Welcome to your Saturday hockey fix. The NHL schedule is absolutely stacked today with 14 games on the slate, but before the puck drops on this massive Saturday, we have to talk about what happened last night. It was a light schedule on Friday, Jan. 9, but the storylines were heavy. From Alex Ovechkin continuing to defy Father Time to the newly christened Utah Mammoth finding their groove, here is everything you need to know in the world of hockey today.
Ovechkin Continues His Climb
The Great Eight isn’t slowing down. In a 5-1 rout of the depleted Chicago Blackhawks, Alex Ovechkin found the back of the net once again. His goal in the third period beat rookie goaltender Drew Commesso—making Commesso the 187th unique goaltender Ovechkin has scored on in his career. The Capitals have moved into a Wild Card position in the East, and with Ovi heating up, they look dangerous.
Utah Mammoth: The “Electric Utes”
The rebrand seems to be working. The Utah Mammoth (21-20-3) secured their third straight win last night, defeating the St. Louis Blues 4-2 at the Delta Center. Clayton Keller, who will represent Team USA at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics next month, was the star of the show. He notched three assists against his hometown team, proving that the Mammoth are going to be a tough out in the Central Division.
Battle for the Atlantic
Looking ahead to tonight, all eyes are on the Bell Centre. The Montreal Canadiens host the Detroit Red Wings in a shock battle for first place in the Atlantic Division. Both teams are tied with 56 points. Nick Suzuki is set to play his 500th consecutive game, while Patrick Kane looks to add to his legacy after netting his 500th career goal earlier this week.
Friday Night Recap: Jets, Capitals, and Mammoth Pick Up Wins
If you missed the action on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, here is the full breakdown of the scores. It was a good night for home teams and favorites.
NHL Scoreboard: January 9, 2026
- Winnipeg Jets (5) vs Los Angeles Kings (1)
- Note: Kyle Connor (1G, 1A) and Mark Scheifele (2G) dominated as the Jets snapped their slump.
- Washington Capitals (5) vs Chicago Blackhawks (1)
- Note: Ovechkin scores his 19th of the season; Caps move into playoff position.
- Utah Mammoth (4) vs St. Louis Blues (2)
- Note: Clayton Keller tallies 3 assists; Utah extends winning streak to three games.
Stay Updated with the Latest NHL Trade Rumors & News
As we inch closer to the NHL trade deadline, the rumors are starting to swirl. Will the Predators sell? Are the Rangers looking for one more piece? Finding accurate information can be tough. That’s why we recommend you bookmark nhltraderumor.com for the absolute latest breaking news. Whether you are looking for Fantasy Hockey predictions to save your week or deep dives into salary cap implications, they have you covered.
Don’t miss a beat this season. Join our community of passionate hockey fans and get the best rumors delivered straight to your inbox.
The post Is Ovechkin Unstoppable? Plus Utah’s Surge and Today’s Massive NHL Slate appeared first on NHL Trade Rumors.
