Canadian Teams Morning Review – Jan. 14: Flames, Habs, Canucks, Sens, Oilers, Jets & Leafs
It was one of those nights where the scores alone didn’t tell the whole story, but the direction of travel did. Across six games involving Canadian teams, the themes were familiar: uneven starts, fragile margins, and the growing cost of mistakes against opponents who were either desperate, disciplined, or simply sharper when it mattered most.
There were flashes of pushback and individual excellence, but little that suggested a clean, collective step forward. Some teams are wrestling with confidence, others with identity, and a few are learning—again—that effort without execution only gets you so far in this league.
What follows isn’t about piling on. It’s about understanding where the tilt came from and why these games slipped the way they did.
Calgary Flames at Columbus Blue Jackets (5–3 Columbus)
For the Calgary Flames, this loss wasn’t just about giving up five goals—it was about losing control of a winnable game against a team playing its first night under new leadership. The Flames did enough offensively and were perfect on the power play, but they never quite dictated terms.
The defining figure was Boone Jenner, who delivered the sort of captain’s performance that tends to swing games. His late third-period goal broke a 3–3 tie, but his impact went beyond the score sheet. Boone Jenner set the emotional temperature, mixing physical engagement with timely offence, and Calgary never quite matched that edge at even strength.
A secondary turning point came with Zach Werenski’s power-play goal early in the third. It gave Columbus its first lead of the period and exposed Calgary’s ongoing difficulty protecting momentum after scoring. While Dustin Wolf made 38 saves and kept the Flames close, the volume itself told the story—too much time defending, too little dictating play five-on-five.
Calgary’s special teams masked some problems, but this was another reminder that structure and discipline matter more than bursts of production. Against a team energized by change, the Flames looked reactive rather than assertive.
Montreal Canadiens vs Washington Capitals (3–2 Washington, OT)
This game will linger for the Montreal Canadiens because it slipped away without ever needing to. Holding a 2–0 lead entering the third period, Montreal had the game positioned exactly where it wanted it—until it didn’t.
The key moment wasn’t the overtime winner by Connor McMichael, but the Canadiens’ failure to capitalize on a late two-person advantage in the second period. That missed opportunity left Washington alive, and the Capitals took full advantage. Ethen Frank’s two third-period goals weren’t the product of sustained dominance, but of persistence and loose coverage.
Montreal’s best work came from Josh Anderson and Brendan Gallagher, who scored and set an early tone, particularly Anderson’s shorthanded goal that should have been a psychological blow. Instead, the Canadiens slowly retreated into protection mode, inviting pressure rather than managing it.
Overtime felt inevitable by the time it arrived. When Sam Montembeault couldn’t control the rebound off Dylan Strome’s shot, the night turned. For a rebuilding team, these are the lessons that sting most—not effort, but execution when control is within reach.
Vancouver Canucks at Ottawa Senators (2–1 Ottawa)
For the Vancouver Canucks, this loss fit too neatly into an increasingly troubling pattern. Another slow start, another uphill climb, and another night where too much had to go right just to stay close.
The game was decided in a 15-second window early in the first period. Goals by Artem Zub and Jordan Spence, scored moments apart, gave the Ottawa Senators all the margin they needed. That burst wasn’t about luck—it reflected Vancouver’s ongoing difficulty handling pace early in games.
To their credit, the Canucks pushed back. Elias Pettersson capitalized on a turnover to cut the deficit, and Kevin Lankinen was excellent, particularly during a second-period onslaught that could have buried the game. But the damage was already done.
Ottawa didn’t need brilliance after that—just structure. Leevi Merilainen was steady, and the Senators defended the middle of the ice with purpose. For Vancouver, now deep into a winless stretch, the concern isn’t effort. It’s that games are being lost before they ever settle.
Edmonton Oilers at Nashville Predators (4–3 Nashville, OT)
This loss said more about margins than malaise for the Edmonton Oilers. On the road against a disciplined Nashville team, Edmonton showed resilience, offensive depth, and star power—but not quite enough restraint.
The defining figure was Roman Josi, whose second goal of the night ended the game in overtime. His ability to join the play at the right moment, particularly late, remains a problem teams struggle to solve. Edmonton allowed him too much space at the critical moment.
Offensively, Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid, and Zach Hyman did what elite players do, combining for key goals and assists. McDavid’s point streak continued, and Edmonton’s power play was once again a weapon.
What tilted the game was Edmonton’s inability to hold a lead for more than a moment. Each time they surged ahead, Nashville answered almost immediately. Against good teams, that lack of game-state control is costly. This was competitive, entertaining hockey—but also a reminder that details still decide outcomes.
Winnipeg Jets vs New York Islanders (5–4 Winnipeg)
The Winnipeg Jets earned the win, but they’ll likely spend more time reviewing how it nearly slipped away. This was a game of swings, and Winnipeg lived on both sides of that chaos.
Adam Lowry was central to the Jets’ ability to steady themselves. His late second-period goal restored a two-goal cushion and gave Winnipeg breathing room when momentum was starting to wobble. Kyle Connor also delivered timely offence, continuing a quietly intense stretch.
The problem arose during a frantic middle-period collapse, when Winnipeg surrendered three goals in under three minutes. Defensive coverage broke down, and the Islanders sensed opportunity. That push nearly erased a game Winnipeg largely controlled.
In the end, the Jets managed the final minutes better than they managed the middle stretch. Connor Hellebuyck wasn’t spectacular, but he was steady when it counted. This was a reminder that Winnipeg’s ceiling is high—but its margin for error narrows quickly when the structure slips.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Utah Mammoth (6–1 Utah)
For the Toronto Maple Leafs, this was a humbling loss that ended a strong run and exposed mental and physical fatigue. The score was lopsided, but the game tilted early and never corrected.
Dylan Guenther was the difference-maker, scoring twice in rapid succession to blow the game open in the second period. His release and timing punished defensive gaps that Toronto couldn’t close quickly enough.
The Maple Leafs generated some chances, but Karel Vejmelka didn’t have to be spectacular. Toronto’s problems were systemic—slow recoveries, missed assignments, and an inability to reset after falling behind. Calle Jarnkrok’s goal avoided a shutout, but it changed nothing.
This wasn’t a referendum on Toronto’s season. It was a warning. Long point streaks can mask erosion, and nights like this tend to surface when energy runs thin. The response—not the loss itself—will matter more.
The Bottom Line for Canadian Teams
Across the board, Canadian teams were reminded that the NHL punishes hesitation, loose detail, and emotional drift. Some losses came from youth, others from fatigue, others from being out-managed in key moments.
None of this is fatal—but all of it is instructive. The season doesn’t wait, and neither do opponents.