Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins has won each of his past three full starts, posting a .922 save percentage and stopping at least 24 shots in each game.
With Columbus allowing the second-most shots per game (30.6), the Chicago Blackhawks will keep Merzlikins busy on home ice.
The Blackhawks allow the seventh-most shots per game (29.7), while the Blue Jackets generate the third-most (30.3), so I expect Spencer Knight to be busy tonight.
Chicago's tendy has been solid all season, posting a .910 SV%, a 2.59 GAA, and 27.03 goals saved above expected across 36 contests.
Columbus defenseman Ivan Provorov has recorded two or more shots in 11 of his past 14 games while logging a monster 25:07 of ice time.
His 6.14 shots per 60 minutes during the run also rank 13th among all regular blueliners, and Chicago is currently allowing the most shots per outing to D-men.
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The Detroit Red Wings’ trade priorities recently came into focus after TSN’s Darren Dreger reported that the team is actively searching for a second-line center and a top-four defenseman. With a number of players available at both positions, it will be fascinating to see which path Detroit ultimately chooses.
Detroit could pursue veteran options at each spot, allowing them to part with fewer assets, add short-term help, and avoid blocking future prospects from reaching the NHL. Alternatively, they could package those prospects in a blockbuster deal to land a long-term solution capable of anchoring the second-line center role for years to come.
With that in mind, we’ve identified several potential targets GM Steve Yzerman could explore, breaking down the expected cost, age, and potential impact each player could bring to Detroit.
Nazem Kadri
Recent reports indicate that Nazem Kadri has informed the Calgary Flames he would be open to a trade. The 35-year-old center has often been a driving force on an inconsistent Flames roster, and when deployed full-time in a top-six role, he has consistently delivered. Kadri has settled in as a reliable 60 to 70 point producer with upside that can still reach the 80 point range.
While he is significantly older than many of the other options on the market, Kadri fits the profile of a short-term second-line center Detroit could target. He is a player who can contribute immediately without blocking the path for future prospects and would provide steady production for the next two to three seasons.
Kadri has three years remaining on his contract after this season, carrying a $7 million cap hit. While the rising salary cap may soften that number over time, declining production in later years could still make the deal difficult to justify. As a result, Calgary would likely need to retain salary, or Detroit could look to expand the deal beyond Kadri alone.
With the Red Wings also seeking defensive depth, defenseman Zach Whitecloud stands out as a logical add-on. Acquired by the Flames in the Rasmus Andersson deal, Whitecloud has begun to draw interest around the league. The 29-year-old carries a very team-friendly $2.75 million cap hit for the next three seasons and profiles as a dependable top-four option.
Since joining Calgary, Whitecloud has been logging heavy minutes, averaging between 23 and 25 per game through his first five contests. During that stretch, he has been on the ice for two goals for and three against while recording an assist. Including Whitecloud in a larger Kadri deal would allow Detroit to address two major needs at once and eliminate the need for a secondary move.
Insiders have reported that the Columbus Blue Jackets are receiving significant interest in Charlie Coyle, and for good reason. The 33-year-old veteran center has been a steady presence for 16 NHL seasons, experiencing both highs and lows throughout his career. Coyle established himself as a consistent 45 to 60 point producer during his final seasons with the Boston Bruins before being traded to the Colorado Avalanche.
Now in his first season with Columbus, Coyle has begun to rediscover his form. He has recorded 12 goals and 23 assists for 35 points in 52 games and is on pace to surpass the 55 point mark for just the third time in his career. That level of production could draw strong interest from teams that view him as a legitimate second-line center option.
Unlike a potential Nazem Kadri deal, Coyle is unlikely to be packaged with a defenseman. However, he is slightly younger and is a pending unrestricted free agent carrying a $5.25 million cap hit. That status could make him a riskier but lower cost acquisition, as he could choose to test free agency this July.
One possible solution would be for Detroit to acquire Coyle with an extension already in place, allowing him to serve as the Red Wings’ second-line center this season and next before eventually transitioning into a bottom-six role as the contract progresses.
At the right price point, Coyle could provide Detroit with a longer-term solution negotiated directly with both the player and the team, making him a meaningful addition for years to come.
The primary concern would be avoiding a repeat of the Andrew Copp or J.T. Compher situations, where value and role become misaligned. However, by controlling the terms of Coyle’s next contract, the Red Wings may be able to mitigate that risk.
The biggest and most high-profile option on the board is an obvious one in St. Louis Blues star center Robert Thomas. At just 26 years old, Thomas has firmly established himself as one of the league’s top young centers, producing consistently in the 75 to 80 point range while posting strong two-way numbers and handling heavy minutes on a largely underwhelming Blues roster.
Selected 20th overall by St. Louis in the 2017 NHL Draft, Thomas has not only met expectations but exceeded them. If the Blues were to move him, it would require a significant return. Acquiring a young, near point-per-game center would be extremely costly, but it also represents the clearest path for Detroit to add a true impact player capable of accelerating the team’s push toward contention. It would easily be the most expensive option on this list.
There is also the possibility of St. Louis including a defenseman in a larger deal, as the Blues have explored moving veteran blueliner Justin Faulk. The 33-year-old defenseman brings extensive top-four experience and could serve as a stabilizing presence in a young Red Wings locker room, similar to the role Ben Chiarot has grown into.
A package featuring both Thomas and Faulk would undoubtedly cost Detroit a combination of high draft picks and top prospects. However, among NHL teams, the Red Wings are one of the few organizations with the assets to construct a deal that St. Louis would seriously consider. The remaining question is whether Detroit is willing to be aggressive enough to pull the trigger on a move of this magnitude.
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Ilya Solovyov appears to be settling in seamlessly with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The former Colorado Avalanche defenseman recorded his first point with his new team Thursday night as the Penguins rolled to a 6–2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks at PPG Paints Arena. After a quiet start, Pittsburgh broke the game open late in the first period, scoring six unanswered goals to take firm control.
Solovyov factored into the fifth of those goals. With the Penguins holding a 4–1 lead and the game slipping further out of reach, Solovyov took a pass from Anthony Mantha and quickly set up Ryan Shea for a blistering one-timer from the right circle that beat Blackhawks goaltender Arvid Söderblom.
Nearly two weeks ago, the Avalanche made their first trade of the season, sending Solovyov to the Penguins in exchange for 26-year-old right winger Valtteri Puustinen and Pittsburgh’s 2026 seventh-round draft pick.
Solovyov was claimed off waivers in October and went on to appear in 16 games for Colorado this season, recording one goal and two assists. Prior to the deal, he served as one of the Avalanche’s six healthy defensemen and most recently saw action in an Avs uniform on January 19 against the Washington Capitals, a game that Colorado won 5-2.
Not that the two are related, but since the Solovyov trade, the Avalanche have managed just one win. Colorado is 1–3–1 over its last five games as the team inches closer to the Olympic break.
Puustinen, 26, last appeared in the NHL during the 2024–25 season, playing in 13 games and recording three points. He posted five goals and 20 points in 52 games the previous season.
This year, Puustinen has seven goals and 26 points in 39 AHL games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Since joining the Colorado Eagles, the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate, he has recorded one point in three games.
The Benefits
If Puustinen earns a call-up to the NHL, he could provide a much-needed boost to what has been a sluggish Avalanche power play this season. The 26-year-old is an elite skater and a standout backchecker, skills that could be a significant asset for Colorado.
The Avalanche currently rank fourth-worst in the league on the man advantage, converting at just 15.7 percent. Only the Calgary Flames (15.5 percent), Philadelphia Flyers (15.5 percent), and Utah Mammoth (15.0 percent) rank lower.
Additionally, Colorado has allowed an NHL-leading nine shorthanded goals this season, with most coming on 2-on-1 rushes — situations that Puustinen is known for breaking up effectively.
From Solovyov’s perspective, the trade to Pittsburgh offers a major benefit: ice time. While he isn’t a bad player, he didn’t stand out enough on a stacked Avalanche roster. On a rebuilding team like the Penguins, he now has the opportunity to develop more fully. In Friday’s game against Chicago, Solovyov logged nearly 17 minutes of ice time, close to his season-high of 17:49, set on January 8 during Colorado’s 8–2 win over the Ottawa Senators. For the season, however, his average ice time with the Avalanche was much lower at 11:34.
Credit: Isaiah J. Downing. When Solovyov scored his first-career NHL goal.
Overall, the trade appears to benefit both teams in different ways. Colorado could eventually see an upgrade on the power play, while Solovyov gains the ice time and responsibility he likely would not have received in Colorado, especially with Devon Toews expected to return from his upper-body injury.
The Vancouver Canucks are the worst team in the National Hockey League as they currently have a record of 18-31-5 with 41 points. The franchise is currently in disarray and they have fully committed to a full on rebuild by trading away superstar Quinn Hughes and forward Kiefer Sherwood. Vancouver is expected to keep tearing down their roster and it's clear that Evander Kane is one of the names that will not finish the season as a Canuck.
Kane has seemingly drawn interest from a handful of teams looking for some added depth for a playoff push. Included in that handful is the Los Angeles Kings. However, pursuing the 34-year-old may not be a move that moves the needle for the Kings.
Why the Kings Should Steer Clear
As of Friday, January 30th, the Los Angeles Kings are 10th in the Western Conference and sit two points out of the second wild card spot. It has been an extremely up and down year for the Kings. Would acquiring a player who is well past his prime like Kane really change anything?
In 53 games with Vancouver this season, Kane has registered nine goals and 14 assists for 23 points. His 23 points would rank him 7th on Los Angeles in points, a team that struggles mightily to score. He is on the NHL's worst team, but those aren't numbers that should make a team want to give up an asset or two to acquire.
Kane is being paid $5.125M this season and is an unrestricted free agent this summer, so it's expected that Vancouver wouldn't be asking for a 'Kings' ransom in any deal for the veteran forward. However, that AAV isn't low by any means and would make a sizeable dent in the Kings current $13.2M in cap space. That money could be spent elsewhere if L.A. is a team that's serious about a playoff push, and based off of these rumors, it seems that they are.
If Ken Holland and the Kings are acting as buyers at this year's trade deadline, they should be very cautious when it comes to trading assets, especially for players who are expected be rentals.
It's evident that the Los Angeles Kings need to add to the current roster if they want to make a playoff push, but acquiring Evander Kane would be a move that changes virtually nothing.
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The Athletic released its ranking of all 32 NHL rinks based on a poll run with fans and writers, and the Montreal Canadiens’ home, the Bell Centre, came out on top. Poll respondents were asked to rate rinks across four categories: location, amenities, atmosphere, and affordability. According to the article, thousands of fans responded to the survey, and 30% were season ticket holders who know their home building like the back of their hand.
The Bell Centre has nearly perfect scores when it comes to location (9.6 out of 10) and Atmosphere (9.8). Its score for amenities is the sixth highest (8.7), and its one drawback is affordability (5.0). The building’s fan score is 8.7, and the beat writer score is 9.9, giving it a 9.0 overall score.
It’s hard to argue with those scores. The location is near-perfect: the building is between two tube stations, and there are many parking spaces in the surrounding streets. Of course, they are not cheap, but that’s the cost of using your car these days.
As for the atmosphere, I’ve learn to appreciate it on a whole new level since I got my seat in the press gallery. It's set right above the ice, so you’re surrounded by fans, and when the noise level goes up, it feels almost surreal in there. Last year, at the tail end of the season, when the fans would start a wave, and it would go around the building for 10 minutes, it gave me goosebumps. It’s easy to understand what the players mean when they talk about the atmosphere being special at the Bell Centre.
Amenities cover everything from seating and sightlines to food and drink options and the Jumbotron. There’s no denying that the Bell Centre’s new Jumbotron is spectacular. There isn’t a bad seat in the house when it comes to that Arena, you can see perfectly well, wherever you're sitting, aside from the Renaissance Suite, which has an obstructed view, but those who choose to attend there are not just after seeing the game, it’s about the food and the hotel as well.
The fact that the Bell Centre lost points because of affordability shouldn’t surprise anybody. The parking under the rink is 45$, the fast-food options on site are overpriced, just like the beer, but that’s on par with the ticket prices, which are rising year after year. With the on-ice product improving as it has in the last couple of years, don’t expect the ticket prices to stop increasing.
Even if an evening at the Bell Centre isn’t cheap, though, you’re sure to have a good night when you attend, especially if your favourite team claims the win. If you’re a local fan, enjoy it; if you support the Habs from afar, attending a game at the Bell Centre should be on your bucket list. It’s worth the trip.
The Chicago Blackhawks had a bad game on Thursday night. They were run out of the building at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who beat them 6-2.
The good news for them, sitting at 21-24-9, is that they don't have much time to sit there and think about the bad loss. They are right back at it on Friday with the 25-20-7 Columbus Blue Jackets in town for a match at the United Center.
This will be a "Friday Night Hockey" feature with the team wearing their black alternate sweaters.
Scouting Columbus
The Columbus Blue Jackets are having a good season, but their chances of making it to the playoffs are slim in a loaded Eastern Conference.
They are 8 points out, but they are 7-3-0 in their last 10 and have won three in a row. Since hiring Rick Bowness a couple of weeks ago in a coaching change, they've been on a little bit of a run. If the run continues, they may find a way to get in, but there is a lot more work to be done.
Marchment - Fantilli - Marchenko
Jenner- Monahan -Johnson
Sillinger -Coyle -Olivier
Voronkov-Lundestrom -Wood
Werenski -Severson
Provorov - Mateychuk
Zamula - Gudbranson
Merzlikins
Greaves
Zach Werenski, a defenseman, leads the team in goals, assists, and points. Driving that level of offense from the back-end is very impactful, and he is in the mix for the Norris Trophy this season because of it. This is the player that the Blackhawks will have an extra close eye on in their pre-game prep.
Adam Fantilli, their top-line center, went two picks after Connor Bedard in the 2023 NHL Draft. He is having a down year compared to last season, but he's a big, strong center who can change the game on any shift. With the great wingers that he plays with, it's a line for Jeff Blashill to think twice about when deciding on matchups.
The Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators are the only two teams in the NHL that did not play on Thursday night. This game between Chicago and Columbus is the only one on the NHL slate for Friday night, and the road team will be fresher.
Elvis Merzlikins played in their last game, a win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday, so Jet Greaves is a good bet to start against the Hawks.
Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago
The Chicago Blackhawks did not have a morning skate on Friday. If their lines have a shake-up, it won't be revealed until warmups.
Landon Slaggert and Sam Lafferty were the scratches in Pittsburgh, but one of them could go in for Colton Dach based on how things have rotated in recent games. Nick Foligno also left the Penguins game with an injury, which could cause a change as well.
Nazar-Bedard-Teravainen
Greene-Moore-Burakovsky
Bertuzzi-Dickinson-Mikheyev
Donato-Foligno-Dach
Vlasic-Crevier
Kaiser-Levshunov
Grzelcyk-Murphy
If Foligno can't go, and Slaggert draws in, someone who played wing on Thursday will have to play center on Friday.
Spencer Knight will start in goal for Chicago. They let Arvid Soderblom finish the game on Thursday, despite giving up six goals. He faced 44 shots, so it was hardly all his fault.
Knight playing won't help if they play as badly defensively against Columbus as they did against Pittsburgh, but he gives them a chance to win every start.
Connor Bedard scored his first goal with a goalie in the net since coming back from his injury on Thursday, which was the one positive at the end of the game. He has looked more like himself lately, and he got one to go in. Will the floodgates open? This game against the Blue Jackets will tell the tale.
How To Watch
The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. To view this game, it is available on CHSN locally. Nationally, it is available on the NHL Network. The puck will drop shortly after 7:30 PM CT.
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PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 30: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG PAINTS Arena on December 30, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The thing that stood out the most to me about the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday evening is not just the players that provided the offense. It is also the players that did not provide the offense. Consider these numbers.
Evgeni Malkin recorded one assist.
Sidney Crosby recorded zero points.
Erik Karlsson recorded zero points.
Kris Letang recorded zero points.
Bryan Rust recorded zero points because he is serving the first game of a three-game suspension.
Those are five of the Penguins highest paid players and five of their best players. They combined for one point. In a game the Penguins absolutely dominated for 50 minutes and scored six goals. That is significant.
This is continuing a trend and storyline that has perhaps become the biggest surprising development of the season. It is the scoring depth. It is the fact they have four balanced lines that can all provide offense, with more help waiting in the wings.
When the 2025-26 season began there was a belief that the forward group could be pretty good, at least as far as the top-six was concerned. Certainly good enough to keep the team competitive for a bit, especially if Crosby and Malkin continued to play like …. well …. Crosby and Malkin.
Then Ben Kindel showed up as an 18-year-old and immediately became an impact player.
Then free agent signings Justin Brazeau and Anthony Mantha showed up and became bargain addition free agent signings.
Tommy Novak started to figure things out and bounce back from a slow, frustrating start to the season.
Then the fourth line of Connor Dewar, Blake Lizotte and Noel Acciari became a thing,
Then Egor Chinakhov arrived and just started scoring goals.
Now they four lines that can be rolled out evenly. In Thursday’s game no line played more than 11:14, and no line played less than 9:16. Everybody was involved. Everybody contributed. Everybody stayed fresh.
It also helped that for as deep as the NHL roster has become, they still have plenty of help waiting in the wings. Top prospect Rutger McGroarty was recalled for Thursday’s game and looked outstanding, recording a game-high five shots on goal and providing a physical presence. It may not have resulted in him recording any points, but he was noticeable and looked outstanding. He looks like an NHL player.
Ville Koivunen did not produce much in the way of offense at the NHL level to open the season, his line always pushed play and drove possession and you can still see the skill. He has been a point-per-game player in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He looks like an NHL player.
They have options.
The scoring depth is not just limited to the forwards, either. The defense is chipping in.
Erik Karlsson is on a 57-point pace over 82 games. Kris Letang is on a 41-point pace. Ryan Shea, who had a goal and an assist on Thursday and has now recorded a point in each of the past four games, has 21 points in 52 games, with all of them coming at even-strength. Entering this season he had just six points in 70 career games.
They are getting contributions from everybody.
It is a combination of new head coach Dan Muse getting the most out of everybody, the scouting staff and front office identifying talent — and in some cases undervalued talent — and the ability to put everybody into place. That does not even get into the fact the veteran players are still able to perform.
If you would have told me at the start of the season the Penguins’ top-six forward lines and the two two defensemen (Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang) were productive and everybody else around them struggled, that would have seemed reasonable. Not at all surprising. If you would have told me they would be able to go more than four lines deep and have three defensemen on pace for more than 30 points I would not have believed you.
They are doing it. It is really something to watch.
While the Detroit Red Wings didn't get the result they were looking for on Thursday evening against the Washington Capitals, another historical milestone was achieved by future Hall of Fame forward Patrick Kane.
Kane became the highest-scoring U.S.-born player in NHL history thanks to his assist on Ben Chiarot's second period goal, which was the 1,375th point of his career. It moved him past former Dallas Stars (and one-time Red Wings) forward Mike Modano, a Westland, Mich. native.
Kane's teammates poured off the bench to celebrate the milestone with him, and immediately afterward, a special pre-recorded video message from Modano himself was played on the scoreboard at Little Caesars Arena.
"I knew at an early age in your career you would be the one chasing this number down and here we are," Modano said. "Continue on and make this number harder for the next guy."
Kane said that he noticed the video message being played a few moments after it initially started, and thought it was a classy gesture on Modano's part.
"I paid attention to it, maybe not right from the start, but it was a great message from him. He's one of the best American players of all time, a guy I looked up to a lot when I was younger."
"I remember when he passed Phil Housley in San Jose on a breakaway goal, and to see him up there as a former Red Wing too, sending a message like that was pretty classy."
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Throughout the year, every NHL team holds thematic nights; Halloween, Christmas, Hockey Fights Cancer, Pride, Veteran Appreciation night, you name it, they have it. On Thursday night at the Bell Centre, while the province was buzzing about finally having the Battle of Quebec back, the Montreal Canadiens celebrated the Lunar New Year.
With all due respect, once the NHL green-lighted the idea of letting the Colorado Avalanche play in their Quebec Nordiques blue alternate jersey, the January 29 night should have been about nothing else. I know, the calendar for theme nights had already been out for some time, but the actual date of the 2026 Lunar New Year is February 17. Couldn’t the celebration have been pushed back to the first home game after the Olympics? February 26 is closer to the actual date than January 29.
It has now been over 30 years since the Quebec Nordiques were uprooted from la belle province and landed in Denver, Colorado. Seven months later, the newly minted Colorado Avalanche even got another one of the province’s jewels, one of the best goaltenders ever to play the game, in one of the most lopsided trades in professional sports history: Patrick Roy. Just over a year after the move, on June 10, 1996, the Avalanche did what the Nordiques never could do: they won the Stanley Cup.
Joe Sakic, the Nordiques’ fanbase favourite, got to raise the Stanley Cup in Miami, when passionate fans had been dreaming of seeing him do that at the Colisee de Quebec through seven seasons, five of which ended before the spring dance, talk about rubbing salt in an open wound. That moment broke two fan bases’ hearts, both Quebec and Montreal. The former Nordiques won too late, while the former Hab was instrumental in giving the old enemy its first win.
I grew up in Quebec, but I was never a Nordiques fan, unlike my dad. You see, he made the mistake of introducing me to hockey when I was six years old in 1986, when a young netminder led the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup. Watching number 33 make all those saves, I became hooked on hockey and on the Habs, much to my dad’s chagrin. It wasn’t all bad for him; he had a whale of a time in 1993 when the Nordiques took a 2-0 lead in their series with the Habs. By the end of that series of course, I had become unsufferable, teasing him mercilessly as Montreal went on to win the next four games and claim the Stanley Cup a few weeks later.
When St-Patrick came back to Montreal to play with the Avalanche, I was on a school field trip to the game, and yes, on that day, I wore a Nordiques jersey like the rest of our group, the only time I did that in my life. Kudos to my geography teacher for getting that field trip approved. From the south shore of Quebec all the way to Montreal in a school bus, the Nordiques fan in him thought it was worth it. I guess there was kind of a geographical element to it, after all, we all went to the La Pointe-A-Calliere museum in the afternoon, even though our level of interest wasn’t quite the same.
For people even older than me, and yes, there are plenty of those, bringing up the Nordiques means talking about the epic Good Friday battle or arguing about whether Alain Cote’s goal was good, or so many Christmas parties arguing over which team was the best. The two-minute opening video montage was good, but we needed more. That rich history deserved all the spotlight on Thursday night.
If the NHL won’t let Quebec get a new team, that’s the very least that could have been done. I wanted to hear Un club de dindes, Le but, Bob Bissonette songs; it needed to be all about the Battle of Quebec, and it wasn’t. That was a wasted opportunity. Just like not playing Ca va bien when the Habs retreated to their dressing room leading 3-1 after 20 minutes.
Welcome to this edition of the Vancouver Canucks post-game analytics report. This recurring deep dive breaks down the analytics behind each Canucks game as recorded by Natural Stat Trick. In this article, we look back on Vancouver’s most recent 2-0 victory over the Anaheim Ducks.
Despite winning the game, the Ducks were the better team from an analytics perspective. Anaheim finished with a 28-19 even-strength scoring chances advantage while also winning the even-strength high-danger scoring chances battle 13-6. In the end, though, the Canucks found the only two goals while Tolopilo stood on his head in the victory.
The heatmap from the game shows the Ducks' ability to crash the net all night. Tolopilo faced 11 high-danger chances and was able to stop them all. As for Vancouver, they created seven high-danger shots, with the game-winning goal being registered as a medium danger shot.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Anaheim Ducks, January 29, 2026, Natural Stat Trick.
To wrap this game up, Tyler Myers had a strong game from an analytics perspective. During his 15:40 of even-strength ice time, he posted an xGF% of 63.69% with the team winning the scoring chances battle 7-3. Myers also played a role on the penalty kill, as Anaheim only registered one shot in his 1:07 of ice time.
Jan 29, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; The Vancouver Canucks celebrate their first goal in the third period against Anaheim Ducks at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Morris-Imagn Images
The Canucks wrap up their homestand on Saturday as they welcome the Toronto Maple Leafs to Rogers Arena. Toronto picked up the win the last time these two teams met by a 5-0 score. Game time is set for 4:00 pm PT.
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Chicago Blackhawks - 21-24-9 - 51 Points - 3-5-2 in the last 10 - Lost 2 - 6th in the Central
Columbus Blue Jackets - 25-20-7 - 57 Points - 7-3-0 in the last 10 - Won 3 - 5th in the Metro.
Team Notes Per CBJ PR
Columbus has won seven of its past eight games overall and outscored opponents 30-21 since Jan. 11 (7-1-0) after its 5-3 victory over Philadelphia on Wednesday.
CBJ are tied for the NHL lead in points pct. (.875, Anaheim) and rank fourth in shots on goal (30.9), fifth-T in goals for/game (3.75), eighth in power play pct. (30.0), ninth in team save percentage (.908) and 11th in goals-against/game (2.63) over that stretch.
The club has scored the opening goal in three consecutive games and seven of the past eight. The team has scored the first goal in 31 games, tied for third-most in the NHL in 2025-26.
Columbus leads the NHL in goals by defensemen and ranks fourth in points with 39-93-132 in 52 contests.
CBJ play consecutive back-to-back sets before the Olympic break (Jan. 30 at CHI/Jan 31 at STL and Feb. 3 at NJD/Feb 4 vs. CHI). The team ranks fifth-T in the league in points pct. in back-to-back settings in 2025-26 (.639; 10-5-3).
Player Notes Per CBJ PR
Charlie Coyle, who skated in his 1,000th career game on Jan. 22 vs. Dallas and notched his 200th career goal on Jan. 24 vs. Tampa Bay, has registered goals, assists and multiple points in consecutive outings (2-3-5).
Jet Greaves (4-0-0, 2.35 GAA, .915 SV%) and G Elvis Merzlikins (3-1-0, 2.64 GAA, .908 SV%) have each won three games for the Blue Jackets since Jan. 11.
Kirill Marchenko notched a goal vs. Philadelphia and has points in back-to-back games (1-2-3) as well as 13 of the last 17 contests dating back to Dec. 22 (9-9-18).
Sean Monahan notched the game-winner on Wednesday and has posted goals in three of the past four contests.
Zach Werenski, who has notched two assists in consecutive contests, leads NHL blueliners in goals (19), points (57), multi-point efforts (19), points-per-game (1.19), and shots on goal (172) this season. He has points in 27 of his past 32 contests overall to lead league defensemen in goals, points, and points-per-game since Nov. 13 (15-31-46, 1.44).
Blue Jackets Stats
Power Play - 19.4% - 19th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 76.2% - 28th in the NHL
Goals For - 158 - 19th in the NHL
Goals Against - 171 - 23rd in the NHL
BlackhawksStats
Power Play - 19.9% - 17th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 85.5% - 1st in the NHL
Goals For - 141 - 27th in the NHL
Goals Against - 163 - 18th in the NHL
Series History vs. TheBlackhawks
Columbus is 42-46-2-13 all-time, and 20-25-1-5 on the road in Chicago.
The Blue Jackets are 6-0-1 in the last 7 games of the series and have won 5-straight overall.
The CBJ won both games against the Blackhawks last season.
Who To Watch For TheBlackhawks
Tyler Bertuzzi leads the Blackhawks with 25 goals.
Connor Bedard leads Chicago with 29 assists and 49 points.
Goalie Spencer Knight is 15-14-7 with a SV% of .910.
CBJ Player Notes vs.Blackhawks
Zach Werenski has 19 points in 18 career games vs. the Blackhawks.
Boone Jenner has 12 points in 22 games.
Charlie Coyle has 11 points in 38 games against Chicago.
Injured Reserve
Brendan Smith - Lower Body - Missed 14 Games IR - Out for the rest of the regular season.
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 147
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on FANDUEL SPORTS NETWORK. The radio broadcast will be on 97.1 The Fan, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
* Simulcasted on CW Columbus, WUAB in Cleveland, WXIX in Cincinnati, WZCD in Dayton, WQCW in Charleston/Huntington, WV, WKYT in Lexington, KY and WAVE in Louisville, KY
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A frustrating season for the Florida Panthers may have hit its peak on Thursday night.
Playing their tenth road game of the month, Florida rebounded from some rough moments in the first 20 minutes and appeared to give themselves a good chance at two points against the St. Louis Blues.
Alas, a questionable late penalty led to a last-second power play goal by the home team and sent the Panthers home to South Florida empty handed.
“That’s a tough one to swallow,” forward Sam Reinhart said afterwards.
Indeed, Sam.
Let’s get to the takeaways:
EXASPERATING WAY TO LOSE
It’s hard to put it better than Reinhart did.
Did Florida deserve to win? Eh, based off their first period (and we’ll get to that in a second), perhaps not.
But based off the effort they put forth in turning the game around, not getting down on themselves and playing the right way while clawing their way back, they absolutely deserved better than losing in the final seconds on a power play goal that came off a marginal call, though a tough one to make, to be fair.
“It’s heartbreaking because you fight back and get into it the way we did, and get so close to killing it off, with some great blocks and great battles,” said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice. “That's a tough one.”
Despite taking an early lead in St. Louis, Florida quickly fell behind thanks to a couple of plays that had Maurice and his staff quite unhappy on the bench.
First it was Jake Neighbours getting behind Florida’s defense for a quick breakaway goal, and then a seemingly harmless zone entry by the Blues turned deadly when the Cats failed to pick up Jordan Kyrou in the middle of the ice.
Being the veteran, mature team that they are, Florida didn’t allow the game to spiral out of control, instead digging in and starting to put in the work on mounting a comeback.
But at the end of the day, the Panthers need to tighten the screws because these are mistake they generally do not make.
“We were a little simpler and we were a little more conscientious with what we did with the puck, and we didn’t get so far apart from each other,” Maurice said. “We had some egregious errors in the first (period) that ended up in our net.”
EVERYONE PULLING THE ROPE
There is a long list of valid reasons as to why the Panthers are where they are currently.
More than halfway through the season, Florida is fighting to maintain a spot in a crowded playoff race after an injury-plagued first half has cost them any kind of ability to manage players or playing time as the postseason nears.
It’s going to be balls to the walls from here on out, and there isn’t a person in that room who isn’t ready or up for the challenge.
“We may not have played the smartest first period we ever played, but nobody is not giving (it their all),” Maurice said. “We're paying the price for a tough schedule and a lot of guys out of lineup, and we've run some guys so hard that they’re doing it on will now.”
Photo caption: Jan 29, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Blues right wing Jimmy Snuggerud (21) celebrates with right wing Jordan Kyrou (25) after scoring the game winning goal against the Florida Panthers during the third period at Enterprise Center. (Jeff Curry-Imagn Images)
After being humiliated 7-2 by the Colorado Avalanche at the end of November, Jakub Dobes and the Montreal Canadiens had a chance to make amends at the Bell Centre on Thursday night. With the NHL’s agreement, the visitors were wearing their alternate blue Quebec Nordiques jersey, which allowed the Habs to market the game as a new chapter of the Battle of Quebec. It might not have been the real deal, but the 21,000 fans that filled up the arena seemed to love it as they sang along to the Canadian anthem louder than ever.
After the November defeat, Martin St-Louis had taken the blame, saying his strategy wasn’t right on the night as he had instructed his men to let the Avs players come to them rather than being aggressive on the forecheck. Given how badly that strategy failed, it wasn’t surprising to see the Habs play a much more aggressive brand of hockey on Thursday.
For a second game in a row, Dobes played a significant role in the Canadiens’ win. While he wasn’t tested much in the first frame when the Avalanche only took five shots on goal, thanks in part to seven blocked shots by the Habs, he took center stage in the middle frame.
As soon as the 2nd period started, Martin Necas got to the net from the wing, and the Habs goalie was ready, sticking the pad out. Seconds later, with Montreal on the penalty kill, Mike Matheson turned the puck over in front of the net to Nathan MacKinnon, and he was stoned cold by Dobes. Minutes later, it was Parker Kelly who was alone in front, and he was stopped as well. Samuel Girard suffered the same fate on a breakaway; Dobes was in the zone.
Yesterday, Martin St-Louis praised Dobes’ compete level, and that character trait was on full display again tonight. The netminder was aggressive, challenging the shooters, coming out of his net and making the big saves. On Colorado’s second goal, he sent a big rebound to the side, unaware that Joel Kiviranta was right there, but he still dove for the puck. He believes he can stop any shot, and it shows. He didn’t get it, but it doesn’t matter; he fought for it.
For a second game in a row, Dobes was named the second star of the night, and he can honestly say mission accomplished after his performance in this 7-3 win over the best team in the league.
On The Pairings
Instead of using his usual pairings, St-Louis used Mike Matheson with Kaiden Guhle and Lane Hutson with Noah Dobson. Asked what motivated the change, the coach explained that with Colorado’s top line, he wanted to have a real shut-down pairing:
When there’s a first time that’s so loaded, I think it helps to have skaters like Guhles and Matheson, who cover a lot of space. We did it last year as well; it’s not new. We knew we could do that. Sometimes, you get led in a direction. When you give Guhle that kind of challenge, his game rises. I liked what I saw.
Guhle played over 22 minutes tonight, by far his highest total since he came back from injury, and he had a great game. Of course, there was that scary moment when he collided with Josh Manson and left the ice, spiking his helmet on his way to the room while holding his other arm completely still, which made everyone fear the worst. When he got back on the ice, though, he completely obliterated Artturi Lehkonen with a bone-crushing hit. I believe that translates to “I’m fine” in Guhle talk.
It’s also worth mentioning that Arber Xhekaj had a good game as well tonight. He was on the ice for 13:38 and made several good, safe plays. At one stage, he was going to hit someone in the boards, but he had the discipline to stop himself when he saw how the player was positioned. Not so long ago, he would have finished the check and gotten himself a boarding call; his game has really matured.
On The Third Line
Things are starting to click between Zach Bolduc, Jake Evans, and Kirby Dach. The line produced two of the team’s seven goals and was often in complete control on the ice, not giving the Avalanche a chance to come up for air. In their own zone, they were also very efficient, accounting for five of the 21 shots the Canadiens blocked.
Dach and Bolduc already had some chemistry before the former’s injury, but they were playing with Brendan Gallagher then; it’s reassuring to see that adding Evans to the combination has only made it stronger.
Toujours être vigilant lorsque Jake est dans les parages
Overall, the Canadiens played a really clean game tonight, and when they made mistakes, Dobes was there to bail them out. Granted, Colorado was playing a second game in as many nights, but that doesn’t diminish how good a performance the Canadiens had.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - JANUARY 29: Roman Josi #59 of the Nashville Predators looks to play the puck while being defended by Jack Hughes #86 of the New Jersey Devils during the first period at Prudential Center on January 29, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
A tying third-period goal from Jesper Bratt, and a Nico Hischier goal in overtime pushed the Devils to a 3-2 win over the Predators on Thursday. [Devils NHL]
Well!
Lower body injury for #NJDevils Jack Hughes, says Sheldon Keefe. Will need to be evaluated again tomorrow to determine his availability for the trip to Ottawa.
Keefe says he doesn't believe it's a serious injury.
“The Devils did well in the Palát half of this trade, but Tsyplakov is not a bum. He only has one goal and one assist in 27 games this season, but he was a legit middle-six winger as a rookie last season. Tsyplakov was one of the Islanders’ more efficient five-on-five scorers a season ago, averaging 1.84 points per 60 minutes. That ranked fifth among the team’s skaters.” [Devils on the Rush]
“Things have changed leading up to the Palat trade with some Devils trade chips. With the expectation that New Jersey isn’t done dealing, what tier do each of their assets live in?” [New Jersey Hockey Now]
On Luke Hughes: “As well as he anticipates offensively, it just hasn’t connected when he doesn’t have the puck on his stick. And those mistakes can spiral and directly contribute to the Devils falling behind in games. The circumstances around him have put even more attention on that. If Hughes can start processing defensive situations quicker and more efficiently, he should be able to problem solve back to offensive situations — and that’s the area of his game that really lacks. Fixing that will keep him on the path to becoming a true top-pair caliber defenseman.” [The Athletic ($)]
Hockey Links
It’s still hard to believe this is happening in Tampa, but it is: “The crew building the ice rink for the 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union Stadium Series feels it has hit the lottery despite it being one of the trickiest projects in the NHL’s 23-year history of outdoor games.” [NHL.com]
Artemi Panarin has likely played his last game with the Rangers.
His agent has permission to negotiate an extension with any team Panarin would waive his NMC to be traded to – and as of last night, sounds like there’s a few in the mix. NYR won’t risk injury until then. https://t.co/e2PTgdgkGl
A look at the trade and contract extension market for Artemi Panarin: “It most likely involves teams that aren’t scared of signing a 34-year-old player to a four-year extension with, perhaps, a double-digit average annual salary. That’s what we think the extension would be if this gets done.” [TSN]
A look at how seven early NHL trades have worked out so far: [Sportsnet]
Assessing 12 rebuilding franchises and where they stand on their journeys: [Daily Faceoff]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.
The goalie trade market is pretty scarce, so some NHL teams have reached into the recent past.
And while retired Marc-Andre Fleury is flattered by the attention, he says he plans to stay retired.
"I had some calls and I took the time to think about it," he recently told USA TODAY's Sports Seriously. "It's very nice of them to think of me in that way, very flattering, but then at the end of the day, I stopped playing for some reasons. I thought it was better to just stay on the sidelines."
Fleury hung up his skates after 21 seasons in 2025, finishing with three Stanley Cup titles, a Vezina Trophy and the second most regular-season wins in NHL history (575). Since the playoffs ended for the Minnesota Wild, he played for Canada in the world championships and for one period and a shootout of a preseason game with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but now his focus is on a post-playing life.
He's enjoying the freedom of having more time but says there are other times when he misses playing.
"I miss the guys, I miss the competition, I miss battling as a team trying to win a game and the feeling that you get when you win a game," he said.
But he's finding plenty to do. He's coaching his 6-year-old, he's playing tennis, has driven a race car, tried some boxing and he went skiing, which he wouldn't be able to do under an NHL contract. He has a partnership with Kraft Hockeyville, which brings a preseason NHL game to a small community and helps refurbish rinks. He occasionally puts on the goalie pads, as his agent, Allan Walsh, posted on Thursday.
He'll be watching as NHL players return to the Olympics for the first time since 2014. Being a Quebec province native, he's choosing Canada to win, though he also said the USA and Sweden have solid teams.
"I just think it will be great hockey," he said. "I think it will be fun to watch, so many good teams and players out there. You never know in a tournament. It's not a best of seven, it's one game, so crazy things can happen. It can go different ways."
Fleury was also paying attention when Florida's Sergei Bobrovsky and San Jose's Alex Nedeljkovic had the first goalie fight since 2020.
"I think it's awesome," he said. "Nobody got hurt and to see two goalies fight, it's always so awkward because we got all the equipment and we're not used to fighting. It's funny to watch."
Fleury nearly had his chance in 2023 but was kept away as he skated down the ice and challenged St. Louis' Jordan Binnington.
"I have nothing against Jordan, really," he said. "I always wanted one fight in the NHL since I came in. In 21 years, I wanted to score a goal and have a fight. I came close on both but couldn't get it done."
Elvis Merzlikins Over 23.5 saves
Spencer Knight Over 25.5 saves
