* While Adrian Kempe matched a pair of Kings franchise records, the trio of Brian Dumoulin, Artemi Panarin and Scott Laughton continued their notable first impressions during their first season with Los Angeles as the club moved within striking distance of a Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.
* The Capitals scored seven goals in a win and were led by rookie Justin Sourdif (1-2—3), while Mika Zibanejad (2-1—3) factored on half of New York’s goals and climbed multiple franchise lists.
* An NHL on TNT doubleheader highlights a busy 13-game Tuesday when Brayden Schenn makes his return to St. Louis just days after being traded to the Islanders, then Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon go head-to-head in a battle between the League’s top two scorers this season.
FIRST-YEAR FACES CONTINUE TO LEAVE THEIR MARK FOR LOS ANGELES
Brian Dumoulin (1-2—3), Artemi Panarin (1-1—2) and Scott Laughton (1-1—2) are in the midst of their first season with the Kings – with the former Rangers and Maple Leafs forwards joining the franchise following the Olympic break – and continued to make an impact for Los Angeles as the club withstood Columbus’ third-period rally before Adrian Kempe matched the franchise record for career overtime goals (11) and overtime goals in a single season (4). The Kings (26-23-14, 66 points) moved within one point of the idle Kraken (29-24-9, 67 points) for the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference; Seattle owns a game in hand.
Did You Know? The difference between Wild Card 2 and the first team outside the Western Conference bracket has been four points or less for the entirety of 2025-26.
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* The Kings and Blue Jackets traded 2-0 and 3-2 leads before Dumoulin (1-2—3) scored a go-ahead goal in the third period to register his second career three-point game (1-2—3 on Jan. 21, 2022) – also in Columbus. He became the second defenseman in the past 15 years to record each of his first two career three-point games against the same franchise, following Rostislav Klesla (2 GP vs. NSH).
* Panarin has been a regular on the Kings’ score sheet since debuting with the club on Feb. 25 and boosted his totals with the franchise to 2-6—8 (7 GP). He is one of six Los Angeles skaters with eight or more points through their first seven games with the franchise and first since Ryan Smyth (9 in 2009-10).
* Laughton, with 1-0—1 against the Canadiens on Saturday, became the fifth player since 1999-00 to score in each of his first two games with the Kings alongside Andreas Athanasiou (3 GP in 2020-21), Carl Grundstrom (2 GP in 2018-19), Brian Boyle (2 GP in 2007-08) and Derek Armstrong (2 GP in 2002-03).
HIGH-SCORING OFFENSES POWER CAPITALS, RANGERS TO VICTORY
The Capitals scored seven goals, led by rookie Justin Sourdif (1-2—3), while Mika Zibanejad (2-1—3) factored on half of the Rangers’ six goals as both clubs found the win column. With its victory, Washington (32-26-7, 71 points) moved within five points of idle Boston (35-22-6, 76 points) for the second Wild Card in the Eastern Conference.
* Sourdif, who earlier this season tied Washington’s rookie record for points in a game (3-2—5 on Jan. 5), became the fifth Capitals rookie in the past 40 years with multiple three-point games in a campaign. He joined Alex Ovechkin (8 in 2005-06), Nicklas Backstrom (7 in 2007-08), Pat Peake (2 in 1993-94) and Michal Pivonka (2 in 1986-87). Fellow rookie Ryan Leonard also scored Monday and combined with Sourdif to produce the first season since 1990-91 (Peter Bondra & Dmitri Khristich) to feature multiple Capitals rookies each having at least a dozen.
* Zibanejad climbed several all-time Rangers lists with his three-point performance: passed James Patrick (237)for the third-most power-play points in New York history, passed Ron Greschner (300) for the seventh-most road points in franchise history and tied Chris Kreider (41) for the seventh-most multi-goal games in Rangers history. The victory also marked Igor Shesterkin’s fifth career 20-win season, which tied John Vanbiesbrouck for the fifth most in franchise history, behind Henrik Lundqvist (13), Mike Richter (10), Eddie Giacomin (8) and Gump Worsley (7).
SENATORS BLANK CANUCKS TO CLIMB EASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS
James Reimer turned aside all 16 shots he faced as the Senators (32-22-9, 73 points) won their third straight game, improved to 9-1-2 in their past 12 contests and moved within three points of the idle Bruins (35-22-6, 76 points) for the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Ottawa is the seventh franchise the 37-year-old has posted a shutout with, alongside the Maple Leafs, Sharks, Panthers, Hurricanes, Red Wings and Sabres.
GUENTHER’S 30TH GOAL HELPS MAMMOTH EARN POINT IN #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
Dylan Guenther’s 30th goal of the season was one of two Mammoth tallies at United Center as Utah (34-25-5, 73 points) salvaged a point against Chicago and opened up a six-point cushion on idle Seattle (29-24-9, 67 points) for the first Wild Card position in the Western Conference. Guenther, who hopes to bring the Stanley Cup Playoffs to the NHL’s newest franchise for the first time, became the Mammoth’s second 30-goal scorer in as many seasons to start their NHL tenure (Clayton Keller: 30 in 2024-25). Click here for more storylines from the Monday edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates.
QUICK CLICKS
* Mark Scheifele, Martin Necas and Tage Thompson named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week
* NHL EDGE stats behind Sabres-Lightning 8-7 thriller
* Brandon Hagel fined maximum for serving as aggressor in Lightning game
* Auston Matthews swaps Olympic jerseys with basketball star Jason Kidd
* Women in Hockey feature on Rachel Schuldt, executive director of the Minnesota Wild Foundation
McDAVID, MacKINNON GO HEAD-TO-HEAD DURING 13-GAME SLATE
A showdown between the NHL’s top two scorers highlights a 13-game slate when Connor McDavid (35-73—108 in 64 GP) and the Oilers visit Nathan MacKinnon (43-61—104 in 61 GP) and the Avalanche on national broadcasts in the U.S. (TNT, HBO MAX, truTV) and Canada (Sportsnet, TVA Sports). The schedule also includes Islanders deadline addition Brayden Schenn making his return to St. Louis (TNT, HBO MAX, truTV) as well as the Atlantic Division-leading Sabres looking to extend their winning streak to eight games.
* It could be a milestone week for McDavid (396-794—1,190 in 776 GP), who is within striking distance of three different benchmarks. The Oilers captain can become the third-fastest player in NHL history to record 1,200 points (Wayne Gretzky:504 GP & Mario Lemieux:593 GP), the third fastest to reach 800 assists (Gretzky: 527 GP & Lemieux: 661 GP) and the fifth-fastest active skater to 400 goals (fastest: Auston Matthews in 628 GP).
* MacKinnon has posted four points in each of his past two contests against the Oilers, including 2-2—4 in their previous meeting this season (Nov. 8, 2025). MacKinnon can become the second player in NHL history to record three straight four-point performances versus Edmonton, following franchise legend Joe Sakic (3 GP from Feb. 19 – Oct. 15, 1996).
* In the first game of a doubleheader on TNT, Schenn will make his return to St. Louis just four days after being acquired by the Islanders from the Blues. The former Blues captain has 90-149—239 in 329 career games at Enterprise Center – the seventh-highest point total by any skater at the venue, and the third highest among active players behind Vladimir Tarasenko (140-144—284 in 322 GP) and David Perron (98-143—241 in 347 GP).
* The Sabres, who overtook the Lightning for top spot in the Atlantic following their 15-goal thriller Sunday, occupy first place in their division at this stage of a season or later for the first time since the conclusion of the 2009-10 campaign. Buffalo owns the NHL’s longest active winning streak at seven games and can record multiple eight-game runs in the same season for the first time in franchise history (also 10 GP from Dec. 9-31, 2025).
