NHL DAILY RECAP
Date: January 11, 2026
By: IHM News
Final Scores
Buffalo Sabres 5, Anaheim Ducks 3
Carolina Hurricanes 3, Seattle Kraken 2
Montreal Canadiens 0, Detroit Red Wings 4
Ottawa Senators 2, Florida Panthers 3
Philadelphia Flyers 2, Tampa Bay Lightning 7
Toronto Maple Leafs 5, Vancouver Canucks 0
Minnesota Wild 3, New York Islanders 4 OT
Nashville Predators 0, Chicago Blackhawks 3
Edmonton Oilers 3, Los Angeles Kings 4 (After Penalties)
Vegas Golden Knights 4, St. Louis Blues 2
Game-by-Game Breakdown
Buffalo Sabres vs Anaheim Ducks
Final Score: Sabres 5, Ducks 3
Shots on Goal: Buffalo 32, Anaheim 34
Shots off Target: Buffalo 11, Anaheim 17
Shooting Percentage: Buffalo 15.63% (5/32), Anaheim 8.82% (3/34)
Blocked Shots: Buffalo 7, Anaheim 22
Goalkeeper Saves: Buffalo 31, Anaheim 27
Save Percentage: Buffalo 91.18% (31/34), Anaheim 87.10% (27/31)
Penalties: Buffalo 5, Anaheim 5
PIM: Buffalo 13, Anaheim 13
Anaheim carried a heavier defensive load with 22 blocked shots, but Buffalo won the finishing battle with a much higher conversion rate. With penalties and PIM equal, this one came down to execution on chances and steadier goaltending at key moments.
Carolina Hurricanes vs Seattle Kraken
Final Score: Hurricanes 3, Kraken 2
Shots on Goal: Carolina 34, Seattle 12
Shots off Target: Carolina 20, Seattle 18
Shooting Percentage: Carolina 8.82% (3/34), Seattle 16.67% (2/12)
Blocked Shots: Carolina 12, Seattle 13
Goalkeeper Saves: Carolina 10, Seattle 31
Save Percentage: Carolina 83.33% (10/12), Seattle 91.18% (31/34)
Penalties: Carolina 1, Seattle 1
PIM: Carolina 2, Seattle 2
Carolina dominated shot volume, and Seattle’s goalie faced constant pressure with 34 shots against. Seattle stayed close thanks to strong save percentage and efficient scoring on limited chances, but Carolina’s territorial control eventually translated into the deciding goal.
Montreal Canadiens vs Detroit Red Wings
Final Score: Canadiens 0, Red Wings 4
Shots on Goal: Montreal 27, Detroit 24
Shots off Target: Montreal 22, Detroit 13
Shooting Percentage: Montreal 0.00% (0/27), Detroit 16.67% (4/24)
Blocked Shots: Montreal 17, Detroit 17
Goalkeeper Saves: Montreal 20, Detroit 27
Save Percentage: Montreal 86.96% (20/23), Detroit 100% (27/27)
Penalties: Montreal 5, Detroit 1
PIM: Montreal 10, Detroit 2
Detroit’s goaltender posted a perfect 27-for-27, and that was the backbone of the shutout. Montreal generated volume but could not finish, while Detroit converted efficiently and stayed far cleaner in discipline with just 1 penalty and 2 PIM.
Ottawa Senators vs Florida Panthers
Final Score: Senators 2, Panthers 3
Shots on Goal: Ottawa 19, Florida 21
Shots off Target: Ottawa 25, Florida 11
Shooting Percentage: Ottawa 10.53% (2/19), Florida 14.29% (3/21)
Blocked Shots: Ottawa 6, Florida 14
Goalkeeper Saves: Ottawa 18, Florida 17
Save Percentage: Ottawa 85.71% (18/21), Florida 89.47% (17/19)
Penalties: Ottawa 5, Florida 6
PIM: Ottawa 10, Florida 12
A close game on shots, but Florida’s finishing edge was the separator in a one-goal outcome. The Panthers also absorbed more defensive work with 14 blocks, protecting the middle while Ottawa generated a lot of missed attempts.
Philadelphia Flyers vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Final Score: Flyers 2, Lightning 7
Shots on Goal: Philadelphia 20, Tampa Bay 23
Shots off Target: Philadelphia 11, Tampa Bay 14
Shooting Percentage: Philadelphia 10.00% (2/20), Tampa Bay 30.43% (7/23)
Blocked Shots: Philadelphia 6, Tampa Bay 14
Goalkeeper Saves: Philadelphia 16, Tampa Bay 18
Save Percentage: Philadelphia 69.57% (16/23), Tampa Bay 90.00% (18/20)
Penalties: Philadelphia 3, Tampa Bay 3
PIM: Philadelphia 9, Tampa Bay 9
Tampa Bay blew it open on pure conversion: 7 goals on 23 shots is elite finishing. With penalties equal, the difference was clear in shooting percentage and the goaltending line, where Tampa held firm and Philadelphia could not stabilize.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Vancouver Canucks
Final Score: Maple Leafs 5, Canucks 0
Shots on Goal: Toronto 24, Vancouver 29
Shots off Target: Toronto 10, Vancouver 21
Shooting Percentage: Toronto 20.83% (5/24), Vancouver 0.00% (0/29)
Blocked Shots: Toronto 10, Vancouver 20
Goalkeeper Saves: Toronto 29, Vancouver 19
Save Percentage: Toronto 100% (29/29), Vancouver 79.17% (19/24)
Penalties: Toronto 8, Vancouver 6
PIM: Toronto 19, Vancouver 15
Vancouver actually had the shot edge, but Toronto owned the two most important columns: finishing and save percentage. A 29-save shutout and 5 goals on 24 shots flipped the game completely, even in a night with plenty of penalties.
Minnesota Wild vs New York Islanders
Final Score: Wild 3, Islanders 4 OT
Shots on Goal: Minnesota 36, New York 27
Shots off Target: Minnesota 18, New York 16
Shooting Percentage: Minnesota 8.33% (3/36), New York 14.81% (4/27)
Blocked Shots: Minnesota 9, New York 14
Goalkeeper Saves: Minnesota 23, New York 33
Save Percentage: Minnesota 85.19% (23/27), New York 91.67% (33/36)
Penalties: Minnesota 3, New York 4
PIM: Minnesota 6, New York 8
Minnesota pushed the pace with 36 shots, but the Islanders were sharper on chance quality and conversion. New York’s goalie delivered a strong 33-save performance, and overtime rewarded the team that finished better all night.
Nashville Predators vs Chicago Blackhawks
Final Score: Predators 0, Blackhawks 3
Shots on Goal: Nashville 37, Chicago 21
Shots off Target: Nashville 16, Chicago 11
Shooting Percentage: Nashville 0.00% (0/37), Chicago 14.29% (3/21)
Blocked Shots: Nashville 8, Chicago 7
Goalkeeper Saves: Nashville 18, Chicago 37
Save Percentage: Nashville 90.00% (18/20), Chicago 100% (37/37)
Penalties: Nashville 4, Chicago 4
PIM: Nashville 8, Chicago 8
One of the clearest stat-driven outcomes you will see: Chicago’s goalie stopped all 37 shots for the shutout, while the Blackhawks buried 3 on 21. Discipline was even, so this was pure goaltending plus finishing.
Edmonton Oilers vs Los Angeles Kings
Final Score: Oilers 3, Kings 4 (After Penalties)
Shots on Goal: Edmonton 24, Los Angeles 31
Shots off Target: Edmonton 14, Los Angeles 14
Shooting Percentage: Edmonton 12.50% (3/24), Los Angeles 9.68% (3/31)
Blocked Shots: Edmonton 13, Los Angeles 20
Goalkeeper Saves: Edmonton 28, Los Angeles 21
Save Percentage: Edmonton 90.32% (28/31), Los Angeles 87.50% (21/24)
Penalties: Edmonton 2, Los Angeles 4
PIM: Edmonton 4, Los Angeles 8
Los Angeles carried the shot advantage and a big blocked-shot edge, and the game extended all the way to penalties. Edmonton actually finished slightly better by percentage and had the cleaner discipline line, but the Kings found the extra edge late to secure it.
Vegas Golden Knights vs St. Louis Blues
Final Score: Golden Knights 4, Blues 2
Shots on Goal: Vegas 25, St. Louis 19
Shots off Target: Vegas 10, St. Louis 12
Shooting Percentage: Vegas 16.00% (4/25), St. Louis 10.53% (2/19)
Blocked Shots: Vegas 16, St. Louis 8
Goalkeeper Saves: Vegas 17, St. Louis 21
Save Percentage: Vegas 89.47% (17/19), St. Louis 87.50% (21/24)
Penalties: Vegas 2, St. Louis 2
PIM: Vegas 7, St. Louis 7
Vegas controlled the defensive details with double the blocked shots, then paired it with better shooting efficiency. With penalties equal, the Knights were simply more complete across the key categories.
Coach Mark Comment
This slate is a textbook reminder that shot volume is only one layer of the story. Carolina and Minnesota owned possession through shots, but conversion and save percentage still dictated the final outcome in both matchups. Detroit and Chicago delivered the cleanest formula of the night: strong discipline, elite goaltending, and ruthless finishing. Tampa Bay’s 30.43% shooting stands out as the extreme case where every breakdown gets punished, while Toronto’s shutout is the classic combination of timely goals and a goaltender closing the door on a high shot count.
Q&A
Why can a team lose while outshooting the opponent?
Because shooting percentage and save percentage can outweigh shot volume, especially when the outshooting team fails to finish.
What does a 100% save percentage mean in one game?
It means the goalie stopped every shot on goal faced, resulting in a shutout.
Why do blocked shots often spike for one team?
High blocked-shot totals usually indicate extended defensive-zone time and a commitment to protecting the slot and shooting lanes.
Which single stat most often predicts who survives close games?
Save percentage, because one extra stop in a tight game can swing the final result.