Man, what a night. If you missed the action on Saturday, January 17, 2026, you missed a chaotic 13-game slate that basically shifted the entire playoff picture in both conferences. We saw blowouts, overtime heart-stoppers, and a couple of point streaks that just won't quit.
Honestly, the biggest story has to be out in Vegas. The Golden Knights are playing like they've got a cheat code enabled right now. But they weren't the only ones lighting up the lamp. From a six-goal outburst in Vancouver to a tight goalie duel in Anaheim, there’s a lot to catch up on.
The Vegas Golden Knights Win Seventh Straight
If you’re wondering who won last night's hockey game in the most dominant fashion, look no further than T-Mobile Arena. The Vegas Golden Knights absolutely dismantled the Nashville Predators 7-2.
What's wild is that the game was actually close for a bit. Then, the floodgates opened. Vegas rattled off seven unanswered goals. Mark Stone is officially on another planet right now; he scored again to extend his point streak to 11 games. That’s a career-high for him. Mitch Marner and Shea Theodore also got in on the fun, each picking up a goal and an assist.
Akira Schmid stood tall with 27 saves. It’s gotta be demoralizing for Nashville. Roman Josi even admitted after the game that things "definitely got away" from them. You think?
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Oilers Empty the Tank in Vancouver
The Edmonton Oilers showed up to Rogers Arena and decided they didn't want to let the Canucks breathe. Edmonton walked away with a 6-0 shutout.
That’s right. Six to nothing.
Most of the damage happened in a single period. The Oilers put up six goals in the second frame alone. It was a shooting gallery. Connor McDavid, as usual, was the puppet master, while the Canucks' defense looked like they were stuck in mud. For a Vancouver team trying to stay relevant in the Pacific, this was a tough pill to swallow at home.
Overtime Magic and Close Calls
Not every game was a blowout. We had a few that went the distance, and the drama was top-tier.
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Maple Leafs vs. Jets
Toronto pulled off a gritty 4-3 comeback win in Winnipeg. Max Domi ended it in overtime, because of course he did. The Jets had the lead, but the Leafs just kept chipping away. Auston Matthews hit a post that nearly broke the camera, but eventually, the Leafs found the back of the net when it mattered most.
Ducks vs. Kings
The Freeway Face-off stayed true to its "anything can happen" reputation. The Anaheim Ducks beat the LA Kings 2-1 in a game that felt more like a playoff battle than a mid-January regular-season match. Mikael Granlund was the hero here, ripping a beauty in overtime to secure the extra point for Anaheim.
Canadiens vs. Senators
This was probably the game of the night for pure entertainment. Montreal beat Ottawa 6-5 in OT. Cole Caufield hammered home the winner, finishing the night with three points. Juraj Slafkovsky also netted two goals. It was back-and-forth, high-event hockey that probably gave both coaches gray hairs.
Other Scores From Around the League
Because there were 13 games, here’s a quick rundown of the rest of the board.
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- Boston Bruins 5, Chicago Blackhawks 2: The Bruins are on a six-game win streak. Connor Bedard had some flashes, but Boston is just too deep.
- Carolina Hurricanes 4, New Jersey Devils 1: Andrei Svechnikov bagged a hat trick. He’s been a monster lately.
- Florida Panthers 3, Washington Capitals 2: Sam Bennett’s three points were the difference-maker here.
- Calgary Flames 4, NY Islanders 2: The Flames' defense was suffocating.
- Columbus Blue Jackets 3, Pittsburgh Penguins 2 (SO): A classic Metropolitan battle that needed the shootout to find a winner.
- Utah Mammoth 4, Seattle Kraken 1: Utah’s point streak is now at seven games. They are becoming the surprise story of the West.
Why These Results Matter Right Now
We are deep enough into the 2025-26 season that these "two points" are starting to look like "life or death points."
Vegas is currently sitting at 58 points, leading the Pacific, but they’ve got the Oilers and Kraken breathing down their necks despite Edmonton's recent inconsistencies. In the East, the Atlantic Division is a total blender. The Bruins' win keeps them right in the mix for a Wild Card spot, while the Hurricanes' victory over Jersey helps them maintain a slim lead in the Metropolitan.
The most interesting trend? The "home ice advantage" felt a bit shaky last night. Vancouver, Winnipeg, and New Jersey all dropped points in front of their own fans.
What to Watch Next
Now that you know who won last night's hockey game, the focus shifts to a smaller Sunday schedule. We’ve got:
- Tampa Bay Lightning at Dallas Stars (2:00 PM EST) – A massive heavyweight clash between two Cup contenders.
- Ottawa Senators at Detroit Red Wings (5:00 PM EST) – Detroit is looking to bounce back and stay in that Atlantic top-three conversation.
- St. Louis Blues at Edmonton Oilers (8:00 PM EST) – Can Edmonton carry the momentum from that 6-0 blowout, or will they hit a wall against a defensive Blues team?
Keep an eye on the waiver wire in your fantasy leagues if you own any Canucks players—that 6-0 loss might signal some line shuffling coming from the coaching staff. For the rest of us, it’s just another day of January hockey.
Check the injury reports this morning. With 13 games played, there are bound to be some "maintenance days" announced for the veteran guys.