The Chicago Blackhawks won the draft lottery in 2023, which allowed them to select Connor Bedard with the first overall pick on the 2023 NHL Draft.
Since then, he has blossomed into the superstar that they were hoping for. The fact that he will continue to get better makes the Blackhawks a threat to compete for championships down the line. Nothing is guaranteed at any pick in the draft, but the Blackhawks got this one right.
Currently, Chicago boasts a wealth of talent across its various sports teams. Connor Bedard fits right in with guys like Caleb Williams and Pete Crow-Armstrong, who were just in attendance for the Blackhawks’ win over the Jets on Monday.
Last week, Bedard wore a Caleb Williams Bears jersey into the United Center. Williams appreciated that, and he paid it back by attending a Blackhawks game wearing a Bedard jersey. The images of them sitting along the glass went viral across social media.
"It's cool," Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill said of Williams and PCA coming to visit Bedard. "Even that ovation (for Caleb Williams from the crowd) was incredible."
Blashill admitted that he thought a fight was going on because the crowd's reaction to seeing the other stars in town was so loud.
"There are some really young, super-talented athletes in this city," Blashill continued. "Hopefully, all of them can really enjoy success here moving forward. It's an unmatched sports city, so it's really cool to be a part of."
To win championships in any sport, you need elite stars who can lead the way. Connor Bedard is proving this year that he is capable of being that guy for the Blackhawks to build around. Alongside him on and off the playing surface are some amazing stars in other sports, and that group will only grow as the years go on.
In the win over the Jets, Bedard scored his 20th goal of the season. He’d have more if he never sustained an injury, but he’s still on pace for 38 this season. That would put him right there, in terms of production, with some of the best pro athletes in town.
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The Colorado Avalanche have steamrolled teams at home this season, winning 20 of 24 games while averaging more than 4.5 goals per game.
My Ducks vs. Avalanche predictions see Colorado’s home success carrying forward tonight.
Let’s dive into my NHL picks for Wednesday, January 21.
Ducks vs Avalanche prediction
Ducks vs Avalanche best bet: Avalanche -1.5 (-120)
The Colorado Avalanche are the most dominant team we’ve seen in years, especially in their own building. They routinely overwhelm opponents with speed, skill, and a seemingly never-ending supply of goals.
They are 16-1-1 over their past 18 games in Colorado. Of those 16 wins, 14 came by at least two goals. Nearly 88% of their home victories over the past couple of months have come with room to spare.
Colorado hosted the Anaheim Ducks during that span and bested them 4-1. That came back in November when the Ducks were otherwise humming and looked like one of the league’s best teams.
They have since fallen off, particularly defensively. The Ducks rank 21st in shots allowed, 22nd in penalty killing percentage, and 31st in goals against. Defending has been a challenge, and their goaltenders have struggled as a result.
Anaheim is also dealing with injuries to key players. Troy Terry is banged up, and Leo Carlsson is out for the foreseeable future with a lower-body injury.
That’ll make it even more difficult to keep up with a team that has averaged 4.75 goals over its last 20 at home.
Ducks vs Avalanche same-game parlay
Sam Malinski continues to pile up the shots without Devon Toews in the lineup. He has attempted a whopping 42 shots over the past six games, clearing in five. That includes four straight hits while logging more than 20 minutes in each.
Rookie Beckett Sennecke is taking on a larger role with a couple of Anaheim’s best weapons injured. He has generated 16 shots on goal over the last three, and his average attempt output over the past 10 games (6.5) is miles above his season rate (4.2).
The Colorado Avalanche have covered the Puck Line in 15 of their last 20 games at home (+10.85 Units / 47% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Ducks vs. Avalanche.
How to watch Ducks vs Avalanche
Location
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Date
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Puck drop
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
Victory+, ALT
Ducks vs Avalanche latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
The Vancouver Canucks will look to snap an 11-game losing streak against the Washington Capitals at Rogers Arena on Wednesday, January 21.
Washington has also dropped three straight, so my top Capitals vs. Canucks predictions and NHL picks expect both teams to pay extra attention to keeping the puck out of their net to send this total Under the number tonight.
Capitals vs Canucks prediction
Capitals vs Canucks best bet: Under 6.5 (-135)
The Vancouver Canucks have the lowest team shooting percentage and scored just 1.41 goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 and 1.82 per game during their 11-game skid.
Injuries to Filip Chytil (upper body) and Marco Rossi (lower body) have left Vancouver thin up the middle and easy to defend, with the supporting cast jumping the boards lacking a true scoring punch.
As a result, Vancouver needs to simplify its game and shift more attention to defensive detail, and I’m anticipating the heightened focus on battening down the defensive hatches to help keep this total Under the number tonight.
The Washington Capitals have allowed 13 goals across three consecutive losses, too, so look for the Caps to take a similar defensive approach tonight.
Capitals vs Canucks same-game parlay
The Canucks can hang around in a low-scoring game, and the Caps are reeling along a 6-11-3 stretch with just four wins by two goals or more. Additionally, Vancouver has positive regression ahead of its unsustainably low 5.4 team SH% at 5-on-5 during its own 11-game skid.
Vancouver also loaded up its No. 1 line with Elias Pettersson centering Jake DeBrusk and Brock Boeser, and Pettersson has hit the scoresheet six times during the losing skid. With Washington allowing a healthy 3.55 goals per game and fifth-most expected goals per 60 at 5-on-5 during its 20-game slide, Pettersson is positioned to pick up a point tonight.
The Washington Capitals have only won six of their last 20 games (-12.55 Units / -47% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Capitals vs. Canucks.
How to watch Capitals vs Canucks
Location
Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC
Date
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Puck drop
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
MNMT, Sportsnet Pacific
Capitals vs Canucks latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
The American Hockey League’s Board of Governors and Professional Hockey Players’ Association's full membership have ratified a collective bargaining agreement that ensures labor peace in the top layers of the sport in North America for the foreseeable future.
The AHL and PHPA announced the final step in the process Wednesday. The CBA, like that of the NHL and ECHL, is good through the summer of 2030.
“We have long had a positive relationship with our players and we look forward to continuing to work with the PHPA so that the league and our players can grow and prosper for years to come,” AHL president and CEO Scott Howson said.
The AHL agreement came together with little consternation, unlike the ECHL negotiations that led to a two-day strike out of the league’s holiday break in December. The ECHL and PHPA then worked out a CBA of their own, after 28 games had been postponed.
The AHL, the top developmental league that feeds into the NHL, is in the middle of its 90th season.
“This agreement delivers important gains for our members while providing long-term certainty across the league,” PHPA executive director Brian Ramsay said. “This was a collaborative and disciplined bargaining process that resulted in a strong agreement for our membership.”
Goals will be at a premium at the Scotiabank Saddledome with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Calgary Flames hitting the ice on Wednesday, January 21.
My top Penguins vs. Flames predictions and NHL picks are calling for a low-scoring bout with Calgary eking out the victory tonight.
Penguins vs Flames prediction
Penguins vs Flames best bet: Under 5.5 (+110)
Both the Calgary Flames and Pittsburgh Penguins have been tidy defensively out of the holiday break, respectively ranking first and third in penalty-kill percentage.
Calgary has allowed the seventh-fewest goals per game (2.67), and Pittsburgh has been even better with just 2.17 against per game to rank second in the league.
The Flames have also allowed the second-fewest goals per home game this season (2.35), and No. 1 Dustin Wolf has shown off with a .924 save percentage and 2.16 GAA across his 19 starts in Cowtown. He posted equally impressive .921 and 2.33 home marks last season, too.
Penguins vs Flames same-game parlay
The Flames' strong defensive numbers have paved the way to go 13-7-3 on home ice, and they’ve also driven possession with a 51.8 Corsi For percentage and posted the fourth-highest team save percentage at 5-on-5.
Pittsburgh is missing No. 1 defenseman Erik Karlsson (lower body), too.
Turning to the final leg of this same-game parlay, Calgary forward Yegor Sharangovich has been putting more pucks on net recently and has recorded two or more shots in seven of his past 10 games for 23 total on 46 attempts.
The Calgary Flames have covered the puck line in 16 of their last 20 games at home (+18.35 Units / 57% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Penguins vs. Flames.
How to watch Penguins vs Flames
Location
Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB
Date
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Puck drop
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
SportsNet Pittsburgh, Sportsnet West
Penguins vs Flames latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
The Nashville Predators (23-22-4) couldn’t quite get out of their own way Friday night, falling 5-3 to the Buffalo Sabres (27-17-5) as rookie Konsta Helenius delivered a coming-out performance.
Helenius, Buffalo’s No. 14 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, scored his first NHL goal and added two assists for the first three points of his career, factoring into three of the Sabres’ five goals.
At 19 years old, Helenius became the youngest Finnish player to score his first NHL goal since Kaapo Kakko in 2019.
Nashville had stretches where it carried play and generated looks, but breakdowns in coverage and slow reads off the rush kept tilting the ice back toward Buffalo.
Each time the Predators started to build momentum, the Sabres found a way to answer, with Helenius at the center of it.
"We had the momentum and control of the game, but just the hole we dug was too deep," Center Ryan O'Reilly said. "We're gonna have times where we lose momentum, and things don't go our way, but to do it for a full period that's not us. You can't be doing that. It's too tough."
The rookie Helenius also became the seventh Finnish teenager in NHL history to record a three-point game, joining names like Patrik Laine, Sebastian Aho and Aleksander Barkov.
The Predators pushed late and made the scoreline respectable, but the early damage proved too much to overcome. Nashville will look for a cleaner start and tighter defensive execution as it continues its homestand.
"You learn from it, move on," head coach Andrew Brunette said. "Obviously, we're disappointed. There's no consolation, but you saw the team we can be when we get going."
Up next: Ottawa Senators (23-19-7, 8th Atlantic) at Nashville Predators (23-22-4, 5th Central) on Thursday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. CST at Bridgestone Arena.
The Vancouver Canucks (16-28-5) continue their homestand on Wednesday as they face the Washington Capitals. Vancouver enters this game looking not just to end an 11-game losing streak, but pick up their first win of 2026. As for the Capitals, they have also hit a rough patch of late as they enter Wednesday with a 3-6-1 record in their last 10.
While the Canucks did skate away with a victory the last time these two teams played, it was a costly game for Vancouver. The Canucks sustained multiple injuries, with Teddy Blueger and Filip Chytil yet to return to the lineup since the October 19 matchup. Based on Adam Foote's comments this week, Blueger may be ready to come off IR on Wednesday, which would provide the team a massive boost at center ice.
The big question heading into this game is, will the losing streak finally end? Vancouver has not won a game since December 29, while their last home victory came on December 6. Even though a loss hurts the tank, picking a win in front of the home crowd every once in a while would be appreciated.
Players To Watch:
Filip Hronek:
Filip Hronek has stepped up his game since the Quinn Hughes trade. The 28-year-old played 28:01 on Monday and has already surpassed the 25-assist mark for the third straight season. Hronek has become a leader on the ice for the Canucks and is showing he can be a successful top pair defenceman regardless of who is partner is.
Alex Ovechkin:
Wednesday could be the final time fans get to see Alex Ovechkin play at Rogers Arena. The NHL's all-time leading goal scorer hasn't indicated whether he will play next year or not, but he is an unrestricted free agent after the season. If this is the end of the road for the "Great 8", he has certainly made his presence known in Vancouver, as he has 16 goals and 27 points in 29 career games against the Canucks.
Oct 19, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) chases the puck in front of Vancouver Canucks left wing Evander Kane (91) during the third period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Vancouver Canucks (16–28–5):
Points:
Elias Pettersson: 13–16–29
Filip Hronek: 3–25–28
Jake DeBrusk: 12–10–22
Brock Boeser: 10–12–22
Linus Karlsson: 10-12-22
Goaltenders:
Thatcher Demko: 8–10–1
Kevin Lankinen: 6–14–4
Nikita Tolopilo: 2–3–0
Jiří Patera: 0–1–0
Washington Capitals (24–20–6):
Points:
Tom Wilson: 22-20-42
Alex Ovechkin: 20-22-42
John Carlson: 9-29-38
Dylan Strome: 11-26-37
Jakob Chychrun: 18-18-36
Goaltenders:
Logan Thompson: 17-14-4
Charlie Lindgren: 7-6-2
Game Information:
Start time: 7:00 pm PT
Venue: Rogers Arena
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: Sportsnet 650
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
After losing to the Minnesota Wild for the last nine games, the Montreal Canadiens were finally able to put an end to that losing streak by taming their pet peeve. It wasn’t always easy, even against a team that was playing its third game in four nights, but when all was said and done after 60 minutes, the Habs had scored one more goal than the Wild, even if they scored the last one with just 15 seconds left.
For the first time since November 15, Kirby Dach was playing, and while there was some understandable rust, he didn’t look out of place playing alongside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield on the first line. He spent almost 17 minutes on the ice despite missing over two months of action.
After mustering just 16 shots in regulation in their dramatic overtime win over the Ottawa Senators, the Canadiens did a lot of shooting at Monday’s practice in Brossard, and it showed. Martin St-Louis’ men had heard the message loud and clear, and they were shooting from left, right, and center throughout the first frame, reaching 15 shots, just one short of their Saturday night output.
Furthermore, they only allowed Minnesota to take two shots in the first 20 minutes, in what was perhaps their most dominant period of the season, even if the scoreboard didn’t make that overly obvious.
Montreal did struggle to get pucks on net at the start of the third frame, though, even though they enjoyed a power play. As the coach mentioned, their power play didn’t give them any momentum tonight, but there will be games like that. After 10 minutes, they had no shots, but once the Wild had equalized, they managed to test Jesper Wallstedt nine times, and the last one was the right one.
It Was A Struggle
If the Canadiens played well both offensively and defensively, Jakub Dobes struggled in net. It’s hard to fault him on the first goal, which came on a Vladimir Tarasenko one-timer on the power play, but the other two goals shouldn’t have gone in.
On the second one, Brock Faber took a shot that wasn’t all that strong from the blueline, and it wasn’t deflected, or at least not by anyone other than Dobes himself, who got some of it with his glove, but not enough, and the puck ended in the net.
It was the third goal that was the most unsettling, however, since the netminder lost his balance without being touched by anyone else, which unsteadied him, and less than 15 seconds later, the puck was in the net. Dobes has never been perfect from a technical standpoint, but if he loses his positioning when it’s not provoked, it won’t end well.
Oftentimes, he doesn’t look in control in the net, just like earlier in the third frame when he was scrambling madly to try to get the puck that was bouncing on the ice in the middle of traffic. He ended up looking like a bear skin in front of a fireplace back in the 1980’s, and while he didn’t have control of the puck, he mercifully got a quick whistle.
Since Jacob Fowler was sent back to the Laval Rocket, neither Dobes nor Samuel Montembeault has been very convincing in net.
Clutch Caufield
Once again, Cole Caufield came up clutch for the Canadiens, scoring his league-leading seventh game-winning goal of the season. There’s no denying that the sniper has talent, but he also has great instinct. Speaking after the game, St. Louis explained:
He takes a shot from there that’s not necessarily his spot, but it’s where the game was asking him to go, based on where everybody else was on the ice. We had a lot of motion […], but you have to have balance inside that motion. Danault was at the net, guys changed spots a lot during that sequence, Suzi ended up on the right, and then Cole came and supported that, to keep us in balance. It doesn’t guarantee he’s going to get it, but when you’re playing balanced, the guy who has the puck has options.
- Martin St-Louis on Caufield
That’s what’s special about Caufield: his ability to read the play and make the right decision. That’s the reason why a guy who many called “too small” can score so many goals in the NHL. Tonight’s lamplighter was his 25th of the season, meaning he’s on pace for 41 on the year.
It truly is surprising that Team USA considered that it didn’t need that kind of goal-scoring ability or that capacity to score when it matters the most.
The Canadiens will be back on the ice in Brossard on Wednesday morning to get ready for Thursday night’s duel with the Buffalo Sabres.
Simon Nemec played the hero again as he tallied the overtime game-winner to give the Devils a 2-1 win on Monday. Lenni Hameenaho made his NHL debut, and Luke Hughes left the game with an injury. [Devils NHL]
Truly a cursed season:
Sounds like initial diagnosis was #njdevils Luke Hughes dislocated his shoulder tonight in Calgary.
Will await word from Devils postgame and potential timeline as he continues to be evaluated.
Then on Tuesday, the Devils scored twice and held on for dear life in the third period against Connor McDavid and the Oilers to take a 2-1 win. [Devils NHL]
What life is like on the bench for the Devils: “Obviously, the coach can help a little bit, which he does, just addressing some structural things. But if guys aren’t going, if everyone is kind of lagging behind, you have to drag each other into the fight.” [The Hockey News]
Could the Leafs be a potential fit for a Dougie Hamilton trade? [The Athletic ($)]
“Should the New Jersey Devils be buyers this season? That depends. Rentals are out of the equation unless they go on some insane Buffalo Sabres-like heater over the next few weeks. That seems unlikely, though, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be buyers. Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald should be looking to add pieces that will help the team beyond the 2025-26 season, but there is a certain type of player he should be targeting.” [Devils on the Rush ($)]
John MacLean talks about notable moments in his career, the late Pat Burns and plenty more ahead of his induction into the Devils Ring of Honor on Jan. 27: [NHL.com]
Hockey Links
Where might Artemi Panarin end up in a trade? A look at a few potential destinations: [The Athletic ($)]
Linus Ullmark talks about his absence from the Senators: “The real reason is mental health. And there’s been a lot going on for a long time. I would say dating back to, ever since the trade, and a lot of things have been positive as well throughout the years or these times. But a lot of the things that I had gone through or worried about hasn’t really been dealt with in the right way. And so, things have been piling on – off the ice, on the ice, stuff like that. And it comes a time – and you never know when – where the cup starts to overflow.” [TSN]
Who:Pittsburgh Penguins (23-14-11, 57 points, 3rd place Metropolitan Division) @ Calgary Flames (21-23-5, 47 points, 7th place Pacific Division)
When: 9:30 p.m. eastern
How to Watch: Locally broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh, SN1 and TVAS in Canada, streaming on ESPN+
Pens’ Path Ahead: The road trip continues tomorrow night in Edmonton, then an uncharacteristic two-day break gives the chance for some team bonding until the trip finishes up in Vancouver on Sunday. After that the Pens get a few days to regroup after heading home, not playing again until next Thursday Jan 29th to start their busy run to the upcoming Olympic break.
Opponent Track: Since we last saw the Flames in Pittsburgh on January 10th they went on to finish their eastern road trip with a loss to Columbus and win over Chicago before returning home to split another pair of games with a win over the Islanders last Saturday followed by a loss (in overtime) to the Devils in their last game on Monday. Thus continues an up-and-down stretch where they’ve won six out of the last 12 games (6-5-1).
Season Series: The Flames took a 2-1 decision in a rough and tumble game a couple weeks ago, Logan Cooley made 27 saves to break Pittsburgh’s then six-game winning streak. Egor Chinakhov scored the lone goal for the Pens, Matthew Coronato’s third period goal to break a 1-1 tie helped Calgary secure the win.
Hidden Stat: Rickard Rakell is on a three-game point streak. Pittsburgh is 12-2-2 this season when Rakell records a point (h/t Pens PR).
Getting to know the Flames
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Connor Zary – Nazem Kadri – Matvei Gridin
Jonathan Huberdeau – Morgan Frost – Joel Farabee
Yegor Sharangovich – Mikael Backlund – Matt Coronato
Ryan Lomberg – Justin Kirkland – Adam Klapka
DEFENSEMEN
Kevin Bahl / Zach Whitecloud
Yan Kuznetsov / MacKenzie Weegar
Joel Hanley / Hunter Brzustewicz
Goalies: Dustin Wolf and Devin Cooley
Potential scratches: Dryden Hunt, Brayden Pachal
Injured Reserve: Blake Coleman, John Beecher, Samuel Honzek, Jake Bean
The biggest change to the lines from the last recent PIT/CGY game is the trade departure of key defenseman Rasmus Andersson and the addition of Whitecloud from that transaction. It’s a big loss to the current squad – Anderssen had 10 goals and 30 points this season for the Flames, ranking third on the team in both categories.
The 21-year old Brzustewicz has replaced Anderssen on the top power play. Despite only having one career NHL point in 16 games, he has an offensive profile with a 92 point season in the OHL in 2023-24 and 44 points in the AHL since the start of the 2024-25 season.
Coleman, who was on IR back for the Jan 10th game, has dropped his no contact jersey in practice and may be nearing a return.
Perhaps luckily for Chinakhov, Brayden Pachal has been a scratch lately.
Wolf has been Calgary’s primary goalie, but lately there’s been more of an even split due to Cooley playing really well lately (including, as mentioned, in Calgary’s recent win over the Pens). The two Flames goalies have each played three out of the last six games, Cooley did play their last game. He picked up the loss in OT, but stopped 29/31 shots to get there. Given how well he did against Pittsburgh in the recent past, it’ll be interesting to see if the Flames go back to Cooley for this game or turn the net back over to their usual starter in Wolf, who is only 1-5-0 with a .891 save% and 3.71 GAA in the calendar year of 2026 (compared to Cooley’s 2-0-1 record, .951 save% and 1.33 GAA stat line).
The size and ruggedness of the Flames really stood out in their last game against the Pens. Klapka at 6’8” and 235 pounds is a menace and was getting under the skin of several Penguin players. Klapka’s 172 hits this season ranks 4th in the entire NHL, he’s going to throw the body on the forecheck on every available opportunity. Kevin Bahl at 6’6”, 230 has been a force averaging over 21 minutes per game this season, and has four assists in his last six games. Yan Kuznetsov presents another big body on the blueline, Pachal laid one of the biggest hits of the season last game. Mackenzie Weegar isn’t a huge frame, but a stout one with 117 hits this season. That game had a lot of tempers raised with post-whistle scrums and physicality throughout, surely that fresh memory will be at the top of everyone’s minds for tonight.
Generating offense has been a real struggle for the Flames. Their 2.55 goals/game mark is only 29th in the NHL, their power play at 14.9% is a dreadful 31st. It’s not for a lack of trying (28.9 shots/game ranks 12th) but the lack of skill and overall ability has hindered them in a major way.
Key to the game: Penguins vs. goalie
This one is pretty cut and dry; while the Flames have been impotent offensively and don’t have a lot going for them these days, the one area they are getting great inputs from is the play of their goalies. Early in the season that was Wolf, lately it’s been Cooley as the hot hand.
The Pens ran up a 2.75 expected goal total against Calgary on January 10th, yet Cooley only gave up one actual goal and the Flames won a 2-1 game almost entirely due to the strong play of their goalie. The Flames low overall talent level gives them a very narrow path towards winning games, they’re going to need a goalie to steal it for them more often than not. That presents a clear challenge for Pittsburgh in this game: overcome the Flames’ strongest suit in the goalie factor (whether it ends up being Cooley or Wolf) and the rest ought to be right there for the taking. A performance for the Pens similar to the last game against Seattle (where Pittsburgh scored 5 non-empty net goals on 2.88 expected) would be the ideal in this game, as it would in just about any game. Given Calgary’s unimpressive defensive metrics, that should be on the table, though Pittsburgh (at 9th in expected 5v5 goals and just 21st in 5v5 actual goals) will need to execute on their chances in ways they didn’t in the last meeting.
And now for the Pens
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Rickard Rakell – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust
Egor Chinakhov – Tommy Novak – Evgeni Malkin
Anthony Mantha – Ben Kindel – Justin Brazeau
Connor Dewar – Blake Lizotte – Noel Acciari
DEFENSEMEN
Brett Kulak / Kris Letang?
Parker Wotherspoon / Ryan Shea
Ryan Graves / Connor Clifton
Goalies: Stuart Skinner and Arturs Silovs
Potential Scratches: Jack St. Ivany, Kevin Hayes, Ilya Solovyov
IR: Erik Karlsson, Filip Hallander, Caleb Jones
All eyes will be on Letang after he missed practice yesterday and was deemed day-to-day with an upper body injury by the team. Letang’s potential absence or lack of being 100% is a huge blow for an already depleted blueline that doesn’t have Erik Karlsson.
Karlsson has said he’s feeling better but won’t play tonight, though it’s hard to tell when he’s being serious or not. You would think he’s not playing tonight, but who knows.
The current goalie rotation would mean Silovs plays tonight, though in game strategy with a very tough matchup looming tomorrow against Edmonton, does Dan Muse make a departure from that in hopes to put the goalie in better form out for the first game of the b-2-b where presumably the team has a better chance of a positive result? If not, Must may be bet Skinner can raise his levels against his former team tomorrow, though they already have seen Skinner play against the Oilers and it didn’t go well (5 goals against on 22 shots) which also can be a data point for the current decision.
Found it curious when early yesterday the Pens somewhat quietly sent Joona Koppanen back to the AHL, which didn’t make much sense on a long road trip like this. Turns out that was a precursor move to open up an NHL roster spot for the trade to bring in Ilya Solovyov and then it made perfect sense.
The multi-point master
Sidney Crosby is riding a streak of three-straight games with multiple points. Last game pushed him past Gordie Howe, the next one will tie Mark Messier and Marcel Dionne. Seemingly every game Crosby is approaching and/or passing legendary names in any number of categories – the two points last game vs. Seattle tied Mario Lemieux’s total of 784 road points.
Here are your Pens Points for this Wednesday morning…
What is a traditional fourth line in hockey? Muckers and grinders with no skill? Don’t tell that to the Pittsburgh Penguins, who are getting meaningful contributions from the trio of Connor Dewar, Blake Lizotte, and Noel Acciari while the team continues to bag crucial points. [PensBurgh]
The Penguins made another minor transaction on Tuesday, acquiring defenseman Ilya Solovyov from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for forward Valtteri Puustinen and a seventh-round draft pick in 2026. [Trib Live]
Other housekeeping notes: The Penguins reassigned forward Joona Koppanen to the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Tuesday after he was called up to the NHL on Sunday. He did not dress for the Penguins in Monday’s 6-3 win against the Seattle Kraken. [Trib Live]
As I type this, I still can’t believe it’s been 10 years. The Penguins announced on Tuesday that they would honor the 2016 Stanley Cup-winning team when Mike Sullivan and the New York Rangers visit Pittsburgh on Jan. 31. It is planned to be a blast from the past, with many familiar faces invited to attend. [Trib Live]
The Penguins’ penalty kill ranks fourth in the NHL (83.1%) following Monday’s win over the Kraken. The players on the shorthanded unit believe the strategies implemented by new head coach Dan Muse and his staff are reasons why the PK is among the best in the NHL. [Trib Live]
News and notes from around the NHL…
A blow for Team Sweden: All indications are Jonas Brodin and Leo Carlsson will be unavailable for the upcoming Olympic tournament, head coach Sam Hallam said on Tuesday. [Sportsnet]
Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson has apologized for comments he made regarding his team’s goaltending after a loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday. Sanderson, whether purposefully or not, directed his emotionally charged words toward goalie Leevi Merilainen, who has since been demoted to the AHL’s Belleville Senators. [TSN]
They’re almost finished! The Islanders will finish their season-long seven-game road trip in Seattle tonight, with a chance to make it 4-2-1, which would be a success no matter how they get there.
Seattle has lost three in a row and is just outside the wild card in the West. But they feel like they’re healthy for the first time all season. (Don’t wanna hear it, try losing a top-six winger and top-four D for the whole season.)
Reminder that tonight’s 9:30 start is on TNT/HBO Max. First Islanders Goal picks go here.
Islanders News
Previewing tonight: The rematch of an epic…1-0 shootout win in November on Long Island. [Isles]
The Islanders are hoping to end this road trip with two victories. They’re halfway there. [Newsday]
The secret to Anthony Duclair’s recent surge is he did what any of us would do when slumping: try Casey Cizikas’ stick. [Post]
Max Tsyplakov’s second season has been a tough one, and being essentially benched in the second half of the game in Vancouver doesn’t help. Patrick Roy wants to use him again (and more) though. [Post]
Prospect Report: Kashawn Aitcheson continues to roll. [Isles]
ICYMI: This week’s Islanders Anxiety podcast featured an epic MasterLeafs Theater that I personally joined to narrate, because I am a great appreciator of fine literature. [LHH]
Matthew Schaefer continues to make history in his rookie year. [THN]
Islanders coaching legend John MacLean reflects on (finally) getting into the Devils’ Ring of Honor. [NHL]
Elsewhere
Last night’s NHL scores include wins for the Canadiens, Senators and the Sabres, who now have an identical record with the Islanders.
This goalie fight between Bobrovsky and Nedejlkovic was warranted and beautiful:
We have a trade to announce: Kiefer Sherwood goes to the Sharks for a couple of picks and such. [NHL]
Stan Fischler digs into the archives from 1979 and an interview with the late Glenn Hall on how he became a goalie and developed “the butterfly.” He loved playing on the ponds as a kid: “Forwards didn’t have to worry about staying in their lanes and coaches weren’t around to bother us.” [NHL]
How did the Rangers rebuild fail — despite gobs and gobs of good fortune — so badly? By being the Rangers. Team APPLESAUCE. [Gretz Substack]
Speaking of which, the Tri-State Hockey Podcast with Arthur Staple takes on the Rangers Applesauce letter, the Islanders road trip and probably something about the Devils, too. [YouTube]
Adam Foote receives a vote of confidence from management in Vancouver, and honestly I wouldn’t want to waste an epic tank opportunity either. [NHL]
And coincidentally, he called out the team’s veterans for a bad culture after the loss to the Isles. [Sportsnet]
The New York Islanders' seven-game road trip continues along into its second and final week, with just one game left on Wednesday night in Seattle.
The trip featured a good amount of shaky play, with some stretches showcasing the Islanders at their best and others revealing just where their flaws lie.
Still, they've gone 3-2-1 and boast a pair of impressive wins over the Edmonton Oilers and Minnesota Wild. With just Wednesday night against Lane Lambert's Seattle Kraken remaining, a quick evaluation of the road trip would be a success, especially if they can head home with another two points.
The Islanders have held onto second place in the Metropolitan Division for the duration of their time away. Heading into the trip, the Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Capitals were the closest divisional foes to catching them.
The Flyers have gone 1-5-1 since the trip began. The Capitals didn't fare any better, going 2-4-0. The Pittsburgh Penguins took advantage and have flown into second place with a 3-2-2 record during this time.
The Islanders find themselves five points ahead of the Flyers and Capitals, and two points ahead of the Penguins (who are in third). To call it a safe position would be slightly overstating it, but New York's in a great spot.
All of this preamble brings us to the meat and potatoes of the quandary Islanders' General Manager Mathieu Darche finds himself in.
During the trip, the Islanders also found themselves linked to both Rasmus Andersson and Kiefer Sherwood, with both ultimately getting dealt elsewhere.
Both went for premium prices (Andersson a 1st, 2nd, and roster player, Sherwood two 2nds), showcasing just how expensive the trade market is for buyers right now.
While that could very well change as more teams tumble off the playoff radar, as of now, there are only a handful of clear sellers, and one of them will not make any trades with you (New York Rangers).
All of this puts Darche in a bind. He knows the team needs a lift both defensively and offensively. The organizational hope defensively seems to be giving Isaiah George a look when the team returns home.
Offensively, any help would need to come from outside the organization. Some looked to Steven Stamkos as a clear target, but Nashville's been on fire and now seems unlikely to sell.
Using The Athletic's Trade Board, here's the top forwards available: Artemi Panarin, Nazem Kadri, Vincent Trocheck, Elias Pettersson, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Blake Coleman, Stamkos, and Andrew Mangiapane.
Of those top eight, three of them reside in the Metropolitan Division, making things a no-go. Nazem Kadri has nine goals in 49 games this season, but he's shooting a career-low 6.5% and is one year removed from a 35-goal season.
Kadri, 35, has three more years at $7 million, and if acquired, could become an in-house Jean-Gabriel Pageau replacement if the Islanders don't re-up with Pageau.
But it really doesn't make any sense to give the assets Calgary would want. At 35 years of age, he doesn't fit the opening window of contention. Ditto that for Stamkos, though the argument for Stamkos is his generational shot.
Kotkaniemi and Mangiapane are both salary dumps and would not make the Islanders any better. The Rangers won't trade Panarin and Trocheck to the Islanders, with the Islanders forking over an enormous haul, killing any deal in its crib.
That leave two names. Elias Pettersson and Blake Coleman.
Pettersson would make a lot of sense, but comes with the recent baggage of a serious downturn in play and a giant contract. A deal in-season feels improbable. Coleman would be solely to improve the bottom six, and wouldn't cost all too much.
Coleman, like Stamkos, won two Stanley Cups with Darche in Tampa Bay. It's worth keeping an eye on.
With all that being said, is it the worst thing in the world if the Islanders have a quiet trade deadline?
The only type of deals that make any sense would be for cheap rentals (like Coleman) or a player like Pettersson or Jordan Kyrou, forwards who would make the Islanders better now and in the future.
The 2026 Draft is seen with immense value, and the Islanders hold two first-round picks. They don't have any second-round picks, thanks to the Josh Bailey salary dump three years ago.
The prospect pool continues to strengthen. Bridgeport's in a position to fight for a playoff spot.
For Darche, it has to be about building things right. Dismantling the newly-built prospect pool and draft pick assets does not make sense.
Similarly, Darche is faced with decisions on Anders Lee and Pageau, both of whom will become free agents in July.
There's no world where the Islanders trade their captain in-season, especially while in a playoff position. Pageau, however, would command a haul. The ability to acquire another first-round pick and potentially recoup a second-rounder in this draft would be immensely valuable.
But, again, Pageau's a massive part of this team. Does trading him make any sense when the team's cruising in a playoff spot? Likely not.
It's worth noting that Brock Nelson spent virtually the entire 2024-25 season stapled to the top of The Athletic's Trade Board, usually a darn good indicator of a player set to be dealt.
Pageau hasn't appeared on the list at all this season, while Lee only appeared at the very beginning of the season before getting removed.
All this begins to paint a picture of what could be a very quiet deadline.
Smaller moves, depth pieces, little swings. Those make sense. If Darche can pull off an in-season blockbuster that makes sense for this team's competitive window, he'll do it. Odds aren't in his favor, historically.
As the march toward the Olympic Roster Freeze continues, more trades will happen, and more players will become available. Perhaps more viable candidates appear, and the feeling of a relatively quiet deadline fades.
For now, the quiet path is the best one forward. There's no need to rush anything.
The New York Rangers 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.
The Rangers’ matchup against the Kings marked the homecoming of both Jonathan Quick and Vladislav Gavrikov back to Los Angeles.
For Quick, who played against his former team just one day before his 40th birthday, was not as sentimental about his return to Los Angeles, given that he had played against the Kings a couple of times since his departure during the 2022-23 season, while also playing for multiple teams since then.
“It was three teams ago, right? Special going back to Vegas, Columbus — the more recent teams,” Quick said. “Obviously appreciate the fan support here in LA, while I was here.”
For Gavrikov, on the other hand, it was his first time returning to Crypto.com Arena to play the Kings since signing a seven-year $49 million contract with the Rangers.
He received a tribute video in the first period and spoke fondly about his time in Los Angeles after the game.
“It was great,” Gavrikov said of his emotions watching the tribute video. “I have a lot of friends here, a lot of good memories of all the positivity, lucky to play here, and grateful to have met those people and be part of the organization."
While the Rangers found themselves in a 2-2 game heading into the second period, thanks to goals from Will Cuylle and J.T. Miller, it was defensive zone lapses and struggles to break the puck out of their own zone that ultimately put them in a hole.
In the middle frame, the Kings were able to capitalize on the Rangers’ mistakes and jumped to a 4-2 lead, which the Rangers were unable to comeback from.
Despite some of their defensive woes and high-danger chances that they allowed, the Blueshirts actually held a 36-27 advantage in shots on net by the night’s end.
The Rangers had numerous chances to climb back into this game, including during a 5-on-3 power play in the second period, but the theme of the season continues to be the team’s lack of scoring no matter how many chances they may generate, which was once again the story of Tuesday night’s loss.
“We pride ourselves on getting the looks at the end of the day,” Miller said. “We were a shot or two from winning the last two games, so they are important. Gotta bear down in those situations, but at the end of the day it’s bittersweet. We are doing a lot of good things to get the looks.”
It’s now been three games since Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury submitted a letter to fans revealing the team’s plan to retool the roster.
From Miller’s perspective, the Rangers have done a good job of blocking out the noise and feel they’ve actually elevated their game since the letter was issued.
“There’s been a lot going on around us over the last week. Over the last few games, there’s a lot to like in our game,” Miller said. “It’s not going to be perfect, we are trying our a–s off. A lot of distractions, and I think we are just trying to learn and build and try to improve in some areas on a daily basis.”
The Rangers will be back in action on Friday night against the San Jose Sharks.
The Los Angeles Kings (20-16-13) ended their four-game losing streak with a hard-fought 4-3 victory over the New York Rangers (21-24-6) on Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena. Despite being shorthanded tonight with no Anze Kopitar, Joel Armia, and losing Darcy Kuemper early in regulation, it was a strong team effort and a standout performance from Anton Forsberg.
Kevin Fiala led the offensive charge with a goal and an assist, while Andrei Kuzmenko and Taylor Ward each found the back of the net as the Kings got back in the win column, preparing for their long road trip.
Los Angeles wasted no time grabbing the lead 18 seconds into the match. Adrian Kempe scored the goal after a faceoff win to give the Kings early momentum.
The Rangers answered midway through the first period, but Kevin Fiala restored the Kings' lead.
However, the game would not stop there, as the Rangers tied the game 2-2 before the first intermission.
Kuemper Injury Forces Goalie Change
Late in the first period, Kuemper left the game after a hard collision with Jonny Brodzinski in the crease while stopping a breakaway attempt from the Rangers. Althought the play didn't seem severe at first, Kuemper headed to the lockerroom with just 38 seconds remaining in the first period and was later ruled out with an upper-body injury.
Anton Forsberg took over the net immediately and stabilized the Kings, making key saves to keep the game within reach.
The Kings regained control in the second period thanks to contributions from their depth. Taylor Ward scored his first goal of the season early in the frame to make it 3-2.
Later in the period, Kuzmenko extended the Kings' lead 4-2 by backhanding a rebound off a Fiala shot, marking Kuzmenko's 10th goal of the season and his first since Jan. 5. Los Angeles controlled the second period, forcing the Rangers to chase the game while Forsberg held firm on the crease.
New York pushed hard in the final period, cutting the deficit to one after J.T. Miller scored his second goal of the night. The game got tight in the final seconds of the frame, but Forsberg shut the door, finishing with 28 saves, earning his first star honors.
The Kings' defensive structure tightened down the stretch, blocking shots and limiting shots to hold their one-goal lead.
New York did have a chance to tie the game after winning the faceoff, but the long body of Forsberg disrupted the puck, and the game ended.
What It Means for the Kings
The victory snaps a four-game losing streak after a tough stretch for Los Angeles, which recently lost six of its last seven games, but a win like this against a bad team is one they needed.
It's a much-needed win that should prepare Los Angeles for a very tough six-game road trip starting Saturday against the St. Louis Blues. With Kuemper's status remaining uncertain, Los Angeles is in good hands with Forsberg's performance helping lead the Kings under the crease until word is given on Kuemper's return.
The Kings’ next matchup will be against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday at 5:00 P.M. PT.
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