Category: Ice Hockey

Over the past 24 hours or so, the Vegas Golden Knights and San Jose Sharks have made a key addition each. While two Pacific Division clubs strengthen their teams via trades, the Los Angeles Kings remain outside of a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

With the Kings' divisional rivals improving and adding assets to their rosters, the pressure on GM Ken Holland will only grow leading into the Olympic roster freeze and to the March 6 NHL trade deadline.

The pressure won't necessarily be growing because the Kings need to make a move, although that could help in the short term. But the spotlight will be on the team and Holland in terms of the direction Los Angeles will be going as spring approaches.

As mentioned, the Kings are just outside of a playoff spot as they're sixth in the Pacific. Furthermore, coming off the weekend, the Kings were tied in points with three other teams in their division, including the Sharks, who are now third in the Pacific after a win on  Monday.

The status of Los Angeles' divisional counterparts has been made clear.

It was a no-brainer that the Golden Knights continue to add, and they made a big move by acquiring defenseman Rasmus Andersson from the Calgary Flames. He'll be a massive boost to Vegas' back end as they already lead the division with two games in hand on second-place Edmonton Oilers.

How Do The Golden Knights And GM McCrimmon Constantly Acquire NHL Stars?The Vegas Golden Knights made a big acquisition on Sunday, trading for defenseman Rasmus Andersson from the Calgary Flames. Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon made a massive move, but that's par for the course for one of the NHL's most successful GMs.

As for the Sharks, they've been sellers for the last number of seasons. Although with a decent first half to the regular season, they find themselves in the playoff race.

As a result, San Jose GM Mike Grier acquired Kiefer Sherwood from the Vancouver Canucks, one of the highly-anticipated trade candidates and pending UFAs in the NHL. In addition, he led the Canucks in goals with 17 in 44 games and is one of two players with over 200 hits this year.

The San Jose Sharks Take An Excellent Calculated Risk With Kiefer SherwoodThe San Jose Sharks injected physicality and scoring into their rebuild by acquiring Kiefer Sherwood. Will the pending UFA be a long-term piece of the puzzle?

For the Kings, going into the season, they were expected to be playoff contenders, and naturally, they'd be buyers as the trade deadline gets closer.

However, with their start to this season, and the trends Los Angeles has shown lately, the team's direction isn't so clear anymore.

They have 51 points in 48 games. Thirteen of those points come from the team's 13 overtime defeats, as they own a 19-16-13 record.

Given the Kings' mark and position in the standings, it's tough to say whether they are a seller or a buyer. If anything is clear, it's that they shouldn't pursue one direction with any sort of aggression.

To be sure, the Kings have the future assets to dish out, including three first-round picks and four second-rounders over the next three seasons, as well as several notable prospects. 

However, there is no guarantee Los Angeles will emerge from the ruins of the playoff race and set themselves as a distinct playoff team. It wouldn't make sense to risk the franchise's future for rental in a struggling season.

Therefore, they may just need to take the status of conservative buyers. Some light additions won't turn them into Stanley Cup favorites, but may be the necessary path for Holland to push the team to the playoffs at least.

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The Vancouver Canucks continued their rebuild on Monday as they traded Kiefer Sherwood to the San Jose Sharks. In return, Vancouver received two second-round picks as well as defenceman Cole Clayton. While Sherwood is the team leader in goals, he is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, which made this trade almost necessary, considering where the Canucks are in the standings. 

After Vancouver's 11th straight loss on Monday, three players met with the media to discuss the game. During the availabilities, all were asked about Sherwood and the impact he had on the organization. First was Marcus Pettersson, who discussed how the Canucks overall record forced this type of trade.  

"Yeah, it's a big loss," said Pettersson. "You know, the energy that he brings every day. That's the business we are in. When you lose games, stuff like that is going to happen. Like I said, the energy that he brought every day. His fiery play, we are going to miss and how good of a person he is, too. It's always tough to say by to teammates and friends. But like I said, that's the business you are in when you lose games. 

Up next was Evander Kane, who is in the same situation as Sherwood. The 34-year-old has also been involved in trade rumours as he is also an unrestricted free agent on July 1. When asked about Sherwood, Kane spoke about not just what he brought on the ice, but he friendship they developed over the past few months. 

"Woody, you know, we became kind of fast friends, especially off the ice," said Kane. "You know, really, really good guy. Brought an energy that you don't see a whole lot in the NHL, and, you know, really fun to watch and be around. So wishing him the best of luck in San Jose there. And I'm sure he'll add a lot to that group."

The third player to speak was Max Sassson. Just like Sherwood, the 25-year-old is a late bloomer, as he only made his NHL debut last season. When asked about his now former teammate, Sasson spoke about Sherwood's leadership skills, especially when it came to helping out the younger guys on the team. 

"I had a long talk with him today," said Sasson, "And I'll continue to stay in touch. He's given me a lot of advice ever since day one up here. And I think, even when we were in Abbotsford, that's a guy that we talked about all the time that we can learn from and strive to be one day. That you know, maybe just because you weren't in the NHL at 21, you can still find it. He's playing his best hockey right now at 29, so yeah, we're gonna miss him. He was a great friend, but also an unbelievable leader to all of us."

In the span of a year and a half, Sherwood went from relatively unknown to becoming a fan favourite in Vancouver. He scored 36 goals and recorded 63 points in 122 games while also throwing 672 hits. Ultimately, Sherwood will be missed in the market, not just by the fan base but also in the Canucks locker room. 

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The Colorado Avalanche's start to the season has been nothing but historic, despite a rough couple of recent weeks. With a record of 34-5-8 for 76 points, 47 games played, they are still on pace to break the 2022-23 Boston Bruins NHL single-season wins and points record. 

There, players like Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar lead the way in their respective trophy voting. Goaltending, once a major red flag for this organization, has been a significant reason for its current success. So the question begs: could this team get better?

Avalanche Leading in Numerous NHL Award Races Half Way Through the SeasonHalfway through the 2025-26 NHL season, Colorado Avalanche players sit atop numerous NHL award races with how well the team has started heading into the second half of the season.

Well, the New York Rangers General Manager, Chris Drury, sent a letter to all Rangers fans a couple of days ago regarding their current lack of performance this season and the significant changes that should be coming to the lineup, both this season and going forward. 

The most significant piece of news is that star winger Artemi Panarin, a pending UFA this summer, will not be receiving a contract extension, easily jumping the line and becoming the number one trade target for many teams trying to acquire him before the Olympic roster freeze on Feb.4 or the trade deadline on March 6.

Panarin has an $11.6 million cap hit and a full no-move clause, but with recent news of how the team's future looks, he might be willing to waive it for the right team that can fit his aspirations for a Stanley Cup and could offer the best trade package Drury might like for the Rangers.

This all comes back around to the Colorado Avalanche and how their season has begun. This is a team that is the definition of “cup or bust”, the window is starting to shrink, and with the team firing on all cylinders this season, there should be no doubt they make a move to two to improve this team.

Including Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman, and how he named the Avalanche alongside the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, and Washington Capitals as names to watch in the Panarin trade mill. While frankly, I do agree that Panarin can come in and be a major contributor to this team, I don’t see General Manager Chris MacFarland and President of Hockey Operations Joe Sakic making the cap room to fit him without taking too much from this already successful roster.

As of writing (Jan. 20), the Avalanche have $1.7 million in cap space, and that's Logan O’Connor on LTIR, Joel Kiviranta on IR, and both Devon Toews and Gabriel Landeskog out week-to-week. To bring in Panarin, who would become the second-highest-paid player on this team, you're going to need to move more than just draft picks and prospects to make this deal work.

Avalanche Were Smart Not to Buy Before Roster FreezeAs the NHL roster freeze takes place before Christmas, two trades came through at the last minute. Should the Avalanche have been one of those four teams in making a deal? I don't think so.

You're looking at moving players like Samuel Girard, Valeri Nichushkin, Ross Colton, and Artturi Lehkonen, and that's if the Rangers would even want any of the listed players. Even the players listed have trade-modified trade clauses, and while I doubt the Rangers are listed on theirs, if they are, there's another wrench in your plans, and now you have to pivot to another player to make the money work.

What about picks and prospects? Drury, in the letter, stated it was more of a retool and then rebuild, but despite that, the Avalanche doesn’t have much they could offer that would be super enticing.

Much was spent on acquiring Brock Nelson and more at last season's trade deadline, and they don’t have a first-, second-, or third-round draft pick in the 2026 Draft. So, unless Drury wants picks in the coming seasons or has scouts who like some of our prospects, our package is definitely not the best for competing with others.

Checking Up On Colorado Avalanche's 2025 Draft Class MidseasonLet's take a look at how the three selections the Colorado Avalanche made at the 2025 NHL Entry Draft are doing so far, halfway through the season.

Then there is the extension part. As stated, the salary cap is going up significantly, but if you're looking at who the Avalanche need to extend in the coming summers, adding Panarin to this list is going to make things really tough, especially for a guy who turns 35 next season and is already making $11.5 million.

They just extended Martin Necas' next season, who carries a cap hit of $11.5 million. Cale Makar is eligible for contract extension talks this summer, and that's going to be the number one focus this summer heading into next season. 

So, unless Panarin is willing to take a steep pay cut, the Avalanche are going back to the situation where a majority of their money is invested in the top guys, which could affect their bottom-six and, in turn, depth scoring.

MacFarland and Sakic need to be smart come the trade deadline. This team is set up for postseason success, but how do you improve this roster without taking away from what already makes it successful? Panarin, even at his age, is a game-changer, but given how the Avalanche's cap, draft picks, and roster construction are right now, it's too risky to go after another big fish like him.

Valeri Nichushkin Injured After Involvement in Multi-Car AccidentJared Bednar revealed that Valeri Nichushkin was involved in a car accident on his way to the arena, but the injuries are minor.

Calvin Pickard has spent too much of this season watching. Watching from the bench. Watching from the press box. Watching Stuart Skinner, Tristan Jarry, and Connor Ingram take turns manning the crease while he sits in full gear, ready if needed, but rarely called upon.

He's done everything right. He's been professional. He's been patient. He's been the exact kind of teammate every organization wants. And his reward? He's probably heading to Bakersfield.

The Edmonton Oilers can carry three goaltenders on the roster right now, but the cap space won't work out that way indefinitely. Eventually, someone has to go down. And as much as it'll hurt fans, the team, and probably Pickard himself, all signs point to him being the one sent to the AHL.

It's not fair. But it's the reality of professional hockey.

Jarry and Ingram have both gotten solid starts during this awkward three-goalie period. They've both gotten shutouts. They've both shown they can handle the workload. Pickard, meanwhile, has spent far too many games in street clothes or warming the bench, waiting for an opportunity that isn't coming.

This will be hard for fans. Pickard is well-liked in Edmonton. He's been a steady presence for years, stepping in when needed, never complaining, always ready. He was here during the tough times and stuck around for the good ones. Fans appreciate that kind of loyalty and professionalism.

Oilers vs Devils: Pre-game Stats25-17-8 | 58 PTS

This will be even harder for the team. Pickard is loved in that dressing room. He's polite, reliable, and kind. He talks to media before and after games without hesitation. He treats everyone—teammates, coaches, reporters, arena staff—with respect. He's done his job for years, and as we've said before, Pickard—a backup goalie—was never the problem.

Economically, this decision is brutal too. Pickard is cost-controlled at $1 million per season. That's an incredibly team-friendly contract for a reliable NHL backup. Compare that to Tristan Jarry at $5.375 million per year or Connor Ingram at $1.95 million, and on paper, keeping Pickard makes financial sense.

But hockey isn't played on spreadsheets. Jarry and Ingram are younger. They're playing better right now. And together, they have the potential to form the legitimate tandem this fanbase has wanted for years—a duo where you trust either guy to start on any given night without worrying about what you're going to get.

How Closely Should Team Canada Be Watching Zach Hyman?Doug Armstrong sat somewhere in Rogers Place Sunday night, watching Zach Hyman score twice and rack up three points against his St. Louis Blues. As Team Canada's General Manager for the upcoming Olympics, Armstrong's seen plenty of hockey. But watching Hyman—a player who didn't make the Olympic roster—put on a clinic alongside Connor McDavid had to make him think, even if just for a second: should we be watching this guy more closely?

That's been the missing piece for Edmonton. For years, goaltending has been a question mark. A source of anxiety. Pickard did his part, but the Oilers need more than just "solid enough." They need a tandem that gives them a chance to win every night, regardless of who's in net.

Jarry and Ingram might be that. They're both capable starters who can handle workloads. They both bring different strengths. And if they can stay healthy and maintain their current form, the Oilers finally have the goaltending depth they've lacked.

Which leaves Pickard as the odd man out.

A Night For Nuge: Scoring, Winning, And 1000 Games As An OilerRyan Nugent-Hopkins has spent 14 years quietly being the heartbeat of the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers#google_vignette">Edmonton Oilers</a>. No drama. No demands. No threats to leave when things got rough—and things got really rough. So when his 1000th NHL game arrived Sunday night, the hockey gods apparently decided he deserved something special.

It's not a reflection on him as a player or a person. It's just roster math. The Oilers can't keep three goalies forever. They need the cap space. They need the roster flexibility. And when you have two younger, higher-performing options, the veteran on the cheaper contract becomes expendable, no matter how much everyone likes him.

Saying goodbye to Pickard will sting. He deserves better than this. He's been nothing but reliable, nothing but a good teammate. But professional sports are ruthless, and sometimes doing everything right still isn't enough.

Was Kiefer Sherwood a Missed Opportunity for the Oilers?A high-energy winger with scoring upside joins San Jose. Did Edmonton miss out on a perfect top-nine fit, or a costly gamble?

The Oilers will make the move when they have to. Pickard will handle it with the same class he's shown throughout his time in Edmonton. Fans will be disappointed but understand the reasoning. And the team will move forward with Jarry and Ingram as their tandem, hoping this is finally the goaltending solution they've been searching for.

It's an unfortunate reality. But it's reality nonetheless. Calvin Pickard deserves better, but sometimes the game doesn't care what you deserve.

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Steve Yzerman reached a historic milestone exactly 20 years ago on Tuesday, recording his 1,000th career assist as the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Ottawa Senators 3-2 in overtime. With his assist on Mathieu Dandenault’s game-winning goal, Yzerman became just the ninth player in NHL history to reach the 1,000-assist mark, further solidifying his place among hockey’s all-time greats.

The game itself was tightly contested, with both teams trading goals and momentum throughout regulation. Yzerman’s presence on the ice was a key factor in the Red Wings’ ability to find the decisive play in overtime. His vision and passing ability allowed Dandenault to capitalize on the opportunity, giving Detroit the victory and marking a historic personal achievement for Yzerman.

1,000 🍎s for #19#OTD x @cocacolapic.twitter.com/a8NNwkVsMC

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 20, 2026

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This milestone adds to an already impressive career. By the end of the 2001-02 season, Yzerman had recorded 13 goals and 35 assists for 48 points in 52 games, continuing to demonstrate his skill as both a scorer and a playmaker. His career total of 1,063 assists places him among the top ten in NHL history, highlighting his consistency and longevity in the league.

Yzerman’s 1,000th assist is a reflection of his leadership and dedication to the game, as well as his ability to create scoring opportunities for teammates over more than a decade in the NHL.

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With Linus Ullmark's return now imminent, the Ottawa Senators announced on Tuesday morning that they've sent goaltender Leevi Meriläinen to the AHL's Belleville Senators.

In a corresponding move, the team recalled Hunter Shepard from Belleville. Shepard will join Ottawa on the road and is expected to back up James Reimer until Ullmark returns. Ullmark was also expected to travel with the team this week, meaning his activation could come at any time, though he remains on the non-roster list.

Meriläinen, 23, appeared in 11 straight games, finishing that stretch with a 4-5-1 record and a 3.61 goals-against average. His most recent start came Saturday in Montreal, where he allowed six goals on 19 shots in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Canadiens, a performance that appeared to reflect a goaltender with shaken confidence.

It was a far cry from the version of Meriläinen that stepped in and saved the Sens season last year when Ullmark and Anton Forsberg were out of the lineup. The young Finn went 8-3-1 and posted stellar numbers: a 1.99 goals against average and .925 save percentage.

If he'd managed something between those numbers and what he actually delivered this season, the Sens would be doing just fine.

Barring an emergency, Meriläinen has probably played his last NHL game this season, and the timing of Belleville’s upcoming seven-game AHL road trip could work in his favour. Getting away from the pressure and the 613 spotlight, the extended road swing offers a chance to reset, like turning your computer off and then back on.

Overall this season, Meriläinen holds an 8-10-1 record with a 3.51 goals-against average and an .860 save percentage, including a 4-3-1 mark since the beginning of January.

But the Senators shouldn't overreact to that. They thought he was ready for this, but he wasn't. That's on the organization and their ability to evaluate NHL readiness, not the goalie.

Meriläinen is still extremely young by NHL goalie standards, and he's now felt the highs and lows of being in the show. Now he can quietly rebuild, knowing what worked and what he needs to fix.

So long as the club remains patient with him and doesn't overreact to these recent struggles as they did with Filip Gustavasson, he remains a good young goalie prospect. It will be interesting to see what they now plan to do with Merilainen, who's an arbitration-eligible RFA this summer.

In a perfect world, including 20/20 hindsight, Merilainen would have developed in Belleville and played big AHL minutes until he was 25. Ullmark would be earning his $8.25 million, providing reliable, quality goaltending for 60-65 games, and a veteran like Reimer or someone else would have been signed last summer to back him up.

Things rarely go exactly according to plan, but nothing seemed to work out with the one the Senators chose, though each decision seemed fairly sensible... at the time. 

The Senators continue their three-game road trip Tuesday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets, while Belleville opens its seven-game road stretch Wednesday against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

Senators Goalie Linus Ullmark Speaks To Media For First Time Since Taking Leave Of AbsenceAfter his Dec. 28 leave of absence from the Senators, Ullmark shared "authentic and vulnerable" thoughts in a TSN interview.

This story is from The Hockey News Ottawa. You can visit the site here or click on one of their latest articles below:

Goaltending Woes Are Breaking The Ottawa Senators
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Roope Hintz is quietly having another strong season, pacing for his fifth consecutive year of 65+ points.
 
After putting up zeros in back-to-back games, my Bruins vs. Stars predictions expect Hintz to get back on track on home soil.

Let’s take a closer look at my NHL picks for Tuesday, January 20.

Bruins vs Stars prediction

Bruins vs Stars best bet: Roope Hintz Over 0.5 points (-148)

Roope Hintz has produced offense consistently all year long, hitting the scoresheet in 61% of his appearances. That’s a very good number that becomes even better when excluding matchups against high-end defensive teams.

Isolating games vs. teams that rank 15th or worse in points allowed to opposing centers, Hintz has points in 18 of 25 games — a 72% hit rate.

The Boston Bruins have done an excellent job of keeping the puck out of late, but even so, their defensive numbers are nothing to write home about. They sit 15th in goals against per game and 22nd on the road.

Getting Hampus Lindholm back in the lineup will help Boston’s defense, but slowing down Hintz and this loaded Dallas Stars offense is still a big ask.

It’s also worth noting Hintz picked up a point in four of the last five games in which he centered Jason Robertson and Mavrik Bourque, which is expected to be the case tonight.

Bruins vs Stars same-game parlay

Jason Robertson is as hot as anybody when it comes to scoring goals. His 24 since November 11 puts him just one back of Connor McDavid for the league-lead in that time.

Miro Heiskanen has averaged 2.5 shots on 4.7 attempts in Dallas, clearing his line at a 77% clip. The Bruins rank 26th in shots allowed against defensemen, so they’re unlikely to offer resistance.

Bruins vs Stars SGP

• Roope Hintz Over 0.5 points
• Jason Robertson anytime goalscorer
• Miro Heiskanen Over 1.5 shots

Bruins vs Stars odds

• Moneyline: Bruins +130 | Stars -150
• Puck Line: Bruins +1.5 (-190) | Stars -1.5 (+160)
• Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-135) | Under 5.5 (+115)

Bruins vs Stars trend

Roope Hintz has points in three consecutive games against Boston. Find more NHL betting trends for Bruins vs. Stars.

How to watch Bruins vs Stars

Bruins vs Stars latest injuries

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

After making his NHL debut and playing 25 games with the Nashville Predators, forward Reid Schaefer has been reassigned to the Milwaukee Admirals. 

Schaefer was called up to Nashville on Nov. 28 in the Predators' game against the Blackhawks in Chicago, which was a 4-3 win.

In his third NHL game, against the Calgary Flames on Dec. 2 in Nashville, Schaefer scored his first NHL goal and recorded his first fight, dropping the gloves with Calgary's Brayden Pachal. 

In his first stint in the pros, Schaefer recorded four goals and two assists for six points in 25 games and had a plus/minus of -9. 

Prior to getting called up, Schaefer had 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in 15 games with the Admirals. 

Schaefer was drafted 32nd overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2022 NHL Draft.

He was acquired by the Predators in a 2023 trade that sent Mattias Ekholm and a 2023 sixth-round pick to the Oilers for Schaefer, Tyson Barrie, a 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 fourth-round pick. 

Predators head coach Andrew Brunette said at Tuesday morning's skate that Ozzy Wiesblatt, who has been moved off of injured reserve and is now "a game time decision." 

The Nashville Predators host the Buffalo Sabres next on Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. CST. 

The Winnipeg Jets land a soft matchup to snap a two-game losing streak, with the road-weary St. Louis Blues visiting the Canada Life Centre on Tuesday, January 20.

My top Blues vs. Jets predictions and NHL picks are calling for Winnipeg to capitalize with a win on home ice tonight.

Blues vs Jets prediction

Blues vs Jets best bet: Jets moneyline (-120)

We’re landing a soft price on the Winnipeg Jets, with them playing the second leg of a back-to-back set and for the third time in four nights.

Still, the St. Louis Blues aren’t a good hockey team and sport a 7-13-3 road record while allowing the third-most goals per game (3.74) and eighth-most expected goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5.

The Jets have also won four of their past six while scoring 3.83 goals per game and generating the seventh-most xGF per 60 at 5-on-5. 

Eric Comrie should have a solid start in net. He posted a rock-solid .914 save percentage and 2.39 GAA in backup duty last season and stopped 23 of 24 shots in a 5-1 home win over the Kings last time out.

The Blues have also scored the fewest goals per game (2.43) in the NHL.

Blues vs Jets same-game parlay

With St. Louis singing the defensive blues on the road, Winnipeg winger Alex Iafallo is positioned to stay hot. He’s been logging top-line minutes and picked up a point in four of his past five games while skating with stars Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor.

Jets winger Cole Perfetti rounds out the parlay, and he’s shown off an uptick in shot volume to clear this total in nine of his past 13 games for 27 total shots on 57 attempts.

Blues vs Jets SGP

• Jets moneyline
• Alex Iafallo Over 0.5 points
• Cole Perfetti Over 1.5 shots on goal

Blues vs Jets odds

• Moneyline: Blues +110 | Jets -130
• Puck Line: +1.5 (-225) | Jets -1.5 (+185)
• Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-135) | Under 5.5 (+115)

Blues vs Jets trend

The St. Louis Blues have only covered the puck line in one of their last eight road games (-8.95 Units / -77% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Blues vs. Jets.

How to watch Blues vs Jets

Blues vs Jets latest injuries

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

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Rangers attacked their first back-to-back set of games without their No. 1 goaltender, beginning with Monday night’s 5-3 loss to the Ducks.

Spencer Martin stopped 21 of the 25 shots he saw in the defeat, while Jonathan Quick is slated to face his former team in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

Asked if Quick’s 16-year history with the Kings factored into the decision to play him in the second game, coach Mike Sullivan left nothing for interpretation.

“It does,” he said with a smile. “Without a doubt, it for sure does. I think Quickie deserves that.”

Since the Kings traded him to Columbus, which flipped him to Vegas in March 2023, Quick has faced the club that drafted him 72nd overall in 2005 three times as a Ranger.

He has yet to win in Los Angeles, however, after the Blueshirts fell 2-1 in his return to the city in January 2024.

Appearing in relief in one of his previous three games against the Kings, Quick owns a 1-1 record and a .952 save percentage against his former team.

The 39-year-old Quick got a run of five consecutive games from Jan. 5-12 amid Igor Shesterkin’s injured reserve designation.

Since Shesterkin went down with a lower-body injury, Quick has posted a .786 save percentage (22 goals on 103 shots) and an 0-4-1 record.

His 5.78 goals-against average over that span is the highest — by a considerable margin — among NHL goalies who have appeared in at least five games since Jan. 5.

The Rangers haven’t helped Quick much in front of him. The Connecticut native has also been pulled twice in his past three games.

Martin, who signed a two-year contract with the Rangers in November, made his Rangers debut in relief in Boston. Since then, Martin has owned a .852 save percentage and a 4.16 GAA.

He picked up his first victory with the Blueshirts in a 25-save performance in Philadelphia.

“I thought he played well,” Sullivan said of Martin in Philly. “I thought he made some key saves for us, in particular in the third period [against the Flyers]. We felt like he played well. The reality is, we’re going to need two goalies given the workload of games leading up to the Olympic break. We’ll continue to monitor that. We thought he played real well the other day.”

Carson Soucy joined the Rangers for morning skate in Anaheim but did not suit up Monday night.

“He’s had a long trip coming back, hasn’t skated in three days,” Sullivan said. “We didn’t think it was the right thing to do to put him in right away.”

The Ottawa Senators need to string together wins before the playoffs are out of reach, and they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena tonight.

My Senators vs. Blue Jackets predictions and NHL picks are calling for Ottawa to return to the wins column in the Buckeye State tonight.

Senators vs Blue Jackets prediction

Senators vs Blue Jackets best bet: Senators moneyline (-110)

The saves are coming for the Ottawa Senators because their league-low .887 team save percentage at 5-on-5 is unsustainable given they’re doing so much else right.

Ottawa ranks fifth in both Corsi For percentage and expected goals percentage at 5-on-5, and the Sens also rank seventh in power-play percentage. Add the Senators having their entire roster healthy, and the goaltending script is set up to be flipped.

This is as good a night as any, too. The Columbus Blue Jackets have middling ranks in both CF% and xGF% at 5-on-5, and they’ve allowed the second-most shots per game and fifth-most attempts per 60 minutes at 5-on-5.

So, even if the goaltending falters, the Sens can also score their way to a win.

Senators vs Blue Jackets same-game parlay

Sens winger Drake Batherson has marked the scoresheet in six of his past nine games, and he’s put up a high-end 1.41 goals and 3.26 points per 60 minutes to pace the Sens for the year in both. The Blue Jackets have also allowed the ninth-most goals per game (3.13).

Rounding out the SGP, I’m eyeing Ottawa defenseman Thomas Chabot in the shot market. He’s picked up 2+ in 11 of 15 games since returning to the lineup for 31 total on 85 attempts, and Columbus has surrendered the sixth-most shots per game to opposing defensemen.

Senators vs Blue Jackets SGP

• Senators moneyline
• Drake Batherson Over 0.5 points
• Thomas Chabot Over 1.5 shots on goal

Senators vs Blue Jackets odds

• Moneyline: Senators -110 | Blue Jackets -110
• Puck Line: Senators +1.5 (-275) | Blue Jackets -1.5 (+210)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 | Under 6.5

Senators vs Blue Jackets trend

The Senators have covered the puck line in seven of their last 10 road games for +6.30 units and a 40% ROI. Find more NHL betting trends for Senators vs. Blue Jackets.

How to watch Senators vs Blue Jackets

Senators vs Blue Jackets latest injuries

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

What was supposed to be a storybook night for Winnipeg Jets fans turned into a frustrating shutout loss, as the Chicago Blackhawks blanked the Jets 2–0 on Monday night.

The evening carried plenty of emotion with Jonathan Toews returning to Chicago, the city where he became a franchise icon and lifted three Stanley Cups. Toews took the opening faceoff with part of the United Center crowd quietly pulling for their former captain that now wears Jets colors, a moment that gave the 37-year-old veteran a visible boost.

Midway through the game, the Chicago faithful rose to their feet for a lengthy standing ovation, a fitting tribute to one of the greatest players in Blackhawks history.

Despite the sentimental backdrop, it was Chicago that controlled much of the night. Winnipeg struggled to find its rhythm early, taking nearly four minutes to register its first shot on goal as the Blackhawks applied immediate pressure. The Jets did get a golden opportunity when Vladislav Namestnikov found the puck on the side of the net with no goalie in sight, but a Blackhawks defenseman slid in to block the attempt at the last second.

Momentum briefly swung late in the first period when penalties to Nino Niederreiter (slashing) and Luke Schenn (holding) handed Chicago a rare two-man advantage. Winnipeg killed both penalties successfully and even earned a power play of its own, but couldn’t capitalize as Blackhawks goaltender Spencer Knight began to settle in and take over the game.

The Jets found more jump as the game wore on, particularly from the line of Toews, Cole Perfetti, and Gabe Vilardi. Early in the second, Perfetti was sprung in front by a crisp Toews feed, only to be denied by Knight. The trio generated extended offensive-zone time and another prime look when Toews slipped behind the defense for a backdoor chance, again turned aside by a sprawling Knight.

One of Winnipeg’s best moments came late in the second period when defenseman Dylan Samberg caught Chicago in the middle of a line change. Using his speed, Samberg sliced through the neutral zone, cut to the middle, and burst past the remaining defenders for a solo chance, but Knight came up with yet another highlight-reel save.

NHL GM Believes Winnipeg Jets Will Make The PlayoffsA respected NHL GM forecasts a dramatic turnaround, believing the Jets' recent surge and returning health signal a playoff bound finish.

That missed opportunity proved costly. Moments later, Chicago struck first as Jason Dickinson corralled a bouncing puck in the slot and snapped a quick shot over Connor Hellebuyck’s glove to make it 1–0.

Winnipeg pushed in the third, but Knight remained unbreakable. After a tripping penalty to Perfetti gave the Blackhawks another power play, Hellebuyck did his part to keep the Jets within striking distance, making a sensational diving save on a Connor Bedard one-timer from the low slot after a rebound kicked out from the high slot.

The Jets pulled Hellebuyck late, but Bedard sealed the game with an empty-net goal to cap a 2–0 Blackhawks win. Winnipeg finished with 32 shots, all turned aside by a sensational Knight performance.

Hellebuyck was strong at the other end as well, stopping 22 of 23 shots, but the Jets’ recently surging offense went cold. It was also a notable night for Jets defenseman Isaak Phillips, who made his Winnipeg debut against his former team.

Individually, Gabe Vilardi and Kyle Connor led the Jets with four shots apiece, while fourth-line forward Cole Koepke made the most of his limited 7:06 of ice time, recording two shots and a team-high six hits.

Winnipeg will look to quickly shake off the loss when they return home for the second half of their back-to-back, hosting the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night.

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The Montreal Canadiens draw the Minnesota Wild in a favorable schedule spot with the two teams hitting the ice at the Bell Centre on Tuesday, January 20.

Minnesota is playing for the second consecutive night and third time in four days, so my Wild vs. Canadiens predictions and NHL picks call for Montreal capitalizing with center Oliver Kapanen continuing to pepper the net.

Wild vs Canadiens prediction

Wild vs Canadiens best bet: Oliver Kapanen Over 1.5 shots on goal (-130)

Montreal Canadiens center Oliver Kapanen has carved out a consistent top-six role and has recorded two or more shots in six of his past eight games for 19 total.

This should also prove to be a favorable matchup with the Minnesota Wild playing the second leg of a back-to-back road set and for the third time in three nights on the highway.

Minny also ranks 26th in Corsi For percentage at 5-on-5 while allowing the seventh-most shots per game (29.6).

Making matters worse for the Wild, go-to forwards Joel Eriksson Ek (lower body) and Matt Boldy (undisclosed) are both on injured reserve, and so is veteran blueliner Jonas Brodin (lower body).

Wild vs Canadiens same-game parlay

Montreal has a sizable rest advantage, having last played on Saturday, and Minnesota will likely turn to struggling backup Jesper Wallstedt in goal tonight.

Wallstedt has allowed three or more goals in six of his past seven starts, posting a .871 SV% and 3.97 GAA, with 4.07 goals saved below expected.

Noah Dobson has recorded two or more shots in eight of his past 12 games while logging a healthy 23:45 per night with 2:02 of power-play time.

Wild vs Canadiens SGP

• Canadiens -1.5 puck line
• Oliver Kapanen Over 1.5 shots on goal
• Noah Dobson Over 1.5 shots on goal

Wild vs Canadiens odds

• Moneyline: Wild +120 | Canadiens -140
• Puck Line: Wild +1.5 (-200) | Canadiens -1.5 (+165)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-105) | Under 6.5 (-115)

Wild vs Canadiens trend

The Montreal Canadiens have covered the puck line in 16 of their last 20 games (+14.30 Units / 42% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Wild vs. Canadiens.

How to watch Wild vs Canadiens

Wild vs Canadiens latest injuries

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

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The vibes are high for the Detroit Red Wings these days, as they're in as advantageous a position through the first 50 games of a season as they've been in nearly 15 years. 

For the first time since the 2011-12 campaign, the Red Wings have won 30 of their first 50 games and are currently in a first-place tie with the Tampa Bay Lightning for the top seed in the Atlantic Division. 

It also won’t be long before the NHL Trade Deadline (March 6) arrives, and if the Red Wings continue on their current trajectory, there’s a strong possibility they could be buyers.

While rumors have linked the Red Wings to Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson, a pair of NHL Insiders have instead speculated about a different player who could land in Detroit, one with a well-known prior connection to forward Patrick Kane.

Insiders Jeff Marek and Pierre McGuire discussed potential landing spots for New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin, who was informed last week by general manager Chris Drury that he will not be offered a new contract by the club. 

"When you look at the landscape for Artemi Panarin, what teams jump to mind for you, Pierre?" Marek asked. 

"I'm going to throw one at you - the Detroit Red Wings," McGuire said. "I think what they've done so far with this team and Todd McLellan there, I think they've amped it up. I look at that Moritz Seider/Simon Edvinsson tandem, that's a read-built defensive tandem for playoff hockey." 

"You look at the quick strike capability of a guy like Lucas Raymond, you look at Alex DeBrincat's goal against Ottawa in overtime, the way he shot the puck; you look at the speed and creativity of Larkin," he continued. "Patrick Kane seems like he's having fun again." 

McGuire then praised what he described as a plethora of talented young players in the Detroit system and suggested packaging some of them in a deal with the Rangers to acquire Panarin, whom he called a “perfect fit” for Detroit.

"Turn some of those young players into a guy like Panarin, I think that's the perfect fit," McGuire said. 

Could Artemi Panarin be the piece the Detroit Red Wings need?@JeffMarek and Pierre McGuire discuss potential landing spots for the Rangers' pending UFA

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One of the most talented players in the NHL, Panarin already has a prior connection with Kane, having played alongside him with the Chicago Blackhawks and later briefly with the Rangers in 2023.

Much like Kane’s connection with Alex DeBrincat, he developed instant chemistry with Panarin upon the latter’s arrival in the NHL in 2015. The duo routinely wowed fans in Chicago, becoming one of the league’s most dangerous offensive pairings and frequently combining for highlight-reel plays that resulted in goals.

The Red Wings currently have just over $13 million in available salary cap space, which would be more than enough to absorb Panarin's cap hit (a portion of which would likely be retained by the Rangers). 

However, a potential holdup in any pursuit of Panarin, who is a pending unrestricted free agent, is whether he would be willing to agree to a contract extension.

While Detroit previously showed interest in acquiring now–former Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman recently stated that the absence of an extension was the reason no deal ultimately materialized.

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The Montreal Canadiens should be looking to add to their roster ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline. They are third in the Atlantic Division at this point in the season and should not be afraid to boost their roster because of it. 

Adding another top-six forward should be one of the Canadiens' top objectives this season. When looking at trade candidates around the NHL, St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou stands out as a very interesting option to consider. 

With the Blues having an incredibly disappointing season, several of their players have been in the rumor mill with the trade deadline less than two months away. Kyrou is among the top Blues players creating chatter, and he would have the potential to be a strong addition to the Canadiens' roster. 

Kyrou has recorded eight goals and 20 points in 39 games so far this campaign. While these numbers are not the most impressive, there is reason to believe he should turn things around when looking at his past success. In three out of his previous four seasons, the 27-year-old winger has hit the 70-point mark. He also scored 31 goals in each of his last three seasons. Right now, he is struggling on a Blues team where everyone else is performing below expectations.  

If the Canadiens acquired Kyrou, he could make some real magic on the Habs' first line with Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki. He would also give the Canadiens another impactful player to work with on their power play. 

Kyrou would also be much more than a rental for the Canadiens, as he has an $8.125 million cap hit until the end of the 2030-31 season. This adds to his appeal, but he also has a full no-trade clause, so he would need to approve a move to Montreal for any chance of a deal going down.