Jesper Wallstedt had his fourth shutout in six appearances as the surging Wild kept pace with the League-leading Avalanche, who went another game without suffering a regulation loss.
* The Rangers recorded an overtime win exactly one month until they’re pitted against the Panthers during the NHL’s first-ever outdoor game in the state of Florida. The event is set to start a historic, month-long celebration of the explosive growth of hockey in the Sunshine State.
* Wednesday’s NHL on TNT doubleheader opens with the Flyers hosting the Sabres followed by the Mammoth visiting the Ducks.
Wild’s Wallstedt WAS SECOND FASTEST TO FIVE SHUTOUTS BEHIND “MR. ZERO”
Jesper Wallstedt followed up his NHL “Rookie of the Month” nod by turning aside all 33 shots he faced – including four by Oilers stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl – to record his fourth shutout since Nov. 9 and the fifth of his career. Minnesota improved to 10-0-2 in its last 12 contests dating to Nov. 7, with its 12-game point marking the second longest in the NHL this season behind only Colorado (14-0-3 in 17 GP since Oct. 26).
* Wallstedt improved to 8-0-2 through 10 appearances in 2025-26 (1.74 GAA, .944 SV%, 4 SO), including seven straight wins. He became the sixth rookie in League history with a 10-game season-opening point streak and first since Duluth, Minn. native Robb Stauber (10 GP from Oct. 10 – Dec. 12, 1992).
RANGERS RALLY LATE EN ROUTE TO OVERTIME WIN
Will Cuylle scored the tying tally with 2:13 remaining in regulation to set the stage for Vladislav Gavrikov’s overtime winner as New York snapped Dallas’ winning streak at four. The Rangers improved to 5-1-0 over their past six games and moved within one point of the playoff line in the Eastern Conference.
* Artemi Panarin (0-2—2) factored on the winning tally to record his 36th career overtime point. He passed former New York captain Jaromir Jagr (35) and tied Ryan Getzlaf for the 12th most in NHL history.
* The countdown to the historic 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic has begun, with less than one month remaining until the Rangers play the Panthers outdoors in the much-anticipated annual event at loanDepot park on Jan. 2 (8 p.m. ET on TNT, HBO Max, truTV, SNW, SNO, SNE, TVAS). Click here for details.
1,200: TUESDAY’S MAGIC NUMBER
Milestones were defined by “1,200” on Tuesday night as Jamie Benn and David Perron each reached games played milestones while Predators forward Steven Stamkos (589-611—1,200) scored and collected his 1,200th career point.
* Benn became the sixth active player to skate in 1,200 games for one franchise. He joined Alex Ovechkin (1,518 GP w/ WSH), Anze Kopitar (1,476 GP w/ LAK), Sidney Crosby (1,377 GP w/ PIT), Evgeni Malkin (1,238 GP w/ PIT) and Drew Doughty (1,226 GP w/ LAK).
* On the night Ozzy Wiesblatt and Reid Schaefer each scored their first career goals, Stamkos netted No. 589 and became the sixth active player to register 1,200 career points. The 18-season NHL veteran, whose 93 career game-winning goals tied Sergei Fedorov and Joe Nieuwendyk for 15th on the NHL’s all-time list, owned the fifth-most goals in League history at the time of the milestone point behind Brett Hull (656), Ovechkin (653), Mike Gartner (636) and Dino Ciccarelli (608).
SENATORS, RED WINGS CLIMB ATLANTIC DIVISION STANDINGS WITH WINS
Brady Tkachuk (1-1—2) and Patrick Kane (0-2—2) each posted multi-point performances as the second-place Senators (13-9-4, 30 points) and third-place Red Wings (14-11-2, 30 points) both scored five times to climb the Atlantic Division standings thanks to victories against the Canadiens and Bruins, respectively.
* Tkachuk, who assisted on one of four straight Senators goals, later scored his first goal of the season to lift his club to their eighth comeback win of the season – tied for the third most among all teams. Tkachuk boosted his career totals to 192-218—410 (518 GP); he tied Wade Redden (410) for fifth place on the franchise’s all-time points list and passed Chris Phillips (217) for ninth on the club’s all-time assist list.
* Kane factored on two of five Red Wings goals to notch his 358th career multi-point game and tie Mike Modano for the most by a U.S.-born player. Kane (495-864—1,359) also moved within 15 points of matching Modano (561-813—1,374) for the most in NHL history by a U.S.-born player.
#NHLStats: Live Updates has 29th and FINAL game between Ovechkin, Kopitar
Tuesday’s edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates featured more notes from the 10-game slate, including the 29th and final regular-season contest between veterans Alex Ovechkin (0-2—2) and Anze Kopitar (0-1—1) as well as a highlight-reel goal by Connor Bedard.
* The Capitals extended their winning streak to five games and continue their California road trip tonight, with Ovechkin set to play his second career contest against fellow No. 1 pick Macklin Celebrini (also March 15) and first versus the Sharks’ young star since becoming a 900-goal scorer. Ovechkin reached the milestone less than a month ago and was congratulated by another professional athlete linked to the number 900 and Bay Area.
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hoto via IG/@capitals
QUICK CLICKS
* 3 Stars of the Month: Nathan MacKinnon, Jason Robertson, Connor Bedard
* Ozzy Wiesblatt pays tribute to late brother, Orca, with first career goal
* Trevor Zegras has ‘found himself at home’ since trade to Flyers
* Hockey history dotted with humor, assorted one-liners
* Mark Messier helps showcase GAME 7 brand, apparel at NHL Shop NYC
Photo via X/@ESPNNewYork
10 WEEKS UNTIL NHL PLAYERS RETURN TO OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
NHL players will soon be heading to Italy to play for gold at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. The men’s tournament begins in exactly 10 weeks (Wednesday, Feb. 11), when Team Finland faces Team Slovakia and Team Italy meets Team Sweden.
Juraj Slafkovský, F, Montreal Canadiens / Team Slovakia (2nd Olympics)
* Slafkovský has his sights on a second Olympic medal for ice hockey after he tallied 7-0—7 in seven games to lead all players in goals and points (tied) at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games en route to a bronze medal – Slovakia’s first-ever Olympic medal for ice hockey. Slafkovský (50-75—125 in 225 GP) found the back of the net Tuesday and became the third player in NHL history, born and trained in Slovakia, with 50 career goals at age 21 or younger alongside Marian Gaborik (84) and Marian Hossa (62).
Nico Hischier, F, New Jersey Devils / Team Switzerland (1st Olympics)
* Hischier, the only Swiss player in League history to be selected with the No. 1 pick in the NHL Draft, is one of two captains from Switzerland in the League this season alongside Nashville’s Roman Josi. He also captained Switzerland at the 2025 World Championship when the country reached the gold medal game for a second straight year – a first in the nation’s history. The Devils captain is averaging nearly a point per game in 2025-26 (10-15—25 in 26 GP) and has done so thanks to seven multi-point games en route to 100 in his career – one of four players in League history to reach the mark from his country (also Kevin Fiala, Timo Meier & Josi).
* Did you Know? NHL.com will also be a hub for content before, during and after the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 with a dedicated section of the site – including Mike Zeisberger’s recent feature with Hockey Hall of Fame member and two-time Olympic gold medalist Martin Brodeur, who spoke about Team Canada’s goaltending options as the League returns to the event.
NHL ON TNT DOUBLEHEADER HEADLINES WEDNESDAY’S SLATE
Wednesday’s five-game slate includes an NHL on TNT doubleheader that features four clubs who missed the playoffs last season but are in the mix in 2025-26 continuing their pursuits when Buffalo battles Philadelphia and Utah visits Pacific Division-leading Anaheim. Sportsnet programming in Canada will also feature Montreal hosting Winnipeg before Washington faces San Jose.
* Veterans such as Tage Thompson and Travis Konecny as well as new additions making early impacts have helped the Flyers and Sabres remain in the mix for a playoff spot this season, with Trevor Zegras (9-16—25; t-1st) and Josh Doan (8-10—18; t-6th) both ranking within the top 10 in points among players on new teams in 2025-26. Zegras, who leads his team in scoring this season, can become the fourth player in Flyers history to end his first season with the club as their leading scorer and the first since Jeremy Roenick (21-46—67 in 2001-02).
* The Ducks have garnered a lot of their success through the play of their young skaters, including rookie Beckett Sennecke (7-13—20). The 19-year-old has contributed 20 of Anaheim’s League-leading 89 points by players age 21 or younger this season, seven spots above the Mammoth (24). Sennecke has accumulated eight of his rookie-pacing point total this season during his active eight-game point streak and can pass Paul Kariya (8 GP in 1994-95) for the longest run by a rookie in franchise history.
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