Pregame

The first Crosby-less lineup of the season for the Penguins serves as the first Samuel Girard appearance in the lineup. Arturs Silovs gets the nod in net.

The visiting New Jersey Devils bring this lineup to the proceedings.

First period

Both teams trade some chances early, the Penguins are the better team early with the Evgeni Malkin line generating some chances before New Jersey starts to get the better of the play, forcing Silovs to make a couple of nice blocker stops.

Pittsburgh gets the first power play and nice zone time, it takes a while for them to settle in. Malkin and Kris Letang move the puck, Letang fires. Tommy Novak gets a piece to redirect things on Jacob Markstrom. 1-0.

One goal often begats another, NJ gets a chance very late but it doesn’t go.

Shots go 9-6 PIT in the first, the power play goal being the difference.

Second period

The Devils adjust and respond in the second with a better effort and more control of the puck. They get their first power play when Malkin high sticks a guy.

The power play doesn’t score but it helps build towards a goal soon after. Paul Cotter gets a piece of a Dougie Hamilton point shot. The Penguins decide to challenge, for some unknown reason because there was hardly anything there.

Goal stands, NJ to the power play. The Pens kill it off but are right back to the penalty box soon after, Avery Hayes being the guilty party this time with a slash.

The penalty parade continues, Hayes draws one this time however the Penguins can’t score on their second power play of the evening. Soon after it’s Kris Letang’s turn to head to the box after knocking over Jesper Bratt. Another kill after some Connor Dewar hero ball to keep rushes going up the ice.

Turns out with 2:00 left that one more power play can get squeezed into a penalty-fest of a period, this time Simon Nemec of the Devils was the guilty party. No dice for the Pens on the late chance for a go-ahead goal.

Silovs and saves like this are the reason the game is tied after two periods:

Third period

Pittsburgh comes out strong to start the third, the Hayes, Rakell and Rust line builds momentum and amps up the pressure. That continues a little later, Ryan Shea hammers the post so hard the puck ricochets with force way out to Connor Clifton. Clifton can tell that Markstrom is way off his angle and quickly sends another effort in. It hits the crossbar and goes in. 2-1 Pens.

50 seconds later, the Pens double their lead. Malkin springs Egor Chinakhov, who drives to the net and makes a deft move to lift the puck back across Markstrom. 3-1 Pens, just like that.

The Devils pull Markstrom with almost four minutes left, getting aggressive while down two goals. That added pressure might have been a reason Clifton went to clear a puck on his backhand and sailed it out of play to take a penalty. They get Markstrom out for a 6v4 but their push ends when Blake Lizotte picks off a Hamilton pass, skates down and puts the puck into the empty net. 4-1.

Some thoughts

• Faceoffs will be one area to monitor for the Pens without Crosby. He’s always not only near the top of the league in faceoff winning percentage, but also in pure numbers of faceoffs. This season, for instance, Crosby’s 1,171 faceoffs represent almost 39% of the total draws the team has had and was the third highest in the league. Ben Kindel (way down 402 faceoffs) was next on the list. Faceoffs were a struggle tonight, the Pens only won 40% of the draws and most of their top centers struggled (Rakell at 30%, Lizotte and Novak at a matching 33%).
• Welp, Dan Muse didn’t learn what goaltender interference was during the Olympic break. Muse is now 0-6 at making coaches challenges in that area. Each one has been seemingly been a worse challenge than the next, this one was almost no amount of contact with the goalie. It’s arguably the one hole in Muse’s coaching repertoire so far. Whatever the thought process is on those challenges need to be worked out, already!
• One area Muse has nailed is in the department of picking a goalie. Silovs was incredible in this game and was at his best when most of the game was tight. The Pens weren’t great over stretches for this one, thanks to their goalie they weren’t punished for that and able to punch in a few in the third period to pull away.
• Connor Dewar had two shorthanded breakaways. Didn’t score on either though it’s a sign he’s definitely looking to get up the ice these days even when shorthanded. The Pens’ PK has been good this year (and very good lately) yet they haven’t really been aggressively looking to strike on it too often. That might be changing.
• Samuel Girard as a Penguin was an interesting watch, as expected he’s a good skater. You can tell he’s been well-schooled and coached, had a team-high three blocks and was positioned impeccably in the defensive zone to leave a fine first impression.
• Evgeni Malkin always seems to look fresh and rejuvenated when he gets a few weeks off, he doubtlessly also knows without No. 87 around it’s on him to step up as the guy. That usually works out well too given his 1.34 point/game rate in the situation. Two assists tonight, plus four shots on goal, very noticeable performance.
• The defense was just as key at generating offense tonight. Letang’s shot got deflected for a goal. Shea hit two posts, the second one opening up an opportunity for his partner Clifton to score it himself. All hands are going to have to be on deck like that.
• The penalty kill is going to have to be strong as well, and was up to the task by going a perfect 5/5, plus Lizotte’s EN clincher. Big effort there, particularly in the second period when New Jersey had four cracks at their power play.
• Pens improve to 11-1-5 in games against division opponents this year. Massive stuff to pile up the points against the teams they’re competing with the most for a playoff berth.

That makes for a victorious first game back from the break, getting the Pens off on the right foot for what figures to be a very challenging path ahead. They handled business nicely against a team down in the standings while at home, as they should have. Up next are two afternoon games this weekend, starting in New York against the Rangers on Saturday.

The Florida Panthers resumed their NHL season following the league’s Olympic break when they hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night.

With only 25 games remaining and plenty of ground to make up in the playoff race, Florida jumped all over the Leafs and skated to an exhilarating 5-1 victory at Amerant Bank Arena.

It didn’t take long for the Panthers to give their home fans something to cheer about.

Just 3:18 into the game, Brad Marchand jumped on the rebound of an Anton Lundell shot from the side boards, kicking the puck to his stick and depositing it behind a sprawling Joseph Woll to give the Cats an early 1-0 lead.

Less than two minutes later, with Nicolas Roy in the penalty box for tripping Matthew Tkachuk, the Panthers stuck again.

This time it was a great backhand pass by Evan Rodrigues finding Carter Verhaeghe at the side of Woll’s net, and a quick snipe over Woll’s glove to put Florida up 2-0 at the 5:13 mark.

With Toronto on the power play late in the period, Florida took the opportunity to add to their lead.

As the Leafs were attempting to exit their own zone and move toward Florida’s blue line, Rodrigues picked off a pass by William Nylander and headed in all alone on a breakaway.

A nasty backhand-forehand move in which Rodrigues completely stopped his forward motion and dangled the puck around Woll’s leg gave the Panthers a 3-0 lead to take into the first intermission.

That’s how the score would remain until early in the third period.

With Toronto on the power play, a backhand pass by John Tavares went off Gus Forsling’s skate and through the legs of Sergei Bobrovsky, cutting into Florida’s lead just 47 seconds into the final frame.

The Leafs wouldn’t get any closer, as Bobrovsky shut the door and Marchand added an empty-net goal with 3:09 to go to give the Cats a 4-1 lead.

For good measure, Matthew Tkachuk also got in on the fun, scoring his own empty-netter with 1:52 to go after Toronto pulled Woll a second time. 

On to the Sabres.

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Photo caption: Feb 26, 2026; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Brad Marchand (63) scores against Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll (60) during the first period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk was acknowledged before Thursday's game for winning a gold medal with Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.

Midway through the Feb. 26 home game against the Detroit Red Wings, Tkachuk had a bloody nose and a trip to the penalty box.

At the 7:40 mark of the second period, Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson delivered a big hit that sent Tkachuk to the ice. The puck wasn't nearby, so Edvinsson was assessed two minutes for interference, plus five minutes for fighting as Ottawa's Dylan Cozens dropped the gloves in defense of his teammate.

Some rough stuff breaks out after Brady Tkachuk gets interfered with 👀 pic.twitter.com/NJL8BrgPad

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) February 27, 2026

But Tkachuk also received a 10-minute misconduct penalty, apparently for chirping at Edvinsson after he went to the penalty box.

Both continued to argue with each other while in the penalty box.

Brady Tkachuk and Simon Edvinsson have a spirited conversation in the box 😳 pic.twitter.com/FjXbkS4tyJ

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) February 27, 2026

Tkachuk scored the game's opening goal, but Detroit captain Dylan Larkin, another Team USA standout, scored twice in the Red Wings' 2-1 overtime win.

The day was a busy one for Tkachuk, who was making his first appearance since the Olympics. He answered questions after practice about the gold medal experience plus a White House TikTok video in which his voice was dubbed over to make it sound like he was insulting Canadians.

Tkachuk called the video, which included artificial intelligence, "clearly fake because it's not my voice and not my lips moving."

He added: "It's not my voice. It's not what I was saying. I would never say that. It's not who I am. So, I guess I don't like that video."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brady Tkachuk bloodied by Simon Edvinsson hit in NHL return

Recently, we here at The Hockey News Buffalo Sabres looked at two trade candidates from the Calgary Flames. 

Now, in this latest edition of the Sabres trade targets series, let's look at two Philadelphia Flyers who could be good fits for the Atlantic Division club.

Owen Tippett 

Owen Tippett has been a popular name in the rumor mill this season, and he would have the potential to be a very nice addition to the Sabres' roster. The 27-year-old forward would give the Sabres another skilled forward to work with in their top nine and would be an obvious choice for their power play if acquired.

Tippett would be more than a rental for the Sabres if acquired, as he has a $6.2 million cap hit until the end of the 2031-32 season. In 57 games this season, he has recorded 19 goals, 16 assists, and 35 points. 

Noah Juulsen 

The Sabres need another depth defenseman with experience, and the Flyers have a decent option in Noah Juulsen. The 28-year-old could work well on the Sabres' bottom pairing or even as an extra defenseman. 

Juulsen would not be a big addition to the Sabres' roster, but he would give them another much-needed right-shot defenseman. In 43 games this season, he has recorded one goal, nine points, 90 hits, and a plus-2 rating.

For a few moments, J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck had the Garden spotlight to themselves.

A video montage congratulating the Rangers’ five Team USA representatives from the Winter Olympics — who all were part of the run in Milan that ended with the country’s first gold medal in men’s hockey since 1980 — had just finished playing Thursday, recognizing Miller, Trocheck, head coach Mike Sullivan (USA head coach), assistant coach David Quinn (USA assistant coach) and president and general manager Chris Drury (USA assistant general manager) — with Drury, the architect of this disappointing Rangers season and retooling, getting booed loudly during the proceedings.

The ceremony, something that has been replicated throughout the NHL as players rejoined their respective teams, lasted around four minutes before the Blueshirts’ 3-2 overtime loss to the Flyers.

Sullivan’s speech from inside the American locker room pregame played on the scoreboard. Highlights from the gold-medal game, too. And then Trocheck and Miller were both shown receiving their gold medals.

MSG crowd chants ‘U-S-A’ as J. T. Miller, Vincent Trocheck, Mike Sullivan, Chris Drury & David Quinn get a standing ovation after Team USA brought home gold. pic.twitter.com/3SL24ickeU

— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) February 27, 2026

“The celebration before the game is a special moment for a lot of us,” Sullivan said. “Certainly proud of the accomplishment that the Olympic team was able to win the gold medal. We’re particularly proud of J.T. and [Trocheck] and the contribution that they had in helping us win over there. Those guys were instrumental in so many ways.”

Trocheck and Miller were key pieces of a penalty kill unit that went 18-for-18 throughout the tournament. Across the entire men’s hockey tournament, Trocheck finished with the third-highest faceoff percentage.

And Thursday, the celebration for Team USA’s medal — which stretched from Milan to Miami to the White House, morphing into a political controversy along the way — reached their home venue.

In a season where the Rangers’ focus has shifted to what’s next, Brendan Brisson became the latest to get a chance.

The 24-year-old and former first-round pick — part of the return in the March trade that sent Reilly Smith to the Golden Knights — was recalled from AHL Hartford to practice with the Blueshirts during the Olympic break and made his Rangers debut Thursday.

• CHECK OUT THE LATEST NHL STANDINGS AND RANGERS STATS

He skated on the third line alongside Noah Laba and Conor Sheary while also logging time with the second power-play unit. Brisson, who previously appeared in 24 NHL games across two stints while with the Golden Knights, collected 13 goals and 23 points in 46 games with the Wolf Pack.

“I’m just gonna try to go out there [Thursday] and be good in the system, be good in the details of the game and if I get a chance, hopefully generate on it, produce on it,” Brisson told The Post before the Rangers’ 3-2 overtime loss to the Flyers.

Forward Brett Berard was assigned to the Wolf Pack and goaltender Hugo Ollas was assigned to ECHL Bloomington Bison before the game.

Gotham Sports App, which is the direct-to-consumer streaming branch of MSG and YES Networks, can now be purchased through Prime Video, the company announced. It serves as the streaming space for Rangers, Islanders, Devils, Yankees, Knicks, Nets and Sabres coverage.

DENVER — The clock is ticking in Colorado. 

With the trade deadline looming and a championship window still wide open, the Colorado Avalanche find themselves in a familiar position: aggressive, calculated, and unafraid to swing big. Cap space is available. A former Stanley Cup hero could be within reach. The question isn’t whether the Avalanche can make a blockbuster move — it’s whether they should.

Cap Space Creates Opportunity

The Avalanche wasted no time getting to work once the Olympic trade freeze lifted. In a decisive move, Colorado shipped longtime defenseman Samuel Girard and a 2028 second-round pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenseman Brett Kulak.

Kulak made his Avalanche debut in a 4–2 victory over the Utah Mammoth at Delta Center, and the early returns were solid. But the real win may not have been on the ice — it was on the balance sheet.

By moving Girard without retaining salary, Colorado cleared significant cap space. The Avalanche now sit with approximately $8.74 million in flexibility, giving general manager Chris MacFarland the financial breathing room to pursue something far more ambitious.

The Nazem Kadri Question

Reacquiring Nazem Kadri would be more than a nostalgic reunion. It would be a competitive statement.

Kadri was instrumental in Colorado’s 2022 Stanley Cup run, producing a career-best 87 points (28 goals, 59 assists) in 71 regular-season games before delivering timely playoff heroics. After the Avalanche were unable to retain him, he signed with the Calgary Flames, where his production has remained respectable — though not quite at his Colorado peak.

At 35, Kadri is no longer the dynamic force he once was. But context matters. Calgary sits near the bottom of the Pacific Division at 23-27-6, and Kadri has made little secret of his dissatisfaction with the direction of the franchise. A return to Denver could reignite both his production and his edge.

Kadri, slotted as a third-line center, could give the Avalanche enviable depth and matchup flexibility heading into the postseason.

But if Kadri demands to play the second-line role, that could become a serious issue. Brock Nelson has excelled in the role and is having a career-best season along with just capturing Olympic gold in Milan, the first gold medal for the United States since 1980. The last thing you want to do is have an angry player who's locked in on a long-term deal.

But if Kadri is willing to be the third-line center, it could be a solid fit. 

The Veteran Blueprint: Brent Burns

Age alone is not a disqualifier in Colorado.

Just look at Brent Burns.

At 40 years old, Burns is authoring an impressive campaign, tallying nine goals and 18 assists for 27 points in 56 games with a career-best +30 rating. While plus/minus is no longer a favored analytic darling, it remains an indicator of on-ice impact — and Burns’ number speaks volumes.

His previous high-water mark came during the 2013-14 season with the San Jose Sharks, where he became a franchise cornerstone and later captured the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2017 as the league’s top defenseman.

Burns is in Colorado for one reason: to win another Stanley Cup. If he can defy the aging curve, the Avalanche may believe Kadri can do the same.

The Real Cost of a Reunion

The complication, as always, lies in the asking price.

Colorado’s identity is built on depth — and dismantling that depth could be counterproductive. Parker Kelly is enjoying a career year and serves as a vital locker-room presence. If Calgary demands Kelly, that may be a nonstarter.

A package centered around Ross Colton and a draft pick could be palatable, but a rebuilding Flames organization will likely demand more. Top prospect Mikhail Gulyayev would certainly intrigue Calgary’s front office.

The Avalanche must determine whether sacrificing future assets — and potentially disrupting team chemistry — is worth a short-term surge.

If Not Kadri, Then Who?

If Kadri proves too costly, an alternative exists in Ryan O’Reilly.

While not the fleetest skater at this stage of his career, O’Reilly remains elite in the faceoff circle and thrives in the hard areas of the ice. His three-goal performance on January 16 at Ball Arena was a reminder that his instincts and net-front prowess remain intact.

Colorado’s playoff needs are clear: win draws, grind in traffic, score the ugly goals when space evaporates.

O’Reilly fits that description.

Championship Windows Don’t Wait

What this ultimately comes down to is urgency.

The Avalanche’s championship window is not closed — but it is not infinite. With a core still in its prime and veterans pushing for one more ring, Colorado must balance boldness with prudence.

Cap space gives them options. Familiar names stir emotion. But championships are not won on sentiment.

As the trade deadline accelerates toward its climax, all eyes turn to CMac — and whether the next move will be a calculated tweak or a seismic swing.

Because in Colorado, second chances can lead to parades.