by Sean Murphy
Monday, Jan 26, 2026With the Olympic break fast approaching, it's a good time to take stock of some news and notes from around the NHL. Here's a look at five teams to keep an eye on as we head into February.
Crowning moments
The Los Angeles Kings are in the thick of the playoff hunt in the Western Conference but it's been a grind to be sure. Close losses have been the story as the Kings have piled up 12 overtime or shootout defeats on the campaign. The good news is, they've shown signs of turning things around as they enter Monday's action off consecutive one-goal victories over the Rangers and Blues. Those wins are fine but the schedule toughens up this week as their long road trip continues with games against surging opponents in the Blue Jackets, Red Wings and Sabres before closing the jaunt against the Flyers and Hurricanes. Los Angeles will play just one home game between now and the Olympic break and that comes on February 4th against Seattle.
Help wanted
You have to figure the Islanders will be 'buyers' leading up to the trade deadline as they sit in third place in the Metropolitan Division but with a number of teams breathing down their neck in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Generating offense has been an issue for the Isles as they've produced just 2.9 goals per game on the season including 2.7 away from home. Lately, their lack of scoring punch has been even more magnified as they've produced two goals or less in four of their last five contests, winning just twice over that stretch. Ilya Sorokin is a world class goaltender but he can only be asked to shoulder so much of the load. Of note, the Isles draw divisional matchups in six of seven games leading up to the Olympic break.
Lightning strike
I'm not sure the Lightning are getting the attention they deserve for their current run. They've reeled off 14 wins over their last 16 games, despite missing a number of key contributors. Victor Hedman and Brayden Point are among those currently sidelined but the fact that they continue to pile up victories speaks to the depth that this team has built. Beginning on Monday against Utah, Tampa Bay will play six straight home games that will carry it through the Olympic break. That includes a 'Stadium Series' affair against Boston on February 1st. The Bolts are a modest 13-9 on home ice this season where they've outscored opponents by an average margin of 0.3 goals.
Quack attack
Anaheim will have its seven-game winning streak tested in a difficult back-to-back spot in Edmonton on Monday. The Ducks struggled mightily to keep the puck out of their net during an extended slide in December and early January but a renewed defensive focus has turned the tide. They've held all seven opponents to three goals or less and five of them to two or fewer over the course of their current winning streak. Unfortunately, the road hasn't been kind to Anaheim as it enters Monday's clash with the Oilers sporting a 13-13-2 record away from home, where it has been outscored by 0.6 goals on average (and has allowed 3.7 goals per contest).
Everything must go?
The bottom has fallen out for the Rangers as they've mustered just six wins going all the way back to December 6th. An injury to goaltender Igor Shesterkin has left them completely flat-footed as they enter Monday's matchup with the Bruins having allowed a whopping 42 goals over their last eight contests, not coincidentally since the all-world net-minder went down. There's a glimmer of hope as the Blueshirts will have an opportunity to gain ground with each of their next eight games coming against Metropolitan Division opponents. With that being said, they currently sit in last place in the Eastern Conference, 11 points back of the Islanders who hold down the final playoff spot in the Metro. They'll play a home-and-home set with the Isles on Wednesday and Thursday this week.
Crowning moments
The Los Angeles Kings are in the thick of the playoff hunt in the Western Conference but it's been a grind to be sure. Close losses have been the story as the Kings have piled up 12 overtime or shootout defeats on the campaign. The good news is, they've shown signs of turning things around as they enter Monday's action off consecutive one-goal victories over the Rangers and Blues. Those wins are fine but the schedule toughens up this week as their long road trip continues with games against surging opponents in the Blue Jackets, Red Wings and Sabres before closing the jaunt against the Flyers and Hurricanes. Los Angeles will play just one home game between now and the Olympic break and that comes on February 4th against Seattle.
Help wanted
You have to figure the Islanders will be 'buyers' leading up to the trade deadline as they sit in third place in the Metropolitan Division but with a number of teams breathing down their neck in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Generating offense has been an issue for the Isles as they've produced just 2.9 goals per game on the season including 2.7 away from home. Lately, their lack of scoring punch has been even more magnified as they've produced two goals or less in four of their last five contests, winning just twice over that stretch. Ilya Sorokin is a world class goaltender but he can only be asked to shoulder so much of the load. Of note, the Isles draw divisional matchups in six of seven games leading up to the Olympic break.
Lightning strike
I'm not sure the Lightning are getting the attention they deserve for their current run. They've reeled off 14 wins over their last 16 games, despite missing a number of key contributors. Victor Hedman and Brayden Point are among those currently sidelined but the fact that they continue to pile up victories speaks to the depth that this team has built. Beginning on Monday against Utah, Tampa Bay will play six straight home games that will carry it through the Olympic break. That includes a 'Stadium Series' affair against Boston on February 1st. The Bolts are a modest 13-9 on home ice this season where they've outscored opponents by an average margin of 0.3 goals.
Quack attack
Anaheim will have its seven-game winning streak tested in a difficult back-to-back spot in Edmonton on Monday. The Ducks struggled mightily to keep the puck out of their net during an extended slide in December and early January but a renewed defensive focus has turned the tide. They've held all seven opponents to three goals or less and five of them to two or fewer over the course of their current winning streak. Unfortunately, the road hasn't been kind to Anaheim as it enters Monday's clash with the Oilers sporting a 13-13-2 record away from home, where it has been outscored by 0.6 goals on average (and has allowed 3.7 goals per contest).
Everything must go?
The bottom has fallen out for the Rangers as they've mustered just six wins going all the way back to December 6th. An injury to goaltender Igor Shesterkin has left them completely flat-footed as they enter Monday's matchup with the Bruins having allowed a whopping 42 goals over their last eight contests, not coincidentally since the all-world net-minder went down. There's a glimmer of hope as the Blueshirts will have an opportunity to gain ground with each of their next eight games coming against Metropolitan Division opponents. With that being said, they currently sit in last place in the Eastern Conference, 11 points back of the Islanders who hold down the final playoff spot in the Metro. They'll play a home-and-home set with the Isles on Wednesday and Thursday this week.
