Welcome to your daily dose of NHL action. If you thought the mid-season grind was slowing down, the games on January 12, 2026, proved you wrong. It was a night of historic milestones, overtime thrillers, and emotional ceremonies that reminded us why we love this game.
The headline, as it so often is, belongs to Connor McDavid. The Edmonton Oilers captain has done it again, becoming the first player in the 2025-26 season to reach 80 points and 50 assists. This marks his 10th consecutive season hitting the 50-assist mark, a level of consistency that puts him in the rarest of companies alongside Wayne Gretzky. McDavid’s brilliance powered the Oilers past the Blackhawks, but he wasn’t the only star shining last night.
In Toronto, the Maple Leafs pushed their point streak to double digits thanks to an overtime hero: William Nylander. The Swede’s game-winner against the Avalanche not only secured the extra point but also sent a message to the rest of the league that Toronto is peaking at the right time. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Lightning continue to look unstoppable, securing their 10th consecutive victory with a sweep of the Flyers, fueled by multi-point performances from Nikita Kucherov and Jake Guentzel.
Off the ice, it was an emotional night in Detroit as the Red Wings raised Sergei Fedorov’s No. 91 to the rafters at Little Caesars Arena. The ceremony set the stage for a gritty OT win over the Hurricanes, capping off a perfect celebration for the franchise.
NHL Game Scores & Highlights: January 12, 2026
Toronto Maple Leafs 4, Colorado Avalanche 3 (OT)
Top Performer: William Nylander (OT Winner)
Nylander plays hero in overtime as the Leafs extend their point streak to 10 games in a potential Stanley Cup preview.
Montreal Canadiens 6, Vancouver Canucks 3
Note: Canucks skid hits 7 games.
The Habs offense exploded at home, deepening the mid-season crisis for Vancouver who are struggling to find answers in net.
Edmonton Oilers 4, Chicago Blackhawks 1
History Watch: McDavid hits 80 points.
Chicago had no answer for McDavid, who extended his point streak to 19 games while making 2025-26 history.
Detroit Red Wings 4, Carolina Hurricanes 3 (OT)
Event: Fedorov Jersey Retirement Night.
A fitting end to a legendary night in Motor City, as the Wings rallied to win in extra time.
New Jersey Devils 5, Minnesota Wild 2
Star: Jesper Bratt (2 Goals)
The Devils snapped their four-game skid with a dominant offensive showing against the Wild.
Dallas Stars 3, Los Angeles Kings 1
A disciplined defensive effort from Dallas shut down the Kings’ attack at Crypto.com Arena.
Florida Panthers 4, Buffalo Sabres 3
The Panthers edged out the Sabres in a tight Atlantic Division battle.
Seattle Kraken 4, New York Rangers 2
Seattle rallied with four straight goals to stun the Rangers at MSG.
Tampa Bay Lightning 5, Philadelphia Flyers 1
The Bolts extend their winning streak to 10 games, continuing their dominance in the East.
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