NHL Tonight: What to watch in Kings-Rangers, Leafs-Flames, Wings-Oilers

It's Monday, so it's a typically light night on the NHL calendar. However, all three games are interconference matchups, meaning this is one of only two times you will see these particular teams pair off during the 2026-27 season. Cherish it! Here's a look at what you need to know for each game, including betting info and broadcast details: Odds are provided by DraftKings and subject to change. Los Angeles Kings at New York Rangers 7 p.m. ET (NHL Network) | NYR -142, O/U: 5.5 Artemi Panarin spent more time with the Rangers than any other club in his 12-year NHL career thus far, scoring 205 goals and 402 assists in 482 regular-season games. But, following a trade midway through last season, he's now a King. This will be his second return trip to Madison Square Garden to face his old teammates, and the last time around he had an assist and two shots on goal in a 4-1 win for Los Angeles. How does this one play out? Toronto Maple Leafs at Calgary Flames 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | TOR -162, O/U: 6.5 One might be tempted to look at the relative position of these two teams in the standings and conclude that it'll be a breeze for the Leafs. But these Flames are feisty! They have won four of their past five games, including one-goal wins over the mighty Hurricanes and Wild. Devin Cooley has backstopped the past three W's and continues to build his case as the best quote in the league. On the other side, the Leafs are coming off a thorough 7-2 victory over the Flames' Alberta neighbors in Edmonton, including another two goals for William Nylander. Detroit Red Wings at Edmonton Oilers 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+) | EDM -185, O/U: 6.5 Speaking of the Oilers, will they have any better luck against a different Atlantic Division team in this one? Saturday's loss to Toronto was the club's first at home this season, while the Wings have just one win thus far on the road. Edmonton's big three of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard remains among the leading scorers -- as of Monday, McDavid (33 points) is 10 up on Draisaitl in the second spot. Detroit's top scorer is Alex DeBrincat, whose 12 points has him tied for 29th. As for recent history, these two teams split the 2025-26 season series, with the home team winning each game. Reminder: Fans can catch all the action in the NHL streaming hub and on the ESPN App. Jump ahead: Top NHL stories Last night's scores NHL stats leaders Today in hockey history Top stories around the NHL Here's what you need to know: The latest Wysh List column, on the rise in fighting this season. It's a fantasy hockey takeover of the Power Rankings! Sean Allen and Victoria Matiash identify a worthy pickup from each team. Connor Hellebuyck has been traded to the Devils. Ryan S. Clark grades both teams on the swap. "This will be a real fun game": How Brady Tkachuk (and the Senators) prepared for his Ottawa return. "It's obviously been crazy. But it's been a lot of fun." That's Dylan Garand to Wyshynski in Monday's feature. Nikita Kucherov passed Steven Stamkos to become the Lightning's all-time points leader. Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki will be out two to four weeks with an upper-body injury. Sunday's scoreboard Florida Panthers 3, Chicago Blackhawks 2 Dallas Stars 6, New York Islanders 3 Montreal Canadiens 2, Winnipeg Jets 1 Nashville Predators 6, Colorado Avalanche 2 Minnesota Wild 4, Vancouver Canucks 2 NHL scoring leaders Click here for full list of stats leaders. NHL goaltending leaders Click here for the full list of goaltender stats. Today in hockey history Throughout NHL history, many captains have become synonymous with the teams for which they wore the "C." One of them had a special day on this date 29 years ago. On Oct. 26, 1997, Steve Yzerman became the longest serving captain in NHL history. His 11 seasons and 12 games broke the record previously held by fellow Red Wing Alex Delvecchio. Yzerman finished his career with 19 seasons as captain of the Wings, but he has since been eclipsed by another "lifer" captain: Sidney Crosby, who has been captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins since May 31, 2007.