Flyers relinquish game in demoralizing fashion, stumble to overtime loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Flyers coughed up a game they absolutely should have won Wednesday night as they suffered a brutal 5-4 overtime loss to the Mammoth at Delta Center.

Rick Tocchet’s club had leads of 3-0 and 4-2. With 35 seconds left in regulation, Clayton Keller tied it for Utah. The Mammoth’s captain went around Travis Sanheim and beat Samuel Ersson to force the bonus session.

A little under a minute before that, Garnet Hathaway had a chance to seal the game with a clear path for an empty-net goal. But the veteran winger tried skating with it and was stripped as he went to shoot.

Keller won the game 2:01 minutes into OT.

Christian Dvorak had a pair of goals and an assist for the Flyers, while Cam York and Bobby Brink also found the back of the net. Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale each collected two assists.

The Flyers (23-17-9) dropped to 1-0-1 on this three-game road trip against teams all in Western Conference playoff position.

After snapping a season-worst six-game skid Monday night with a 2-1 win over the Golden Knights, the Flyers couldn’t build on it. Last season, they had a crushing loss in Utah very similar to this one.

The Mammoth (26-20-4) extended their point streak to eight games (7-0-1). The Flyers face Utah again March 5 when the clubs meet in Philadelphia.

• Ersson made 22 saves on 27 shots.

The Mammoth cut the Flyers’ 3-0 lead to 3-2 with goals in a span of 36 seconds during the second period. That prompted Tocchet to call a timeout, which seemed to settle things down for the Flyers.

Dvorak responded with his second goal, this one on the power play, to restore some order.

Utah’s third goal came in the final stanza against the Flyers’ penalty kill. Noah Juulsen was whistled for roughing when he fought Jack McBain in defense of Jamie Drysdale.

Dan Vladar missed a fourth straight game. We’ll see if he’s an option to play the final game of the trip, a possibility Tocchet mentioned four days ago. Vladar has been considered day to day with a lower-body injury.

Mammoth netminder Karel Vejmelka stopped 25 of the Flyers’ 29 shots.

• For a third straight game, the Flyers grabbed a 1-0 lead. They’ve had issues with falling behind, but they’ve addressed them recently.

York jumped on a juicy rebound to start the scoring just 30 seconds into the action. A little over four minutes later, Dvorak deposited his first of the game to extend the Flyers’ lead.

Brink made it 3-0 with a power play goal in the opening minute of the second period.

At that point, it sure looked like the Flyers were headed to a win. Instead, they’ve now lost seven of their last eight games (1-5-2).

• Owen Tippett had to leave the game early in the middle stanza after taking an open-ice hit from Liam O’Brien.

The Flyers’ winger was able to return later in the period and finished with 13:46 minutes.

• The Flyers wrap up their trip Friday when they visit the 34-5-9 Avalanche (9 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

The Buffalo Sabres trade of winger JJ Peterka last June was made for a number of reasons, but the likely cause was the club not wanting to pay the young forward on a longer-term extension, which is what he got when he was traded to Utah. 

The Sabres target in the deal was defenseman Michael Kesselring, a big right-handed blueliner that they projected would be a partner for Bowen Byram or Owen Power, the other part of the trade was 23-year-old Josh Doan, the promising son of Coyotes/Utah legend Shane Doan, who had slumped in his second NHL season after moving to Salt Lake City. 

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Kesselring has been injured on four separate occasions, and is pointless in 17 games, but Doan has taken advantage of a top-six opportunity with the Sabres, with 35 points (15 goals, 20 assists) in 49 games. On Wednesday, the club announced that they have signed Doan to a seven-year, $48.65 million contract. The winger was in the final year of his entry-level contract and was due to be a restricted free agent at the end of this season.

“Josh is a player that impacts the team both on and off the ice,” Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen said in a press release. “He works hard, is competitive and skilled, and his game is going to continue to develop. We believe he will be a core piece of this team moving forward, and I am excited to have him as a Buffalo Sabre long term.”

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The Buffalo Sabres are currently fourth in the Atlantic Division standings with a 27-17-5 record. With this, they certainly have a chance of snapping their 14-year playoff drought this year. 

With this, it would not be surprising in the slightest if the Sabres looked to add to their roster ahead of the trade deadline. When looking at this year's potential sellers, the struggling St. Louis Blues stand out as a possible trading partner for Buffalo.

Because of this, let's go over two Blues forwards who the Sabres should strongly consider making a push for. 

Robert Thomas, C

The Sabres could use a true No. 1 star center, and Robert Thomas would certainly give them just that if acquired. With the Blues struggling, the 26-year-old has been creating a lot of buzz in the rumor mill as a trade candidate.

If Thomas would be willing to waive his no-trade clause to join the Sabres, he would be far more than just a rental for Buffalo. This is because he is signed until the end of the 2030-31 season, where he has a $8.125 million cap hit. This adds to his appeal.

In 42 games this season with St. Louis, Thomas has posted 11 goals and 33 points. 

Jordan Kyrou, RW 

Kyrou is another notable Blues forward who St. Louis is willing to listen to offers about. With Kyrou being a proven top-six winger who has recorded at least 70 points in three out of his last four seasons, he would be a big-time addition to Buffalo's roster.

Kyrou has had a bit of a down year on an all-around ice-cold Blues team this season, though. In 40 games this season, he has recorded nine goals and 21 points. Yet, when noting that he has scored at least 31 goals in each of his last three seasons, he is a prime candidate to bounce back. 

Kyrou also has an $8.125 million cap hit until the end of the 2030-31 season and a no-trade clause, so he would need to okay a move to Buffalo or any other club. 

On Tuesday, The Hockey News publisher and owner, Graeme Roustan, made his own version of NHL franchise valuations. 

He ranked all 32 NHL teams based on how much each franchise is worth. With his own projections, he compared them to the valuations from Sprotico and Forbes.

In this list, the Los Angeles Kings ranked fairly high. Roustan has the Kings fifth in these valuations, tied in approximate value with four other organizations.

Los Angeles is valued at about $3.5 billion, tied with the Edmonton Oilers (4), Boston Bruins (6), Chicago Blackhawks (7), and Philadelphia Flyers (8). They are the second-highest club that is not an Original Six franchise.

Roustan has projected the value of every NHL franchise to continue to rise. For the Kings, in comparison to the 2025 report from Sportico, Roustan has increased the team's value from $2.96 billion to $3.5 billion. That's just over $500 million in increase from Sportico's report.

Along with being the second-highest team that isn't an Original Six team in Roustan's rankings, the Kings are the second-highest team based in the United States.

2026 NHL Team Valuations: The Values Are SkyrocketingThanks to the increasing number of private equity firms interested in acquiring a stake in NHL clubs, team valuations will continue to soar. W. Graeme Roustan shares his valuations of every team.

Los Angeles also would've been the most valuable team in the Western Conference, as it was in Sportico's ranking. However, Roustan pushed the Oilers just above the Kings in this list, making them second-best in another category.

One title they hold in these valuations is the most valuable franchise in the state of California. In fact, Los Angeles is quite a distance away from the Anaheim Ducks and the San Jose Sharks.

The Ducks rank the lowest of the Californian teams, sitting in 28th with a net worth of $1.75 billion. 

Two spots ahead of Anaheim is San Jose, which is also valued at $1.75 billion. The Sharks were ranked higher than the Ducks under Sportico, but the opposite by Forbes.

Nonetheless, Roustan has the Kings worth double than what their state counterparts. In other words, Anaheim and San Jose's franchises together add up to what Los Angeles is.

The Kings prove to be one of the biggest NHL franchises in the United States.

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The Winnipeg Jets are expected to be active ahead of the NHL trade deadline, according to insider reports, with at least one move potentially coming sooner than expected.

Much of the speculation has centered on defenseman Luke Schenn, who is playing on an expiring contract and could be moved as the deadline approaches. The 36 year old has reportedly attracted interest from teams such as the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers as contenders look to add experience and depth on the blue line.

Schenn has not played a major role for Winnipeg this season, averaging 13:54 of ice time per game. With the Jets carrying a deep group of defensemen, several reports have suggested a change of scenery could be imminent for the Saskatoon native.

The market for depth defensemen has become more competitive following the trade of Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights. As teams continue searching for reliable options, Schenn is expected to draw attention despite not being considered a headline name. His experience and physical style remain appealing to teams preparing for a playoff run.

TSN insider Chris Johnston confirmed that interest in Schenn is real and indicated that a deal could happen in the near future.

"They have a lot of defensemen and it's pretty clear that Luke Schenn is one of the pieces they're dangling, he's another player I could see dealt relatively near term," Johnston said.

Schenn has adjusted his game in recent seasons to remain effective as a veteran depth option. Last season, he played for the Nashville Predators before being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins along with forward Tommy Novak in a deal that brought Michael Bunting and a fourth round pick to Nashville. Schenn was later flipped to the Jets last March in exchange for a second and fourth round pick.

With that transaction occurring less than a year ago, there is believed to still be a market for Schenn. Winnipeg could look to recoup a mid round draft pick, potentially a fourth round selection, from a team such as Toronto, which has been dealing with injuries on defense.

For the Jets, moving an expiring asset for future value would be preferable to losing Schenn for nothing. The decision now falls to general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff as Winnipeg weighs its options and determines whether the team remains in a position to contend for a playoff spot while navigating the trade deadline.

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The Philadelphia Flyers left Las Vegas on Monday night with more than just two points. What they carried was something just as useful at this point in the season: evidence.

Evidence that the slide they’d been stuck in was not structural. Evidence that their habits, when honored, still hold up against good teams. Evidence that belief, once cracked, can be repaired faster than it was broken.

As Philadelphia heads to Utah to face the Mammoth, there are plenty of things to consider. The Olympic break is inching closer. The standings are tight. And momentum, fragile as it can be, is once again available to be claimed.

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1. Sam Ersson and the Value of Continuity.

Rick Tocchet’s decision to give Sam Ersson back-to-back starts is not just a reward for his performance in Vegas, but a vote for stability.

After a stretch in which goaltending became entangled with the Flyers’ broader struggles, Ersson’s commendable outing against the Golden Knights felt like a reset of sorts. He simplified his game, trusted his positioning, and resisted the urge to overmanage moments of chaos. The Flyers, in turn, played like a team that trusted what was happening behind them.

Going right back to Ersson signals a desire to let that rhythm breathe. There’s a psychological component here, too: when a goaltender finds clarity, changing the equation too quickly can reintroduce noise. Tocchet appears content to let Ersson sit in the crease with that confidence intact, particularly against a Utah team that thrives on quick strikes and opportunistic offense.

If the Flyers are serious about turning one good night into a stretch of good hockey, continuity in net is a logical place to start.

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2. Proving Vegas Was Not a Fluke.

The Flyers were careful not to oversell their win in Vegas, but internally, it mattered. Not because it snapped a losing streak—those end eventually—but because it validated their process.

Against Utah, the test becomes replication. Can they manage the puck with the same discipline? Can they defend without overextending? Can they avoid the temptation to cheat offensively when the game tightens?

Vegas forced Philadelphia to play honest hockey. Utah will challenge them differently. The Flyers’ recent funk was fueled in part by mental lapses and impatience. The way out of it is consistency, because that is where good teams separate themselves

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3. Rolling Confidence Into Structure.

One of the more subtle takeaways from the Golden Knights game was how the Flyers’ confidence manifested.

Breakouts were cleaner. Defense was tighter. Risk was taken selectively rather than compulsively. That kind of confidence is harder to maintain than the adrenaline-fueled variety, and it’s exactly what Utah will test.

The Mammoth are dangerous when opponents lose their shape, when defenders get caught puck-watching or forwards start pressing for offense that isn’t there. Philadelphia’s challenge is to keep its identity intact even if the scoreboard doesn’t immediately cooperate.

The Flyers don’t need to play faster; they need to play calmer. That’s the version of their game that resurfaced in Vegas, and it’s the one that gives them the best chance to build real momentum heading into the break.

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4. The Clock Is Starting to Matter.

The Olympic break looms as January begins to close out, and with it comes a natural psychological checkpoint. Teams want to arrive there feeling secure, not scrambling.

For the Flyers, this stretch is about more than individual games—it’s about trajectory. The standings remain crowded, and recent history has made them acutely aware of how quickly a season can tilt if a slump lingers too long. The Vegas win stopped the bleeding. Utah offers a chance to heal further.

There’s also a subtle urgency in the room now. Not panic—the Flyers have done well to avoid overreacting—but awareness. Awareness that they’ve seen what happens when habits slip, and what it feels like when they’re restored. Few teams have done better than the Flyers this season to avoid prolonged downturns. This is the moment to prove that trend holds.

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Projected Lines

Philadelphia Flyers

Forwards:

Trevor Zegras - Christian Dvorak - Travis Konecny

Denver Barkey - Sean Couturier - Owen Tippett

Matvei Michkov - Noah Cates - Bobby Brink

Nikita Grebenkin - Lane Pederson - Garnet Hathaway

Defense:

Travis Sanheim - Cam York

Emil Andrae - Jamie Drysdale

Nick Seeler - Noah Juulsen

Goalies:

Sam Ersson 

Aleksei Kolosov

Utah Mammoth

Forwards:

Clayton Keller - Nick Schmaltz - Lawson Crouse

JJ Peterka - Barrett Hayton - Daniil But

Michael Carcone - Jack McBain - Dylan Guenther

Brandon Tanev - Kevin Stenlund - Liam O'Brien

Defense:

Mikhail Sergachev - Sean Durzi

Nate Schmidt - John Marino 

Ian Cole - Nick Desimone

Goalies:

Karel Vejmelka 

Vitek Vanecek 

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It's a clash of longtime Original Six rivals, as the Detroit Red Wings take their show on the road for their fourth and final meeting this season against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Red Wings are already guaranteed a season-series win over Toronto, having already won the first three meetings. 

Not only did Detroit beat Toronto by a 6-3 final on Oct. 11, but they followed that up with a 3-2 win two days later thanks to Mason Appleton's goal late in regulation. 

In their most recent matchup on Dec. 28, Simon Edvinsson's skilled tally in overtime gave Detroit a 3-2 win at Little Caesars Arena. 

The ability to eventually come out on top in closely-contested contests, like the most recently played two games against the Maple Leafs, has been key to the Red Wings' success. 

"I do know Talbs (Cam Talbot) stole the game in Toronto," Andrew Copp said of Detroit's 3-2 win on Oct. 13. "It's always a combination of things, I don't know if there is any one secret recipe. They have a lot of good players over there, and they're playing pretty good right now, I think they've been on a good streak like the whole Atlantic Division." 

"We're focused on playing well, and we'll make some little changes to whatever system or whatever they're running," Copp continued. 

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

Goaltender Cam Talbot essentially stole the game for Detroit in Toronto, making 38 saves, while Appleton played the role of late-game hero by scoring the game-winning goal with 44.1 seconds left in regulation to break a 2–2 tie.

Appleton also factored into Detroit's overtime win in late December, scoring the game-tying goal in the third period only seconds after Toronto had taken the lead. 

The maturity Detroit has shown is one of the major reasons why they've reached 30 wins through their first 50 games for the first time since 2011-12. 

"We've won close games, right? That's the biggest thing when I look back at the second game of the year, we were down a couple and came back," Patrick Kane said. "That game in Toronto, Apps (Appleton) scored a big goal late to give us a 3-2 lead, so I think we've found a way to come out on top of those close games." 

Currently, the Red Wings occupy the second overall spot in the Atlantic Division (64 points) behind the red-hot Tampa Bay Lightning, who are 9-0-1 in their last 10 games.

Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs, who have gone 6-2-2 in their last 10 games, are in the sixth spot (56 points). 

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In Tuesday night’s game against the Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens’ coach Martin St-Louis decided to use Jayden Struble over Arber Xhekaj. As a result, he was once again asked what went into that decision. It’s a question he’s been asked often over the last few years, but last night, he gave a bit of a different answer.

Of course, he highlighted the fact that Struble hadn’t played a lot in the last month, and the coach wants to keep his guys “fresh”, but he also explained:

Being a leader means knowing you’ll have to make decisions that will negatively affect people you care about. But that’s the role, it comes with the territory. The role comes with a price; you have to pay the price. Those are not easy conversations, but they start with the truth. Of course, the easiest thing for a coach is six defensemen who don’t get injured for 82 games, 12 forwards who don’t get injured for 82 games, and two goaltenders who don’t get injured for 82 games. Then there’s zero conversation, but that’s impossible. That’s the price that comes with the job; it’s an important job, and I take it to heart. It’s not easy; there’s not a single player who likes being told he’s not playing, but it’s the NHL.

- Martin St-Louis on the tough decisions

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St-Louis has been there as a player, he has been a healthy scratch, he knows how that feels, but he also knows that as a coach, he needs to make those kinds of calls despite how it will make the players affected feel. Much has been written about the fact that he will soon have to make some of those tough calls, and no one knows it better than him.

So far, he has been spared from cutting someone to insert Kirby Dach because Alexandre Texier is day-to-day, but when the Frenchman is ready to return, he’ll have to do it, and that’s not a responsibility he takes lightly.

However, when it’s a routine decision like inserting Struble to keep him fresh, it seems like there’s not much of a conversation, according to Arpon Basu, who reported on TSN that it was actually Juraj Slafkovsky who informed Xhekaj that he would have a night off when he joined him in the hot tub, shortly after the lineup was posted.

omfg i’m crying not the habs hot tub tea being spilled on tsn😭 pic.twitter.com/byNNh5Wp7b

— danielle (@thekentryclub) January 21, 2026

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After finishing their homestand with a fourth consecutive victory, the Ducks are hitting the road for a five-game trip. Their first stop is in Denver, where they'll take on the league-leading Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche have a 34-5-8 record and have lost just once at home in regulation in the entire season. The Ducks are coming off a 5-3 win against the New York Rangers on Monday, while the Avalanche are coming off a 5-2 win against the Washington Capitals on Monday.

“We really liked our three performances on our home ice.” Ducks captain Radko Gudas said. “We played a very tight, checking game and we put the pucks in areas where we can get them, and we didn't give up much defensively either that last game (against the Rangers). Maybe in the third, we kind of got away from it a little bit, but our goalie was there for us, our PK came up huge at the end and the guys stepped up and played really well at the end of the game, so we got two points out of that. But, we have to learn from it, also. We can’t take as many penalties like we did the last two games, so those are some key things that we have to have to take care of.

“We have some best players in the world on the other side right now that are having a great season, so we’ve got to try to limit their time, make sure we have good gaps on them and don’t give them space to do their thing.”

“I think our team's done a great job of playing the right way,” Jackson LaCombe said. “They have a great group over there and they’re really skilled and they're really fast. 
For us, we’ve just got to keep playing disciplined and keep playing smart.”

LaCombe was named to the U.S. Olympic men’s ice hockey roster on Wednesday morning, replacing the injured Seth Jones.

“Anytime you get to represent USA, it's a dream going true and special,” LaCombe said. “I'm just really excited.”

Alex Killorn will play in his 1000th NHL game against the Avalanche, a tremendous milestone for any player to reach.

“It’s pretty special,” Killorn said. “You really don't plan for playing a thousand games. You kind of just try to make the NHL and (that’s) just the way things have gone. (I) really fortunate, honestly, to be in this situation. It's pretty special. Fortunate, for sure.”

“It feels like we're doing some steps together, so that's pretty cool,” Gudas said. “I was there when he made his first professional debut, he was there when I made my NHL debut. So it's pretty cool to share these moments, share these personal milestones. I'm really happy that he got to this point when he plays his 1000th game. I think he deserved every bit of it. He's a true pro. He's helping all the young guys here understand what it all takes. 
He won Cups for a reason. He's a big part of why we're having success this year as well, so couldn't be more thrilled for him.”

“I think Killer gives us a real presence as far as playing the right way, and doing the right things,” head coach Joel Quenneville said. “Being a good pro, an old pro. Knows how to prepare himself, knows what needs to be attended to. Knows how it can be and should be addressed. 
So that experience has played itself out here, particularly in that last little stretch we were going through.”

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Ducks Projected Lines

Chris Kreider - Mason McTavish - Ryan Strome
Alex Killorn - Mikael Granlund - Beckett Sennecke
Jeffrey Viel - Ryan Poehling - Cutter Gauthier
Ross Johnston - Tim Washe - Ian Moore

Jackson LaCombe - Jacob Trouba
Pavel Mintyukov - Drew Helleson
Olen Zellweger - Radko Gudas

Lukáš Dostál (confirmed)

Avalanche Projected Lines

Victor Olofsson - Nathan MacKinnon - Martin Nečas
Artturi Lehkonen - Brock Nelson - Valeri Nichushkin
Ross Colton - Jack Drury - Gavin Brindley
Zakhar Bardakhov - Parker Kelly - Taylor Makar

Sam Malinski - Cale Makar
Josh Manson - Brent Burns
Sam Girard - Jack Ahcan

Scott Wedgewood (confirmed)

The Pittsburgh Penguins will play their second game of this four-game road trip on Wednesday against the Calgary Flames.

This will be the second of two meetings between the teams after the Flames went into Pittsburgh on Jan. 10 and won 2-1. Matt Coronato scored the game-winning goal in the third period. 

The Flames are coming off a 2-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Monday, but have still won three of their last five games. They have started a bit of their sell-off after trading defenseman Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights. He's been great for the Flames this year, compiling 10 goals and 30 points in 48 games. 

Goaltender Dustin Wolf was first off the ice during the Flames' morning skate and is lined up to start in this game. Wolf has a 15-19-2 record with a 2.98 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage. His numbers are lower this year than last, but don't let that fool you. He's still a really good young goaltender. 

Nazem Kadri leads the team in points with 34 in 49 games, followed by Mikael Backlund with 12 goals and 31 points. Coronato has 13 goals and 26 points in 48 games and continues to play well after breaking out with 24 goals last season. 

The Penguins are expected to run with the same forward lines that they had on Monday for Wednesday's game, but the defensive pairings could look different, as Erik Karlsson is still not ready to return and Kris Letang is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. 

Head coach Dan Muse confirmed after the morning skate that Letang continues to be evaluated and hasn't been ruled out. 

Stuart Skinner will start in goal for the Penguins, paving the way for Arturs Silovs to start against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. 

Puck drop is set for 9:30 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Fans can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'

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The Buffalo Sabres entered the second of back-to-back road games in Nashville, losers of two games in a row, but unlike recent games when Tage Thompson had carried the majority of the scoring burden, the Sabres 5-3 win over the Predators was thanks to the newly formed “Kid Line” of Konsta Helenius, Noah Ostlund, and Zach Benson. 

Ostlund scored twice, and Helenius scored his first NHL goal in his second NHL game. Buffalo held a 4-0 lead in the second period, but Nashville closed the gap to 4-3 in the third before Peyton Krebs scored into an empty net. Alex Lyon made 31 saves in his first start since late December. 

Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff spoke after the game:

What happened in the latter half of the game that allowed Nashville to come back?

We got out of structure on a couple of plays. We got caught on a long shift. Intentions were good, but we didn't manage the puck well enough, which really hurt us. And I thought ultimately that's what gave them momentum.

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What can you say about the play of the Benson, Ostlund, Helenius line?

Best line by far. Skated well, made every play, every time they were on the ice or in their offensive zone, six, seven shots on goal. That's the type of energy you need. I think when you look at the schedule and you look at back-to-back games, some guys have a little more than others. They had a lot of energy, and they made a lot of great plays.

Why were you comfortable putting that line together?

I think the world of Ostlund, for the way he plays down low, and how smart he's been. I just trust him to play. Give them the opportunity trust them to play. And I think if you keep getting thrown out there, you feel good about your game……It takes three to make a line go and I thought they were kind of connected. They were around the puck together

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

When Kyle Dubas was hired as the President of Hockey Operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins on Jun. 1, 2023 - and later named as General Manager - he had a lot of work ahead of him. 

The Penguins had just missed the playoffs for the first time in 17 years, and the organization - as well as ownership - still believed it had what it took to get back. Dubas went out and landed Erik Karlsson, who was coming off a career-best season and Norris Trophy campaign, but that wasn't enough to get them back into contention.

So, he went into sell mode at the deadline, trading away Pittsburgh's most valuable on-the-market asset in Jake Guentzel and beginning what was thought, by many, to be a rebuild that would take years to execute.

But flash forward just two years later, and the Penguins are back in playoff contention. And, no, they're not just back by a stroke of luck, they look to be a legitimately good hockey team when relatively healthy and pitted up against some of the better teams in the league. When looking back at everything Dubas has done since the beginning of the offseason for the Penguins, it's starting to make more and more sense why they're competitive and what the plan for the rebuild's "next steps" are. 

And if the Penguins do, indeed, make the playoffs, Dubas should pretty much just be handed the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year award. 

Of course, there are other general managers around the league who deserve a ton of recognition this season, too. Chris MacFarland - GM of the Colorado Avalanche - has managed to build a powerhouse team that could break some NHL season record, and that's after trading superstar Mikko Rantanen at last season's trade deadline. Kelly McCrimmon - GM of the Vegas Golden Knights - brought in Mitch Marner during the offseason and recently traded for Rasmus Andersson, who should help their blue line in the push for another division title.

Takeaways: Penguins Kick Off Road Trip With Win Over Kraken, Move To Second Place In MetroThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> got off on the right foot to begin their four-game Western road swing on Monday.&nbsp;

Then there's New York Islanders' new GM Mathieu Darche, who had a masterclass of a 2025 draft and who - like Dubas - has steered a team with lower expectations right into the playoff conversation. Even Detroit Red Wings' GM Steve Yzerman and his "Yzerplan" is starting to bear some fruit, with Detroit being one of the East's top teams this season. 

But it's hard to ignore what Dubas has done for a team that many pegged as a lottery team. Not only has he managed to infuse some talent into a previously barren pipeline during his tenure as GM, but he's continued to add even more talent to both the pipeline and to the NHL roster without sacrificing the future. 

In this year's draft, he selected center Ben Kindel 11th overall, which - at the time - was a move criticized by many. Well, Kindel has played full-time at the NHL level this season - primarily as the team's third-line center - and already looks like a veteran. Once the production catches up, he will be a star. And he's one of only three players drafted this season still remaining at the NHL level, with the others being Michael Misa of the San Jose Sharks and Matthew Schaefer of the Islanders. 

It's Time For The Penguins To Give Stuart Skinner More StartsStuart Skinner has been fantastic over the last few weeks, and it's time for him to get more starts.

He also used the first-round pick from the New York Rangers - courtesy of the Marcus Pettersson trade last spring - to trade down and select two more players in the first round in Bill Zonnon and Will Horcoff, both of whom are promising prospects. 

And that's not even accounting for the other moves he made in the offseason. He added defenseman Parker Wotherspoon and wingers Justin Brazeau and Anthony Mantha in free agency, all of whom have been significant contributors to the Penguins' playoff push. He added goaltender Arturs Silovs via trade, and he has been a factor. He also brought back forward Connor Dewar after non-tendering him as an RFA, and he's been a significant piece on Pittsburgh's penalty kill and their fourth line. 

Then there's his in-season moves, most of which has panned out up to this point. Dubas first swapped goaltender Tristan Jarry and Stuart Skinner, also getting defenseman Brett Kulak from the Edmonton Oilers in the process, and Skinner and Kulak have both been solid for the Penguins so far. As has Egor Chinakhov, who was bought from the Columbus Blue Jackets for a second- and third-rounder (plus Danton Heinen) and has already showed some promise as the goal-scorer the Penguins hoped they were getting. There were two other moves for defensemen in Egor Zamula and Ilya Solovyov as well, one of which didn't pan out and one of which is pending. 

And all of this isn't even accounting for three second-round picks and the third-round pick that they acquired through taking on salary dumps like Connor Clifton, Matt Dumba, and Skinner, two of which have actually been pretty solid contributors for the Penguins. Or the trades that never happened in Karlsson, Rickard Rakell, and Bryan Rust, all of whom have continued to be key parts of their lineup and locker room. 

Dubas isn't done yet, either. And neither are the Penguins. If they remain in playoff contention, there's a good chance that Dubas will add to the roster for the playoff push. There are even whispers that they are in the mix for some bigger names - maybe even big fish like Jason Robertson. 

There is still a lot of season left, and a lot can happen. Maybe the Penguins will fall out of contention, and they'll go back into sell mode. Or maybe they won't, and Dubas has the choice to either ride with the wind and keep the current roster intact or get creative in trying to both improve the NHL roster and keep their promising future intact.

If they don't - and they manage to make the playoffs and, perhaps, even go on some kind of Cinderella run - this could quite possibly one of the best-managed seasons in recent memory. But regardless of how things turn out, Dubas deserves a lot of praise for the work he's done with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Every Trade And Signing By The Pittsburgh Penguins In 20252025 was a busy year for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and we take a look back at every move the Penguins made in the calendar year.

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

New York and Seattle are both low-scoring teams that play at slow paces and rely greatly on their goaltenders.

Neither team found the back of the net in regulation — or overtime — when they met earlier this season.

While that’s unlikely to be the case again, my Islanders vs. Kraken predictions are banking on another low-scoring affair.

Let’s take a closer look at my NHL picks for Wednesday, January 21.

Puck-drop is set for 9:30 p.m. ET at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, with the game airing on TNT.

Islanders vs Kraken prediction

Islanders vs Kraken best bet: Under 5.5 (+100)

Both of these teams have been kind to Under backers this season. The New York Islanders own an O/U record of 22-26-1, while the Seattle Kraken come in at 19-27-2.

The Islanders rank 22nd in goals per game and don’t score a lot in the best of times. Finding the net is even more challenging without Bo Horvat, who comfortably leads the team in goals despite already missing 13 games, and veteran winger Kyle Palmieri.

They have relied on Ilya Sorokin to do the heavy lifting and he has answered the bell, sporting a .915 SV% through 29 appearances.

He is likely to improve those numbers against a Kraken team sitting 25th in goals per game. Sorokin has made seven appearances vs. Bottom-10 scoring offenses this season, allowing an average of 1.86 goals while posting two shutouts.

He should be able to greatly limit the damage. So, too, should Philipp Grubauer. He owns a .917 SV% on the season and recently held low-scoring teams like the Flames, Predators, and Flyers to one goal each.

With a pair of lower-end offenses set to square off against quality goaltenders, goals will likely be difficult to come by.

Islanders vs Kraken same-game parlay

One would think shooters like Jared McCann and Brandon Montour getting healthy would take volume away from Matty Beniers. Not the case. He has averaged 2.1 shots and 4.9 attempts with those two healthy compared to 1.7 shots and 3.1 attempts without both.

The Kraken have given up the fourth-most shots to defensemen this season, setting up nicely for the offensive-minded Tony DeAngelo to get a couple of pucks on net.

Islanders vs Kraken SGP

• Under 5.5
• Matty Beniers Over 1.5 shots
• Tony DeAngelo Over 1.5 shots

Islanders vs Kraken odds

• Moneyline: Islanders -115 | Kraken -105
• Puck Line: Islanders -1.5 (+210) | Kraken +1.5 (-260)
• Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-125) | Under 5.5 (+105)

Islanders vs Kraken trend

New York has hit the Under in 14 of its last 20 away games (+9.75 Units / 44% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Islanders vs. Kraken.

How to watch Islanders vs Kraken

Islanders vs Kraken latest injuries

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

The Rangers visited Los Angeles supposedly "breathing easier" –  s a couple of MSG Networks analysts noted – following the now infamous Chris Drury retread letter of surrender and false hope.

But the "easy-breathing" has ended. The 4-3 loss to the occasionally competitive Kings last night in Tinseltown hurt more than any previous defeat.

In no uncertain terms, it doomed fans to a second straight non-playoff season. (Not that it matters, but at the highest ticket prices in the NHL.)

Now it's back to the normal, "Close But No Cigar" saga for the skating YO-YOs of Seventh Avenue.

You have to understand that when the Blueshirts embarked on their four-game road trip, life in Rangerville was far different than it is now. Faint as it was, at least there was some hope.

After that dastardly 8-4 home defeat at the hands of the feeble Ottawa Senators, one totally dismaying era ended.

We entered the new world of Letters From Lord Drury. This is the very same Drury who "earned" a new contract from MSG despite managerial mistake after mistake.

The pizza man, who doubles as not only Blueshirts' President" but Lord High Executioner, decided that his 2025-26 model Rangers, which looked good in the showroom, was obsolete.

Customer warranty is about as valuable as last night's performance.

Amazingly, the Blueshirt sedan broke down so far from the NHL Finish Line, Sir Drury drew up a proclamation for all to read (and if you didn't, you may fail the upcoming test.)

In this New Drury world, leading scorer Breadman Panarin will disappear and maybe even – perish the thought – Mika Zibanejad or Vin (The Bin) Trocheck being traded as well.

What the MSG Networks' analysts are now telling us is that Lord Drury is being a benevolent despot. Meaning that his proclamation has allowed the poor, overpaid players to "breathe easy."

J.T. Miller Paints Positive Picture After Rangers' Loss To KingsThe New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/">Rangers</a> have come out empty-handed on their west coast road trip thus far, dropping a 5-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Monday night and a 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night.&nbsp;

Beating the sinking  Flyers in Philly supposedly provided that "breath of fresh air."

We have to believe it was only a one-game "easy breather"  because look what happened first in Anaheim and then L.A. last night. The "fresh air" was polluted by two more ersatz performances.

In Tinseltown, the Beloved Blueshirts coughed up a game to a team that was mired in a four-game skid.straight. As for any more "easy breaths,"  Mike Sullivan's troupe may find them in San Jose where the Sharks are inhaling some fresh NHL oxygen.

The Rangers should be so lucky!

The Minnesota Wild (28-14-9) dropped its last game of the road trip in a 4-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens (28-15-7).

Montreal scored with 15 seconds left to take a 4-3 lead in the third period.

That lead held up.

Wild General Manager and President of Hockey Operations Bill Guerin is also Team USA's General Manager for the 2026 Olympics coming up next month.

The Canadiens have two players on their team that were left off the USA roster. Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson. Both are on the smaller side and aren't physical.

Caufield, 25, is tenth in the NHL in goals with 25 and has 49 points in 50 games. He is first in the NHL in game-winning goals with seven. All he does is score and it always is big goals at crucial times.

But he is 5-foot-8.

Hutson, 21, recorded 60 assists and 66 points during his rookie season last year and won the Calder Trophy. He has nine goals, 43 assists and 55 points in 50 games this season.

Demidov holds, fakes, and then sends it to Hutson to finish the job! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/uOEue2FxNg

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) January 21, 2026

Not only does he lead all defensemen in the NHL in points, but Hutson ranks sixth in the NHL in assists. Only Connor McDavid, Macklin Celebrini, Mikko Ranatanen, Nathan McKinnon and Nikita Kucherov have more assists.

So in their first game against the Wild since being left off the Olympic roster, Hutson and Caufield came up huge.

Hutson scored the go-ahead goal in the second period to give the Canadiens a 3-2 lead. Vladimir Tarasenko scored his second of the night on the power play to tie the game in the third.

That was until the Canadians scored with 15 seconds left.

Who was it?

Caufield from Hutson.

.@usahockeypic.twitter.com/jUck62SBbY

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) January 21, 2026

That goal was Caufield's 21st game-winning goal in the third period or in overtime since making his debut in 2020-21.

The only players with more tallies over that span are Leon Draisaitl (28), Sebastian Aho (28), Sidney Crosby (23) and Steven Stamkos (23). 

The win for the Canadiens snapped a nine-game losing streak against Minnesota.

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