You ever have those nights where you just want to sit down with a cold one and watch some high-stakes hockey, but you realize you have no idea who’s actually taking the ice? Honestly, the mid-January grind can get a little blurry. We are officially in that stretch where the All-Star buzz is starting to build, the Olympic break in Italy is looming on the horizon, and teams are starting to realize that "sorting it out later" is no longer an option.
If you’re looking for NHL who is playing tonight, Wednesday, January 14, 2026, has a pretty tight four-game slate. It’s not the busiest night of the week—save that for the Thursday chaos—but the matchups we do have are loaded with individual milestones and divisional drama.
The National TV Doubleheader
Tonight is basically a TNT and HBO Max takeover. If you're in the U.S., you don't even have to hunt for a local stream for the main events.
Philadelphia Flyers at Buffalo Sabres
Time: 7:30 PM ET
TV: TNT, truTV, HBO Max
This is the one I’m keeping an eye on. Buffalo is sitting at 24-16-4, and they’ve been surprisingly resilient lately. But the real story here is Tage Thompson. The guy is sitting on 195 career goals. He’s played 451 games. If he goes off tonight, he could hit that 200-goal milestone in under 500 games, which puts him in some pretty rarefied air in Sabres history.
The Flyers are... well, they’re the Flyers. They’re 22-14-8 and stubbornly refuse to go away in the standings. They play that heavy, annoying style that makes every game feel like a playoff battle. Expect a lot of chirping and probably a few questionable hits along the boards.
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Vegas Golden Knights at Los Angeles Kings
Time: 10:00 PM ET
TV: TNT, truTV, HBO Max
This is the late-night "Pacific Division" special. If you can stay up for it, it’s usually worth it. Vegas is coming in hot—four straight wins, including that 7-2 dismantling of the Sharks. Mark Stone is playing some of the best hockey of his life right now. He’s got 41 points in 28 games. That’s a 90% point-per-game rate. To put that in perspective, the only other guys doing that regularly are names like McDavid and Gretzky.
On the other side, the Kings are reeling a bit after a loss to the Stars, but Drew Doughty is sitting at 699 career points. One assist, one fluky power-play goal, and he hits 700. In a league where defensemen are expected to be fourth forwards, Doughty is still the gold standard for longevity.
The Regional Battles
If you aren't watching the national broadcasts, there are two other games happening in the Eastern time zone that are arguably just as important for the wildcard race.
Seattle Kraken at New Jersey Devils
Time: 7:00 PM ET
TV: MSGSN, KHN, Prime
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The Devils are basically the "high-event" team of the NHL right now. You never know if you're getting a 1-0 defensive masterclass or an 8-6 track meet. Jack Hughes is healthy and flying, which usually means the Prudential Center is going to be loud. Seattle is still trying to find that identity they had a couple of years ago. They’re a "win by committee" team, which is great for chemistry but sometimes tough when you need a superstar to bail you out in the third period.
Ottawa Senators at New York Rangers
Time: 7:30 PM ET
TV: MSG, SN, RDS2
Ottawa is in a weird spot. They’ve got the talent—Stützle, Tkachuk, Batherson—but the results are just... inconsistent. They’re coming off a back-to-back, which is never fun when you have to walk into Madison Square Garden. The Rangers have been struggling to score lately, which is wild considering the roster they have. This feels like a "get right" game for Artemi Panarin and company.
Why These Games Actually Matter
Look, it's easy to dismiss a four-game Wednesday in January. But look at the standings. The Atlantic Division is a total blender right now. The Lightning are technically leading the pack with 61 points, but the Red Wings (60) and Canadiens (59) are breathing down their necks.
Every point Buffalo or Ottawa can steal tonight changes the math for the wildcard race in April.
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Milestones to Watch:
- Drew Doughty (LAK): Needs 1 point for 700.
- Tage Thompson (BUF): Needs 5 goals for 200 (unlikely tonight, but he's a streak scorer).
- Mark Stone (VGK): Looking to extend an 8-game point streak.
Goaltending: The Great Unknown
Usually, by Wednesday morning, we have a good idea of who is starting, but with the trade deadline rumors starting to swirl, things get messy. James Reimer might be getting the nod for Ottawa if Ullmark isn't 100%, and the Golden Knights are still dealing with injuries to Adin Hill.
If you're betting or playing fantasy, check the morning skate reports around 11:00 AM. A backup goalie starting in Buffalo could turn that Flyers game into a high-scoring mess real quick.
How to Watch
If you’ve ditched cable, your best bet is HBO Max. They’ve been carrying the TNT feeds all season, and the quality is usually better than the "pirate" streams everyone tries to use.
- U.S. National: TNT / HBO Max (PHI @ BUF and VGK @ LAK).
- Out-of-Market: ESPN+ carries almost everything that isn't on TNT or NHL Network.
- Canada: Sportsnet is your home for the Sens/Rangers game.
Honestly, just park yourself on the couch for the 7:30 PM window. Between Thompson chasing milestones in Buffalo and the Rangers trying to fix their offense at the Garden, there’s plenty of actual hockey to enjoy before the late-night Vegas/LA showdown kicks off.
Grab your jersey, set your fantasy lineups, and enjoy the games. The season moves fast, and before you know it, we’ll be obsessed with Olympic rosters instead of Wednesday night points.
Check the local listings one last time before puck drop—sometimes the NHL likes to flex these start times by 15 minutes just to keep us on our toes.
Next Steps for Hockey Fans:
- Verify the Starters: Head over to Daily Faceoff about 30 minutes before puck drop to confirm if the projected goalies like Darcy Kuemper or Akira Schmid are actually confirmed.
- Monitor the Odds: If you're looking at the Vegas/LA game, the Golden Knights are currently slight favorites (-115), but watch for late movement if Anze Kopitar is officially ruled in or out.
- Sync Your Calendar: The Olympic break starts soon, so make sure you've noted the upcoming schedule changes for February before the league goes on hiatus.