Friday nights in the NHL usually carry a specific kind of energy. It’s the start of the weekend rush. Teams are tired from the mid-week grind. Goalies are sometimes caught napping. If you woke up this morning wondering what was the score in the hockey game last night, you aren't alone because the scoreboard across the league looked like a pinball machine.
Yesterday, January 16, 2026, delivered a slate of games that shook up the standings in both conferences. We saw defensive masterclasses. We saw total defensive collapses. It was a weird night for hockey. Honestly, if you bet on the under in most of these matchups, you're probably hurting today.
The Big Scores: Who Won and Who Stunned
The biggest story of the night came out of Toronto. The Maple Leafs hosted the New Jersey Devils in a game that many expected to be a tight, tactical battle between two high-skill rosters. It wasn't. The Leafs absolutely dismantled the Devils in a 6-2 rout. Auston Matthews continued his absurd scoring tear, netting two goals before the second period even hit the halfway mark. It’s getting to the point where you just expect him to find the back of the net every single time he crosses the blue line. New Jersey looked slow. Their transition game, which is usually their bread and butter, felt stagnant against Toronto’s aggressive forecheck.
Out West, the Vegas Golden Knights continue to prove why they are the most resilient franchise in recent memory. They faced a tough Seattle Kraken squad. Final score? 4-1 Vegas. It wasn't as lopsided as the score suggests, though. Seattle outshot the Knights for the first two periods, but Logan Thompson stood on his head. He’s becoming the backbone of that team in a way that should make the rest of the Pacific Division very nervous.
Then there was the nightmare in Chicago. The Blackhawks faced the Colorado Avalanche. It ended 5-0 for the Avs. Nathan MacKinnon had three points. Cale Makar looked like he was playing a different sport than everyone else on the ice. Chicago is clearly in a rebuild, we all know that, but last night was a stark reminder of the massive gap between the elite and the basement.
Breaking Down the Tightest Matchups
Not every game was a blowout. In fact, the most "pure" hockey game of the night happened in Carolina. The Hurricanes played the New York Rangers in a Metropolitan Division showdown that felt like a playoff preview. These two teams genuinely seem to dislike each other.
The final score was 2-1 in favor of the Hurricanes, decided in a shootout.
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Sebastian Aho scored the lone regulation goal for Carolina on a power play that looked crisp. The Rangers answered back late in the third with a gritty, "dirty" goal from Chris Kreider in front of the crease. Seeing these two defensive units work was a clinic. They don't give you an inch. If you're looking for why these teams are at the top of the league, look no further than the shot-blocking stats from last night. Carolina blocked 22 shots. That’s commitment.
In Florida, the Panthers took care of business against the Buffalo Sabres with a 3-2 victory. It was a "pro" win. They didn't do anything flashy, they just outworked Buffalo in the corners. The Sabres have so much young talent, but they still struggle with closing out games against heavy, physical teams like Florida.
Surprise Performers and Stat Leaders
The individual performances last night were staggering. You’ve got to look at the goaltending. Beyond Logan Thompson in Vegas, Igor Shesterkin was the only reason the Rangers even made it to a shootout. He stopped 38 of 39 shots.
- Auston Matthews (TOR): 2 Goals, 1 Assist.
- Nathan MacKinnon (COL): 1 Goal, 2 Assists.
- Logan Thompson (VGK): 34 Saves, .971 Save Percentage.
- Connor McDavid (EDM): 3 Assists in a 4-3 win over Calgary.
Wait, we have to talk about that Battle of Alberta. It was late. It was loud. Edmonton edged out Calgary 4-3. The Flames had a 2-0 lead going into the second period and then the McDavid/Draisaitl engine just started humming. Once those two find their rhythm, there isn't a defensive pairing in the league that can effectively gap them for 60 minutes. It's impossible.
Why the Scores Matter for the Standings
We are at that point in the season where every point feels like it's worth double. The "loser point" in the Rangers-Hurricanes game actually kept the Rangers in a dead heat for the division lead.
The Western Conference is a bloodbath right now. With Vegas winning and Colorado dominating, the gap between the third and fourth seeds is shrinking. Edmonton’s win over Calgary was massive because it keeps the Flames outside the wildcard bubble for another night. If Calgary doesn't find a way to stabilize their goaltending, they’re going to be sellers by the deadline. It’s that simple.
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People often overlook the mid-January games. They shouldn't. Last night showed that the "January Slump" is a myth for the top-tier teams. They are sharpening their edges.
The Physical Toll of Last Night’s Games
Hockey isn't played on paper. The physicality in the Bruins vs. Flyers game (Boston won 3-1, by the way) was brutal. Brad Marchand took a heavy hit into the boards that had everyone holding their breath. He stayed in the game, because he's Marchand, but you could tell he was laboring.
The injury report from last night is something to watch closely today. Several key players left games early.
- Miro Heiskanen (Dallas) – Upper body, did not return.
- Valeri Nichushkin (Colorado) – Lower body, questionable for next game.
- Sam Bennett (Florida) – Tweak, likely day-to-day.
When a star defenseman like Heiskanen goes down, it changes the entire geometry of the Stars' power play. They lost 4-3 to Minnesota last night, and his absence was felt immediately on the blue line. Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov took full advantage of the weakened defense, dancing through the neutral zone with ease.
Understanding the Betting Implications
If you follow the puck line, last night was a bit of a rollercoaster. Most favorites covered. Toronto covered. Colorado covered. Vegas covered. However, the underdogs in the Minnesota/Dallas game stayed scrappy.
The over/under hit the "Over" in four out of the seven games played. This suggests that league-wide scoring is still trending upward. The NHL has done a lot to open up the game—smaller goalie pads, stricter slashing calls—and it’s showing in the final scores. We aren't in the "dead puck" era anymore. Seeing five or six goals a game is the new normal.
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What to Watch for in Tonight's Matchups
Now that you know what was the score in the hockey game last night, the focus shifts to the "back-to-back" teams. Playing two nights in a row is the ultimate test of depth.
Toronto has to travel. Colorado is staying home but they played high-intensity minutes. Usually, you see the backup goalies get the nod on the second night of a back-to-back. This is where the betting value often lies. If a team looked tired in the third period last night, they are going to be "heavy-legged" tonight.
Keep an eye on the Vancouver Canucks. They were off last night, resting, while their next opponent was grinding out a physical game. That rest advantage is one of the most statistically significant predictors of a win in the modern NHL.
Practical Steps for Following Hockey Scores
If you missed the games and want to stay ahead of the curve, don't just look at the final score.
- Check the Expected Goals (xG): Sometimes a team wins 4-1 but was actually outplayed. xG tells you who controlled the quality of chances.
- Watch the Condensed Replays: The NHL’s official YouTube channel puts out 8-minute recaps. It’s better than just seeing a box score because you see the "flow" of the game.
- Follow Beat Writers: Journalists like Elliotte Friedman or Pierre LeBrun provide the context behind the scores—injuries, locker room vibes, and trade rumors that the scoreboard won't show you.
- Monitor Line Changes: If a coach blended his lines in the third period last night (like the Devils' coach did), it usually means a big lineup change is coming for the next game.
The scores from last night tell a story of a league that is currently dominated by high-octane offense and a few elite goaltenders trying to hold back the tide. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just checking in for your fantasy league, the parity in the NHL right now is at an all-time high. Anyone can beat anyone on a Friday night.
To stay truly updated, set up alerts for "Expected Starters" about two hours before puck drop tonight. Knowing who is in net is 70% of the battle when predicting the next set of scores. If a backup is facing a top-ten offense, expect the scoreboard to light up again. Stay tuned to the injury reports for Miro Heiskanen and Valeri Nichushkin, as their status will shift the betting lines significantly over the next 24 hours.