The most interesting moment of the Toronto Maple Leafs' 4-1 loss against the Colorado Avalanche didn't come on the ice.

During the third period of Sunday's game, TSN's broadcast panned up to the press box, where the Maple Leafs' scratches and injured players were sitting. Pictured were Philippe Myers, Calle Jarnkrok, Chris Tanev, Dakota Joshua, and William Nylander.

Just before the broadcast cut away from the players' box, Nylander spotted the camera and, with a smile, stuck up the middle finger.

LOL pic.twitter.com/qn8txRDMzJ

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) January 25, 2026

Hours after the game concluded, Nylander issued an apology, via his Instagram.

“Only love for Leafs Nation. Sorry about my moment of frustration today,” he wrote on his Instagram story. “Didn’t mean to upset anyone. Looking forward to being back on the ice and not in the stands. Love Willy.”

The 29-year-old is currently dealing with a groin injury, which he re-aggravated in Toronto's 6-5 overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Jan. 15. Nylander scored a goal and an assist in the game but only played 2:17.

He's missed the last five games due to the ailment.

Nylander originally picked up the groin injury against the Ottawa Senators on Dec. 27. It's unknown how the forward suffered the injury, which eventually forced him to miss six straight games before returning against the Vancouver Canucks on Jan. 10.

The forward skated on Saturday, the first time he's been on the ice since re-aggravating the injury against the Golden Knights. Nylander and Joshua skated for 20 minutes before leaving the ice.

"We'll see where he progresses, and how he felt," said head coach Craig Berube on Saturday. "Hopefully, he can keep getting on the ice here and be ready to go. I can't give you a timeline on [his return] yet."

Despite missing 11 games from Dec. 27 to now, Nylander still leads the Maple Leafs with 17 goals and 48 points in 37 games. John Tavares is second among Toronto players with 19 goals and 44 points in 52 games.

Toronto's loss to Colorado was its fourth straight home defeat. The Maple Leafs have picked up just one point during that stretch, in an overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday.

The Maple Leafs currently sit five points away from the second wild-card spot, held by the Boston Bruins. Toronto plays the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday, and it's now arguably one of the biggest games of their season.

"We got to fix the execution part for me," said Berube after Sunday's loss to the Avalanche. "And then the battle level. When you get down in a game, we got to come together as a team and we got to fight through that, because it's going to happen. We all know that.

"But I think losing at home here, it's worn on our team a little bit. But that's pro sports and we got to all pull together here and get ready for Tuesday. We need a win."

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Linus Ullmark was in uniform as the backup goalie for the Ottawa Senators’ game against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday.

Mads Sogaard will start in net for Ottawa.

Ullmark has not played since Dec. 27 after taking a personal leave of absence from the team. The 32-year-old netminder missed 14 games. He's 14-8-5 with a 2.95 goals-against average this season.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Stop me if you've heard this one before, but a former Philadelphia Flyers goalie is dominating for one of the NHL's hottest teams, and it may not be who you expect.

The Flyers were, at one point, one of those teams, though Dan Vladar has since gotten injured and slowed down overall.

They now find themselves five points back of the second wildcard spot and two points off third in the Metropolitan Division; either result would be satisfactory.

But, over the last few weeks, the once-lowly Buffalo Sabres exploded into third in the Atlantic Division from the bottom of the Eastern Conference, buoyed by a 10-game win streak that carried them into the New Year.

Leading the charge has been ex-Flyers goalie Alex Lyon, who signed with Buffalo this past offseason.

Flyers Playoff Odds Spike with Sensational Win vs. AvalancheThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> might have just saved their season with a sensational road trip punctuated by a 7-3 thrashing of the NHL's best team, the Colorado Avalanche.

Lyon, 33, has racked up an impressive 12-6-3 record for the Sabres this season to the tune of a 2.70 GAA and .911 save percentage, complemented by two shutouts.

For the sake of comparison, Lyon won a career-high 21 games with Detroit in 2023-24 and now has a clear opportunity to set a new personal best, so long as he can fend off Sabres teammates Colten Ellis and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen for ice time.

Lyon shouldn't have too much of an issue doing that if he keeps up the way he's been playing, though.

Dating back to Dec. 9, the 6-foot-1 netminder has won nine straight appearances, and eight straight starts, including a 24-save effort in a 5-3 win against the Flyers on Dec. 18.

Flyers' High-Upside Prospect Changes Teams to Salvage Lost SeasonHaving played just 35 total games across the last two seasons, a high-upside <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> draft pick has made a move and decided to change teams in order to salvage a lost season of development.

Lyon did do his old Flyers club a favor by posting a 26-save shutout of the New York Islanders on Saturday in just his second game of January, but, with how inconsistent Sam Ersson and Aleksei Kolosov have been behind Vladar, we can be sure the Flyers would just prefer to have Lyon on their roster helping them directly instead of indirectly.

Anyhow, the Sabres have quickly become the story of the NHL this season after transforming a dismal start into a chance to become a rousing success should they reach the postseason.

Lyon, even through injury and a three-goalie rotation, has been at the forefront of that transformation.

1. Did Chris Drury have to announce that he's looking to peddle Breadman Panarin? Absolutely not! 

2. Hockey author and Seattle Kraken reporter Glenn Dreyfuss agrees that Drury is in error. "Exposing an asset you wish to trade goes against sports dealmaking," says Dreyfuss.

3. When The Maven asked Dreyfuss to amplify, he graciously added: "Never tell the world you want to make a trade; that diminishes the value of the player."

4. The fact that the Rangers had to reach out for goaltending help and haul in Spencer Martin, a KHL alumnus, tells you how bare the Blueshirts AHL cupboard is in Hartford.

5. Vic Morren, co-host with Neil Smith on the excellent podcast "NHL Wraparound," asks an interesting question about Alexis Lafrenière: "Do you see a buyout possibility here? This (Lafrenière) may be one of the most useless players in the NHL."

6. Hey, what if The Breadman decides he loves living in The Big Apple so much he wants to stay here in New York. "The Rangers got to get Panarin to change his mind," says Jess Rubenstein. "Right now he's not interested in waiving his no-movement clause."

7. Jess adds: "I'm guessing that Panarin is looking to extract either a new contract BEFORE any trade or to punish Drury for what he did to the core of the team."

8. You don't need analytics to figure these equations: With Sid Crosby, Geno Malkin and Kris Letang, Pitt coach Mike Sulllivan missed the playoffs for three straight years. With an aging Sid, Geno and Kris, and rookie coach Dan Muse – the Penguins are hell bent for a playoff berth.

9. I don't have to tell what a wonderful job Sully has done with The Beloved Blueshirts. The Pitt-Rangers comparison says it all!

10. Not that this falls into the "Surprise" category, but guess how The Athletic NHL staff graded the Rangers at the halfway mark of the season?

11. "F," as in Failure!

TORONTO (AP) — Brock Nelson scored twice in a 1:12 span in the first period and sealed his fifth career hat trick with an empty-netter in the Colorado Avalanche's 4-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday.

Jack Drury also scored to help NHL-leading Colorado improve to 35-6-9. MacKenzie Blackwood made 32 saves.

Colorado became the fourth team in NHL history with six or fewer regulation losses through 50 games, joining the 1979-80 Philadelphia Flyers (35-3-12), 1943-44 Montreal Canadiens (38-5-7) and 1975-76 Canadiens (36-6-8).

The last team with at least 77 points through 50 contests was the 2022-23 Boston Bruins (38-7-5), who went on to set the NHL record for wins in a season with 65.

Max Domi had a late power-play goal for Toronto, and Joseph Woll stopped 33 shots. The Maple Leafs are 24-19-9.

The Maple Leafs had a 4-3 overtime victory in Denver on Jan. 12, but have dropped six of seven (1-4-2), including an ugly 0-3-1 start to their current five-game homestand following an 8-0-2 run.

Colorado became just the fourth team in NHL history with six or fewer regulation losses through 50 games, joining the 1979-80 Philadelphia Flyers (35-3-12), 1943-44 Montreal Canadiens (38-5-7) and 1975-76 Canadiens (36-6-8).

The last team with at least 77 points through 50 contests was the 2022-23 Boston Bruins (38-7-5), who went on to set the NHL record for wins in a season with 65.

Nelson opened the scoring at 6:19 of the first on a 2 on 1 before adding his second just over a minute later on a sneaky pass off the stick of Artturi Lehkonen from behind Woll’s net. He has 27 goals this season.

Nelson tied Alex DeBrincat and Kyle Connor — both with eight — for the third-most 25-goal seasons among active American players. The list is led by Patrick Kane (11) and Toronto captain Auston Matthews (10).

Up next

Avalanche: At Ottawa on Wednesday night.

Maple Leafs: Host Buffalo on Tuesday night.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Brock Nelson wasted little time reminding the league why Colorado invested in him, torching the Maple Leafs with a hat trick as the Avalanche opened a three-game road trip with a convincing 4–1 win over Toronto on Sunday afternoon at Scotiabank Arena. 

Nelson scored his 26th and 27th goals of the season as part of the three-goal performance, while Jack Drury also found the back of the net for Colorado. Mackenzie Blackwood rebounded from two subpar outings with a stellar showing, stopping 32 shots to anchor the victory. 

Mackenzie Blackwood looks a lot better today.#avs@TheHockeyNews

— Ryan O'Hara (@OHaraSports) January 25, 2026

The 34-year-old Nelson, who was recently named to Team USA to represent his country at the Olympic Games in Italy, surpassed his goal total from last season with 30 games still remaining, further validating the Avalanche’s decision to sign him to a three-year, $22.5 million extension in the offseason. 

BROCK NELSON X2!!! 😱😱 pic.twitter.com/X1TfeRFM2s

— NHL (@NHL) January 25, 2026

Max Domi scored Toronto’s lone goal, and although Joseph Woll delivered several strong sequences, he was tagged with the loss after making 33 saves. 

First Period 

Gavin Brindley sprinted down the ice early and tried to set up Taylor Makar for a tap-in at the crease in hopes of securing his teammate’s first NHL goal, but Makar just missed the puck. 

At the other end, Martin Nečas broke up a prime scoring chance when Auston Matthews attempted a pass from behind the goal line into the slot for Matthew Knies Nečas tied him up effectively, causing Knies to fan on the shot. 

Necas tied up Knies in front of the net and forced him to fan on that puck.

Blackwood coughed up a rebound, which created a dangerous chance, but we got away with it.#avs

— Ryan O'Hara (@OHaraSports) January 25, 2026

Nelson opened the scoring 6:18 into the game by intercepting a Toronto pass in the neutral zone, bursting into the offensive end, and snapping a wrist shot past Woll to give Colorado a 1–0 lead. The blast was so forceful it damaged the net camera. 

Just 1:12 later, Nelson struck again. Artturi Lehkonen worked the puck from behind the net and fed Nelson in the slot, where his shot banked off Woll’s numbers and in to make it 2–0. 

BROCK NELSON X2!!! 😱😱 pic.twitter.com/X1TfeRFM2s

— NHL (@NHL) January 25, 2026

Lehkonen was later sent off for slashing John Tavares on the hands, giving the Avalanche their first penalty kill of the afternoon. The unit responded with a clean kill. Colorado then earned a power play after Simon Benoit was called for tripping, but failed to capitalize. 

Since the team meeting Jared Bednar held prior to the January 9 game against Ottawa in an effort to jump-start the power play, the Avalanche have converted just four of their last 26 opportunities. 

Second Period

With 4:55 remaining, Nathan MacKinnon and Nečas broke into the zone on a 2-on-1 rush. Rather than pass, MacKinnon fired on goal and took a swipe at the rebound, but Woll was able to smother the puck. 

Moments later, Cale Makar nearly extended the lead before Toronto defenseman Brandon Carlo chased him down, grabbed his right arm, and prevented the chance—earning a holding penalty with just over four minutes left in the period. 

Colorado finally broke through again with 1:07 remaining. Parker Kelly stickhandled through center ice, elected not to dump the puck, and instead fed Drury, who snapped a shot from the left circle past Woll to make it a 3–0 game. 

Third Period 

The third period opened with a strong defensive play by Makar to deny a potential scoring chance. The Avalanche quickly transitioned the other way, where Nečas rang a shot off the iron. 

At the 8:03 mark, Josh Manson was called for high-sticking Matthew Knies behind his own net, giving Toronto its second power play. Colorado’s penalty kill stood tall again, completing its second kill on as many chances. 

After failing to convert on the man advantage, Toronto generated its best look in some time, but Carlo clanged a shot off the post. With 8:30 remaining in regulation, Colorado held a 34–24 edge in shots. 

Matias Maccelli later pounced on a loose puck with a wide-open net, but Blackwood reacted instantly, dropping into the splits to make a spectacular save and preserve the shutout bid. 

Toronto pulled Woll for the extra attacker with just under six minutes remaining. The Avalanche lived dangerously in their own zone, and Matthews narrowly missed wide as Blackwood went down into the butterfly. 

Despite leaving the net empty for more than two-and-a-half minutes, Toronto couldn’t cash in, while Nelson narrowly missed completing the hat trick on multiple empty-net chances. 

Finally, with 3:46 left, Nelson buried the insurance marker to complete the hat trick with the empty netter and silence the crowd. 

BROCK NELSON HAT TRICK!!! 🎩🎩🎩 pic.twitter.com/vCcZw6NKiE

— NHL (@NHL) January 25, 2026

Zakhar Bardakov was later penalized for batting the puck with his glove off a faceoff, drawing a delay-of-game penalty. On the ensuing power play, Domi scored his seventh goal of the season to spoil the shutout. 

Max Domi scores on the power play.

Avs win 4-1#avs@TheHockeyNews

— Ryan O'Hara (@OHaraSports) January 25, 2026

Next Game

After going 4-4-2 over their last 10 games, it was certainly nice to see the Avalanche (35-6-9) get on the right track. And with a win or an overtime/shootout loss in their next game, Colorado will become the first NHL team to reach or eclipse 80 points this season. Their next matchup will take place Wednesday against Brady Tkachuk and the Ottawa Senators. Coverage begins at 5:30 p.m. local time. 

The Abbotsford Canucks’ Calder Cup rings may have gotten to the players a little later than expected, but in some ways, it was perfect timing; the rings came just in time for playoff MVP Artūrs Šilovs and the Pittsburgh Penguins to roll into town. 

Šilovs, who was traded to the Penguins on July 13, 2025, has played in 23 games for Pittsburgh this season. His ascent to the NHL was preceded by a stellar Calder Cup run that saw him start in all 24 games and register a .931 SV%. With Abbotsford receiving their Calder Cup championship rings on Thursday, Šilovs’ return to BC this weekend aligned with the date perfectly.    

“It was great. Met with RJ, had a little chat. Really nice to have it, and great experience with the team back then, just remembering all the way how we battled every single game to get there. That’s for sure a memory for life,” Šilovs told the media after practice on Saturday. 

Throughout his career, Šilovs has been one of those goaltenders who seems to show up best when there’s more pressure on his shoulders. From backstopping Latvia to their first medal at the IIHF World Championship in 2023, to that fateful Calder Cup run in the summer of 2025, there’s been no shortage of spectacular Šilovs saves throughout his time as a Canuck. The goaltender detailed what it was about this particular playoff run that he’s learned and built off heading into his first season with the Penguins. 

“Confidence. It's, I think, just the consistency of how many games you play in a row too. I think you're just getting in the flow of it. Playoff hockey is the most difficult one to play, emotionally and body-wise. So I mean, just battling it through, I think, just gaining experience, I think, and that helps in the future.” 

Of course, 2025 wasn’t Šilovs’ only time competing in the post-season for the Canucks organization. Who could forget when both Thatcher Demko and Casey DeSmith were ruled out for Game 4 of Vancouver’s first-round series against the Nashville Predators in 2024? 

“Getting in the net in the playoffs, that was [an] incredible feeling, and managing to win the round, the series; it was a really great memory to have,” the goaltender recalled, the memory only a few months short from two years prior. 

Šilovs was 23 when that playoff run occurred. Over the span of the 10 playoff games he started in, he’d faced 283 shots and put up a 2.91 GAA. He registered his first playoff shutout in a series-clinching 1–0 win against the Predators. 

With the Penguins currently sitting at second in the Metropolitan Division, it looks as though Šilovs could be heading back to the post-season yet again. High-stakes games have yielded some of his best performances; as he prepares to head to the 2026 Winter Olympics for Latvia, Šilovs reflected on what he’s taken away from his time in the NHL as a member of the Penguins. 

“Getting experience, playing games, adjusting to the speed of the NHL, learning more about the shooters, learning the teams, how they play, and just gradually improving and adjusting my game,” he explained.  

With Šilovs returning to Rogers Arena for the Penguins’ 3:00 pm PT matinee-matchup with the Canucks today, the goaltender shared his thoughts on returning to the building that had once screamed his name as he went toe-to-toe with the likes of Stuart Skinner, who he now shares a crease with in Pittsburgh. Armed with more NHL experience, and now a brand-new Calder Cup championship ring, Šilovs is excited to face his former team and return to play in front of the fans that had welcomed him with open arms. 

“There’s going to be a lot of energy there. It’s a great building, and fans are really passionate about hockey. It’s gonna be a fun game.”

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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The Pittsburgh Penguins have won three in a row heading into Sunday's game against the Vancouver Canucks.

They'll be going for a sweep of their four-game road trip against a Canucks team that is the worst team in the league. They've lost 12 of their last 13 games and enter Sunday's game with a 17-29-5 record.

The Canucks are in full sell mode and have already traded star defenseman Quinn Hughes and forward Kiefer Sherwood. There will likely be other players on the move before the trade deadline.

Elias Pettersson leads the Canucks with 13 goals and 30 points in 43 games. Filip Hronek is right behind him with four goals and 29 points in 51 games. 

Brock Boeser is also a threat to score from anywhere on the ice and has 12 goals this season. Jake DeBrusk and former Penguins forward Drew O'Connor also have 12 goals each this season. 

A win would give the Penguins a four-point cushion over the New York Islanders for second place in the Metropolitan Division. 

The Penguins are expected to run the same forward combinations from Thursday's game in Edmonton and will get Kris Letang back from injury after head coach Dan Muse confirmed to the media that he's available. 

Here are the expected lines:

Forwards

Rakell-Crosby-Rust

Chinakhov-Novak-Malkin

Mantha-Kindel-Brazeau

Dewar-Lizotte-Acciari

Defensive pairs

Wotherspoon-Karlsson

Kulak-Letang

Shea-St. Ivany

---

Stuart Skinner will start in goal after having Thursday off. Puck drop is set for 6 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Fans can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'

---

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!    

The Chicago Blackhawks will celebrate their annual “Hockey Fights Cancer” night at the United Center on Sunday. This game will take place against the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. 

Florida, coming off an emotional overtime win over the Minnesota Wild one night prior (courtesy of Brad Marchand), comes into Sunday 27-20-3. The Blackhawks are 21-22-8. Both teams are alive in very different Wild Card races, but each needs all the points it can get. 

Scouting Florida

The Florida Panthers enter Sunday five points out of the playoffs. The Atlantic Division is loaded, and a couple of very good teams will miss out as a result. Being the defending champs doesn’t get you any grace in the standings. 

Florida is without its best player, Sasha Barkov. He was injured during training camp and is likely to miss the entire season. Matthew Tkachuk, who is also a game-breaking forward, just returned for the first time last week. 

Verhaeghe - Rodrigues - Reinhart

Greer - Bennett - Tkachuk

Luostarinen - Lundell - Marchand

Vilmanis - Kunin - Samoskevich

Forsling - Ekblad

Mikkola - Balinskis

Bjornfot - Petry

Tarasov

Future Hall of Famer Sergei Bobrovsky started in their win over the Wild, so Daniil Tarasov is projected to be the starter. With the way Florida defends and plays when they do have the puck, they have full confidence in both guys.

Brad Marchand, who scored in overtime on Saturday, is still a game breaker at his age. Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Anton Lundell, and Carter Verhaeghe are also players you game-plan for. With that many impactful forwards, it is no wonder that they've been in the final for three straight years. 

On defense, they are missing Seth Jones, who is going to be missing from the Olympics as well. Even without him, Aaron Ekblad and Gustav Forsling play a key role in their championship-caliber defending.  

Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago

The Chicago Blackhawks are coming off a 2-0-1 stretch. They didn't play perfect hockey against the Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday and Friday's back-to-back games, but they still found a way to earn three of four points. 

Moore-Bedard-Burakovsky

Greene-Nazar-Lardis

Bertuzzi-Dickinson-Mikheyev

Donato-Foligno-Slaggert

Vlasic-Crevier

Kaiser-Levshunov

Grzelcyk-Murphy

Knight

During the morning skate, Jeff Blashill had Oliver Moore and Nick Lardis seperated, but both are in the top six. This is an opportunity for Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar to skate with talented and speedy wingers around their age. Moore has played better as a center, and with Bedard, he will take faceoffs and be involved in all three zones. 

Spencer Knight will get the start for Chicago against his old team. After a great goaltending performance all around last week, Knight is looking to keep it going. 

Colton Dach and Sam Lafferty are the healthy scratches here. As of now, there are no illnesses to report; only Teuvo Teravainen is still out with an injury. 

How To Watch

The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. To view this game, it is available on CHSN locally and on NHL Network nationally. The puck will drop shortly after 6:00 PM CT. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay up to date on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

With the Feb. 4 roster freeze and March 6. NHL Trade Deadline approaching, trade rumors revolving around Artemi Panarin have begun to pick up steam.

Quickly after New York Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury issued a letter outlining the team’s plan to retool the roster, it was reported that Drury held an individual meeting with Panarin and informed him that the Rangers do not plan to re-sign him past this season and will look to trade him to anywhere he wishes to go. 

Panarin’s seven-year, $81.5 million contract is set to expire this upcoming summer, as he will become an unrestricted free agent if a contract extension is not signed before July 1. 

In a potential deal for Panarin, the Rangers are reportedly seeking a similar return to the one the New York Islanders received for Brock Nelson from the Colorado Avalanche.

"He's the name that everyone's focused on right now and if you'll remember last year Brock Nelson was traded from the Islanders to Colorado and the trade was for Cal Ritchie, a first rounder, and a conditional third, there were other players involved, but those were the key pieces, and it sounds like that's where the Rangers starting point is with Panarin right now,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said. 

Which teams may be in the mix for Panarin’s services?

Friedman links a few specific teams to Panarin, including the Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, and Washington Capitals.

It’s unclear if he would be willing to waive his no-move clause for any of these three teams or if he has a preference on exactly where he would like to end up. 

Why The Rangers Should Look To Target Shane Wright In Potential Trade A player who fits the exact criteria the New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers">Rangers</a> are looking for has found himself in the thick of trade discussions.&nbsp;

“I think some of the teams are looking around, Anaheim,” Friedman said. “Panarin has a history with Joel Quenneville, I think LA has some decisions to make about their overall situation where they are right now and where they truly are as a franchise and what an extension would look like, I think Washington with an extension, and I think there's a bunch of other teams, I'm always conceding that I'm missing teams in on this, but I think that's kinda where the market starts, the trade talks start and some of the teams are trying to figure out what Panarin is willing to do.”

In 51 games this season, the 34-year-old forward has recorded 19 goals, 37 assists, and 56 points, while averaging 20:51 minutes.

The Buffalo Sabres have successfully bounced back from a pair of losses against Minnesota and in Carolina with three straight wins over Nashville, Montreal, and a 5-0 shutout against the New York Islanders at the UBS Arena on Saturday afternoon. Jason Zucker scored twice, Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, and Alex Tuch scored for Buffalo, who moved past Montreal into third place in the Atlantic Division. 

Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff spoke to the media after the game:

It seemed like your penalty kill got you the momentum back, like it did for the Islanders:

It looked like when we were on the power play, and we were on the penalty kill. I thought our penalty kill was fantastic too. Didn't give up q chance. Did a real good job, Lyon stalled them out. I thought when we had chances to pressure, we did. Maybe a couple clears, we didn't get down the ice. But other than that, these last two games, the times we have killed them have been very good.

You talked about this before. In the third period,  you changed your lines, and had a defensive guy on each line. Was that your thought, since you don't have the last change?

I changed them in the second, to be honest with you. I just didn't like the way it was going. We just needed a little spark. Not really more about defensive guys, just more about seeing if we could get a little bit of life in the lines that generate a little bit more. And I thought, the McLeod line came out at the start of two periods and got us a goal. Benson and Thompson have played a lot together, and Ostlund has played such good hockey, that line looked pretty good too. I think sometimes inside of a game, you just have to mix things up. We're not getting the matchups. They were trying to match up their heavy guys against us. So I thought, try to get away from it.

Other Sabres Stories

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

How big of a spark has Jason Zucker provided in recent games?

Jason Zucker has kind of sparked you guys the last couple of years. We need that. We need that out of our veteran guys. He not only scores two goals, but he lays himself out on a big blocked shot too. I look at that sometimes as being bigger than scoring. He's putting himself first and forefront to help win a hockey game.

Mattias Samuelsson has always been a defensive contributor, but how big has his offense this season?

I think we've all seen the creating offense and making good plays. He's really been a rock back there on both sides of the puck when it comes to killing plays, and it comes to joining even. The shot to Tuch on the fifth goal. I mean, perfect shot. Tuch got his blade underneath it, but his outlet passes first and foremost, I thought were excellent.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

The Buffalo Sabres just keep winning. With their 5-0 victory over the New York Islanders on Saturday, they now have a 29-17-5 record and have jumped up to third place in the Atlantic Division standings. 

With the Sabres continuing to impress, they are putting themselves in a position to be buyers at the 2026 NHL trade deadline. One of their top goals ahead of the deadline should be to bring in another top-six forward. When looking at trade candidates around the NHL, New York Rangers forward Vincent Trocheck stands out in a major way. 

With Rangers GM Chris Drury confirming that the team is retooling and open to making moves, Trocheck has been creating a ton of buzz as a trade candidate. When noting that he is a proven top-six center with an affordable $5.625 million cap hit until the end of the 2028-29 season, several teams should be targeting him. The Sabres would be wise to be among them. 

If the Sabres brought in Trocheck, he would give them another star forward to work with in their top six and on both their power play and penalty kill. This would be great for a Sabres team that is looking to get back into the playoffs for the first time since 2011. 

In 38 games so far this season with the Rangers, Trocheck has recorded 11 goals, 21 assists, and 32 points. This is after he had 59 points in 82 games during the 2024-25 season and a career-high 77 points in 82 games back in 2023-24. With numbers like these, he would be a major pickup for the Sabres, and it will be intriguing to see if they pursue him because of it. 

The Buffalo Sabres turnaround in mid-December may have had more to do with two factors; the return of center Josh Norris from nearly two months on the injured list, and the going with Alex Lyon between the pipes. The Sabres went 14-3-1 with Norris in the lineup before he suffered a rib injury against Philadelphia on January 14th, and Lyon won seven straight before suffering a lower-body injury in St. Louis on December 29.

The Sabres pace slowed down slightly with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Colten Ellis between the pipes, but Lyon has continued where he left off, winning two games this week against Nashville and pitching a 26-save shutout against the NY Islanders on Saturday afternoon for his club-record tying ninth consecutive victory. 

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The win is Lyon’s 12th of the season (12-6-3, 2.70 GAA, .911sv %) and moves the 33-year-old into the club lead in victories over Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. The veteran netminder had matched five other Sabres goalies (Ryan Miller, Bob Sauve, Don Edwards, Carter Hutton, and Gerry Desjardins) with eight consecutive victories, and is now tied with Desjardins for the club-record, set in 1976-77.

"He's just given us a lot of real good hockey battle-hardened games. Tonight was fabulous. You look at the power play that we got a whole all out of sorts. The four saves he made on the power play, that could have turned the game for sure," Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said after the game.  "(Alex has) been able to step in, coming off injury, and play well, battle through games. He's given us some great hockey."

The win moved the Sabres into third spot in the Atlantic Division, tied with Montreal and one point ahead of Boston, who hold the two Eastern Conference wildcard spots. Lyon could set the record when Buffalo finishes off their road trip in Toronto on Tuesday.  

 

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The NHL will freeze rosters on Feb. 4, ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, and they’ll unfreeze on Feb. 22, meaning teams will be unable to execute trades or other transactions during that two-and-a-half-week stretch.

Many close to team operations suggest the Feb. 4 date could be used as a “mini trade deadline,” ahead of the real NHL trade deadline on Friday, March 6. The landscape in the NHL this season is vastly different from most due to almost all 32 teams remaining in a playoff race to varying degrees.

The only two teams to have, in any shape or form, declared themselves “sellers” this season are the Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers. The Rangers sent out a statement to fans and followers that they’re to enter a “retool” period with their franchise and make significant changes to their current roster.

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Rangers star winger Artemi Panarin (34) has been told that the organization has no intention of offering him a contract extension, and they’d be willing to work with him to find him a new team via in-season trade.

Premier NHL insider Elliotte Friedman mentioned the Anaheim Ducks as a team that’s “looking around” at Panarin on his “Saturday Headlines” TV hit and that the current asking price is what the New York Islanders received when they sent center Brock Nelson to the Colorado Avalanche at the 2025 trade deadline.

Brock Neslson was traded along with William Dufour to Colorado in exchange for Calum Ritchie, Oliver Kylington, a 2026 first-round pick, and a conditional 2028 third. The conditions were not met, so the Islanders will keep that third-round pick.

“(Panarin) is the name everyone is kind of focused on right now,” Friedman said. “It sounds like (the Nelson trade) is where the Rangers’ starting point is with Panarin right now. Part of this is also, will he be willing to sign an extension?

He has a no-move clause, so he controls where he goes. Some of the teams that are looking around: Anaheim. Panarin has a history with Joel Quenneville.”

Friedman also mentioned the Los Angeles Kings and Washington Capitals as potentially interested teams.

Panarin is in the final year of a seven-year contract that carries an AAV of $11.6 million. His deal also includes a full no-move clause, which essentially allows him to handpick his destination and could drive his acquisition cost down.

If the Anaheim Ducks are involved, they’d likely want some sort of guarantee that he’d sign an extension, as their season could very much end with them not qualifying for the playoffs, and if they do, it’s unlikely they’d be serious Stanley Cup contenders.

NHL insider Frank Seravalli appeared on Sportsnet’s “Real Kyper & Bourne” show and revealed Panarin’s desired term for said extension.

“I think there’s a number of teams that are looking at this situation, going, ‘Hmm, I don’t know if we’re in it for the long haul with Panarin,’ and by long haul, I mean legitimately that,” Seravalli said. “The belief is around the league that Panarin is looking for a longer-term deal, potentially even one that takes him to 40.”

The Ducks have nearly $26 million in current cap space and a projected $39 million in cap space for the 2026-27 season. Ryan Poehling, Jacob Trouba, and Radko Gudas will be unrestricted free agents come July 1, while Cutter Gauthier, Leo Carlsson, Ian Moore, Pavel Mintyukov, and Olen Zellweger will become restricted free agents.

That projected cap space could disappear quickly, but the Ducks could still likely fit Panarin’s potential extension under the 2026-27 ceiling. The question then becomes one of cost and fit.

As mentioned, the acquisition cost may be depressed due to limited options, and even if Panarin gets his desired six-year term, he’ll likely require north of $10 million in AAV. If the Ducks were to match the Rangers’ ask for him, Anaheim would send a first-round pick to New York along with a player or prospect of similar value to Ritchie (Tristan Luneau, Stian Solberg, or Olen Zellweger).

On paper, a 35 to 40-year-old Artemi Panarin doesn’t quite align with the Ducks’ perceived “contending window,” as his best years are likely behind him. However, he’s produced 926 points (321-605=926) in 803 career NHL games and has scored over a point-per-game every season since his first two in the NHL (2015-16 and 2016-17), where he scored 77 and 74 points, respectively. On the last-place team in the Eastern Conference in 2025-26, he’s again tallied 56 points (19-37=56) in 51 games. Though he eventually will, it doesn’t seem like he’s slowing down just yet.

Though the ideal scenario would be for the Ducks to acquire a “prime-aged” star player (roughly 24-27) who does fit their window, Panarin would, in theory, stabilize a clearly volatile young core, aid in rehabilitating their struggling power play, as well as buoy, nurture, and enhance the potential of the team’s youngest and most talented players.

Most insiders and speculators are theorizing that Ducks' general manager, Pat Verbeek, is looking to take a “big swing” to improve his roster this season or over the summer. We’ll soon discover if Panarin will represent that swing and if he’ll rejoin former teammates Trouba, Ryan Strome, Frank Vatrano, Chris Kreider, and his first NHL coach, Joel Quenneville, in Anaheim.

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The Chicago Blackhawks host the Florida Panthers in the evening portion of Sunday’s NHL slate.

Chicago has started to play better hockey as the team gets healthier, and my Panthers vs. Blackhawks predictions expect this trend to continue.

Read on for my NHL picks for Sunday, January 25.

Panthers vs Blackhawks prediction

Panthers vs Blackhawks best bet: Blackhawks moneyline (+110)

The Chicago Blackhawks are finally starting to get healthy with the returns of Frank Nazar, Jason Dickinson, and Andre Burakovsky. This more rounded lineup is beginning to make some noise, especially after a difficult two-game stretch against the Hurricanes and Lightning.

Chicago picked up three points in those two games against two of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, a trend that should continue against a struggling Florida Panthers team.

One of the Blackhawks’ greatest strengths during this stretch has been the play of goaltender Spencer Knight, who is slated to start against his former team. Knight enters this matchup in excellent form, allowing three or fewer goals in each of his past seven starts.

He is 5-2 during that span with a .924 SV% and a 2.25 GAA.

Meanwhile, Florida enters this contest on the second half of a back-to-back that included travel, which does not bode well for a team expected to start its backup goaltender. This season, Daniil Tarasov trails Knight in wins, SV%, and GAA.

Panthers vs Blackhawks same-game parlay

Now is the time to buy low on Chicago’s Connor Bedard, who has struggled to finish over the past few weeks. However, he continues to generate high-danger scoring chances, and the goals should begin to follow.

That also increases the correlation of Andre Burakovsky recording an assist, considering he skates alongside Bedard on the top line and possesses excellent passing ability.

Panthers vs Blackhawks SGP

• Blackhawks moneyline
• Connor Bedard anytime goal
• Andre Burakovsky 1+ assists

Panthers vs Blackhawks odds

• Moneyline: Florida -169 | Chicago +116
• Puck line: Florida -1.5 (+159) | Chicago +1.5 (-238)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+105) | Under 6.5 (-125)

Panthers vs Blackhawks trend

Chicago has won two of its past three games. Find more NHL betting trends for Panthers vs. Blackhawks.

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