Now that 2026 Olympic men’s hockey tournament It’s done, those international superstars have Returned to their NHL teams Just in time for the Stanley Cup playoff race to heat up.
On Saturday, many of those hockey heroes will be on the ice for a special doubleheader on ABC and the ESPN app.
In the first matchup, pittsburgh penguins –including Sweden eric carlson And Ricard Raquelbut without the injured Sidney Crosby — face against New York RangersIncluding USA Forward Vincent Trocheck And JT MillerWith USA coach Mike Sullivan (and Swedish teammates) Mika Zibanejad).
in another game boston bruins – including the United States Charlie McEvoy And jeremy swaymanwith Czechia david pasternak among others – take on philadelphia flyerswho will snow Rasmus Ristolainen (Finland), Dan Vladar (Czechia) and travis sanheim (Canada).
To help you prepare for these two games, here’s a guide on each team’s key players, including broadcast information along with in-depth statistical insights from ESPN Research.
Saturday, 12:30 pm ET
Madison Square Garden
penguin
record: 30-15-12, 72 points
power ranking: : 7
Leading scorer: Sidney Crosby (27 goals, 32 assists)
Notes from ESPN Research
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At the beginning of the regular season, DraftKings Sportsbook offered +600 odds for the Penguins to make the playoffs (14% implied probability). Entering Friday, those odds were -310 (75% implied probability).
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Crosby has played in 369 of the Penguins’ last 378 games since the start of the 2021–22 season after recovering from wrist surgery in September 2021. Only 29 players in the NHL played more games than Crosby between Friday, October 30, 2021, and the start of 2021-22 (he was 34 to 38 at the time). His 369 games played in that span are 24 more than any other Penguins player (chris letang 345).
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evgeni malkin He had 46 points, second on the team behind Crosby’s 59. His current 1.10 points-per-game pace would be his highest since 2019-20 (1.35).
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goaltender stuart skinner Is 8-1-1 with a 2.30 goals-against average and .904 save percentage in his last 10 starts. backup arters silos Is 8-2-2 with a 2.39 GAA and .910 save percentage in his last 12 starts.
ranger people
record: 22-29-7, 51 points
power ranking: : 30
Leading scorer: Mika Zibanejad (23 goals, 29 assists)
Notes from ESPN Research
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The Rangers have struggled in the MSG in 2025-26. He entered Saturday’s game 6-15-5 at home this season, the second-worst home points percentage (.327) in the NHL. vancouver canucks (.304, 6-17-5) Their fewest home wins in a season of 80+ games is 13 in 2003–04.
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with the return of Igor Shesterkin And adam foxThe Rangers’ roster is the eighth youngest in the NHL (27.85 years). However, the current top three scorers this season are all 32 years old: Zibanejad (52 points), Vincent Trocheck (37) And JT Miller (36). artemi panarinTraded just before the Olympic break, the 34-year-old had the most points for Rangers (57) this season.
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Will Quill Now has three seasons with 200 or more hits, tied with Dan Girardi for second-most seasons among Rangers players since first being tracked in 2005–06, and trailing only Ryan Callahan’s four such campaigns.
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Number 1 pick in 2020, alexis lafreniereThe 0.52 career points-per-game rate is the fourth-lowest among No. 1 overall picks with 400 NHL games behind Gary Monahan (1963, 0.38), Patrick Stephan (1999, 0.41) and Doug Wickenheiser (1980, 0.50).
Saturday, 3 PM ET
Xfinity Mobile Arena
Bruins
record: 33-20-5, 71 points
power ranking: : 11
Leading scorer: david pasternak (22 goals, 50 assists)
Notes from ESPN Research
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The Bruins missed the playoffs last season, and have not missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons since 2014–15 and 2015–16. The B’s have a .794 shooting percentage in 2026 (12-2-3), which ranks second in the NHL. tampa bay lightning (.861, 15-2-1).
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Pastrnak leads the team with 72 points. This is the fourth 50-assist season of his career, tying Johnny Busyk and Adam Oates for the fourth most such seasons in Bruins history.
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morgan geeky33 goals this season is equal cole caulfield Fourth place in the NHL, behind nathan mackinnon (40), connor mcdavid (35), and matt boldy (34).
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Charlie McEvoyHis 340 career points in his first nine NHL seasons are third among Bruins defensemen, behind Bobby Orr (870) and Ray Bourque (695).
passengers
record: 26-21-11, 63 points
power ranking: : 23
Leading scorer: travis konecny (22 goals, 33 assists)
Notes from ESPN Research
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The Flyers have missed the playoffs for five consecutive seasons, but they have the fifth-youngest roster in the NHL in 2025-26, including nine players under the age of 30 with 20 or more points this season.
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Trevor Zegras‘The 50 points are the second most points by a player skating on a new team this season mitch marner (with 58 vegas golden knights).
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According to NHL Edge, Owen Tippett Has 38 speed bursts over 22 MPH this season, second in the NHL behind Connor McDavid – who has 110 such bursts.
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travis sanheim, Nick Seiler And cam york All have 100 or more blocked shots this season. The Flyers are one of four teams to have three players with 100 or more blocked shots detroit red wings, montreal canadiens And dallas stars.
