The Montreal Canadiens (30-17-7) face the Buffalo Sabres (31-17-5) in an Atlantic Division rivalry at KeyBank Center. Both teams are tied at 67 points, with Buffalo holding the edge via fewer games played, sitting third in the division while Montreal is fourth. This marks their third meeting of the 2025-26 season, with each winning once: Montreal 4-2 on Oct. 20 and Buffalo 4-2 on Jan. 22. The Canadiens enter off a high-scoring win, showcasing offensive depth, while the Sabres ride a three-game streak with strong goaltending despite injuries. Expect a competitive, potentially high-event game between two playoff contenders.

Venue: KeyBank Center, Buffalo, New York

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. PT)

TV/Streaming: NHL Network, MSG-B, SNE, TVAS, CITY, SN+, ESPN+

Recent Team Forms

Canadiens (6-3-1 in last 10): Montreal averages 3.4 goals scored and 3.3 allowed recently. They’ve won four of five, highlighted by a 7-3 thrashing of Colorado (Jan. 29) with multi-point efforts from Suzuki and Dach. Losses include 4-3 to Boston (Jan. 24) and 4-2 to Buffalo (Jan. 22), showing road vulnerabilities

Last 5 Games:

Date	Opponent	Result
Jan 29	vs COL	W 7-3
Jan 27	vs VGK	W 3-2 (OT)
Jan 24	@ BOS	L 3-4
Jan 22	vs BUF	L 2-4
Jan 19	@ NYI	W 4-1

Sabres (7-3-0 in last 10): Buffalo averages 3.4 goals scored and 3.0 allowed, winning seven straight before a brief dip. They’ve gone 4-1 at home recently, including a 4-1 shutout of Los Angeles (Jan. 29) and 7-4 over Toronto (Jan. 27). A 10-game win streak earlier in January boosted them

Last 5 Games:

Date	Opponent	Result
Jan 29	vs LAK	W 4-1
Jan 27	@ TOR	W 7-4
Jan 24	vs NSH	W 5-3
Jan 22	@ MTL	W 4-2
Jan 19	vs FLA	W 3-2

Injury Report

Canadiens:

Patrik Laine (RW, abdomen): IR, expected out until Feb. 28

Alex Newhook (C, ankle): IR, expected out until Mar. 17

Kaiden Guhle (D, head/upper body): Day-to-day after scare vs. Colorado but returned

Phillip Danault (C, undisclosed): Day-to-day after bench visit but played

Sabres:

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (G, lower body): Out until at least Feb. 5

Jordan Greenway (LW, lower body): Day-to-day

Josh Norris (C, ribs): IR, expected back Feb. 2

Justin Danforth (RW, lower body): IR, expected back Feb. 25

Jacob Bryson (D, upper body): IR, expected back Jan. 31

Jiri Kulich (C, blood clot): Out indefinitely, skating lightly

Projected starters: Jakub Dobes (MTL, 7-0-1 in last 8) vs. Alex Lyon (BUF, .903 SV%)

Key Player Matchups

Nick Suzuki (Canadiens C) vs. Rasmus Dahlin (Sabres D): Suzuki leads Montreal with 18 goals and 44 assists (62 points), on a seven-game point streak (4G, 8A). He’ll challenge Dahlin (9G, 38A), Buffalo’s top defenseman averaging 24+ minutes and key on the power play

Cole Caufield (Canadiens RW) vs. Tage Thompson (Sabres C): Caufield tops Montreal scorers with 30 goals, ending a six-game streak but potent (24A total). Thompson leads Buffalo with 28 goals and 27 assists (55 points), riding a hot streak

Juraj Slafkovsky (Canadiens LW) vs. Alex Tuch (Sabres RW): Slafkovsky (recent goal) provides physicality and setup (assists-heavy); Tuch (8G in last 10) counters with speed and scoring (5G in last 3)

Goaltending Duel: Jakub Dobes (Canadiens) vs. Alex Lyon (Sabres): Dobes (7-0-1 streak, .914 SV%) anchors Montreal’s surge; Lyon (.903 SV%) steps up sans Luukkonen, with recent shutouts

Projected Lineups

Canadiens: Slafkovsky-Suzuki-Caufield; Dach-Evans-Gallagher; Armia-Newhook (if available)-Anderson; Pezzetta-Dvorak-Roy. Defense: Matheson-Guhle; Hutson-Xhekaj; Barron-Struble. Goalie: Dobes.

Sabres: Greenway (if available)-Thompson-Tuch; Benson-Cozen-Quinn; Kulich (if available)-McLeod-Peterka; Olofsson-Krebs-Lafferty. Defense: Dahlin-Power; Samuelsson-Clifton; Byram-Jokiharju. Goalie: Lyon.

Series History

Montreal holds the all-time edge: 147-138-31-5 in regular season (overall 155-147-31-5 including playoffs). In playoffs, they’ve met seven times (Montreal leads 4-3 series). Recently, Buffalo is 9-8-3 in the last 20, including wins in the last two (4-2 on Jan. 22, 5-3 on Jan. 15). At KeyBank Center, Sabres are 5-4-1 in the last 10 vs. Montreal

Betting Trends

Over/Under: Over has hit in 21 of Montreal’s last 30 when opponent allowed 2 or fewer last game; Under in 5 of Buffalo’s last 7 home underdog games. Canadiens 5-2 SU in last 7 vs. Buffalo; Sabres 3-2 ATS in last 5. Montreal 13-5 SU in last 18 as road favorites (-151 to -200); Buffalo 4-1 in last 5 home games

Game Odds

Montreal Canadiens       6.5

Buffalo Sabres                   – 130

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, January 30, 2026

The Carolina Hurricanes (33-15-5) take on the Washington Capitals (26-22-7) in a Metropolitan Division showdown. The Hurricanes, leading the division, are riding a hot streak with elite scoring depth and goaltending, while the Capitals, fourth in the division, aim to leverage home ice amid a inconsistent run plagued by injuries. This marks their third meeting of the 2025-26 season, with each team winning one prior (Hurricanes 3-2 SO on Dec. 11; Capitals 4-1 on Nov. 11). Expect a physical, defensive battle, but Carolina’s momentum could tilt the scales.

Venue: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.

Puck drop is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. ET (2:00 p.m. PT)

TV/Streaming: ESPN+, FDSNSO, MNMT

Recent Team Forms

The Hurricanes are surging with depth scoring; the Capitals have cooled off on their road trip.

Hurricanes (7-1-2 in last 10): Carolina averages 3.9 goals scored and 2.7 allowed, riding a four-game point streak. They’ve won five of six at home but are 4-3-1 in recent road games. Highlights include a 5-4 comeback vs. Utah (Jan. 29) with three goals in the final two minutes and a 4-1 over Ottawa (Jan. 24).

Last 5 Games:

Date	Opponent	Result
Jan 29	vs UTA	W 5-4
Jan 24	@ OTT	W 4-1
Jan 22	vs CHI	L 3-4 (SO)
Jan 19	vs BUF	W 2-1
Jan 17	vs NJD	W 6-3

Capitals (3-6-1 in last 10): Washington averages 2.8 goals scored and 3.9 allowed, dropping three straight before a 4-3 SO win over Detroit (Jan. 29). They’ve gone 1-3-1 on a six-game road trip, with losses like 5-1 to Seattle (Jan. 27) exposing defensive issues.

Last 5 Games:

Date	Opponent	Result
Jan 29	@ DET	W 4-3 (SO)
Jan 27	@ SEA	L 1-5
Jan 24	@ EDM	L 5-6 (OT)
Jan 23	@ CGY	W 3-1
Jan 21	@ VAN	L 3-4

Injury Report

Hurricanes:

Eric Robinson (LW, upper body): Out until at least Feb. 26

Pyotr Kochetkov (G, undisclosed/lower body): Out for season

Charles-Alexis Legault (D, hand): Out indefinitely

William Carrier (LW, undisclosed): Out

Capitals:

Pierre-Luc Dubois (LW, abdomen): Out indefinitely

Matt Roy (D, lower body): Day-to-day

Logan Thompson (G, upper body): Day-to-day

Charlie Lindgren (G, lower body): Day-to-day

Projected starters: Frederik Andersen (CAR, .912 SV%) vs. Logan Thompson (WSH, .912 SV%) if healthy; otherwise, a backup like Clay Stevenson.

Key Player Matchups

Sebastian Aho (Hurricanes C) vs. Dylan Strome (Capitals C): Aho leads Carolina with 25 goals and 60 points; his playmaking tests Strome (18G, 40P), Washington’s top center in faceoffs (52%).

Andrei Svechnikov (Hurricanes LW) vs. John Carlson (Capitals D): Svechnikov (20G, 35A, recent multi-goal game) brings power; Carlson (8G, 30A) must shut him down while anchoring the PP.

Alex Ovechkin (Capitals LW) vs. Shayne Gostisbehere (Hurricanes D): Ovechkin (25G, chasing records) is Washington’s sniper; Gostisbehere (recent 2G game) handles top-pair duties.

Goaltending Duel: Frederik Andersen (Hurricanes) vs. Logan Thompson (Capitals): Andersen (2.45 GAA) is steady; Thompson (2.63 GAA) exploits Carolina’s occasional lapses but may be sidelined.

Projected Lineups

Hurricanes: Svechnikov-Aho-Jarvis; Hall-Stankoven-Blake; Ehlers-Staal-Martinook; Carrier-Jankowski-Kotkaniemi. Defense: Gostisbehere-Slavin; Orlov-Chatfield; Nikishin-Burns. Goalie: Andersen.

Capitals: McMichael-Strome-Leonard; Protas-Sourdif-Wilson; Ovechkin-Dowd-Frank; Duhaime-Lapierre-Beauvillier. Defense: Fehervary-Carlson; Chychrun-van Riemsdyk; Sandin-McIlrath. Goalie: Thompson (or Lindgren).

Series History

Washington holds the all-time edge: 112-76-14-5 overall. In regular season, it’s 108-62-25 for Capitals. Recently, Carolina has flipped the script, going 4-1 in the last five meetings, including a 3-2 SO win on Dec. 11. At Capital One Arena, Hurricanes are 3-2 in the last five visits.

Betting Trends

Over/Under: Over has hit in 27 of Carolina’s 53 games; Under in 4 of Washington’s last 5 home games. Hurricanes 7-3 ATS in last 10; Capitals 2-8 SU in last 10. Carolina 23-8 as favorites under -170; Washington 3-7 ATS vs. Metro teams

Game Odds

Carolina Hurricanes                        – 166

Washington Capitals                      6.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, January 30, 2026

The San Jose Sharks (27-21-4) face the Calgary Flames (21-26-6) in a Pacific Division clash at Scotiabank Saddledome. The Sharks, fifth in the Pacific, are in playoff contention with a potent offense led by rookies but have shown defensive vulnerabilities. The Flames, seventh in the division, are reeling from a five-game losing streak and multiple injuries, struggling to generate consistent scoring. This is their third meeting of the 2025-26 season, with each team winning once: Sharks 6-3 on Dec. 16 and Flames 2-0 on Nov. 13. Expect a gritty, potentially low-scoring game as Calgary fights to snap its skid at home.

Venue: Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, Alberta

Puck drop is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. ET (2:00 p.m. MT, 1:00 p.m. PT)

TV/Streaming: ESPN+, SN, NBCSCA

Recent Team Forms

The Sharks have been inconsistent on the road, while the Flames are in a tailspin.

Sharks (5-4-1 in last 10): San Jose averages 3.2 goals scored and 3.3 allowed recently. They’ve alternated results, with a crushing 4-3 OT loss to Edmonton (Jan. 29) after blowing a 3-0 lead. Wins include 5-2 over Vancouver (Jan. 27) and 3-1 over the Rangers (Jan. 23)

Last 5 Games:

Date	Opponent	Result
Jan 29	@ EDM	L 3-4 (OT)
Jan 27	@ VAN	W 5-2
Jan 23	vs NYR	W 3-1
Jan 20	@ TBL	L 1-4
Jan 19	@ FLA	W 4-1

Flames (3-5-2 in last 10): Calgary averages 2.0 goals scored and 3.1 allowed, with poor special teams (15% PP recently). They’ve gone 0-3-2 in their last five, including a 4-1 loss to Minnesota (Jan. 29) and 4-3 to Anaheim (Jan. 25)

Last 5 Games:

Date	Opponent	Result
Jan 29	@ MIN	L 1-4
Jan 25	vs ANA	L 3-4
Jan 23	vs WSH	L 1-3
Jan 22	@ SEA	L 1-2 (OT)
Jan 20	vs ARI	L 3-4 (SO)

Injury Report

Sharks:

Ty Dellandrea (C, lower body): IR, out indefinitely

Philipp Kurashev (C, upper body): IR, expected back Feb. 4

Shakir Mukhamadullin (D, undisclosed): IR, day-to-day

Kiefer Sherwood (LW, upper body): IR, day-to-day

Flames:

Blake Coleman (LW, upper body): IR, out through Olympic break (Feb. 26)

Samuel Honzek (LW, upper body): Out indefinitely

Jake Bean (D, undisclosed/surgery): Out indefinitely

Zayne Parekh (D, upper body): Out until at least Feb. 2

John Beecher (C, upper body): Out

Projected starters: Alex Nedeljkovic (Sharks, .902 SV%) vs. Dustin Wolf (Flames, .895 SV%)

Key Player Matchups

Macklin Celebrini (Sharks C) vs. Nazem Kadri (Flames C): Celebrini leads the NHL with 27 goals and 79 points, on a hot streak with 4G, 11A in last 10. He’ll face Kadri (9G, 26A, strong faceoffs at 49.3%) in shutdown matchups

Will Smith (Sharks C) vs. Mikael Backlund (Flames C): Smith (15G, 22A) brings speed; Backlund (12G, 20A, +12) excels defensively with shorthanded goals

Tyler Toffoli (Sharks RW) vs. Rasmus Andersson (Flames D): Toffoli (15G, 20A) is a sniper; Andersson (10G, 20A from defense) must limit him while contributing offensively

Goaltending Duel: Alex Nedeljkovic (Sharks) vs. Dustin Wolf (Flames): Nedeljkovic (solid in recent starts) faces Calgary’s low-shot volume; Wolf needs to rebound from allowing 4+ in losses

Projected Lineups

Sharks: Graf-Celebrini-Smith; Regenda-Wennberg-Toffoli; Eklund-Misa-Gaudette; Goodrow-Ostapchuk-Reaves. Defense: Orlov-Klingberg; Ferraro-Liljegren; Sam Dickinson-Desharnais. Goalie: Nedeljkovic.

Flames: Kadri-Backlund-Coronato; Frost-Huberdeau-Klapka; Kuzmenko-Pospisil-Zary; Pelletier-Stenlund-Lomberg. Defense: Andersson-Weegar; Hanley-Brzustewicz; Kuznetsov-Miromanov. Goalie: Wolf.

Series History

Calgary holds the all-time edge: 89-80 overall, including 76-57-8-4 in regular season. However, the Flames are 8-2 in the last 10 meetings, outscoring San Jose 33-23. At Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary is 5-4-1 in the last 10, with recent games averaging 5.8 goals.

Betting Trends

Over/Under: Over has hit in 5 of Sharks’ last 10; Under in 6 of Flames’ last 10. Sharks 1-4 SU in last 5 road games; Flames 0-5 SU in last 5 overall. San Jose 4-1 ATS in last 5 vs. Pacific; Calgary 2-3 ATS in last 5 home games

Game Odds

San Jose Sharks                6.5

Calgary Flames                 – 112

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, January 30, 2026

The Winnipeg Jets (21-25-7) visit the Florida Panthers (28-22-3) in an interconference matchup. The Jets, seventh in the Central Division, are fighting to stay out of the basement amid defensive injuries and inconsistency. The Panthers, sixth in the Atlantic, are pushing for a wild-card spot despite significant absences but boast a strong home record (14-11-3). This is their second meeting of the 2025-26 season, with Florida winning the first 2-1 in a shootout on Jan. 22 in Winnipeg. Expect a low-scoring affair given both teams’ recent defensive focus and goaltending battles.

Venue: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, Florida

Puck drop is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. ET (1:00 p.m. PT)

TV/Streaming: ESPN+

Recent Team Forms

Both teams enter off losses, with the Panthers showing more consistency at home.

Jets (5-3-2 in last 10): Winnipeg averages 3.1 goals scored and 3.2 allowed recently. They’ve alternated wins and losses, with a four-game win streak earlier in January snapped by recent defeats. Standouts include a 6-2 win over Minnesota (Jan. 15) and 4-3 over New Jersey (Jan. 11), but blowouts like 5-1 to Detroit (Jan. 27) highlight issues

Last 5 Games:

Date	Opponent	Result
Jan 29	vs TBL	L 1-4
Jan 27	vs DET	L 1-5
Jan 22	vs FLA	L 1-2 (SO)
Jan 15	@ MIN	W 6-2
Jan 11	vs NJD	W 4-3

Panthers (6-4-0 in last 10): Florida averages 3.4 goals scored and 3.3 allowed, with strong special teams (25% PP). They’ve won four of six at home but lost two straight, including 5-4 to St. Louis (Jan. 29) despite Matthew Tkachuk’s two goals. Wins include 4-3 over Minnesota (Jan. 24) and 5-3 over Chicago (Jan. 25)

Last 5 Games:

Date	Opponent	Result
Jan 29	vs STL	L 4-5
Jan 27	@ UTA	L 3-4
Jan 25	vs CHI	W 5-3
Jan 24	@ MIN	W 4-3
Jan 22	@ WPG	W 2-1 (SO)

Injury Report

Injuries cripple both blue lines and Florida’s forward depth.

Jets:

Neal Pionk (D, lower body): On IR, expected out until at least Feb. 2

Colin Miller (D, knee): On IR, out until at least Feb. 25 after surgery

Haydn Fleury (D, upper body): On IR, week-to-week

Panthers:

Aleksander Barkov (C, knee): On IR, out for the season

Dmitry Kulikov (D, upper body): On IR, out at least five months post-surgery

Jonah Gadjovich (LW, upper body): On IR, out until at least Feb. 26

Tomas Nosek (LW): On IR, games missed 52

Seth Jones (D, upper body): On LTIR, out until at least Feb. 2

Anton Lundell (C): Day-to-day

Projected starters: Connor Hellebuyck (Jets, .905 SV%) vs. Sergei Bobrovsky (Panthers, .892 SV%)

Key Player Matchups

This game features offensive stars testing depleted defenses, with goaltending likely deciding the outcome.

Mark Scheifele (Jets C) vs. Sam Bennett (Panthers C): Scheifele (recent 4-point game vs. MIN) leads Winnipeg with 18 goals and 40 points; he’ll face Bennett’s physical shutdown style (15G, 28P) in key faceoffs

Matthew Tkachuk (Panthers LW) vs. Josh Morrissey (Jets D): Tkachuk (2 goals vs. STL) tops Florida with 22 goals and 45 points; Morrissey must contain his physicality amid Jets’ thin blue line

Gabriel Vilardi (Jets RW) vs. Gustav Forsling (Panthers D): Vilardi (15G, 30P) is Winnipeg’s sniper; Forsling (solid +15 rating) anchors Florida’s top pair

Goaltending Duel: Connor Hellebuyck (Jets) vs. Sergei Bobrovsky (Panthers): Hellebuyck (2.85 GAA) faces Florida’s shot suppression; Bobrovsky (recent 17-save win) exploits Jets’ low shot volume

Projected Lineups (per NHL.com

Jets: Connor-Scheifele-Vilardi; Appleton-Namestnikov-Ehlers; Niederreiter-Lowry-Perfetti; Barron-Kupari-Iafallo. Defense: Morrissey-DeMelo; Samberg-Schmidt; Stanley-Heinola. Goalie: Hellebuyck.

Panthers: Rodrigues-Bennett-Tkachuk; Verhaeghe-Lundell (if available)-Reinhart; Luostarinen-Stenlund-Samoskevich; Cousins-Lorentz-Mamin. Defense: Forsling-Ekblad; Mikkola-Montour; Balinskis-Schmidt. Goalie: Bobrovsky.

Series History

The Jets hold the all-time edge: 55-36-5-5 overall. In regular season, it’s closer at 41-41-19 for Florida. Recently, the Panthers have won three of the last five, including the 2-1 shootout on Jan. 22. At Amerant Bank Arena, Winnipeg is 3-2 in the last five visits, but Florida has outscored them 15-12.

Betting Trends

Over/Under: Over has hit in 31 of Florida’s 53 games; Under in 34 of Jets’ last 52 as favorites. Jets 5-3-2 ATS in last 10; Panthers 1-4 in last 5 games. Florida 12-7-1-1 at home; Winnipeg 7-10-0-1 on road

Game Odds

Winnipeg Jets                   5.5

Florida Panthers               – 142

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, January 30, 2026

The New York Rangers (22-27-6) travel to face the Pittsburgh Penguins (27-14-11) in a Metropolitan Division rivalry game. The Rangers are struggling at the bottom of the division (8th place), mired in a rebuild phase with defensive woes and key injuries. The Penguins, second in the division, are on a hot streak and pushing for playoff positioning. This is their third meeting of the 2025-26 season, with each team winning one prior game (Penguins 3-0 on Oct. 7; Rangers 6-1 on Oct. 11). Expect a motivated Penguins squad at home, but the Rangers’ desperation could lead to a scrappy, high-intensity affair.

Venue: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Puck drop is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET (12:30 p.m. PT)

TV/Streaming: ABC, SNO, SNE, SN1, TVAS, ESPN+

Recent Team Forms

The Penguins are surging, while the Rangers are in freefall amid injuries and inconsistency.

Rangers (3-7-0 in last 10): New York has lost four straight, averaging 2.1 goals scored and 4.0 allowed. They’ve been outshot in most games, with poor special teams (18% PP, 75% PK recently). Key wins include a 4-3 OT over Ottawa (Jan. 26) and 6-3 over Seattle (Jan. 17), but blowouts like 10-2 to Boston (Jan. 10) highlight issues

Last 5 Games:

Date	Opponent	Result
Jan 29	vs NYI	L 1-2
Jan 28	@ NYI	L 2-5
Jan 26	vs OTT	W 4-3 (OT)
Jan 23	@ ANA	L 1-3
Jan 19	@ SJS	L 3-5

Penguins (7-2-1 in last 10): Pittsburgh rides a five-game win streak, averaging 4.2 goals scored and 2.3 allowed. Strong goaltending and balanced scoring have fueled wins like 6-2 over Chicago (Jan. 29) and 4-1 over Detroit (Jan. 3). Losses were close, like 2-1 to New Jersey (Jan. 10)

Last 5 Games:

Date	Opponent	Result
Jan 29	vs CHI	W 6-2
Jan 25	@ SEA	W 3-2
Jan 22	@ VAN	W 6-3
Jan 21	@ CGY	W 4-1
Jan 19	vs EDM	W 4-3 (OT)

Injury Report

Injuries decimate the Rangers’ core, while the Penguins manage depth issues but could miss stars.

Rangers:

Artemi Panarin (LW, roster management/undisclosed): Day-to-day, missed Jan. 29 game

Igor Shesterkin (G, lower body): On IR, out indefinitely

Adam Fox (D, lower body): On LTIR, eligible to return Jan. 31 but status uncertain

Conor Sheary (LW, lower body): On IR, out until at least Feb. 28

Adam Edstrom (C, lower body): On LTIR.

Penguins:

Evgeni Malkin (C, upper body/shoulder): Day-to-day, missed Jan. 30 practice

Kris Letang (D, upper body): Day-to-day, missed Jan. 30 practice

Ryan Graves (D, lower body): On IR, out until at least Jan. 31

Jack St. Ivany (D, hand): On IR, out until at least Mar. 26.

Filip Hallander (C, leg/blood clot): On IR, out indefinitely.

Tanner Howe (LW, ACL): On IR-NR, out until Feb. 26.

Projected starters: Jonathan Quick (Rangers, .885 SV%) vs. Stuart Skinner (Penguins, .905 SV%) if Jarry rests

Key Player Matchups

This game pits Pittsburgh’s veteran stars against New York’s young depth, with goaltending crucial.

Sidney Crosby (Penguins C) vs. Mika Zibanejad (Rangers C): Crosby (25G, 45A) anchors Pittsburgh’s top line, facing Zibanejad (18G, 35A), who’s been steady but needs support without Panarin

Evgeni Malkin (Penguins C, if available) vs. Vincent Trocheck (Rangers C): Malkin (8G, 21A in limited games) brings playmaking; Trocheck (15G, 30A) is New York’s shutdown center, key in faceoffs (55% FO%)

Alexis Lafreniere (Rangers LW) vs. Kris Letang (Penguins D, if available): Lafreniere (20G, 38P) leads Rangers scoring with Panarin out; Letang (5G, 25A) must contain him while quarterbacking the PP

Goaltending Duel: Jonathan Quick (Rangers) vs. Stuart Skinner (Penguins): Quick (2.95 GAA) faces a hot Penguins offense; Skinner (2.65 GAA) exploits New York’s leaky defense (4+ goals allowed in recent losses)

Projected Lineups (per NHL.com

Rangers: Miller-Zibanejad-Perreault; Cuylle-Trocheck-Lafreniere; Othmann-Laba-Raddysh; Berard-Carrick-Rempe. Defense: Gavrikov-Schneider; Robertson-Borgen; Vaakanainen-Morrow. Goalie: Quick.

Penguins: Rakell-Crosby-Brazeau; Chinakhov-Novak-Hayes; Bunting-Malkin (if available)-Rust; Puljujarvi-Acciari-Nieto. Defense: Pettersson-Karlsson (if available); Joseph-Letang; Shea-Niedermayer. Goalie: Skinner.

Series History

The Penguins hold a slight all-time edge: 143-132-23-7 in regular season (including 139-130-36 overall per some sources). In playoffs, Pittsburgh leads 5-3 in series. Recently, the home team has dominated: Penguins are 4-1 in last 5 home games vs. Rangers. Pittsburgh has won 6 of the last 10 overall, outscoring New York 32-25. At PPG Paints Arena, Penguins are 7-3 in the last 10.

Betting Trends

Rangers 1-5 SU in last 6; Penguins 5-0 SU in last 5. Pittsburgh 8-2 ATS in last 10 home games; New York 3-7 ATS in last 10 overall. Rangers 8-3 SU in last 11 vs. Penguins, but 2-4 in last 6 at Pittsburgh

Game Odds

New York Rangers           6.5

Pittsburgh Penguins       – 192

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, January 30, 2026

The Colorado Avalanche (35-8-9) visit the Detroit Red Wings (32-17-6) in a cross-conference clash with playoff implications. The Avalanche lead the Central Division and sit atop the Western Conference, boasting elite offense but recent defensive lapses. The Red Wings, second in the Atlantic, have been steady at home but face a tough test against Colorado’s star power. This is their only scheduled meeting of the 2025-26 season, reviving echoes of their historic 1990s-2000s rivalry. Expect high-scoring action given both teams’ potent attacks.

Venue: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan

Puck drop is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET (12:00 p.m. CT, 11:00 a.m. MT)

TV/Streaming: ABC, ESPN+, Hulu, Sportsnet

Recent Team Forms

The Avalanche have cooled off after a hot start, going 4-5-2 in their last 11 with defensive issues. The Red Wings are 6-2-2 in their last 10, riding home strength but dealing with a flu bug.

Avalanche (4-5-1 in last 10): Colorado averages 3.7 goals scored but 3.9 allowed recently. They’ve dropped two straight, including a 7-3 thrashing by Montreal (Jan. 29) where they were outshot in the third. Wins include a 4-1 over Toronto (Jan. 25) and 5-2 over Washington (Jan. 19), but losses to Ottawa (5-2, Jan. 28) and Florida (2-1, Jan. 4) highlight road woes

Last 5 Games:

Date	Opponent	Result
Jan 29	@ MTL	L 3-7
Jan 28	@ OTT	L 2-5
Jan 25	@ TOR	W 4-1
Jan 23	@ PHI	L 3-7
Jan 21	@ LAK	L 1-2 (SO)

Red Wings (6-2-2 in last 10): Detroit averages 3.0 goals scored and 2.1 allowed, with strong goaltending. They’ve won four of six at home, including a 5-1 over Vancouver (Jan. 8) and 4-0 shutout over Montreal (Jan. 10). Recent losses include 3-1 to LA (Jan. 27) and 4-3 OT to Carolina (Jan. 12), but a 5-1 over Winnipeg (Jan. 24) shows resilience

Last 5 Games:

Date	Opponent	Result
Jan 29	vs WSH	L 3-4
Jan 27	vs LAK	L 1-3
Jan 24	@ WPG	W 5-1
Jan 22	vs PHI	W 3-2
Jan 21	@ UTA	L 2-3 (OT)

Injury Report

Injuries hit Colorado’s depth, while Detroit manages a key defenseman absence and illness.

Avalanche:

Gabriel Landeskog (LW, upper body/broken ribs): Out, expected back in weeks

Logan O’Connor (RW, hip surgery): Out indefinitely.

Devon Toews (D, upper body): Day-to-day, game-time decision.

Joel Kiviranta (F, lower body): Week-to-week.

Red Wings:

Simon Edvinsson (D, lower body): Out, on IR since Jan. 28

Team-wide flu bug: Potential late scratches, recalls include Justin Holl (D) and Sheldon Dries (F).

Projected starters: Scott Wedgewood (Avs, .905 SV%) vs. John Gibson (Wings, .893 SV%)

Key Player Matchups

This game features star forwards clashing with top defensemen, plus a goaltending battle.

Nathan MacKinnon (Avs C) vs. Dylan Larkin (Wings C): MacKinnon leads the NHL with 38 goals and 85 points, on a tear with multi-point games. He’ll face Larkin (Wings captain, 25G, 50P), a shutdown center who’s key in faceoffs (54% FO%)

Martin Necas (Avs RW) vs. Alex DeBrincat (Wings RW): Necas (acquired mid-season) has 20 goals; his speed tests DeBrincat (23G, 45P), Detroit’s top sniper with 3 points in a recent shutout

Cale Makar (Avs D) vs. Lucas Raymond (Wings LW): Makar (10G, 40A) quarterbacks Colorado’s power play (28% efficiency). Raymond (20G, 42P) is Detroit’s breakout star, challenging Makar’s mobility

Goaltending Duel: Scott Wedgewood (Avs) vs. John Gibson (Wings): Wedgewood (2.61 GAA) steps up with injuries; Gibson (three shutouts) has been lights-out, including a 27-save blanking vs. Montreal

Projected Lineups (per NHL.com

Avalanche: Rantanen-MacKinnon-Nelson; Lehkonen-Necas-Nichushkin; Wood-Colton-Mittelstadt; Kiviranta (if available)-Trent Frederic-Makarov. Defense: Girard-Makar; Johnson-Manson; Malinski-Behrens. Goalie: Wedgewood.

Red Wings: DeBrincat-Larkin-Raymond; Kane-Compher-Tarasenko; Berggren-Copp-Rasmussen; Motte-Kaspar-Veleno. Defense: Chiarot-Seider; Maatta-Petry; Gustafsson-Holl (recall). Goalie: Gibson.

Series History

Detroit holds the all-time edge: 84-74-5-6 overall (including playoffs), with a 67-57-5-6 regular-season record. The rivalry peaked from 1996-2002 with five playoff meetings and five combined Stanley Cups (Detroit 3, Colorado 2) Recently, Colorado has won three straight, including a 5-2 victory in their last matchup (March 2025). At Little Caesars Arena, Detroit is 4-3 in the last seven.

Game Odds

Colorado Avalanche       – 155

Detroit Red Wings           6.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, January 30, 2026

The Los Angeles Kings (22-17-13) head to Philadelphia to face the Flyers (24-20-9) in an interconference matchup. Both teams are mid-pack in their respective conferences—the Kings sit 10th in the West, while the Flyers are 14th in the East. This is their first meeting of the 2025-26 season, with the Kings looking to build on a recent point streak and the Flyers aiming to snap a prolonged slump. The game features intriguing contrasts: LA’s balanced offense against Philly’s resilient but leaky defense.

Venue: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Puck drop is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. ET (9:30 a.m. PT)

TV/Streaming: ESPN+, NBCSP, FDSNW, SN1

Recent Team Forms

Both squads have struggled for consistency, but the Flyers are in a deeper rut.

Kings (4-3-3 in last 10): LA has earned points in six straight before a 4-1 loss to Buffalo on Jan. 29. They’ve averaged 2.2 goals scored and 2.8 allowed per game recently, showing solid defense but offensive inconsistency. Key wins include a 3-1 victory over Detroit (Jan. 27) and a 4-3 shootout over Edmonton (Jan. 10). Losses have come against stronger teams like Dallas (3-1) and Winnipeg (5-1).

Last 5 Games:

Date	Opponent	Result
Jan 29	@ BUF	L 1-4
Jan 27	vs DET	W 3-1
Jan 26	vs STL	W 5-4 (SO)
Jan 24	@ CHI	Postponed
Jan 22	vs ANA	W 2-1

Flyers (2-7-1 in last 10): Philly is on a three-game losing streak and has dropped seven of their last eight, averaging 2.8 goals scored but a porous 4.2 allowed. They’ve been outscored 42-28 in this stretch. A bright spot was a 7-3 win over Colorado (Jan. 23), but recent blowouts include 6-3 to Boston (Jan. 29) and 5-3 to Columbus (Jan. 28).

Last 5 Games:

Date	Opponent	Result
Jan 29	@ BOS	L 3-6
Jan 28	@ CBJ	L 3-5
Jan 26	vs NYI	L 0-4
Jan 23	@ COL	W 7-3
Jan 21	@ UTA	L 4-5 (OT)

Injury Report

Injuries could play a big role, especially in goal for Philly.

Kings:

Anze Kopitar (C, lower body): On IR, expected out until Feb. 28

Alex Turcotte (C, upper body): Out until at least Feb. 4.

Joel Armia (F, upper body): Day-to-day but expected to play.

Flyers:

Tyson Foerster (RW, arm): Out

Rodrigo Abols (C, fractured ankle): On IR, out indefinitely.

Samuel Ersson (G, lower body): Day-to-day, status uncertain after leaving Jan. 29 game.

Rasmus Ristolainen (D, lower body): Day-to-day, exited Jan. 28 game early.

If Ersson is out, Dan Vladar starts for Philly. Darcy Kuemper is projected for LA.

Key Player Matchups

This game hinges on top forwards exploiting defensive weaknesses and goaltending stability.

Adrian Kempe (Kings RW) vs. Travis Sanheim (Flyers D): Kempe leads LA with 18 goals and 41 points, on a five-game point streak. He’ll test Sanheim, Philly’s top-pair defenseman (averaging 22+ minutes), who has been part of a unit allowing 4+ goals in recent losses.

Quinton Byfield (Kings C) vs. Sean Couturier (Flyers C): Byfield (9G, 19A) is LA’s playmaker, facing Couturier’s shutdown style. Couturier has 10 points in his last 10 but Philly’s center depth is thin with injuries.

Travis Konecny (Flyers RW) vs. Drew Doughty (Kings D): Konecny tops Philly with 21 goals and 50 points, including a hat trick on Jan. 28. Doughty (LA’s veteran blueliner, 20+ minutes per game) must contain him to limit Philly’s counterattacks.

Goaltending Duel: Darcy Kuemper (Kings) vs. Dan Vladar (Flyers): Kuemper (solid .896 SV% career) faces a Flyers team that’s aggressive but turnover-prone. Vladar (.896 SV%) returned from injury but allowed 4 goals on Jan. 28; he’ll need support against LA’s shot volume (30+ per game recently).

Projected Lineups (per NHL.com

Kings: Perry-Laferriere-Kempe; Moore-Byfield-Foegele; Fiala-Armia-Kuzmenko; Connors-Helenius-Ward. Defense: Anderson-Doughty; Dumoulin-Ceci; Edmundson-Clarke. Goalie: Kuemper.

Flyers: Grebenkin-Dvorak-Konecny; Tippett-Couturier-Zegras; Michkov-Brink-Cates; Pederson-Grundstrom-Barkey. Defense: York-Sanheim; Seeler-Ristolainen (if available); Drysdale-Juulsen. Goalie: Vladar (or Ersson).

Series History

The Flyers hold a commanding all-time edge: 91-46-22 overall against the Kings.

However, LA has dominated recently, going 6-3-1 in the last 10 meetings (including a 5-3 win on Dec. 31, 2019, in their most recent matchup). The Kings are 4-0 in their last four visits to Philly, outscoring the Flyers 16-9.

Betting Trends

Over/Under: The Over has hit in 24 of LA’s 52 games and 28 of Philly’s 53. Kings are 8-15 SU in last 23 road games; Flyers are 3-9 ATS in last 12 overall. LA is 1-5 ATS in last 6; Philly is 4-1 ATS in last 5 home games vs. West teams.

Game Odds

Los Angeles Kings            – 112

Philadelphia Flyers         5.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, January 30, 2026