PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 29: Rutger McGroarty #2 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the Chicago Blackhawks at PPG PAINTS Arena on January 29, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Olympics are approaching and there’s a housekeeping note to be aware of starting this afternoon. From PuckPedia:
During the Olympics, there are restrictions on teams making player transactions. The Olympic Roster freeze goes from February 4 at 3pm ET to February 22 at 11:59 ET.
During the freeze:
-No Trades are permitted -Players can be sent down if they are waiver exempt, except for players that played in 16 of the team’s 20 NHL games prior to the freeze, or have been on the NHL roster for 80 league days prior to Jan 21 -Players can be placed on waivers during the freeze, but if the player was waived after their NHL team’s final game before the freeze, they do not have to report to their new team until February 17.
There are no restrictions on sending players down prior to the freeze.
The biggest bullets for the Penguins are likely the first two listed. Kyle Dubas will be unable to make any trades during this period – and the regular NHL trade deadline will be fast approaching on Friday March 6th soon after the Olympic freeze is lifted.
The second point handles players being moved from the NHL to AHL roster. Currently only Rutger McGroarty and Ryan Graves can be sent by Pittsburgh to Wilkes-Barre without needing waivers. Graves, who was removed from the IR on Monday, is eligible for this since he cleared waivers on 12/31 and has only played two NHL games since that point and has not been on the NHL roster for 30 days since clearing waivers due to his stint on IR. Graves has been on the AHL roster within the last 80 days to satisfy that wrinkle of the rule.
Big takeaway might be that based on the rules the Pens can keep both of these players on the NHL roster for tomorrow night’s game against Buffalo and still look to send them down to the AHL if they wish to keep them playing games over the coming weeks, it doesn’t have to be before today’s official freeze at 3pm today.
Then again, Wilkes-Barre also has a game tonight, so the Penguins could always opt to send McGroarty down before the freeze today for participation in that game. Being as McGroarty didn’t play in last night’s NHL game that would be more about strategic management to get him playing again in the AHL more than it would have anything to do with the freeze rules impacting timing, but so it goes to know that the Pens could keep McGroarty with the NHL team for tomorrow if they so wanted.
The third bullet could apply to someone like Caleb Jones, who would need to be waived today and clear tomorrow and be assigned prior to Pittsburgh’s final game before the break. Jones would also have to be healthy enough to be removed from IR, to which the Pens don’t have a spot for him currently on the 23-man roster. Those extra machinations it would take in order to re-assign Jones fully to the AHL before the freeze could go to leave him where he is for a while longer yet as he works back from a second injury this season.
Otherwise, it should be straight-forward for the team at this point going into the break. Besides the four players going to play in Italy for their respective countries (Sidney Crosby, Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell and Arturs Silovs) the rest of the team can enjoy their well-earned break without having to worry about getting traded in the next few weeks as the league takes a pause.
The Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues tend to play low-event games against one another.
With both teams playing at a snail’s pace, my Blues vs. Stars predictions expect more of the same tonight.
Let’s break down my NHL picks for Wednesday, February 4.
Puck drop is set for 9:30 p.m. ET from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, with the game airing on TNT.
Blues vs Stars prediction
Blues vs Stars best bet: Under 5.5 (+110)
The Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues have played each other three times this season, and 16 total goals were scored in those games (5.33 per), and two stayed Under the number.
It’s not just the lack of goals that stands out, but the process that has led to it. Their games featured an average — yes, average — of 44 total shots on goal. The highest output we’ve seen was 50, and the Blues won the battle 26-24.
A lack of shots is not a coincidence. The Blues rank 27th in 5-on-5 pace this season, while the Stars come in at 31st. Both teams play painfully slowly and are methodical with and without the puck.
The Stars rank fourth in goals against per game and control matchups on home ice, making it difficult for the Blues, who sit 30th in scoring, to find the net.
While the Blues have struggled to keep the puck out, they actually rank Top 6 in 5-on-5 shot suppression and expected goals against over their last 10 games.
It won’t be easy for the Stars, who sit 28th in 5-on-5 scoring rate during that span, to create looks.
Expect another low-event matchup between these Central Division foes.
Blues vs Stars same-game parlay
Miro Heiskanen has averaged 2.4 shots on goal and cleared this line in 76% of his home games. That includes a multi-shot performance against the Blues in the only meeting in Dallas thus far.
Going the other way, Jimmy Snuggerud has ramped up his shot volume, averaging 2.7 shots on 5.9 attempts over his last 10, well above season averages of 2.1 shots and 4.7 attempts. He’s taking on a bigger role with so many key players sidelined.
Blues vs Stars SGP
Under 5.5
Miro Heiskanen Over 1.5 shots on goal
Jimmy Snuggerud Over 1.5 shots on goal
Blues vs Stars odds
Moneyline: Blues +185 | Stars -225
Puck Line: Blues +1.5 (-130) | Stars -1.5 (+110)
Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-130) | Under Under 5.5 (+110)
Blues vs Stars trend
Seven of the past 10 head-to-head meetings have gone Under the total. Find more NHL betting trends for Blues vs. Stars.
How to watch Blues vs Stars
Location
American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Date
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Puck drop
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
TNT
Blues vs Stars latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
The Florida Panthers are running out of time if they want to defend their back-to-back Stanley Cup wins.
With only 27 games remaining on their schedule, the Panthers know they have quite a bit of work to do in order to catch up to the teams currently holding Stanley Cup Playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.
Entering play Wednesday, Florida has racked up 59 points in their 55 games played.
That total has the Cats sitting nine points behind Wednesday’s opponent, the Boston Bruins, who hold the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Florida holds one game in hand on the Bruins, which may or may not come in handy, depending how the next 10 to 15 games go for the Panthers.
Having the healthiest lineup possible for the next two games will go a long way toward Florida procuring all four possible points.
That means we’ll be closely monitoring the status of Panthers forwards Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand and Anton Lundell.
All three are considered day-to-day and we could all or none of them in the Cats’ lineup on Wednesday night.
“There’s a chance they all play tomorrow, there’s a chance none of them play tomorrow,” Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice said after Tuesday’s practice at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale.
Florida is scheduled to hold an optional morning skate ahead of the Bruins game, so there’s a chance Maurice could have an update at that time.
Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Wednesday’s clash with the Bruins:
Photo caption: Jan 11, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) moves the puck against the Boston Bruins during the second period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
'Pens Owen Pickering handles the puck during the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins home opener on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. (Photo by Jason Ardan/The Citizens' Voice via Getty Images)
It was a perfect weekend for the WBS Penguins, two games and two big wins. Nick Hart from WBSPenguins.com gives the quick glance of the action.
Saturday, Jan. 31 – PENGUINS 4 vs. Syracuse 1 On Crosscheck Cancer Night, the Penguins delivered a feel-good win for their fans. Avery Hayes and Rafaël Harvey-Pinard scored in short order in the first period, and Matt Dumba tallied the emotional apex of the season so far in the second. When it appeared as if Syracuse was building momentum, Gabe Klassen shut it down with a shorthanded goal.
Sunday, Feb. 1 – PENGUINS 6 at Lehigh Valley 2 Six different skaters lit the lamp as the Penguins continued their season-long dominance of the Phantoms. Aidan McDonough got things started, followed by Nolan Renwick midway through regulation. Boko Imama buried a breakaway early in the third period. Then, Hayes and Owen Pickering scored back-to-back power-play goals. Harvey-Pinard rounded out the afternoon’s offense, while Dumba posted a pro-career high four assists.
The story of the week in the AHL was Matt Dumba. The veteran recorded six points (1G+5A) in just two games en route to being named the AHL player of the week. The story gets even deeper and better than that individual honor.
Dumba had a touching moment with a young fan as part of the team’s “Crosscheck Cancer Night” and played an inspired game.
Prior to tonight’s game, Matt Dumba chatted with one of our puckdroppers, Sophia, who just finished her final round of chemo this month.
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) February 1, 2026
It hasn’t been an easy turn or season for Dumba, clearing waivers and being assigned back to the AHL. His game didn’t receive the universal praise that players like Tristan Jarry, Danton Heinen, Ryan Graves and Philip Tomasino got over the last year or so for being incredible players at the AHL level, so it’s nice to see Dumba create at least one really fantastic week.
The other note, at the other end of the spectrum from a veteran like Dumba, is two rookies earning their first career AHL points. 2024 second round pick Tanner Howe made his AHL debut this week after working his way back from an ACL injury suffered last year and picked up an assist in his very first game. 2023 third round pick Emil Pieniniemi, after going through some drama about delaying accepting an ECHL assignment, also finds himself in the AHL these days, and a point-scorer in his second game.
As we mentioned last week, the WBS lineup has been filling up with AHL contracts out of necessity lately and not exactly a bevy of players with bright NHL futures, it’s nice to see former recent somewhat high draftees start gaining a little traction in the AHL as they get to work with careers that could have some NHL potential one day down the line.
There hasn’t been much change in the standings, Wilkes-Barre remains second in the division and likely won’t be leaving that spot for a while in either direction.
The upcoming NHL roster freeze might be worth watching. Pittsburgh could presumably send Rutger McGroarty and maybe even Ryan Graves down to the AHL for the break. One player who won’t be with the AHL Pens much longer is third string goalie Filip Larsson. Sergei Murashov and Joel Blomqvist have been taking up all the ice time, Larsson hasn’t started a game since December 14th so he’s opted to get his contract terminated and move onto the next chapter.
Given the games played column above, WBS isn’t going to be that busy in the upcoming weeks considering they have a division-high 45 games in the books. The AHL Pens only have seven games in the three-week stretch from Feb 5-26 that makes up the NHL roster freeze.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - FEBRUARY 3 : Sean Monahan #23 of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Connor Brown #16 of the New Jersey Devils fight for the puck during the second period of the NHL regular season game at the Prudential Center on February 3, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Maclean/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
Jack remains out:
"He's trying to do everything that he can to get to that point but it's really up to the medical team at this point. They're not confident with where he's at but we'll just see what tomorrow brings." – #NJDevils HC Sheldon Keefe on Jack Hughes https://t.co/8Hg0AYHZrU
It’s over. As with every time the Devils have tried to build some momentum as of late, the team fell flat on Tuesday night. The Blue Jackets took a 3-0 win. [Devils NHL]
“To recap, Fitzgerald either wouldn’t part with the pieces necessary to land the league’s 2nd best defenseman, couldn’t move money to make room, or couldn’t best a package built around players he passed on with higher selections. I don’t know which is worse. Whatever the case, Hughes is excelling in Minnesota and it seems possible – perhaps even likely – he decides to stay long-term. Meanwhile, the Devils sit 15th in the Eastern Conference and very much lack a true No. 1 defenseman.” [Infernal Access ($)]
Hockey Links
“(Barry) Trotz announced his plans to step down as the Predators’ GM in a news conference on Monday, confirming earlier reports that he’ll remain in place until his successor is found. The 63-year-old was adamant the decision wasn’t due to health reasons or because he was (pursuing) another opportunity in coaching — something Trotz did for more than 1,800 NHL games prior to joining Nashville’s front office as former GM David Poile’s replacement in 2023.” [ESPN]
In the Montreal Canadiens’ game against the Vegas Golden Knights, the Habs had a goal called back for offside nearly a minute after the contested zone entry happened. In the post-game conference, we suggested to Martin St-Louis that there should be a cutoff time for raising an offside challenge, and the bench boss replied that, since the league has the technology to make the right calls, they should be made. He did, however, mention he felt his team was losing more goals to offside challenges than others, adding that someone could come back to him at the next presser on that topic.
Thanks to the NHL media stats website, it wasn’t difficult to verify. As of February 3 at 10:00 AM, there have been 163 coach challenges in the NHL this season, 74 of which were for offside (representing 45% of all challenges). Six of those 74 challenges for offside were against the Canadiens (representing 8% of all challenges for offside), and all six challenges were successful in getting the goal annulled.
What about the other teams, though? How many goals have they lost? No other team has had more goals annulled for offside than the Canadiens. The Colorado Avalanche are second in that department with five goals annulled on five offside challenges (7% of all offside challenges). The San Jose Sharks and the Washington Capitals are in third place, having lost four goals to offside challenges (5% of all offside challenges).
As for who challenged for offside the most, the Golden Knights are at the top of the list with six challenges, five of which were successful. The Leafs are second, with five challenges, all successful. The Wild, Utah Mammoth, Edmonton Oilers, and Chicago Blackhawks have all made four challenges. How many challenges for offside have the Canadiens made? Just one, and it was successful.
Turns out St-Louis was right, the Canadiens have lost more goals than any other team to offside challenges this season, perhaps there’s some work to be done on zone entries…
ELMONT, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 03: The New York Islanders celebrate after defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4 during overtime at UBS Arena on February 03, 2026 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Steven Ryan/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Here are your Pens Points for this Wednesday morning…
New York Islanders forward Bo Horvat scored twice on Tuesday night, including his game-winning goal 52 seconds into overtime, as the Islanders beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4 and Pittsburgh dropped its second straight game. [Recap]
The Penguins placed goaltender Filip Larsson on unconditional waivers for a contract termination on Tuesday. [Trib Live]
It appears life in Oil Country isn’t going too well for former Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry. And recent postgame comments will likely do him no favors to endear him to teammates or the Edmonton faithful. [Trib Live]
Updates from around the NHL…
The NHL is rightfully getting flamed on social media for reducing its donation amount to cancer research following a moment during Sunday’s Stadium Series game where a cancer survivor was brought onto the ice to make a shot at a small opening in the net from center ice. [Sporting News]
The main ice hockey arena for the Winter Olympics is finally ready. However, some NHL players might feel as if they’re skating on a lake. [Associated Press]
The Columbus Blue Jackets reshuffled some of their front office personnel on Tuesday, giving promotions to former players Chris Clark and Rick Nash. [TSN]
Young Philadelphia Flyers forward Matvei Michkov has had his troubles in what would be generously described as a sophomore slump campaign. His head coach, Rick Tocchet, even offered some blunt criticism of the 21-year-old on a podcast on Sunday, saying he came into training camp out of shape. However, it appears the organization has not lost faith in the former seventh overall pick. [Sportsnet]
It's less than 48 hours until the NHL shuts down for almost three weeks and then there is a furious rush to the playoffs with most teams playing 25-27 games. The NHL is shutting down trading at 3 p.m. ET on Wednesday until the season resumes Feb. 25, but that doesn't mean that you and your fantasy hockey league have to stop.
Best of luck with your trades this week.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This will be the last fantasy hockey trade analyzer until February 23.
TRADE FOR
Brayden Point, C, Lightning (94% rostered)
Point has been out of action since Jan. 12 with a lower-body injury, and while he will not return to the Tampa Bay lineup before the break, he is still hopeful to join Canada at the Winter Olympics. Point is expected to be fully healthy upon his return from the break, which should make him a prime candidate to trade for at this time. He was having an average season (for him) before his injury, tallying 11 goals and 30 points in 37 appearances. But looking over his last three seasons, the talented center had 95, 90 and 82 points, respectively, including no less than 42 goals in any one season. He will be reunited with Nikita Kucherov and Brandon Hagel upon his return and should be good for at least a point per game down the stretch.
Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Point, J.T. Miller and an eighth-round pick for Nick Schmaltz, Nico Hischier and a fifth-round pick. (Schmaltz, Hischier and Miller are good players with Schmaltz having a breakout campaign this season, but none compare to Point.)
Seth Jones, D, Panthers (67% rostered)
Jones last played Jan. 2 against the Rangers, managing only 3:00 of ice time before he left the game in the opening stanza with an upper-body injury. The Panthers are hoping the break gives Jones enough time to heal and that he will return to action Feb. 26 against the Maple Leafs, the Panthers first game back. Jones was a stud on the power play before the injury, tallying five of his six goals and eight of his 18 helpers with the man-advantage.
Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Jones and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for Dylan Guenther. (Nugent-Hopkins and Guenther are similar offensive players, and Jones really tips the scale in this trade.)
Logan Cooley, C, Mammoth (66% rostered)
Cooley (lower body) has been out of action since Dec. 6, a span of 27 games. The good news is that he has returned to the ice in the last few days, skating in a non-contact jersey Monday. Cooley is one of the brightest young players in the NHL. The 21-year-old had 14 goals and nine assists across 29 games this season, after striking for 25 goals and 65 points in his sophomore season in 2024-25. Cooley should return to a role as a top-six forward upon his return, as well as play on the first power-play unit.
Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Cooley for Ryan O'Reilly. (O'Reilly is having a tremendous season, but if he is dealt to a contender, he is likely going to see third-line minutes, while Cooley will always be a top-six, or, more likely, a first-line center.)
TRADE AWAY
Aaron Ekblad, D, Panthers (59% rostered)
Ekblad was seeing first power-play time when Jones was injured Jan. 2, but has been seeing less and less time with the man-advantage, and that could dry up completely when Jones returns after the break. Ekblad is without a point in his last five games, and has three goals and 21 points in 54 games. He used to be a fantasy asset, picking up double digits in goals in eight of his first nine seasons in the NHL, but he has not had more than four goals in any of his last three campaigns.
Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Ekblad and a fourth-round pick for Roman Josi and a 15th-round pick. (There is no comparison between Ekblad and Josi in fantasy pools).
Mikael Granlund, C, Ducks (33% rostered)
Granlund has excelled as the first-line center for the Ducks, but he will lose that spot to Leo Carlsson, upon Carlsson's return from a thigh injury, likely once Anaheim returns to action Feb. 25 versus Edmonton. Granlund has 12 goals and 27 points in 38 games, which is well behind his 66 points in 83 games last season, split between Dallas and San Jose.
Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Granlund, Connor McMichael and a third- and fifth-round pick for Mark Scheifele, Alex DeBrincat and a 10th- and 12th-round pick. (This is obviously a give-up deal in a dynasty league, as Scheifele and DeBrincat are head and shoulders better than Granlund and McMichael.)
Ryan O'Reilly, C, Predators (61% rostered)
O'Reilly is having a fabulous season with the Predators. He has 53 points in 55 games, equaling his point total from last year, when it took him 79 games. He centers the top line, as well as the first power play. So why trade him? Well, the rumor mill has O'Reilly going to a Stanley Cup contender, and, if so, he loses plenty of his value, as he likely will be a third-line center. He will also see a reduction in power-play time, making him an ideal candidate to trade at this time.
Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: O'Reilly and Patrick Kane for Jack Hughes. (While Hughes is injury prone, he is still a top star in the NHL when healthy. Kane used to be, but is no longer, while O'Reilly could be dealt at any time.)
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Cutter Gauthier scored his 25th goal and the Anaheim Ducks defeated the Seattle Kraken 4-2 on Tuesday night to win their final game before the Olympic break.
Jacob Trouba, Alex Killorn and Ross Johnston also scored as the resurgent Ducks built a 4-0 cushion before fending off a late Seattle push. They've won nine of 11 following a nine-game losing streak (0-8-1).
Anaheim climbed within one point of the Pacific Division lead and moved two ahead of the Kraken for third place. Seattle, which had won four in a row and five of six, holds a game in hand over the Ducks.
Lukas Dostal was 4 1/2 minutes from Anaheim's first shutout in 137 games when Jordan Eberle redirected Jared McCann's slap shot in front for his team-high 20th goal.
A giveaway by Dostal led to another Kraken goal when a pinballing puck caromed in off Shane Wright to make it 4-2 with 2:31 left.
Dostal was forced to make several more stops and Chandler Stephenson rang a shot off the post for Seattle before time expired. Dostal finished with 26 saves.
Jansen Harkins and defenseman Jackson LaCombe each had two assists for Anaheim, which improved to 17-8-1 at home. Those were the first two assists for Harkins this season to go with his three goals in 31 games.
Philipp Grubauer stopped 27 shots for the Kraken.
Gauthier opened the scoring at 4:01 of the second period on a snap shot from the top of the right circle just as a Ducks power play expired. Trouba made it 2-0 when the defenseman fired a hard slap shot from the right point with 32.8 seconds left in the period.
Killorn scored from a sharp angle 24 seconds into the third, and Johnston made it 4-0 at 13:54.
Anaheim's streak without a shutout is the longest active drought for any NHL team. The last time the Ducks blanked an opponent came when Dostal made 26 saves in a 2-0 victory at San Jose for their lone shutout last season on Oct. 12, 2024.
Up next
Kraken: Play at Los Angeles on Wednesday night to conclude a three-game trip heading into the Olympic break.
Ducks: Host the Edmonton Oilers on Feb. 25 in their first game following the break.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 03: Jordan Staal #11 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates a goal with the bench during the third period of the game against the Ottawa Senators at the Lenovo Center on February 03, 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Jaylynn Nash/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Carolina Hurricanes won a tight battle with the Ottawa Senators, 4-3 on Tuesday night at the Lenovo Center.
Goaltender, Brandon Bussi earned the win and continued with his magical season by improving his overall record this season to 22-3-1.
While Bussi allowed three goals on the 25 shots he faced, many of his saves were off “high-danger” chances. The goaltender has now won six games in a row and his record is 15-1-0 on home ice.
After falling behind 1-0 early in the first period, Sebastian Aho was credited with his 20th goal of the season when his shot bounced in the net after Seth Jarvis crashed the net. The puck hit a Senator, so Aho got the credit for the score.
Aho now has 10 straight years of 20 goal seasons.
In the second period, Jarvis got on the scoreboard twice within a three minute time frame.
First, he blasted in a one-timer off a nice pass by Andrei Svechnikov during a powerplay chance.
Shortly after, he took a pass from Aho and made a pretty move to beat goalie, James Reimer to give the Canes a 3-1 lead. It was the 25th goal of the season for Jarvis.
The Senators took control of the game for awhile, especially in the third period. They tied the score and were looking to take the lead back, but Jordan Staal had other ideas.
During what looked like a bad line change by Ottawa, the Captain had a couple of steps on the opposition and roofed a perfect shot past Reimer which would eventually be the game-winner.
Nikolaj Ehlers made a beautiful pass to spring him.
The Hurricanes now have earned points in nine straight games. They are 7-1-2 in their last 10 and have an eight point lead over second place Pittsburgh in the Metropolitan Division, (76-68).
Staal also led the team with six hits. William Carrier was next with five.
The Hurricanes have one more game before the Olympic break which will be in New York against the Rangers on Thursday night.
The Pittsburgh Penguins were feeling pretty good about themselves during their recent six-game win streak.
But, since then, they're come back down to earth a little bit. And, on Tuesday, they surrendered a pretty big point to a team chasing them in the standings.
The Penguins dropped yet another game beyond regulation, losing to the New York Islanders, 5-4, and closing the gap between them and the Isles in the standings down to one point. It was their second-straight loss and, even if the Penguins should walk away feeling pretty good about how they played, every point at this junture is a precious one.
The Penguins kicked off the scoring when Justin Brazeau carried the puck deep into the offensive zone and fed a one-handed pass from below the goal line to Anthony Mantha, who finished the play in the low slot area for his 20th of the season.
The Penguins controlled the majority of the first 20 minutes, but with a minute and 20 seconds remaining, Bo Horvat tied the score, and with just 3.2 seconds left on the clock, rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer put the Isles ahead, 2-1, with a blast from the point.
The Penguins responded in the second period, though, by - once again - controlling play for the majority of it. A little less than four minutes in, from behind the net, Tommy Novak fed Egor Chinakhov in the left circle, and he snapped it home for his eighth goal as a Penguin - the most scored by a Penguins' player during his time in Pittsburgh - to even the score.
Then, later in the period, Bryan Rust put together a hard-working shift in the offensive zone. He had the puck down low, and - from below the goal line on the right side - banked the puck off Isles' goaltender Ilya Sorokin and into the net to put the Penguins on top, 3-2.
But approaching the midway point of the third, Mat Barzal shot the puck from the high-slot area, and Penguins' defenseman Ilya Solovyov - in the low-slot area all alone - screened his goaltender, Stuart Skinner, so he never saw the puck as it went behind him. The Isles tied it, 3-3, despite the Penguins - again - heavily controlling play and playing pretty well defensively.
They did respond two minutes later, though, when Brett Kulak executed a shot-pass from the left point right on the tape of Brazeau, who was waiting in the low slot, to return the lead to the Penguins. Unfortunately, the Islanders capitalized on their only other scoring chance later in the third period, as Ryan Pulock shot one from distance that beat Skinner to tie the game back up at 4-4 and force overtime.
And even though the Penguins mostly controlled possession in overtime, it didn't take long for the Isles to close it out. Evgeni Malkin, Novak, and Kulak were pressuring in the offensive zone, and Kulak pinched deep to take a one-time feed that he ended up shanking a bit. The puck went right to the Isles, and Barzal was able to feed the puck to Horvat, who was off to the races and buried his breakaway opportunity to give the Islanders the two points.
Here are some thoughts and observations from this one:
- If you've been watching the Penguins play the Islanders for a lot of years, you'd know that this game was pretty was the definition of a typical matchup between the two teams.
The Penguins were very clearly the better team throughout this game. They controlled the high-danger chances, the possession, the shot attempts, the actual shots (35 to the Isles' 23), and the pace in a general sense.
But, as usual, the Islanders didn't miss on the few opportunities they had, and they walked away with the two points despite being thoroughly outplayed.
It's truly amazing that this seems to happen in so many of the games between these two teams. The Penguins have up zero high-danger scoring chances in the third period, and just two scoring chances, and they gave up two goals.
Somehow, this Islanders' team has a knack for making opportunistic offense a defining aspect of their game. They don't miss when they get the chances. And, despite playing a good hockey game, the Penguins were burned because of that.
- The other thing that burned them and usually does? Goaltending.
Skinner has been very good since joining the Penguins. That has not been the case in the last two games. He's given up 10 goals in those two games, and he's looked uncomfortable in the crease. Pulock's goal is one he needs to have, and even though breakaways are 50-50 and not really an indictment of the goaltender, he looked uncomfortable on the OT winner, too.
The Penguins have one more game before the Olympic break, which is in Buffalo on Thursday. I'm very curious to see who gets the nod in goal between him and Silovs, especially since Silovs will be playing in the Olympics for Team Latvia.
- This was certainly not related to the result, but as mentioned before, Chinakhov has more goals than any Penguins' player since he's joined the team. And it's not like these goals are fluky, either. His shot is simply insane, and he oftentimes uses his speed to beat opponents to pucks.
Sounds like a match made in heaven for overtime, right?
Well, not so far. Chinakhov should be taking the ice with either Malkin or Novak in the extra frame, but for whatever reason, he's not really being utilized. I understand that Malkin isn't taking faceoffs, but when you're changing on-the-fly in OT, that doesn't matter much.
If the Penguins get to another overtime - and, yes, it's bound to happen - Chinakhov needs to be on the ice, and early. His speed and finishing ability are, pretty much, two of the three pillars of an ideal three-on-three overtime player, with the other pillar being a puck possession demon. He does that pretty well, too.
- I thought Ben Kindel was spectacular again on Tuesday, honing all of the details and driving play for his line. I'll keep it short because I say it all the time, but it's amazing how mature this kid's game is. And it's only going to continue getting better.
- What a season Mantha is having. He's got a 20-goal season - and is on pace for a 30-goal campaign - the season after ACL reconstruction surgery at 30 years old. He's quickly gone from being a possible trade chip/flip candidate to a crucial part of this lineup, and all credit goes to him for the statement he's making.
If the Penguins are in the playoff picture at the trade deadline, this guy isn't going anywhere.
- There was a play earlier on in the game where Sidney Crosby took a spear to the midsection off a faceoff - intentional or not - with no penalty attached. Crosby briefly went down the runway but returned.
I'm not really sure why there was no penalty on that play. To me, it was a pretty clear-cut thing.
By the way, Crosby still looks off his game. That line was better with Rust back in the fold after serving his three-game suspension, but 87 isn't himself right now.
- Securing this point was a big deal for the Penguins, who remain one point ahead of the Islanders with two games in hand. They'll still have two games in hand during the Olympic break, as both teams have one more game.
In terms of "must-win" territory, the Penguins aren't quite there yet. But it would probably be in their best interest to bank a win against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday and go into the break on a high note instead of on the heels of a three-game losing streak.
ELMONT, NY -- New York Islanders forward Bo Horvat had gone scoreless in eight games leading into Tuesday night's showdown against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
That slump is no more as Horvat scored two goals, including the overtime winner, while also adding an assist in a 5-4 win.
At 18:41 of the first, Horvat tied the game at 1-1, poking one in from the doorstep:
Then, at 19:56 of the second period, Matthew Schaefer scored after Horvat fed Pulock across the slot, who one-touched the puck to the 18-year-old for a one-time finish:
And lastly, came the overtime winner in which Horvat went top shelf glove side on a breakaway to send the Islanders' faithful into a frenzy at the 52-second mark of the extra frame:
The New York Islanders pulled out a late equalizer and 5-4 overtime win in an intense, back-and-forth meeting with the Pittsburgh Penguins that highlighted how we have Ilya Sorokin and they have Replacement Jarry.
True, Sorokin allowed at least one goal he would want back, when Bryan Rust banked a shot in off his glove from below the goal line to make it 3-2 in the second period, but he faced more shots (35-23) and stopped more nailbiters while Stuart Skinner offered holes the Islanders gratefully found.
That applies to Bo Horvat’s late first period goal, when Skinner bobbled a glove save and Horvat pounced on the loose puck with Skinner unawares (to be fair, it took an odd carom in between). It also applies to noted cannon-launcher Mat Barzal’s one-timer from the point to tie it at 3-3 and Ryan Pulock’s snap shot from the slot to tie it at 4-4 with 4:36 left in regulation.
Horvat finished things off on an overtime breakaway, snapping a shot past Skinner right as the wobbling, rolling puck finally settled down.
Notes
It was a competitive game throughout, but felt too tilted Pittsburgh’s way for comfort. As has often been the case this season, Islanders goaltending provided an important difference, just enough cover to keep them in the game.
There Barzal Offensive Zone Orbits aplenty, but his rushes and breakouts were also key to several goals, including his own. Made a nice chip to send Horvat on the breakaway for the OT winner, too.
Matthew Schaefer continued his “moah than Bahbby Aahh” season with his 16th goal of the season, and 23rd assist on the winner.
Was that a power play goal? No. No, the Isles did not score on the power play. 0 for 2.
Gotta be huge for Horvat to put a couple in; he’s had some breakaways since coming back from injury, so finishing one will help make him feel whole going to Italy.
Damn, Patrick Roy is cold and hard-ass with Anthony Duclair. Benched him after four shifts, 3:04 TOI. Per Andrew Gross, “Roy said this was a ‘big game’ and he didn’t like Duclair’s defensive tracking. But he said Duclair will be OK.” Duclair got back as the third man on Anthony Mantha’s goal, but he was covering no one. So I definitely get it, especially if this is a discussion they’ve had before.
After the Isles tied it up yet again at 4-4, the Penguins thought they had another go-ahead goal, but Ben Kindel clearly was kicking Sorokin’s pad and then continuing to drive him into the net, so even by current random standards that was pretty obvious goalie interference. Took the refs long enough to review it though.
Sidney Crosby had a bout of Vintage Crosby Whiner when he tripped Simon Holmstrom as the Isles winger carried the puck out of the zone in the third period. It was special edition, since Crosby pre-whined, stopping and making a diving gesture as play carried on before a penalty was called…oh, by the way, no penalty was called. So it was fun to see Crosby continue to whine after he went to the bench, a display reminiscent of his early Entitlement Years in the league. It was one of those occasion where it didn’t take much to cause Holmstrom to fall — skating fast on edges can be like that — but it wasn’t a dive. I didn’t see Crosby’s reaction to his trip of Barzal, also in the third, but I’m sure it was totally dignified.
Second-Best Moment of the Night
Schaefer with the laser, after the Isles make a big push as the clock wound down in the first, making two goals in 1:15:
Gotta be the Horvat winner. Schaefer breaks up the play, Barzal pitches it forward, Horvat keeps the wobbling puck moving forward and is able to snap it just in time:
Damn, the Isles needed those two points. It was not looking promising at several moments there. Unfortunate that they let the Penguins get a point, too, but it sure beats zero and two.
They finish the pre-Olympics stretch with a visit to the struggling Devils on Thursday.
NEW YORK (AP) — Bo Horvat scored his second goal of the game 52 seconds into overtime and the New York Islanders beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4 on Tuesday night.
Mathew Barzal had a goal and an assist, Ilya Sorokin made 31 saves and New York snapped its two-game skid. Matthew Schaefer and Ryan Pulock also scored for the Islanders.
Justin Brazeau had a goal and an assist for the Penguins, who dropped their second consecutive game. Anthony Mantha, Egor Chinakhov and Bryan Rust also scored. Stuart Skinner stopped 18 shots.
Horvat buried a breakaway in overtime to give the Islanders a critical victory in their second-to-last game prior to the Olympic break.
Barzal tied it at 3 midway through the third period, but Brazeau redirected a shot from Brett Kulak to put Pittsburgh ahead 4-3 with 9:20 remaining.
Pulock responded for the Islanders with less than six minutes left in the third to tie it again and force overtime.
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby corralled a loose puck behind the net and slid it to Rust, who fired a sharp-angled shot from behind the goal line that caught Sorokin off guard with under six minutes to play in the second.
Brazeau set up Mantha in the slot for the opening goal of the game at 12:09 of the first.
Horvat tied it with less than two minutes left in the period when he buried a rebound.
Schaefer, the 18-year-old rookie defenseman, fired a slap shot from the point in the closing seconds of the first to give the Islanders a 2-1 lead. It was his 16th goal.
Chinakhov evened the score at 2 early in the second off a feed from Tommy Novak.
Up next
Penguins: Visit the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday.
Islanders: Visit the New Jersey Devils on Thursday.
Matthew Schaefer #48 of the New York Islanders celebrated with his teammates after he scores a goal during the first period when the New York Islanders played the Pittsburgh Penguins Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at UBS Arena in Elmont, NY.
The Islanders are sputtering to the NHL’s three-week Olympic break, that much is clear. You can see them night after night, treading water and trying to get results better than their play warrants.
Thing is, they have a way of finding a way.
That’s just what they did Tuesday night in a crucial match against the Penguins, overcoming themselves and three different Pittsburgh leads for a mad, mad 5-4 win in overtime at UBS Arena in which they flipped the night’s narrative on its head over the game’s last 10 minutes.
“I just think tonight was massive,” Mat Barzal said after assisting Bo Horvat’s OT winner. “You’re playing a team you’re right there with [in the standings]. Down a goal, up a goal, down a goal. Just a great game.”
The win, plus the loser point for the Penguins, meant the Islanders finished the night a point behind Pittsburgh for second in the Metro. Crucially, though, they kept the Capitals and Blue Jackets both four points behind for third.
All night, it looked like the Islanders were veering toward a third straight defeat that would have warranted some alarm bells.
The Islanders rolled to a 5-4 overtime win over the Penguins on Feb. 3, 2026 at UBS Arena. Robert Sabo for NY Post
They were struggling to generate a forecheck or sustain pressure. There was little physicality in their game. Anthony Duclair was benched early, and the list of players who could have followed him was not at all short. Pittsburgh led just 3-2 entering the third, which often amounts to nothing in the NHL.
It felt, though, like there was a measure of good fortune in the Islanders being that close, even after Bryan Rust’s sharp-angle shot broke a 2-all tie at 14:09 of the second.
Then the Islanders found what they’d been missing, and the night went all haywire.
After Horvat and Matthew Schaefer had scored the Islanders’ first two goals, it was only fitting that their third superstar, Barzal, would score their third, connecting on a blast from the top of the zone 8:35 into the third to tie the game at three and give the Islanders some badly needed momentum.
The momentum lasted all of 2:03 before Justin Brazeau’s tip from Brett Kulak gave Pittsburgh the lead back.
The Islanders weren’t done yet, though, as Ryan Pulock — who, to that point, was having a rough night — connected on a wrist shot to tie it back up with just under five minutes left.
That got it to the extra period, where Horvat’s breakaway ended it, handing the Islanders two of their guttiest points of the season.
“I think just guys responding,” Horvat said. “Us not getting down on ourselves. Not shying away from the fight. … I think just the resiliency here in this room. We have the belief we can do it.
“We got it done.”
Matthew Schaefer (left) celebrates after he scores a goal during the first period of the Islanders’ home overtime win over the Penguins. Robert Sabo for NY Post
The Islanders had taken a 2-1 lead in the first with goals from Horvat and Schaefer after Anthony Mantha had opened the scoring. Under the hood, though, it was less encouraging.
All three defense pairs had been on the ice for at least one goal against, and the Islanders were bleeding traffic around their own net. The fourth line was struggling and so was Jean-Gabriel Pageau, whose linemates shifted all night after Duclair’s benching. The power play, across two chances, accounted for zero shots on goal.
Even Ilya Sorokin, usually the Islanders rock, let in a rare bad goal from Rust.
Two points doesn’t erase those worries, and truth be told, they’ve been building for the better part of a month.
But the Islanders have just one more game to get through, and then comes a three-week exhale in which they’ll hope that rest can solve at least a chunk of their problems.
So, again, they punted away the worries for another day.
“There’s belief in here we can do it the right way and find a way to win any night,” Ryan Pulock said. “This group is resilient. There’s nights where it works and there’s nights where it doesn’t. I feel like every night we push to the end and give it a shot.
