For a league that has long prided itself on parity, the "loser-point" system, in place since 2001, has never made more of a mess than it has this season. With over a third of the schedule played as the NHL pauses for the break, the Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves six points out of a playoff spot with a 27-21-9 record. Meanwhile, the Vegas Golden Knights hold a 27-16-14 record. Both teams have 27 wins in 57 games, but because the Golden Knights' have five more losses occurring in overtime or a shootout, they earn extra points. Coupled with the fact that they play in a weak division, these two teams find themselves in very different situations despite identical win totals.
Now, I'm not arguing that the Leafs and Golden Knights are on perfectly equal footing. The Leafs have not played well and deserve their current standing. However, the Golden Knights' 27 wins are tied for 20th overall in the NHL. They are currently tied for third in wins within their own division, yet they still enjoy the privilege of holding the No. 1 seed in their divisional playoff bracket. At the current pace, there will be teams with enough wins to feel they should have advanced to the postseason, but they will fall short because they played in the wrong division or didn't accumulate enough "loser points" from overtime losses.
Simply put, the NHL has made reaching overtime a skill in itself, and it's hard to argue otherwise. The league is currently on pace to award the highest number of overtime "loser points" in a single season. Many observers have noted that third periods have become boring, particularly in the late stages of a tied game, as teams play more conservatively to guarantee themselves that single point.
Despite ranking 12th overall in points, the Vegas Golden Knights, Photo courtesy of NHL.com
Of the four major sports (NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL), the NHL is the only one that insists on a divisional format for the playoffs. It's also the only league that awards different point values depending on whether a team loses in regulation or extra time. For comparison, the NFL does not award a "loser point" if a game isn't settled after overtime; it simply ends in a tie. While rare, ties have been happening more frequently there over the years.
The NHL's logic: the standings look closer when a team is only six points away from a spot. However, it is nearly impossible for trailing teams to make up ground when "three-point games" are constantly being awarded on out-of-town scoreboards. Interestingly, the NHL actually adopted the international three-point system (three for a regulation win, two for an overtime/shootout win, and one for an overtime loss) during the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Many players have stated they prefer that format. Wouldn't you rather see your team play for more points in the third period instead of protecting the one they already have? While there may be little appetite for change in the near term, the league should certainly look at returning to the 1-8 conference seeding system that most players and fans prefer. At the very least, that would prevent situations seen in recent years where two of the top five overall teams are forced to meet in the first round.
I asked Gary Bettman whether he envisioned talking to the NHLPA about changing the playoff format in upcoming CBA talks, going back to the old 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7 etc format. An empathic No from the commissioner. He likes the format the way it is now.
The reality is that the league seems hesitant to change, likely because they haven't been truly embarrassed into it yet. But if a team finishes in the top 10 in wins this season and still misses the playoffs, that might finally spur the change we need.
Not even 24 hours after the Toronto Maple Leafs broke for the Olympic break, Cowan was in London, Ontario, at the Canada Life Place watching his former team, the London Knights, face the Kitchener Rangers.
Former Knight — and teammate to Cowan for a couple of seasons — Sam O'Reilly had two goals, including the game-winner, as the Rangers defeated the Knights on Wednesday night in overtime.
Cowan spent parts of four seasons with the Knights, from 2022 to 2025. While with the club, London won back-to-back OHL Championships, plus a Memorial Cup last spring, in which Cowan was the MVP.
He was tied with London teammate Denver Barkey for the tournament lead in points, with seven in five games. Not only that, but Cowan also holds the Knights' record for most playoff points, scoring 96 points in 60 postseason games.
The 20-year-old is currently in his first NHL season with the Maple Leafs. It's gone just as you'd expect it would for a rookie; Cowan's gone through a lot of ups and downs.
The forward has played on every line and has spent time on both of the Maple Leafs' power play units throughout this season. Thus far, Cowan has tallied seven goals and 17 points in 43 games, while averaging 13:31 in ice time over that stretch.
Recently, however, the rookie has been a healthy scratch for Toronto, as head coach Craig Berube opts for other players in the lineup. He's been on the outside looking in since William Nylander returned to the lineup three games ago.
"As we talked about, he needed a little bit of a reset. I think the break will do him well. Nothing changes there," said Berube on Tuesday ahead of Toronto's game against the Edmonton Oilers.
"There are young guys in the league who don't play all the time. There are times they do, but there are times when they don't, and they have little breaks here and there. They benefit from it."
The Maple Leafs will be off for a few weeks before getting into practices again and playing in their first game post-Olympic break on Feb. 25 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
We'll see if Cowan, who's eligible to be sent to the AHL's Toronto Marlies, will get into some games there before the Maple Leafs reconvene later this month.
BUFFALO, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 5: Avery Hayes #85 of the Pittsburgh Penguins reacts after scoring his first career goal during the first period of an NHL game against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on February 5, 2026 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Joe Hrycych/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Avery Hayes made his NHL debut for the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night and it’s safe to say it was a memorable start for the 23-year-old rookie.
Hayes, who was called up from the AHL earlier in the day ahead of the team’s game against the Buffalo Sabres, scored two goals in the first period of his first NHL game.
“Honestly, I can’t say much right now,” Hayes said after the first period ended during an interview with SportsnNet Pittsburgh’s Hailey Hunter. “I kind of blacked out, but it was a big goal for the team which is most important and yeah, I just gotta keep this thing going.”
Hayes said that the process of being called up and making his debut in Buffalo was a quick turnaround, but said that was probably a good thing because it didn’t give him time to get stressed about the situation.
“We drove in and I was ready to go and it was fun,” Hayes said.
With two or more goals in his NHL debut, Hayes joins Jake Guentzel and Rob Brown as the only other Pittsburgh Penguins players to match that achievement.
Prior to being called up, Hayes had scored 13 goals with 10 assists in 31 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the AHL this season.
Time will tell if Hayes will end up sticking around on the Penguins’ roster when the team returns from the NHL’s Olympic break.
NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 05: Simon Nemec #17 of the New Jersey Devils during the second period of the game against the New York Islanders on February 5, 2026 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
The Devils dropped Thursday night’s game against the Islanders by a 3-1 score. The Devils head into the Olympic break on a three-game losing streak, having scored a total of two goals in those games. [Devils NHL]
A trade:
#NEWS: We’ve acquired forward Nick Bjugstad from the St. Louis Blues for forward Thomas Bordeleau and a conditional 2026 fourth-round draft pick.
“On the surface, it is a little odd for a team well outside of a playoff spot – and a GM who may not be around much longer – to be trading futures, however minor they are, for a 33-year-old player. However, this deal does make some sense.” [Infernal Access ($)]
Jack Hughes does not return to the lineup ahead of the Olympics:
“Jack is just not improved enough to the point that our medical team will let him out there. He’s not going to be available tomorrow. They say he’s in the day to day category and we don’t have a lot of days left here.” – #NJDevils HC Sheldon Keefe https://t.co/zkOuaOd6UO
“However, with a week still before the United States’ first game, league sources say Hughes will travel to Milan and should be available at the start or near the beginning of the Olympics.” [The Athletic ($)]
“So what do players want owners to spend more on? As part of our player poll this year, The Athletic asked 118 NHLers that question and left it open-ended. The majority of the answers fell under the umbrella of health, recovery and training. Here’s a sampling of the answers we received, split into general categories.” [The Athletic ($)]
Which teams will benefit most from the Olympic break? [NHL.com]
A 20-game suspension for Caleb Jones:
In other news, @penguins defenseman Caleb Jones has been suspended for 20 games, without pay, for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program.
“Penn State forward Gavin McKenna, the consensus first overall pick in this June’s NHL draft, has been charged with felony aggravated assault and other counts, according to Pennsylvania Magisterial District Court documents.” [ESPN]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina are fast approaching, and a select group of NHL stars are gearing up for what could be the experience of a lifetime. At the same time, NHL teams are watching closely and remaining mindful of the risks tied to their most valuable assets.
One of the biggest concerns surrounding Olympic participation is the financial risk of losing a player to injury. NHL teams continue to pay players during the tournament, and any injury sustained on the international stage becomes the organization’s responsibility. According to a recent interview with NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly, the 158 players heading to Milan are insured for $3.7-billion.
Which raises an important question: where is all that money going? And more important, how much does it cost to purchase a gold medal?
As you can see in the below breakdown, Team USA and Canada have a significant financial advantage over smaller countries such as Czechia and Slovakia. We'll know in a couple of weeks whether that advantage translates to a gold medal.
(All figures are based on players’ NHL cap hits, per capwages.com. In cases where exact contract details are unavailable, we used the highest end of credible estimates, assuming all players discussed are paid like top end talent.)
United States
$199,375,000 total cap hitSkaters: $174,375,000Goalies: $25,000,000
The U.S. will have by far the most expensive goaltending trio at the Winter Games, with defending Hart and Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets, along with Boston's Jeremy Swayman, and Dallas' Jake Oettinger each earning more than $8.25 million per season.
Somewhat surprisingly, only one American skater holds a contract inside the NHL’s top 16, with Toronto’s Auston Matthews leading the way at $13.25 million. Beyond that, the roster remains pretty top-heavy, with Vegas’ Jack Eichel, Columbus’ Zach Werenski, Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk, Boston's Charlie McAvoy and Tampa Bay's Jake Guentzel among the top 40 with cap hits of $9 million or more each. With a deep pool of established talent and virtually every player beyond their entry-level deal, the U.S. roster offers few true bargain contracts, with Vincent Trocheck’s $5.625-million cap hit at the bottom.
Canada narrowly edges the United States in forward payroll, holding three of the five most expensive contracts in the NHL. Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon leads the way at $12.6 million, followed by Edmonton’s Connor McDavid at $12.5 million and Vegas’ Mitch Marner at $12 million.
Interestingly, Canada also features a trio of well-known agitators in Brad Marchand, Tom Wilson and Sam Bennett, who have a combined cap hit of $19.75 million, but who have also collectively cost themselves $3.06 million due to suspensions.
Canada also benefits from notable value deals. Rookie standout Macklin Celebrini counts just $975,000 against the cap, while defenseman Thomas Harley is earning $4 million this season after playing a pivotal role in Canada’s win at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
In net, Canada’s goaltending also remains comparatively cost-effective. Unlike the United States’ expensive goalie group, with Jordan Binnington, Logan Thompson and Darcy Kuemper averaging $5.7-million.
Despite a significant drop in overall team payroll, Sweden remains firmly in the gold medal conversation, thanks to a roster featuring a mix of some of the NHL’s most expensive contracts — and several of its best bargains. Headlining the list are three of the league’s 10 highest-paid players in Vancouver’s Elias Pettersson ($11.6 million), Toronto’s William Nylander ($11.5 million) and Pittsburgh’s Erik Karlsson ($11.5 million).
On the opposite end of the spectrum are some exceptional value contracts. Breakout goaltender Jesper Wallstedt, who has shared the net with fellow countryman Filip Gustavsson in Minnesota, carries a modest $2.2 million cap hit, while veteran Wild forward Marcus Johansson, who is enjoying one of his best years, has an $800,000 cap hit.
The remaining teams in the tournament have a mix of players in the NHL but also pro leagues across the world. For the Finns, they will have a cheap option on the back end with defenseman Mikko Lehtonen, who is paid anywhere between $320,000 to 650,000 USD while playing in the National League in Switzerland. Despite this, the Finns are viewed as legitimate gold-medal contenders, as they have several top end players who also earn quite a bit.
The most-expensive player is Dallas' Mikko Rantanen ($12 million), while Carolina's Sebastian Aho is close behind ($9.75 million). The Finns' best-valued player is easily Montreal's Oliver Kapanen, who is having a solid season as the second line center for the playoff-bound Habs, and is still on his entry-level deal ($925,000).
Of course, Finland's overall total would have been even higher had Florida's Aleksander Barkov ($10 million) and Buffalo goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen ($5.75 million) not been injured.
The Czech roster is where a true mix of global talent begins to emerge. Established NHL stars such as Boston's David Pastrnak ($11.25 million), who is Czechia's flag-bearer, Colorado's Martin Nečas ($6.5 million) and Lukáš Dostál ($6.5 million) headline the national team.
Beyond the NHL contingent, Czechia’s roster features a wide range of contracts across several European leagues. Seven players skate in the Czech Extraliga, including former NHL forward Ondřej Kaše, where salaries are estimated between $40,000 and $213,000 USD per season. Three others, including former NHLer Dominik Kubalík, play in the National League alongside Finland’s Mikko Lehtonen, with contracts generally ranging from $320,000 to $650,000 USD. Two more play in the Swedish Hockey League ($215,000 to $325,000 USD) and defenseman Jiří Ticháček plays in Finland’s Liiga ($80,000 and $300,000 USD).
This blend of current NHL players, former NHL contributors, and seasoned European veterans gives Czechia a deep, balanced roster that should make them a difficult opponent at the Olympic Games.
Similar to Czechia, Slovakia is an emerging hockey nation built around a wave of young talent that is expected to produce more NHL players in the coming years. For now, the roster is anchored by several established names, including Montreal’s Juraj Slafkovský ($7.6 million), Tampa Bay’s Erik Černák ($5.2 million) and Calgary’s Martin Pospíšil ($1 million).
Slovakia also features players competing in the KHL, with varying contract estimates for forwards Adam Ružička at approximately $591,300 USD and Adam Liška at $325,000 USD, along with defenseman Martin Gernát at roughly $788,400 USD. Like Finland and Czechia, the Slovak roster draws from leagues across Europe, including the Czech Extraliga, the Swedish Hockey League, and the Swiss National League.
The team also includes players outside the traditional professional ranks, with representation from the NCAA, as well as homegrown talent in the Slovak Extraliga. That group includes forward Samuel Takáč and one of the team’s goaltenders.
While Slovakia does not carry one of the more expensive rosters in the tournament, its mix of youth, international experience, and emerging talent gives the team the potential to challenge for a medal.
BUFFALO, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 05: Avery Hayes #85 of the Pittsburgh Penguins, playing in his first NHL game, celebrates his second goal of the game against the Buffalo Sabres during a game on February 05, 2026 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Here are your Pens Points for this Friday morning…
Before the game, the Penguins gave a few roster updates, including the ill-timed news that forward Rickard Rakell suffered a lower-body injury. As a result, one of the Penguins’ top forward prospects, Avery Hayes, had been recalled from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. [PensBurgh]
And speaking of Hayes, he had quite the night on Thursday. A two-goal debut performance is something he’ll remember forever. Fellow rookie Ben Kindel also notched two goals, as Pittsburgh rolled past the Buffalo Sabres 5-2. [Recap]
Members of the Penguins organization, both new and old, are rallying around former team general manager Craig Patrick, 79, who suffered a severe stroke in late December and has been in a Pittsburgh hospital since. [The Athletic]
Updates from around the NHL…
A police affidavit says video footage shows top draft prospect Gavin McKenna allegedly punching a man twice in the face, leaving the victim with a fractured jaw that required surgery and his jaw to be wired shut. [TSN]
Calgary Flames forward Jonathan Huberdeau has seen his season come to an end after it was revealed that he requires hip surgery. [Sportsnet]
New York Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer has taken the NHL by storm in his rookie season. He was left off Team Canada’s Olympic roster, but at only 18, he still hopes to don the maple leaf in the future. [NHL]
As the NHL shifts toward its Olympic break, which players lead the races for the top NHL trophies, including the Hart, Norris, and Calder? [ESPN]
The Los Angeles Kings (23-19-14) barely had time to breathe tonight at T-Mobile Arena before the Vegas Golden Knights (27-16-14) had already put the game out of reach.
Vegas already had four goals scored in the first period by the 5-minute mark of this game, riding their explosive start to a 4-1 victory over the Kings. Adin Hill made 32 saves, while Mark Stone, Mitch Marner, Jack Eichel, and Pavel Dorofoyev each notched a goal, which powered the Kings' offense.
Back-to-back losses for the Kings before entering the break are up there with their ugliest performances all season long after playing two crucial Western Conference opponents for a chance to move up in the Pacific Division.
The game turned quickly and painfully for Los Angeles.
Eichel opened the scoring at the 11:38 mark, followed by three other Golden Knights forwards scoring in a span of five minutes, extending their lead 4-0 just like that, with still more than 6 minutes remaining in the first period.
By the time, the Trevor Moore scored the lone goal for Los Angeles, the damage was already done and very difficult to dig out of.
Vegas was the more engaged team tonight and looked more focused on the ice, holding the Kings at bay in all three zones during a sloppy opening period that set the tone for the night.
More bad news for the Kings, Andre Kuzmenko exited the game in the first period after taking a shot to the side of the head after going to the front of the net, but was able to skate to the locker room with assistance.
Despite returning in the second period, Kuzmenko remained on the bench and didn't return for the rest of the night.
Forward Andrei Kuzmenko will not return to tonight's game due to an upper-body injury.
Despite the loss, the Kings had something to celebrate tonight after Anze Kopitar reached a major milestone, recording the 1,300th point of his NHL career with his assist to Moore's goal. Kopitar became the 39th skater in league history, and just the eighth born outside North America to hit the mark.
Captain Anze Kopitar recorded his 1,300th career point (446-854=1,300) with his assist on Trevor Moore’s goal in the first period tonight in Vegas. Kopitar is the 39th skater in NHL history to record 1,300 points and the eighth player born outside of North America to reach this… pic.twitter.com/FhBSUhK8h3
From that point on, both teams remained scoreless after that hot start from the Golden Knights in the first period, which seemed to demoralize the Kings early on. Despite outshooting Vegas 33-22, the Kings once again were awful on the power play, going 0/5, had turnover problems again, and, for the second straight game, the defense allowed four goals.
Tonight's loss puts the Kings 10 games under .500, and with 60 points in 56 games, Los Angeles has little room for nights like this moving forward, as chasing a wild-card spot is becoming increasingly unlikely with each loss.
Slow starts and clawing back just to lose in overtime or a shootout has become an ongoing trend for Los Angeles, and Thursday's first period may have been the most damaging example yet.
The Kings' next game will be on Wednesday, Feb. 25, against the Vegas Golden at 7:00 P.M. PT in Crypto.com Arena, which will start their six-game home stand after coming out of the Winter Olympics. We will most likely see Artemi Panarin make his Los Angeles Kings debut in this game, and the Kings will need to get as many reinforcements back as possible if they want a chance to at least make the playoffs at this point.
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Mike Sullivan and the Rangers are starting a new chapter after the Artemi Panarin trade.
With the Artemi Panarin saga finally reaching a conclusion with his trade Wednesday to the Kings, the Rangers entered their final game before the NHL break for the Winter Olympics — and the corresponding league-wide roster freeze — with the knowledge that their devolving season eventually will resume with more work to do for general manager Chris Drury to retool the roster for 2026-27 and beyond.
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Panarin, who inked a two-year contract extension worth $22 million with Los Angeles to bypass unrestricted free agency this summer, was dealt for junior forward prospect Liam Greentree and at least one conditional third-round draft pick, depending on Los Angeles’ postseason success.
The last-place Rangers already had played the previous three games without Panarin, who had been held out of the lineup in losses to the Islanders and the Penguins ahead of Thursday’s pre-Olympic finale against the Hurricanes at the Garden.
“Well, I just think the finality of it is finally here,” Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said when asked about Panarin’s official departure following an optional morning skate Thursday in Tarrytown, before the Rangers lost, 2-0, to the Hurricanes. “Sometimes just the anxiety of the uncertainty is more difficult to deal with than the finality of it. Everybody can move on.”
Artemi Panarin is pictured during the Rangers’ Jan. 14 game. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
Sullivan said he wished the 34-year-old Panarin “the very best” in a conversation after the trade was announced Wednesday afternoon.
He added that he “already has addressed the circumstances” with the team, which began play Thursday night in a 3-12-2 tailspin to sink to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.
“It’s not [easy] because obviously we’re all in this thing to win,” Sullivan said. “We’re all wired to try to win. It’s a competitive league, it’s a competitive environment, and we’re all competitive and we want to win. So when you don’t have the ability to put one of your very best players in the lineup, it doesn’t help your chances. But I also understand that it’s just the reality of the circumstance, and it’s part of where we’re at right now. It’s my job to coach the guys that I have available each and every night, and that’s what we’re gonna do.”
With the 20-year-old Greentree slated to finish out his current season with OHL Windsor, the Rangers will continue to plug the gaping hole left by Panarin, their leading scorer, from within.
Will Cuylle mostly has skated in his spot the past several games alongside center Vincent Trocheck.
Mike Sullivan reacts during the Rangers’ Jan. 29 game. Charles Wenzelberg
“You know that we’re not going to plug a player in, and he’s going to replace what Artemi does for this team,” Sullivan said. “I think what we’re trying to do is build a team game where we can replace it by committee, so to speak. I think we can do a better job at being harder to play against, giving up less opportunities on the defensive side, which should allow us an opportunity to create some offense off of that. But I don’t know that. We’re not plugging anybody in and saying, ‘Hey, you’re gonna go replace what our Artemi’s brought to this group.’ That would be unfair.”
In the meantime, Greentree — a 6-foot-2 scoring winger and the No. 26 overall pick by the Kings in the 2024 NHL Draft — will be afforded an opportunity to develop within the organization.
“Obviously, I had a conversation with [Drury] about it, and I know our hockey operations department is very excited about this player, and the possibility of him becoming an impact player in the NHL,” Sullivan said. “He’s certainly shown at the level he’s been at that he’s every bit that player. So we’re certainly excited to add him to our group, and we’ll see what happens moving forward. I think at the appropriate time, I will try to familiarize myself with him and his game, for sure.
“Obviously, Chris and I have had a lot of conversations around this and what the game plan is moving forward to try to reshape the organization and be as competitive as we can be in the most expeditious fashion. So this is part of the process. It’s not a new thing that has caught me by surprise. I understand it, and we’re working together to do our very best to try to accomplish what has been articulated to everyone.”
Cal Ritchie of the Islanders skates during warm up prior to the game against the Devils on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, at Prudential Center.
As recently as Saturday, the Islanders thought Cal Ritchie would be out through the Olympic break.
“I guess that’s why we should say day-to-day [instead of a specific timeline], isn’t it?” coach Patrick Roy joked Thursday morning, acknowledging that Ritchie would be in the Islanders’ lineup later that night against the Devils in the team’s last game before the three-week layoff. “But yeah, he felt great. So when a player feels ready to go, why not?”
Ritchie returned to the lineup to center Jonathan Drouin and Emil Heineman in the 3-1 Islanders win as Anthony Duclair — who played just 3:04 of Tuesday’s win over the Penguins after failing to track Justin Brazeau on Pittsburgh’s opening goal — drew out as a healthy scratch.
Cal Ritchie of the Islanders skates during warm up before the Islanders’ 3-1 road win over the Devils on Feb. 5, 2026 at Prudential Center. NHLI via Getty Images
“He’s been perfect and he’ll be fine,” Roy said of Duclair, who has been benched midgame twice in the span of a couple weeks. “I have zero worries, concern about him. He’ll be fine.”
The 21-year-old Ritchie did not look at all hindered by the injury, giving a spark throughout 13:54 of ice time in which he looked right at home as a second-line center — a notable development should it hold when the season resumes.
“He was good,” Roy said. “Oh my god he was good. He made some great plays with the puck, defended well. I was very happy with his play.”
Ritchie, who attempted to skate in the morning before the Islanders faced the Flyers on Jan. 26 but “tweaked something,” said he progressed quickly after that.
“Had to take a bit of time off,” Ritchie told The Post. “Each day was, just see how it felt, get on the ice and do a lot of rehab. So I feel good.”
There was no thought of taking the cautious route and giving himself three extra weeks to rehab. Ritchie felt he was ready to play, so he played.
“For me, I just want to help the team,” the 21-year-old said. “Every game is so big right now coming down the stretch. I just want to play and try to help the team.”
Ondrej Palat appeared emotional following a tribute video from the Devils in his first game back at Prudential Center.
Palat was in his fourth season with New Jersey when the Devils traded him to the Islanders just over a week ago.
“It’s been a good four years here,” Palat said. “Have good memories of this rink for sure.”“Have good memories of this rink for sure.”
With the Penguins set to be three forwards short in their final tilt - and a critical one - before the Olympic break, the 23-year-old forward found out around noon on Thursday that he would be heading from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) to Buffalo to join the NHL squad. And he didn't find out until he was already on his way, around 3:00 p.m. ET, that he would be making his NHL debut because Noel Acciari would miss the game due to illness, joining Blake Lizotte (personal) and Rickard Rakell (day-to-day).
Hayes arrived at the rink just after 5:00 p.m. Then, by 7:00 p.m., he was taking the ice for his first game in the NHL.
And, by the end of the first period - around 7:45 p.m. - he already had himself two NHL goals.
The Penguins beat the Sabres, 5-2, off the backs of Hayes and fellow rookie Ben Kindel, who also scored two goals en route to the win. Their latest victory - which closed out a 14-3-3 stretch since the holiday break - guaranteed them sole possession of second place in the Metropolitan Division heading into the Olympic hiatus, as the New York Islanders remain one point behind them in the standings having played two more games than Pittsburgh.
They own the seventh-best points percentage in the NHL at .625, and they have have found success against formidable opponents all season long - including a Buffalo team that has been the hottest in the NHL for nearly two months. And they, once again, got contributions from sources other than 87 and 71 Thursday.
The Sabres got the first tally early in this one, as ex-Penguin Jason Zucker scored on Buffalo's first shot of the game - an unobstructed shot that Arturs Silovs, between the pipes for Pittsburgh, would probably want back. But, midway through the period, the Avery Hayes show began.
Rutger McGroarty - playing on a fouth line with Avery Hayes and Kevin Hayes - had to take a defensive zone draw, and he won it back to defenseman Ilya Solovyov. The Belarusian blueliner lobbed the puck Larry Murphy-style to the opposite blue line, where Avery Hayes split the Buffalo defense to beat them to the puck. With body positioning and on a breakaway, Hayes put his first NHL shot on goal past Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon, earning his first career tally and tying the game at 1-1.
First game. First shot. First goal.
Avery Hayes is the 24th player in @penguins history - and first since Kasper Bjorkqvist in 2021-22 - to score in his NHL debut 👏
And Hayes wasn't done in the first period. With a little more than a minute remaining, he got the puck deep into the offensive zone and pressured along the wall. The puck eventually found its way to the point, where Parker Wotherspoon dumped it back deep. It banked off the boards to Anthony Mantha below the goal line, and Mantha put a perfect between-the-legs backhand pass on the tape of Hayes, who was breaking toward the net-front to finish the play for his second goal on his second shot.
The score remained 2-1 into the second period until Kindel and Justin Brazeau had a two-on-one opportunity. Kindel made it 3-1 on a no-look snipe down the left side for his 13th of the season.
Early in the third period, Evgeni Malkin took a tripping penalty, and Tage Thompson took advantage on the ensuing power play with his 30th of the season to pull Buffalo to within one. The Penguins locked down, playing a strong third period and limiting high-danger chances against, and they were able to keep Buffalo at bay.
Then, with less than five minutes left in regulation, Buffalo tried to break out of the defensive zone, but Egor Chinakhov picked off an errant pass just above the right circle. He skated the puck across the offensive blue line and protected it, and he managed to get a shot off. Tommy Novak was right there to pick up the loose change, and he gave the Penguins a crucial late insurance goal.
To cap off the 5-2 win, Kindel scored a shorthanded empty-net goal after a nice effort by him and Connor Dewar on the penalty kill.
Here are some thoughts and takeaways from the Penguins' last game in almost three weeks:
- What a debut for Hayes. It truly doesn't get more storybook than that.
This is a guy who had no idea he'd be playing in the NHL eight hours earlier, had to pack up quickly and drive up to Buffalo with his parents and his brother, Eli, changed into a suit during his car ride, and arrived at the rink a smidgen late but in time to get ready and participate in warm-ups.
And by the end of the night, he has his first two NHL goals and played a critical role in helping the team secure an important win.
Hayes played the kind of game that earns players an extended look at the NHL level. Of course, it's never a good idea to overreact to one game, but it wasn't just the scoring that stood out. His speed, his two-way game, his forechecking ability, his work ethic, his release, his defensive acumen, and his play along the walls was all on display during this game, and he appeared to fit right in with this team.
In a lot of ways, he reminds me of Bryan Rust - who, by the way, had an himself an extraordinary defensive game Thursday, especially on the penalty kill - because of his attributes and because of the path he is taking to the NHL level. Hayes went undrafted but simply continues to earn himself higher and higher opportunities, a grind much like the one Rust experienced in both getting to the NHL level and upon arrival.
Unfortunately, there's simply no room for Hayes or McGroarty in this lineup when it's healthy. No one in the lineup should be coming out of it. But Hayes is just another example of the impressive depth the Penguins have, and I imagine he earned himself a pretty high spot on the list if the Penguins need to call upon someone should another injury occur after the break.
- I've said it before, but Kindel's emergence changes so many things for the Penguins. This guy has not only been on an offensive heater - he has six goals and seven points in his last six games - he just plays all facets of the game at such a high level.
Like Rust, he was outstanding on the penalty kill Thursday. He was, once again, generating for his line all night long. He has a keen awareness in all three zones. He plays the game fearlessly. His shot sure is something else, too.
Kindel's game is so advanced for such a young player, and he continues to blow me away. I'm not sure I've ever seen an 18-year-old center play at such a high level in every facet of the game. And now that the production is starting to catch up, we're seeing how dangerous and outstanding of a player he will be a few years from now.
Heck, he's kind of already that player now. It's so impressive.
- I've liked what I've seen from Solovyov's game so far. He doesn't do anything flashy, but he's steady, reliable, and competent offensively, which is just what the Penguins need out of the defensemen on their bottom pairing.
He doesn't make too many mistakes. This could end up being another sneaky good add by Kyle Dubas.
- I thought Crosby looked much better Thursday. He tied Hayes for the team lead with six shots on goal, and he was shot out of a cannon on a few shifts. He just looked generally more like himself.
Sidney Crosby has no goals and two points in his last six games.
The #LetsGoPens are 4-1-1 and have scored 26 goals in those six games.
That speaks to how much depth this team has. Its best player is in his worst stretch of the season, and they're still winning hockey games.
He has only two points in his last six games, yet the Penguins scored 26 goals in those six games and were 4-1-1. This team is rolling without Crosby producing much, so just wait until he starts producing at his customary rate again.
And, given Crosby's track record of production after suiting up for Team Canada, I don't think folks have to worry about him getting back on track.
- After allowing that first goal on the first shot, Silovs bounced back in a big way. He made a lot of big saves, but his biggest was a huge save on Thompson midway through the third that would have tied the game had it gone in.
While Stuart Skinner has struggled in his past two appearances, Silovs is only getting better later in the season. Since the turn of the calendar year, he has a .910 save percentage, and six out of his last seven appearances have come in at .900 or above.
He will represent Team Latvia in the Olympics, and he has experienced success at the international level. If Silovs can continue to play at this level the rest of the way - and Skinner can get back to where he was prior to this two-game stretch - the Penguins are in good hands between the pipes.
- Another nice play to stymie a third-period scoring chance was made by Wotherspoon, who won a one-on-one with a breaking Thompson.
It's been remarkable to watch this guy become a legitimate top-four shutdown defenseman alongside, probably, the most volatile partner in hockey. What a player he is, and what a find by Kyle Dubas, as he is signed through next season at just $1 million AAV.
- Connor Clifton destroyed Peyton Krebs in a fight after Krebs ran into Silovs for no reason in the blue paint and cross-checked him to the ice.
Clifton may not be an everyday player in the lineup, but he is a good seventh defenseman to have around. And he tends to spark something with his physicality every time he's in the lineup.
- Well, given where the Penguins find themselves heading into the break, I think it's safe to say this is a good hockey team.
They're not winning games by accident, and they're not beating good teams by accident. They have legitimate four-line depth, they're getting good goaltending, they're playing better defensively, they have good special teams, and they're controlling five-on-five play at a high rate.
I think this team is clearly a playoff contender at this point. When play resumes, I think the conversation needs to shift to whether or not this is a team that can contend for a Stanley Cup.
If they make the playoffs, they might actually have a pretty good shot at winning at least a round. But given their record against the best in the East, is it really inconceivable for them to be capable of more?
Perhaps it's best not to count this team out. They continue to defy expectations, and we'll see if they can continue to be one of the best teams in hockey in the home stretch of the season post-Olympics.
- Best of luck to Crosby, Silovs, Erik Karlsson, and Rakell, assuming he's good to go for the Olympics. It should be a fun tournament to watch.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 33 shots to improve to 16-0-1 in his past 17 games, helping the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Florida Panthers 6-1 on Thursday night in the final game for both teams before the Olympic break.
Brandon Hagel, Oliver Bjporkstrand, Jake Guentzel, Erik Cernak, Pontus Holmberg and Zemgus Girgensons — who will all participate in the Olympic Games — scored for Tampa Bay. The Lightning are 19-1-1 in their last 21 games.
Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov extended his scoring streak to 10 games, his 13th career scoring streak of at least 10 games — which is tied for fifth in NHL history.
Mackie Samoskevich scored for the Panthers. Danil Tarasov finished with 20 saves for Florida before leaving due to injury in the third period. Sergei Bobrovsky finished the game for the Panthers, who played without regulars Brad Marchand, Aaron Ekblad, Evan Rodrigues. They all sat out after playing Wednesday against Boston.
CAPITALS 4, PREDATORS 2
WASHINGTON (AP) — Pierre-Luc Dubois scored in his first game since Halloween, Jakob Chychrun added a pair of goals and Washington beat Nashville.
Logan Thompson returned in goal from an injury of his own and made several sparkling saves, and the Capitals won for the fourth time in five games entering the Olympic break. Tom Wilson, who is on Canada’s roster for those Olympics, also scored for the Caps.
Jonathan Marchessault and Michael McCarron scored for Nashville, which had its five-game points streak snapped.
Dubois had no points in his first six games this season and underwent surgery on injuries to his abdominal and adductor muscles. He hadn’t played since Oct. 31.
Wilson opened the scoring for Washington, and then Dubois made it 2-0. The flashiest goal belonged to Chychrun, however. The defenseman left Nashville’s Tyson Jost behind with a 360-degree spin near the boards, then entered the offensive zone and scored.
HURRICANES 2, RANGERS 0
NEW YORK (AP) — Rookie Brandon Bussi made 16 saves for his second shutout, Andrei Svechnikov gave Carolina an early lead in the first period and Carolina topped New York to extend its points streak to 10 games.
Jordan Staal scored into an empty net with 54 seconds left to seal it for the Hurricanes in the final game for both teams before the Olympic break.
The Eastern Conference-leading Hurricanes are 8-0-2 since Jan. 16 and 12-1-3 since Jan. 4.
Jonathan Quick made a season-high 41 saves for the Rangers, who were shut out for the ninth time this season and the seventh at home. New York has lost four in a row.
Svechnikov made it 1-0 game 6:26 into the first period on a wrist shot off an assist from Mark Jankowski. And Bussi, who has won his last seven starts, made that goal hold up.
PENGUINS 5, SABRES 2
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Avery Hayes scored twice in his NHL debut, Arturs Silovs made 26 saves and Pittsburgh beat Buffalo in the final game for both teams before the Olympic break.
Called up from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League with the Penguins hit by a series of injuries, Hayes tied at 1 at 9:18 of the period on his first shot on goal. He raced to beat defenseman Jacob Bryson to the puck and put a wrister past goalie Alex Lyon.
Hayes made it 2-1 with 1:13 left in the period, taking Anthony Mantha’s short, backward pass and knocking it in. He’s the third Penguins player to score twice in his NHL debut, joining Rob Brown (two goals on Oct. 21, 1987) and Jake Guentzel (two goals on Nov. 21, 2016).
Hayes has 13 goals and 10 assists in 31 games this season in the AHL. He made his NHL debut with Blake Lizotte out for the birth of his first child, Rickard Rakell nursing a lower-body injury and Noel Acciari sidelined by an illness.
ISLANDERS 3, DEVILS 1
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Bo Horvat broke a tie late in the third period and New York went into the Olympic break with a win over New Jersey.
Horvat went to his backhand off the draw, slipping the puck past goalie Jake Allen, with only 3:27 left to play. Casey Cizikas scored in the second period for the Islanders and Mathew Barzal scored an empty-net goal to seal the win for New York.
Cizikas put the Islanders up 1-0 at 6:30 in the second period, cleaning up a rebound in front of the net. From behind the net, Allen sent the puck around the boards right to Marc Gatcomb while the Devils were in a line change. Gatcomb fired the puck to the slot, where Kyle MacLean got a stick on it, tipping it to Cizikas. Allen made the save on the first tip by Cizikas, but couldn’t control the rebound.
Allen stopped 11 shots.
SENATORS 2, FLYERS 1, OT
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Tim Stutzle charged past Philadelphia defenseman Travis Sanheim and scored on a back-hand shot 47 seconds into overtime, giving Ottawa the win.
It was Stutzle’s 28th goal of the season. The Senators won their fifth game in six outings heading into the Olympic break.
Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale scored on a wrist shot from the left circle with 1:14 remaining in regulation.
That came on only the 14th Philadelphia shot of the game against unexpected Ottawa starting goalie James Reimer.
Reimer, 37, was playing in his seventh game since signing with the Senators last month. Would-be Ottawa starter Linus Ullmark recently returned from a personal leave of absence, but he was a late scratch Thursday, reportedly due to illness.
Former Flyer Nick Cousins scored a second-period goal and Reimer made 15 saves for the Senators.
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 4, KINGS 1
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Mark Stone had a goal and two assists and Vegas took control early by scoring four times on its first six shots for a victory over Los Angeles.
Vegas heads into the Olympic break with back-to-back victories after losing seven of eight games. The Kings have lost four of five.
Jack Eichel and Pavel Dorofeyev each had a goal and an assist for the Golden Knights. Mitch Marner scored a goal for his 799th career point and Ivan Barbashev extended his points streak to five games with two assists.
Barbashev’s four-game goal streak, however, ended. Eichel extended his points streak to four games and now has 200 assists in a Golden Knights uniform.
Vegas’ Adin Hill made 32 saves for his 100th career victory, his most stops since having 34 on March 15, 2025, against Buffalo.
Trevor Moore scored for the Kings and Anton Forsberg stopped 18 shots. Adrian Kempe’s eight-game points streak ended.
The Florida Panthers took the ice on Thursday night for the final time until after the 2026 Winter Olympic hockey tournament ends later this month.
Playing their cross-state rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning, for the fourth and final time this season, Florida came up empty despite out-shooting and out-possessing their hosts, losing 6-1.
Tampa Bay got things started early when Brandon Hagel deflected home a shot by Victor Hedman just 2:08 into the game, then the Lightning took a 2-0 lead on a shot by Zemgus Girgensons with 5:52 to go in the period.
Despite Florida outshooting the Lightning 19-7 with a shot attempt edge of 34-14, they went into the middle frame trailing by two.
Things got worse for the Cats early in the second period.
Killing their first penalty of the night, the Panthers couldn’t complete the kill as Jake Guentzel banged home a Darren Raddysh rebound that hit Daniil Tarasov right in the glove, making it 3-0 Lightning at the 74 second mark.
A goal by Erik Cernak with just over two minutes left sent the Lightning into the third period with a four-goal advantage, all but sealing the deal for the Bolts.
Pontus Holmberg and Mackie Samoskevich traded power play goals during the final frame, and Oliver Bjorkstrand popped in a sixth Tampa goal for good measure.
Photo caption: Feb 5, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning center Zemgus Girgensons (28) is congratulated by center Yanni Gourde (37) after scoring against the Florida Panthers during the first period at Benchmark International Arena. (Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images)
The Nashville Predators' penalty struggles and another early deficit prove costly in their final game before the Olympic break, as they fall to the Washington Capitals 4-2 on Thursday in D.C.
The Predators logged 12 minutes in penalties, putting the Capitals on the power play six times. Washington scored twice on the man advantage, which proved the difference in a two-goal game.
Defenseman Jakob Chychrun scored twice for Washington and recorded an assist for three total points. Dylan Strome (2A) and Pierre-Luc Dubois (1G, 1A) had two points each.
For the 39th time this season, the Predators gave up the first goal of the game, coming 4:15 minutes off the stick of Tom Wilson. Dubois scored on the power play to put Nashville in a 2-0 hole for a third straight game.
Chychrun made it 3-0 early in the second period. Jonathan Marchessault got the Predators on the board with an Adam Wilsby shot; Erik Haula deflected it on net, which went off Marchessault's skate.
In the first two minutes of the third period, Michael McCarron drove to the net and scored off a third rebound attempt to make it a one-goal game. Nashville was eyeing its 18th comeback victory of the season.
However, a Marchessault slashing penalty put the Capitals on the power play for the sixth time on the night, and Chychrun scored to restore the two-goal edge.
Justus Annunen allowed four goals on 30 shots and made 26 saves. This was the fifth straight game that the Predators allowed their opponent to register 30-plus shots on net.
The Predators head into the two-week Olympic break with a 26-24-7 record with 59 points. Dropping games to Minnesota and Washington, Nashville is four points outside of a Wild Card spot.
Their first game after the break will be against the Chicago Blackhawks on Feb. 26 at Bridgestone Arena.
NEWARK, NJ -- After scoring the overtime winner in a 5-4 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, Bo Horvat played hero yet again, helping the New York Islanders to a 3-1 win over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night.
With the game deadlocked at 1-1 with not a lot of space out there, Horvat came through, scoring the eventual game-winning goal at 16:33 of the third:
Gimme some Italian Ice! Bo Horvat scores his 24th goal of the season and puts the #Isles up 2-1 late.🚨 pic.twitter.com/PsP0Ruzp0P
Mathew Barzal added an empty-net tally at 19:36 of the third for the 3-1 final.
Here's what happened prior:
Casey Cizikas gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead at 6:30 of the second period. After Allen turned the puck over to Marc Gatcom along the right half-wall, he shot the puck toward goal. Kyle MacLean redirected the puck on goal before Cizikas buried the rebound for his seventh of the season:
After Ryan Pulock swiped a loose puck stationed behind Sorokin out of danger, the Devils got posession before Jesper Bratt fed Nico Hsicher, who roofed one glove side at 18:26 of the second:
NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 05: Bo Horvat #14 of the New York Islanders celebrates after scoring during the third period of the game against the New Jersey Devils on February 5, 2026 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Up until a little over 16 minutes into the third, this recap had a very different vibe. The Islanders did only register 14 shots on goal, apparently tying their lowest ever against the New Jersey Devils, last done in 2004. Ilya Sorokin needed to put in a Vezina-level (and frankly, Hart-level) performance to keep the Islanders in the game. The fourth line was really the only consistent line tonight, which is never great. And Jonathan Drouin made a terrible turnover that created a clean breakaway that only luckily wasn’t in the back of our net, yet for some reason didn’t get stapled to the bench like Mat Barzal and Anthony Duclair.
But then, Bo Horvat.
For the second game in a row, Horvat came up clutch, picking up the game-winning goal out of nowhere. And Mat Barzal will be taking a four game goal streak into the Olympic break, putting him just six goals away from tying his career high of 23 in a season.
The Islanders sit in second place in the Metropolitan Division and they’ll stay there at least until the season resumes on February 26th, after the Olympic break.
Early on, Emil Heineman had a great chance, putting the puck behind Jake Allen, but across the crease rather than in the net.
Timo Meier took a high sticking penalty, but the Devils killed an inept Islanders power play.
Dawson Mercer had a breakaway after a bad Jonathan Drouin turnover, and his backhand shot went off the post.
The fourth line played well all night and got rewarded when Casey Cizikas got the Islanders on the board 6:30 into the second period, with both Kyle MacLean and Marc Gatcomb picking up the assists.
But then, MacLean took a high sticking penalty, which the Islanders killed largely thanks to Ilya Sorokin. Sorokin was incredible this period, although he got a little bit of help when Adam Pelech made a huge block with his right skate to save a sure goal. Following that, Sorokin made a big save on Dougie Hamilton to keep the Isles’ one goal lead.
Evgenii Dadanov couldn’t get a chance across the goal line for the Devils, but the Islanders got caught in a change after clearing the puck, and Nico Hischier tied the game.
With just a few seconds left in the second, Anders Lee got hit by a Simon Holmstrom shot, and Lee skated off the ice slowly and had to be helped by the training staff down the tunnel at the end of the period. He did return at the start of the third, though.
Sorokin made a save on Connor Brown after a bad pass from Carson Soucy, MacLean had a shot saved by Allen, and Tony DeAngelo had a solid shift where he made a great pass to Heineman in the slot who hit the glass with his shot, and a great pass to Gatcomb who had his shot saved by Allen.
The Islanders had some solid looks, with Ondrej Palat having a shot saved against his former team, and Lee setting up Holmstrom only to have that chance saved by Allen, too.
But then, our hero, the Olympian, the rally bird man himself, Bo Horvat, scored with 3:27 left off the faceoff, picking up the puck behind Hischier and driving to the net to make it 2-1. That goal was Horvat’s 600th NHL point and 24th goal of the season.
The Devils pulled Allen a minute later, and Sorokin had to make a big save as the Islanders essentially defended 6 on 4 when Cizikas broke his stick. But Mat Barzal would extend his goal streak to 4 games, shooting the puck into the empty net as the Isles picked up a massive win heading into the Olympic break.
Next, it’ll be a while before we see more Islanders hockey, when the season resumes for the Isles in Montreal on February 26th. Hopefully everyone will be back well-rested and healthy, especially the latter for our Olympians!
