The NHL landscape shifted dramatically last night, not just on the scoreboard, but in the infirmary. As we wake up on this Tuesday morning, the New York Rangers are holding their breath, the Washington Capitals are celebrating a rookie sensation, and the trade winds are howling in Vancouver.
Here is your complete breakdown of the latest NHL news, scores, and rumors for January 6, 2026.
Rangers Hold Breath as Shesterkin Exits
The headline story from Monday night isn’t the score, but the loss. In a 3-2 overtime loss to the Utah Mammoth, the New York Rangers saw their franchise goaltender, Igor Shesterkin, leave the game with a lower-body injury.
Shesterkin exited midway through the first period after an awkward push-off. While Head Coach Mike Sullivan stated that Shesterkin is “undergoing evaluation,” the mood at Madison Square Garden was somber. If the former Vezina winner misses significant time, the Rangers’ playoff hopes in the Metropolitan Division could be in serious jeopardy.
Meanwhile, Sean Durzi played the hero for Utah, netting the overtime winner to spoil the mood in NYC.
Justin Sourdif: A 5-Point Night to Remember
In Anaheim, history was made. Washington Capitals rookie Justin Sourdif exploded for his first NHL hat trick, adding two assists for a massive 5-point night in a 7-4 drubbing of the Ducks. With Alex Ovechkin also potting two goals, the Capitals’ offense looked unstoppable. Sourdif’s breakout performance is exactly the depth scoring injection Washington needed as they push for a Wild Card spot.
NHL Scores & Notes: January 5, 2026
Here is a quick recap of last night’s action.
| Away Team | Score | Home Team | Score | Game Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah Mammoth | 3 | NY Rangers | 2 | OT. Durzi (UTA) GWG. Shesterkin injured. |
| Detroit Red Wings | 5 | Ottawa Senators | 3 | DET snaps losing streak. |
| Minnesota Wild | 2 | LA Kings | 4 | Kings shut down the surging Wild. |
| Calgary Flames | 1 | Seattle Kraken | 5 | Kraken dominate at home. |
| Washington Caps | 7 | Anaheim Ducks | 4 | Sourdif (WSH) Hat Trick + 2 Assists. |
NHL Trade Rumors: Tanev Out, Sherwood on the Block
The rumor mill is spinning faster than ever as we approach the March deadline.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Bad news on the blue line. It appears Chris Tanev may be done for the season. Reports surfaced late last night that the veteran defenseman requires surgery for a lingering lower-body issue. With Tanev out until at least the playoffs, expect Toronto to be aggressive in the market for a right-shot defenseman.
Vancouver Canucks: The Kiefer Sherwood saga continues. After declining a contract extension, sources suggest the Canucks are actively shopping the gritty winger. The Boston Bruins and Dallas Stars have emerged as front-runners for his services.
Edmonton Oilers: Stan Bowman is looking to shed salary. Andrew Mangiapane is the name circulating as a potential cap dump to clear space for a goalie upgrade.
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