 

Read more in my NHL picks for Saturday, January 31.

Sharks vs Flames prediction

Sharks vs Flames best bet: Jonathan Huberdeau Over 1.5 shots on goal (-140)

Jonathan Huberdeau is having a respectable campaign for the struggling Calgary Flames, collecting a total of 23 points. He’s averaged 1.70 shots on goal per contest, and has picked it up as of late. 

The Quebec native has hit the Over in shots on target in four consecutive appearances. Across his last two games, Huberdeau has nine SOG alone. On Thursday, Huberdeau tallied four shots on net against the Wild. 

Last Sunday, he also had five SOG. Three of his last four games where he cashed the Over were at home as well, and the San Jose Sharks are 30th in the NHL in shots allowed. 

Sharks vs Flames same-game parlay

Huberdeau had six points in four meetings with San Jose in the 2024-25 campaign. 

Morgan Frost has scored 11 goals for Calgary in 2025-26, and he’s netted three times in January.

Sharks vs Flames SGP

• Jonathan Huberdeau Over 1.5 shots on goal
• Jonathan Huberdeau Over 0.5 points
• Morgan Frost anytime goal 

Sharks vs Flames odds

• Moneyline: Sharks -110 | Flames -110
• Puck Line: Sharks +1.5 | Flames -1.5
• Over/Under: Over 6 | Under 6

Sharks vs Flames trend

The Flames have covered the Puck Line in 17 of their last 25 games at home (+13.20 Units / 32% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Sharks vs. Flames.

How to watch Sharks vs Flames

Sharks vs Flames latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here