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.
The Sabres sign winger Josh Doan to a seven-year contract extension.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
Brad Penner-Imagn Images
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.
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.
How to watch Panthers vs Blackhawks
Location
United Center, Chicago, IL
Date
Sunday, January 25, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Scripps 66, Chicago Sports Network
Panthers vs Blackhawks 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
Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane is on the verge of making history once again.
While many fans have been waiting to witness Kane score his 500th career goal, another milestone may arrive even sooner. Kane is just one point away from tying former Red Wings great Mike Modano for the most points by an American-born player in NHL history.
Kane currently has 1,373 career points and recently met with Modano following Detroit’s overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild last Thursday. If Kane records a point when the Red Wings return home Tuesday to face the Los Angeles Kings, he would break the record in significantly fewer games. Modano reached the mark in 1,499 games, while Kane has played just 1,340 games so far in his career, a difference of 158 games.
The veteran winger started the season in strong form, averaging a point per game, but his production has slowed at times. Kane has eight goals and 22 assists for 30 points in 38 games this season. Even with the dip in pace, few doubt the ability of the player known as “Showtime” to rise to the moment once again.
Modano, a Livonia, Michigan native, is expected to be in attendance Tuesday. However, Kane may have to be patient, as the Kings boast one of the NHL’s strongest defensive units and rank fourth in goals allowed per game this season.
If Kane does not break the record right away, there will be more opportunities. Tuesday’s game marks the start of a three-game homestand, followed by matchups against the Washington Capitals on Thursday and a marquee primetime game against the Colorado Avalanche next Saturday.
Whenever the milestone is reached, the hope is that Detroit fans will be there to witness another historic moment in franchise history.
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After three days of rest, playing against the ST. Louis Blues, who were playing a back-to-back tonight, the Los Angeles Kings refused to let this game slip away.
Across the first period and early second, the Kings jumped out to a 2-0 lead; they looked dominant, fast, and on point defensively against the ST. Louis Blues.
But the struggle started quickly, as it has happened time and time again, especially when the Kings have gotten off to fast starts. Los Angeles gave up three goals alone in the second period, finishing the first 40 minutes of regulation tied 3-3.
LA was outplayed in the second, losing the period 3-1, and we're not entirely sure how they still ended up winning tonight, given the Kings are one of the worst clutch teams in the league.
So, let's dive into how the Kings won. We will grade the top players' performances on the Kings tonight, helping them escape the St. Louis Blues.
After leaving Tuesday's game against the New York Rangers in the first period due to a lower-body injury, Darcy Kuemper returned tonight and did what he always does. Finishing with 25 saves on 29 shots and made multiple clutch stops late in regulation and Overtime.
This game doesn't go the Kings' way without Kuemper; he bailed the Kings out multiple times in OT and slammed the door when it mattered most.
Grade: A
Trevor Moore
19:43 TOI, 1 goal, 5 shots, +1, and shootout winner.
Trevor Moore, who hadn't played since Dec. 29, looked like he hadn't missed a step tonight. Moore scored the go-ahead goal in the third to give the Kings a 4-3 lead after it looked like the momentum had shifted to the Blues, and then finished the game in the shootout.
Moore was aggressive all night and clutch when the Kings needed him most, and also notched his 100th career NHL goal.
Since the NHL introduced the shootout back in the 2005-06 season, 301 players have at least 20 attempts.
Only 11 of those players have converted at least 50 percent of their attempts. Trevor Moore is one of those players. Consistently money in the shootout.
Alex Laferriere was one of the Kings' dangerous forwards tonight, along with Moore. Scoring the game-tying goal in the second after the Kings gave up three goals, Laferriere kept the game in reach.
Brian Dumoulin was one of the key contributors to help the Kings get off to a fast start in the first period, giving Los Angeles a 2-0 lead and scoring his first goal of the season.
Grade: B
Taylor Ward
9:48 TOI, 1 goal, 1 shot, +1
Once again in his limited minutes, Taylor Ward contributed for the Kings, starting them off to a fast start in regulation. It's now the second consecutive game that Ward has scored a goal, and the Kings have picked up wins in both matches. Again, playing limited minutes, but all the Kings ask of him right now is high energy and consistent play.
Jim Hiller almost blew another game where his team had an early lead. But the Kings were able to squeak out a win on the road, especially with Hiller using his depth again, with Ward and Samuel Helennius giving them solid minutes, so credit to Hiller for believing in his guys.
But it wasn't a pretty second period for him, and the game could've gotten out of reach if not for his players stepping up in the clutch.
Grade: C
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The Anaheim Ducks will head north of the 49th parallel to take on the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Sunday, January 25. This marks the first meeting between these two Pacific Division teams this season.
My Ducks vs. Flames predictions and NHL picks suggest that while Calgary may continue its offensive struggles, some key players may be primed to rise to the occasion in this exciting divisional bout.
Ducks vs Flames prediction
Ducks vs Flames best bet: Yegor Sharangovich Over 2.5 shots on goal (+136)
On a team that has scored the second-fewest goals in the league, Calgary Flames forward Yegor Sharangovich has been somewhat of a bright spot.
The one-time 30-goal scorer is mired in a subpar offensive season (as is most of his team), but has been firing on all cylinders recently.
He has 14 shots in his last four games, hitting the Over in each. For good measure, he has the same number of shots as Nathan MacKinnon and David Pastrnak during that span.
He faces an Anaheim Ducks team that ranks 21st in shots allowed. Look for the Belarusian to fire a few pucks towards Lukas Dostal tonight.
Ducks vs Flames same-game parlay
Recent trade acquisition Zach Whitecloud has stepped right in to fill the void left by Rasmus Andersson. The former Vegas Golden Knight has seen a significant uptick in ice time in his three games as a Flame thus far, culminating in 25:16 of ice time on Friday night.
He's blocked six shots in three games since being traded to Calgary and just shattered his season-high ice time mark a game ago — a fantastic scenario to block a few shots from a confident Ducks team on a six-game winning streak.
Despite Anaheim's recent hot stretch, I like the Under here, as Calgary has scored just five goals in its last four games while being held to just one in three straight.
Ducks vs Flames SGP
Yegor Sharangovich Over 2.5 shots on goal
Zach Whitecloud Over 1.5 blocked shots
Under 6.5
Ducks vs Flames odds
Moneyline: Ducks -105 | Flames -115
Puck Line: Ducks +1.5 (-250) | Flames -1.5 (+205)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+100) | Under 6.5 (-120)
Ducks vs Flames trend
Calgary has won four of the last five meetings and seven of the last 10. The Under has hit in three of the last four Find more NHL betting trends for Ducks vs. Flames.
How to watch Ducks vs Flames
Location
Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB
Date
Sunday, January 25, 2026
Puck drop
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
Victory+, Sportsnet
Ducks vs Flames 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
At the 2025 deadline, the Islanders sent Nelson to the Avalanche in a deal involving top prospect Calum Ritchie, a 2027 first-round pick, and a conditional 2027 third-round pick, along with defenseman Oliver Kylington, who was quickly flipped to the Anaheim Ducks for future considerations.
Panarin, 34, is a pending free agent and has been told by Rangers management that he will not be brought back this pending offseason as the two sides work towards a trade.
Potential trade suitors include the Avalanche, Washington Capitals, Minnesota Wild, Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, and Florida Panthers.
Panarin, a winger, sits at 19 goals and 37 assists for 56 points in 51 games this season for the Rangers.
He is in the final season of a seven-year, $81,499,999 contract ($11,642,857 AAV) with the Rangers.
In Saturday night’s defeat against the Boston Bruins, the Montreal Canadiens gave up three power-play goals, which ultimately led to their demise. Of course, that could have been avoided had the Habs played a more disciplined game. Still, hockey being a physical sport, it’s almost impossible to avoid penalties altogether, which is why it’s crucial to have a reasonable penalty kill.
Last season, the Canadiens ranked ninth in the league with an 80.9% penalty kill success rate, but this year they are 26th with a 76.5% efficiency rate. In 52 games, they’ve already given up 40 power-play goals and are on pace to surrender 63 man-advantage lamplighters. Last season, they had only given up 49 in 82 games.
What has changed? Well, the Habs lost three of the eight players who were mainstays on their penalty kill. David Savard retired, Joel Armia walked as a free agent and signed with the Los Angeles Kings, while Christian Dvorak did the same with the Philadelphia Flyers. Armia currently plays on the Kings’ first penalty kill, but they are 25th overall in the league in that department, just ahead of the Canadiens at 77.3%. As for Dvorak, he’s not used on the penalty kill by the Flyers.
You don’t become a penalty killing specialist overnight. This season, the Canadiens have been relying on rookies Oliver Kapanen and Joe Veleno to play significant roles when down a man. Kapanen has done it overseas, but he understandably needs some time to adapt to the NHL's power play. As for Veleno, he’s spending 27.4% of his time on ice on the penalty kill, which is almost double the amount of shorthanded time he had on the ice last season with the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks.
At the start of the season, Martin St-Louis also made it clear that he wanted Alex Newhook to become a PK specialist. In his 17 games this season, Newhook spent 33.4% of his time on ice down a man. His injury has no doubt been a big blow to the penalty killing unit.
With Alexandre Texier coming back in the lineup for the game against the Bruins, the coach decided to scratch Veleno, who has not only been a regular on his penalty kill but also one of the centermen who can take the shorthanded draws. This season, he has won 51.2% of his draws, which is more than Nick Suzuki and Kapanen.
As things stand, Stephane Robidas is the assistant coach who’s responsible for the penalty kill. Is it time to perhaps explore another avenue? Earlier this week, the Ottawa Senators, who are currently 31st in the league when down a man, gave Mike Yeo the helm of the penalty kill unit instead of Nolan Baumgartner; the latter wasn’t fired, but the team felt the PK needed a new voice.
Perhaps it would also help to let Nick Suzuki back on the PK. Of course, you don’t want to overuse the captain, but with the second line making more of an offensive impact and having more ice time, it could be an idea.
Better goaltending would also help. While you generally won’t blame the goaltender for power-play goals, the best player on a successful penalty-killing unit is often the masked man. This season, that’s not happening for the Canadiens. Whichever way you look at it, good goaltending is a must in all aspects of the game.
There’s no magical solution, but clearly something has to be done if the Canadiens don't want to be fighting for a playoff spot until the very end, as last season. Special teams are a must for a successful team, and in an ideal world, nobody wants to wait for the last game of the season to know if they’ll be part of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Patience was preached at the start of the season while the power play worked through its growing pains. Nearly four months later, January has arrived, and the unit still looks stuck in the same place.
Although the Avalanche remain atop the NHL at 34-6-9 through 49 games, they are just 4-4-2 over their past 10—a stretch that hints at a slight dip in form. Injuries have played a significant role. Captain Gabriel Landeskog has been sidelined since Jan. 4 after suffering broken ribs against the Florida Panthers, while Devon Toews has missed much of the month with an upper-body injury.
Given the circumstances, some patience is warranted when evaluating recent results. The power play, however, falls into a different category. It has been a persistent issue for much of the season. While Colorado continues to control play at five-on-five, its man advantage has consistently lagged behind.
CREDIT: GUERILLA SPORTS. Bednar's comments following the game against the Washington Capitals.
Has The Power Play Improved at All Since Meeting?
Colorado is currently tied for 21st in the NHL, converting on just 16.1 percent of its power play opportunities. Prior to the Jan. 8 home game against the Ottawa Senators, head coach Jared Bednar confirmed the team held a significant meeting focused on the man advantage, aimed at aligning strategies and ensuring a unified approach to addressing what has been a season-long issue. Bednar also encouraged open dialogue during the meeting, emphasizing the importance of player input and collective problem-solving.
Have those efforts translated into tangible progress? Not exactly. Entering Colorado’s 8–2 win over Ottawa, the power play conversion rate remained unchanged at 16.1 percent. On the surface, the numbers suggest stagnation—but a deeper look, game by game, provides additional context worth examining.
Brock Nelson and Martin Nečas each scored power play goals against the Senators, reaching the 20-goal mark on the season. Colorado finished the night 2-for-6 with the man advantage, a rare bright spot in an otherwise inconsistent stretch for the unit.
Colorado goal!
Scored by Valeri Nichushkin with 13:52 remaining in the 1st period.
On Jan. 10, Trent Miner recorded the first shutout and first win of his NHL career in a 4–0 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. While the result was a positive, the power play failed to contribute, finishing 0-for-2.
Two days later, Colorado’s 17-game home winning streak came to an end in a 4–3 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Avalanche went 1-for-3 on the power play, with Nelson once again providing the lone goal on the man advantage—his 22nd of the season.
After three days of rest, Colorado struggled in a 7–3 loss to the Nashville Predators, where the power play again came up empty, finishing 0-for-2. The Avalanche responded with a 5–2 win days later against Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals. While the power play remained far from sharp, it did produce a goal, going 1-for-6, with Nathan MacKinnon scoring his 37th of the season.
Colorado now enters its latest stretch coming off back-to-back losses—a 2–1 shootout defeat to the Anaheim Ducks followed by a 7–3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. Across those two games, the power play went a combined 0-for-6.
Math Shows...
Since the power play meeting, the Avalanche have had 25 opportunities with the man advantage and scored just four goals, a conversion rate of 16 percent—slightly below their season average. On paper, the unit has technically declined, though in reality it has largely remained the same.
That stagnation is beginning to wear on the fan base, with some suggesting that if the issue isn’t resolved before the postseason, the consequences could be significant when the margin for error shrinks. In a conversation with The Hockey News, Bednar addressed the power play, outlining where he believes the unit is struggling most and identifying the areas that need improvement.
"We want to be as dangerous as possible," Bednar said on January 19. "We've had some power plays in that stretch that haven't looked great, and we've had some that have looked fantastic, but it's definitely getting more consistent and guys are continuing to work on it and share ideas and get on the same page and then just work on the execution part of it. I still think it's going to (improve) yet again."
Next Game
The Avalanche are on the road to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday morning. Coverage begins at 11:30 local time.
Brock Boeser is heating up. His shot volume has increased noticeably over the past 10 games, and he has hit the scoresheet in back-to-back outings.
My Penguins vs. Canucks predictions expect Boeser to have another quality offensive showing with Filip Chytil back by his side.
Let’s dive into my NHL picks for Sunday, January 25.
Penguins vs Canucks prediction
Penguins vs Canucks best bet: Brock Boeser Over 0.5 points (-120)
Filip Chytil returned from injury last time out and regained a slot in the Top-6 centering Brock Boeser. That proved to be very beneficial for Boeser.
He put forth a productive offensive performance, scoring a goal while finishing tied for the team lead with six shot attempts. That matched his highest attempt output on home soil all season long.
That Boeser had such a strong showing with Chytil was no coincidence. He has now played three games with Chytil as his center this season, and Boeser scored in two of them while averaging five shot attempts.
The Vancouver Canucks have out-played their opponents with that duo on the ice, winning the shot attempt battle 46-39 and controlling nearly 61% of the expected goals at 5-on-5.
They are the line best equipped to make noise in that game state, which is important as the Pittsburgh Penguins are one of the least penalized teams in the league.
Penguins vs Canucks same-game parlay
Zeev Buium is another Canucks weapon coming off a whale of a game. Buium had a goal, three shots, six attempts, and logged nearly 24 minutes of ice time while also playing on the top power play.
He is a dynamic blueliner getting a lot of opportunities to put his skillset to use.
Marcus Pettersson has blocked multiple shots in seven of the past nine games. He’s one of the team’s more reliable defenders and is not shy about putting his body on the line.
Penguins vs Canucks SGP
Brock Boeser Over 0.5 points
Zeev Buium Over 0.5 points
Marcus Pettersson Over 1.5 blocked shots
Penguins vs Canucks odds
Moneyline: Pittsburgh -145 | Vancouver +125
Puck line: Pittsburgh -1.5 (+160) | Vancouver +1.5 (-190)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+110) | Under 6.5 (-130)
Penguins vs Canucks trend
Brock Boeser has six points over his last five games against Vancouver. Find more NHL betting trends for Penguins vs. Canucks.
How to watch Penguins vs Canucks
Location
Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC
Date
Sunday, January 25, 2026
Puck drop
6:00 p.m. ET
TV
SportsNet Pittsburgh, Sportsnet
Penguins vs Canucks 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
Mark Stone has been one of the NHL’s most consistent producers this season, finding the score sheet in 31 of his 34 appearances, while currently riding a 14-game point streak.
The Vegas Golden Knights captain has collected multiple points in five of his last nine contests, and I suspect he’ll pick up a few more points against his former team, the Ottawa Senators.
Ottawa has been one of the league’s worst defensive squads this year, allowing 3.39 gpg (28th) while also owning the 32nd-ranked team save percentage (.870).
Meanwhile, Vegas has been on a heater with eight wins in its last 10 games while scoring a league-best 4.60 gpg over that span. The Golden Knights will score in bunches tonight, and Stone will be in the middle of the action as usual.
The Pittsburgh Penguins captain enters Sunday on a five-game point streak with at least one assist in four of those contests, and he’ll add another helper tonight vs. the lowly Vancouver Canucks.
Vancouver is in full-on tank mode after trading captain Quinn Hughes back in December. Since Dec. 22, the Canucks have lost 14 of their 16 games while allowing a massive 4.38 gap — the worst mark in the NHL.
The Pens are heating up with a 4-0-1 record in their last five contests, scoring 5.0 gpg through that stretch. Sidney Crosby should factor in at least one tally tonight in what projects as a high-scoring game for Pittsburgh.
The Anaheim Ducks remain without star center Leo Carlsson following a thigh injury, which means other players have had to step up.
Fortunately for Anaheim, they’ve got another breakout forward in Cutter Gauthier, who leads the team with 23 goals and 45 points.
At just 22 years of age, Gauthier has already emerged as one of the NHL’s best shot creators. The Ducks winger has 191 shots on net this season, the third most in the league behind only Nathan MacKinnon (226) and Connor McDavid (200).
Gauthier has logged Over 3.5 shots in five of his last six outings and looks poised for another high-volume effort against the Calgary Flames, who have surrendered nearly 32 shots per game over their last nine contests.
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.
Drake Batherson has 44 points through 48 games and is pacing to clear 70 for the first time in his career.
My Golden Knights vs. Senators predictions expect him to find the scoresheet once again in what should be a high-event affair.
Let’s dive into my NHL picks for Sunday, January 25.
Golden Knights vs Senators prediction
Golden Knights vs Senators best bet: Drake Batherson Over 0.5 points (-135)
Drake Batherson sits second on the Ottawa Senators in points, trailing only Tim Stutzle. He's recorded at least one in 60% of his games, and 67% when excluding matchups against Top-10 teams in goals against — which the Vegas Golden Knights are not.
They've given up 2.98 goals per game and not gotten many saves. Starter Adin Hill has missed a lot of time with injury and struggled when healthy, sporting an .871 SV% through eight appearances. Akira Schmid (.896 SV%) hasn’t fared a whole lot better.
Point being, the Senators' offense — which has averaged 3.4 goals over the past 20 games — should cause problems for the Knights, and Batherson is likely to be at the forefront of that.
A lack of rest isn’t a concern either. Batherson has produced at a very high rate in back-to-backs this season, piling up nine points through seven games while working on zero days of rest.
The 27-year-old played VGK earlier this season and picked up a point while generating six shot attempts. I’d expect similar outputs this time around.
Golden Knights vs Senators same-game parlay
Tim Stutzle is thought of as a playmaker more than a finisher, but he leads the Senators in goals and has found the back of the net in four of the past five games he’s played when skating on the same line as Batherson.
Ottawa (3.40) and Vegas (3.85) have both averaged a ton of goals over their last 20 games. With the two sides struggling to get stops, the offenses should win out.
Golden Knights vs Senators SGP
Drake Batherson Over 0.5 points
Tim Stutzle anytime goalscorer
Over 6.5
Golden Knights vs Senators odds
Moneyline: Golden Knights -140 | Senators +120
Puck Line: Golden Knights -1.5 (+165) | Senators +1.5 (-200)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-105) | Under 6.5 (-115)
Golden Knights vs Senators trend
The Vegas Golden Knights have hit the game total Over in 14 of their last 20 games (+8.80 Units / 39% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Golden Knights vs. Senators.
How to watch Golden Knights vs Senators
Location
Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, ON
Date
Sunday, January 25, 2026
Puck drop
5:00 p.m. ET
TV
Vegas 34, TSN5
Golden Knights vs Senators latest injuries
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In an entertaining, back-and-forth game at TD Garden, one that featured a Montreal hat trick and about 493 power play goals, the game-winning goal almost didn’t happen at all.
Morgan Geekie’s second goal of the game with just under six minutes to go in the third period gave the Bruins lead they wouldn’t relinquish, with the B’s skating off TD Garden ice with a 4-3 win.
Geekie’s mystery goal was originally thought to be a puck out of play, with the officials unsure of where the puck went.
It wasn’t until David Pastrnak started hopping up and down, pointing at the net, that everyone realized Geekie’s shot had beaten Samuel Montembeault and gotten lodged in the sash at the back of the net.
MYSTERY GOAL!
Geekie’s goal gave the Bruins their first lead of the night, as they had to overcome deficits of 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2 to earn the win.
Cole Caufield carried the Canadiens on the evening, with the American forward recording the second hat trick of his NHL career, but it wasn’t enough for Montreal.
Along with Geekie, the B’s got multi-point nights from Fraser Minten (an assist and the game-tying goal in the third) and Charlie McAvoy (three assists).
The win moved the Bruins to within a point of Montreal in the Atlantic Division, with the Habs actually falling out of the top three and into a wild card spot with the loss. Buffalo (?!?!?) is currently third in the Atlantic.
This game was not exactly a penalty killing master class, with the teams combining for five power play goals. On the night, the B’s and Habs went a combined 5-for-7 on the man advantage, which won’t help those team PK percentages.
The Bruins got some good fortune in the third period with Nikita Zadorov returning from what looked like a potentially ugly lower-body injury. Marco Sturm noted after the game that Zadorov wasn’t 100% after returning, but hopefully the fact that he was able to continue means he avoided serious injury.
The Geekie Mystery Goal has overtaken the “Bring the Rangers Back from the Locker Room” goal as the weirdest of the season thus far, but there’s still plenty of time for more.
The Bruins will face those same Rangers in Manhattan on Monday night.
I believe they actually traveled to New York either late Saturday night or early this morning to avoid the coming snowfall, with the team scheduled to practice at Madison Square Garden at 2 PM.
That practice time is likely not a coincidence, with the B’s getting a skate in just in time to watch the AFC Championship.
The 21-year-old defenseman played 33 games with the big club last season, but when opportunities presented themselves this season, injuries got in the way.
In the Islanders' 5-0 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, George played 13:56 minutes alongside Adam Boqvist on the third pairing, keeping things simple.
He had a turnover on his first shift, but then really settled in.
"I was pleased with his game," Islanders head coach Patrick Roy said. "I thought he was playing with confidence, skating well, and breaking the puck out pretty well. I felt like he had a good game."
We spoke with George following his return:
Q: What’s it been like getting re-acclimated and being back with the group?
A: “It’s really just about getting re-acclimated. That’s the biggest thing. It was nice to be reunited with the guys up here. They’ve been great to me — last year at camp and this year too. It was all smiles when I came back. It’s great to see everyone again.”
Q: How tough was it being hurt and feeling like there were opportunities slipping away while you were sidelined?
A: “Obviously, you’d rather not be hurt. You want to be playing and playing well, so that was a tough situation. But I’m happy with the way I stuck with it and kept working. Over the last couple of weeks, things have started to go my way more, and that’s been encouraging.”
Q: How much has Rocky Thompson helped you during that stretch?
A: “He’s been great. He does a really good job putting us in positions to win games, which is super valuable. He’s also big on the details — little stick details, positioning details — and I feel like that’s definitely helped my game. Those things really matter at this level.”
Q: How did you feel about your game today and adjusting back to NHL speed?
A: "I felt good. I thought I had some moments. Obviously, you always wish you had better shifts here and there, but I felt comfortable out there. I was getting back into the groove, handling the puck well, and seeing the ice.”
George is expected to get a good look, as he could be the best answer to fill Alexander Romanov's spot in the lineup for the rest of the season.
The Islanders battle the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday at 7 PM ET, weather permitting.
The San Jose Sharks recently added to their roster, as they acquired forward Kiefer Sherwood from the Vancouver Canucks. With this, the Sharks made it clear that they are willing to be buyers.
If the Sharks want to keep making moves, one area that they could look to boost is the right side of their defense. When looking at trade candidates around the NHL, the St. Louis Blues have an interesting potential option in veteran blueliner Justin Faulk.
If the Sharks landed Faulk, he would undoubtedly give their top four a nice boost. This is because he is an impactful defenseman who contributes well offensively from the point and works on both the power play and penalty kill.
Faulk would also be more than a rental for the Sharks, which adds to his appeal. This is because the right-shot defenseman is signed until the end of the 2026-27 season, where he has a $6.5 million cap hit. With this, he would benefit the Sharks for more than just the remainder of this season if acquired.
On a struggling Blues team, Faulk has been in the middle of a solid year. In 52 games so far this season, the 33-year-old blueliner has posted 11 goals, 13 assists, and 24 points. His 11 goals also have him tied for seventh among all NHL defensemen this season.
Mark Stone Over 1.5 points
Sidney Crosby Over 0.5 assists
Cutter Gauthier Over 3.5 shots
