Honestly, if you missed the action yesterday, you missed one of those weird, high-octane nights where the logic of professional hockey basically goes out the window. We’re talking about an eight-goal explosion in New York, a milestone night for a certain Tkachuk brother, and some Olympic-bound stars essentially putting their respective teams on their backs.
The big story from the national hockey league scores yesterday has to be the Ottawa Senators absolutely dismantling the New York Rangers. It wasn't just a win; it was a statement. When a team hangs eight goals on the Rangers at Madison Square Garden, people notice. Especially when Brady Tkachuk decides to turn the ice into his personal playground.
The Sens Go Nuclear at MSG
Ottawa's 8-4 victory over the Rangers was kind of ridiculous. Brady Tkachuk didn't just play well; he hit the 200-goal milestone in style, racking up four points (a goal and three assists) in the process. What's wild is that he hit 200 goals 11 games faster than his brother, Matthew. I bet that'll be a fun conversation at the next family dinner.
The Rangers looked sort of lost as the game wore on. This was their fifth straight loss, which is starting to trigger some alarms in Manhattan. When you give up eight goals at home, the "it's just a slump" excuse starts to feel a bit thin. Ottawa, on the other hand, had seven different players with multi-point games. That's the kind of depth that makes a team dangerous as we head deeper into the season.
Dahlin and the Sabres' Ridiculous Run
If you haven't been paying attention to the Buffalo Sabres lately, you've been missing out on a massive turnaround. They took down the Philadelphia Flyers 5-2 yesterday, and get this: that's their 14th win in the last 16 games. Since December 9th, they’ve been playing like a team possessed.
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Rasmus Dahlin was the catalyst here. He notched two power-play goals, showing exactly why he’s considered one of the elite blueliners in the league. Interestingly, the Sabres actually won while only putting 14 shots on goal. That is incredibly rare. Usually, you need way more volume to find the back of the net five times, but Buffalo was surgical. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was steady as a rock in net too, picking up his seventh straight home win.
With this victory, Buffalo actually jumped over Boston and Toronto to grab the first Wild Card spot in the East. Things are getting crowded at the top.
Overtime Drama: Vegas and Jersey Sneak Out Wins
The national hockey league scores yesterday weren't all blowouts. We had some serious nail-biters that required extra time to settle.
In Los Angeles, the Golden Knights and Kings went to war. The Kings managed to tie it up with only about 90 seconds left in regulation, which usually gives a team all the momentum heading into OT. But Vegas didn't care. Just 25 seconds into overtime, Mark Stone and Jack Eichel hooked up for the game-winner. Stone finished with a goal and an assist, while Eichel had three helpers. Eichel is now at 51 points in just 38 games. He’s basically playing on a different planet right now.
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Meanwhile, in Newark, the New Jersey Devils squeaked past the Seattle Kraken with a 3-2 overtime win. Nico Hischier was the hero, potting two goals including the winner. It was his seventh career OT goal, which puts him in some pretty elite company in Devils history, tying him with Zach Parise.
Yesterday's NHL Scoreboard at a Glance
Sometimes you just want the raw numbers without the fluff. Here’s how the four games played on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, shook out:
- Ottawa Senators 8, New York Rangers 4
- Buffalo Sabres 5, Philadelphia Flyers 2
- Vegas Golden Knights 3, Los Angeles Kings 2 (OT)
- New Jersey Devils 3, Seattle Kraken 2 (OT)
The Olympic Shadow
It’s worth noting that every big performance right now is being viewed through the lens of the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. Whether it’s Dahlin (Sweden), Luukkonen (Finland), or Hischier (Switzerland), these guys are peaking at exactly the right time for their national teams.
You can feel the intensity ramping up. Players aren't just fighting for NHL playoff positioning anymore; they’re fighting to prove they belong on those top Olympic lines. It adds a layer of desperation to these mid-January games that you don't always see.
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What This Means for the Standings
The Eastern Conference Wild Card race is officially a mess, but in a good way. Buffalo’s surge has completely disrupted the status quo. On the other side, the Rangers' freefall is the biggest concern in the league right now. You can't stay in a playoff spot for long if you're hemorrhaging goals like they did yesterday.
In the West, Vegas continues to look like a juggernaut. They’ve won five straight and are currently leading the Pacific Division. The Kings got a point for the OT loss, but they’ll be kicking themselves for letting that one slip away so quickly in the extra frame.
Next Steps for Hockey Fans
If you're tracking these trends, keep a close eye on the Buffalo Sabres' shot volume. While they won with 14 shots yesterday, Dahlin himself admitted they need more "volume" to stay successful. Watch their next game against Montreal to see if they can maintain that efficiency or if they start peppering the net more.
Also, the Rangers face the Flyers next in a "Battle of Pennsylvania" that suddenly feels like a "must-win" for both squads. Neither team can afford another slide if they want to keep pace in the Metropolitan Division. Checking the injury reports for the Sabres' Josh Norris (who left yesterday's game with a rib injury) and the Flyers' Dan Vladar will be crucial for anyone playing fantasy hockey or following the betting lines this week.