* Patrick Kane had a multi-goal effort to propel the Red Wings to victory and move up multiple all-time lists among U.S.-born skaters, while Evgeni Malkin and Erik Karlsson had three points apiece to help the Penguins down the League-leading Avalanche.
* The Mammoth snapped the Stars’ point streak at 15 games to strengthen their position as the first Wild Card in the West, while Artemi Panarin found the score sheet in his return to Madison Square Garden to help the Kings move closer to the playoff line.
* Tuesday will include nine games and be headlined by an NHL on TNT doubleheader between the Wild-Blackhawks followed by the Lightning-Kraken, as well as Matthew Schaefer’s first game in Toronto, which is approximately 38 miles from his hometown.
VETERAN STARS LEAD RED WINGS, PENGUINS TO VICTORY
Patrick Kane scored two of his club’s five goals to climb a number of U.S.-born lists and help the Red Wings (37-23-8, 82 points) overtake the Bruins (37-23-7, 81 points) for the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, while Evgeni Malkin (2-1—3) and Erik Karlsson (1-2—3) each had three-point performances to help the Penguins (34-18-15, 83 points) defeat the League-leading Avalanche and build a two-point lead over the idle Islanders (38-24-5, 81 points) for second in the Metropolitan Division.
* Kane scored his 503rd and 504th career goals to surpass Joe Mullen (502) for the fourth most among U.S.-born players. The latter stood as his 84th career game winner, which passed Zach Parise for the third most by a U.S.-born skater behind Mike Modano and Jeremy Roenick (both w/ 92). Kane’s performance Monday also moved him within five of matching Modano (177) for the most multi-point periods among U.S.-born players.
* Malkin found the back of the net twice in the opening 13 minutes and recorded his 35th career multi-goal period. He passed Jaromir Jagr (34) for the third most in Penguins history, trailing only Mario Lemieux (71) and Sidney Crosby (37).
* Karlsson collected his 148th career multi-assist outing and tied Brian Leetch for the ninth most among defensemen in NHL history, behind Paul Coffey (278 GP), Ray Bourque (255 GP), Al MacInnis (198 GP), Larry Murphy (195 GP), Phil Housley (179 GP), Denis Potvin (179 GP), Nicklas Lidstrom (176 GP) and Bobby Orr (166 GP). 
MAMMOTH, KINGS STRENGTHEN PLAYOFF CHANCES WITH WINS
The Mammoth (35-27-6, 76 points) scored six times to snap the Stars’ point streak at 15 games and build a five-point cushion as the first Wild Card in the West, while the Kings (28-24-15, 71 points) skated to victory in Artemi Panarin’s return to Madison Square Garden to move into a tie with the Kraken (31-26-9, 71 points) on points. Seattle maintains the second Wild Card position by virtue of holding a game in hand.
* Panarin (3-10—13 in 11 GP w/ LAK) notched an assist on the Kings’ opening goal in his first game back at Madison Square Garden and tied Kevin Fiala (11 GP) as the fifth-fastest skater to record 10 helpers with the franchise. He trails only Chris Kontos (6 GP), Wayne Gretzky (7 GP), Larry Robinson (8 GP) and Marcel Dionne (10 GP).
* ICYMI: The Rangers, including Anze Kopitar’s former teammate, Jonathan Quick, embraced the Kings captain following his final career game in New York.
* The Mammoth scored four times in the final frame and matched their franchise record for goals in a period. Utah snapped Dallas’ franchise-record point streak (tied) at 15 games – the second time the club has ended an opponent’s double-digit run this season after snapping Toronto’s 10-game streak on Jan. 13.
HUGHES HITS 400 POINTS IN #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
Jack Hughes collected three assists to surpass the 400-point milestone – achievements found in Monday’s edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates. Hughes (158-244—402 in 414 GP) became the fastest player in Devils/Rockies/Scouts history (debut or otherwise) to record 400 points, besting the previous benchmark set by Kirk Muller (429 GP).
NHL, NHLPA ANNOUNCE HOST CITIES FOR WORLD CUP OF HOCKEY 2028
The NHL and NHLPA announced Scotia Place in Calgary and Rogers Place in Edmonton, both in Alberta, Canada, along with O2 Arena in Prague, Czechia will host the next edition of best-on-best competition in the World Cup of Hockey 2028. The host cities were revealed in a video featuring players David Pastrnak (representing Prague & Czechia), Cale Makar (representing his hometown of Calgary) and Connor McDavid (representing his NHL city Edmonton). The competition is slated for February 2028.
QUICK CLICKS
* ‘Foligno Face-Off’ continues with brothers now NHL teammates for Wild
* Washington Nationals unveil special Alex Ovechkin bobblehead
* Color of Hockey: Little Native League beacon for Indigenous youth
* Artemi Panarin fist bump’s MSG reporter in return to Garden
* Women in Hockey feature: Kelly Murray, Player Development Video Analyst
TUESDAY’S SLATE PACKED WITH SCORING PLATEAUS WITHIN REACH
A nine-game Tuesday is packed with action, headlined by an NHL on TNT doubleheader beginning with Kirill Kaprizov and the Wild visiting Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks before the Kraken host Nikita Kucherov and the Lightning. The slate also includes Matthew Schaefer’s first game in Toronto and a pivotal ‘Original Six’ battle between the Canadiens and Bruins, who are separated by one point for third in the Atlantic Division.
* Kaprizov (38-41—79) is two goals shy of his fourth career 40-goal season – he already has the most in franchise history – and can reach that mark with his 41st career multi-goal game, which would tie Marian Gaborik (41 GP) for the most in club history. Matt Boldy (38-37—75 in 64 GP) can also reach the 40-goal mark for the first time and can join Kaprizov as the only Minnesota skaters to notch it before their 25th birthday. The 2025-26 campaign can be the first to feature multiple Wild players post 40 goals.
* The TNT doubleheader will also feature Bedard (27-35—62 in 53 GP) closing in on his first career 30-goal campaign, Kucherov (34-72—106 in 61 GP) vying for a third straight road game with three-plus points and the Kraken (31-26-9, 71 points) looking to strengthen their postseason chances in a Pacific Division that has its top six teams all within seven points of each other.
* North of the border, the Bruins (WC2, 37-23-7, 81 points) face the Canadiens (A3, 36-20-10, 82 points) and are separated by just two points in the standings. The 2025-26 season can mark the first 82-game campaign since 2016-17 to feature both clubs qualify for the playoffs. David Pastrnak (26-55—81 in 62 GP) and Nick Suzuki (23-55—78 in 66 GP) lead their respective teams in scoring, with the latter having a chance to hit 80 points tonight after the former did so yesterday. Suzuki can become the first Canadiens player with consecutive 80-point campaigns since Vincent Damphousse (1995-96 – 1996-97).
* Schaefer (20-28—48 in 67 GP) is set to make his first NHL appearance in Toronto, which is approximately 38 miles from where he was born (Hamilton, Ont.). The defenseman’s first game against the Maple Leafs on Jan. 3 saw him register one of his four multi-goal games this season – another would tie Phil Housley (5) for the most career instances by a teenage blueliner in League history – and net his second career overtime winner. Schaefer enters the contest two shy of the 50-point mark, a feat only three other Islanders rookie defensemen have hit in a season. The 18-year-old can become the fourth active blueliner to hit 50 career points before their 70th contest, following Cale Makar (57 GP), Lane Hutson (63 GP) and Quinn Hughes (64 GP).
