Directly after a 5–2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights to kick-off the 2026 Winter Olympic break, the Vancouver Canucks re-assigned Jonathan Lekkerimäki, Victor Mancini, and Nikita Tolopilo to the AHL. This will ensure that all three players get some playing time while the NHL goes on break until February 25. Jiří Patera will join Vancouver as a result of these moves. 

Lekkerimäki was called-up by Vancouver last week after spending over a month in the AHL. During this period of time with the Abbotsford Canucks, the forward scored seven goals and four assists in 11 games played. Throughout his past five games with Vancouver, Lekkerimäki scored a goal and saw some first-unit power play time. 

Mancini has gone up-and-down from the NHL to AHL throughout the past couple of weeks due to injuries on Vancouver’s blueline. He rejoined the Canucks on January 12, skating in four games before being sent back down to Abbotsford. The defenceman played in four games with the AHL Canucks during that span, tallying a goal and an assist, before he was brought back up due to an injury to Zeev Buium. Mancini has two goals and six assists in 24 games in the AHL this season. 

Tolopilo has gotten into quite a few games for Vancouver this season, playing in nine total as a result of injuries to Thatcher Demko. He has three wins, three losses, and an overtime loss to his name this season as well as a 3.04 GAA and team-high .910 SV%. He very nearly recorded his first NHL shutout with a 2–0 win against the Anaheim Ducks on January 29; however, since Kevin Lankinen came in and made one save while Tolopilo was being evaluated for concussion protocol, the shutout ultimately belongs to both of them. 

While Vancouver will now be on break until their 7:00 pm PT game against the Winnipeg Jets on February 25, the three players sent to Abbotsford could take part in as many as seven games before the NHL resumes. The AHL Canucks will play the San Jose Barracuda on February 6 and 7; the Ontario Reign on February 14, 16, and 18; and the Henderson Silver Knights on February 20 and 21. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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The Olympic break is straight ahead, and the Ottawa Senators will play their final game before the layoff against the Philadelphia Flyers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Thursday, February 5.

My top Senators vs. Flyers predictions and NHL picks are calling for Ottawa leaving the City of Brotherly Love with a win tonight.  

Senators vs Flyers prediction

Senators vs Flyers best bet: Senators moneyline (-125)

The Ottawa Senators have elite underlying numbers at 5-on-5 with a fourth-ranked Corsi For percentage and expected goals percentage, and No. 1 goalie Linus Ullmark has looked the part in his two starts since returning to action.

Ullmark has turned away 40 of 43 shots for a .930 SV% across the consecutive wins, and he’s also stopped 1.63 goals above expected.

With the Philadelphia Flyers ranking 24th in CF% and 15th in xGF% at 5-on-5, I am expecting Ottawa to head into the Olympic break in winning fashion.

Senators vs Flyers same-game parlay

Sens winger Drake Batherson has picked up a point in four consecutive games and is skating with leading scorer Tim Stutzle on the top line and No. 1 power-play unit. With Batherson and Stutzle being on the ice for a high-end 5.51 goals per 60 minutes this season, look for No. 19 to mark the scoresheet again tonight.

Turning to the final leg of this same-game parlay, Ottawa defenseman Thomas Chabot has registered two or more shots in 16 of 23 games since returning from an upper-body injury, and he’s settled into a secondary role on the blue line behind No. 1 Jake Sanderson.

Softer matchups have been helpful with Chabot ranking third on the Sens in attempts (111) while also sporting an impressive 54 CF% at 5-on-5 across the 23-game stretch.

Senators vs Flyers SGP

• Senators moneyline
• Drake Batherson Over 0.5 points
• Thomas Chabot Over 1.5 shots on goal

Senators vs Flyers odds

• Moneyline: Senators -125 | Flyers +105
• Puck Line: Senators -1.5 (+190) | Flyers +1.5 (-230)
• Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-135) | Under 5.5 (+115)

Senators vs Flyers trend

The Senators have covered the puck line in nine of their last 14 away games (+7.35 Units / 36% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Senators vs. Flyers.

How to watch Senators vs Flyers

Senators vs Flyers latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

Brandon Hagel continues to pile up the shots each night without Brayden Point in the lineup, especially at home.

My Panthers vs. Lightning predictions have that trend continuing in his final game before the Olympic break.

Let’s take a closer look at my NHL picks for Thursday, February 5.

Panthers vs Lightning prediction

Panthers vs Lightning best bet: Brandon Hagel Over 2.5 shots on goal (-160)

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel has averaged 3.6 shots and 7.5 attempts per game without Brayden Point. Those are much higher than his outputs with Point in the lineup and have led to a remarkable 76% Over rate, clearing this line in 13 of 17 games.

His numbers in Tampa Bay are even better. He's produced 4.3 shots on goal per game, averaging close to eight attempts each night with Point sidelined. That has resulted in eight Overs through nine games. Incredible consistency.

Not only is Hagel skating on the No. 1 power play, but he has Nikita Kucherov and Jake Guentzel by his side on a stacked top line.

Without Point, Anthony Cirelli, and Nick Paul, head coach Jon Cooper has opted to use Guentzel at center and put all his eggs in that basket.

They will undoubtedly get plenty of offensive zone starts and cushier usage to help maximize their abilities.

They should spend a ton of time on the attack, generating opportunities. Hagel is the most trigger-happy player of the bunch and will get plenty of chances to shoot as a result.

Panthers vs Lightning same-game parlay

We’re going to take a couple of swings and try to head into the break with a bang.

Hagel’s high volume makes him a threat to score nightly, particularly with so many of his shots coming from high-danger areas. He has scored eight goals through nine home dates without Point.

Sticking with Canadian Olympians, Brad Marchand stands out for the Florida Panthers. He will be unfazed by the difficult matchup as he has scored in exactly 50% of his games vs. Top-10 defenses, including all three meetings with Tampa Bay.

Panthers vs Lightning SGP

• Brandon Hagel Over 2.5 shots on goal
• Brandon Hagel anytime goal
• Brad Marchand anytime goal

Panthers vs Lightning odds

• Moneyline: Panthers +160 | Lightning -190
• Puck Line: Panthers +1.5 (-150) | Lightning -1.5 (+130)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+115) | Under 6.5 (-135)

Panthers vs Lightning trend

Brandon Hagel has 3+ shots in nine of his last 10 without Brayden Point. Find more NHL betting trends for Panthers vs. Lightning.

How to watch Panthers vs Lightning

Panthers vs Lightning latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

The Vegas Golden Knights haven’t strung together many wins of late, yet they still hold on to top spot in the Pacific Division.

My Kings vs. Golden Knights predictions see Vegas taking care of business against an intra-division foe and entering the break on a high.

Let’s break down my NHL picks for Thursday, February 5.

Kings vs Golden Knights prediction

Kings vs Golden Knights best bet: Golden Knights moneyline (-135)

The Vegas Golden Knights are playing better than their 3-5-2 record would indicate over the last 10 games. A lot better.

They have generated 139 high-danger chances while conceding just 98. That’s a 58.65% share, slotting them second to only the Dallas Stars league-wide.

Put simply, Vegas is creating a lot better chances than they’re giving up. They're also loaded with firepower to help them convert those chances.

They have largely been undone by goaltending. Luckily for them, that area of their team shouldn’t be as problematic tonight.

The Los Angeles Kings have scored 141 goals this season, second-fewest in the league. Only the Calgary Flames have found the back of the net fewer times.

The Kings also rank 30th in shooting percentage. That’s far from ideal heading into a matchup with a Golden Knights team that allows only 24.8 shots per game.

Newcomer Artemi Panarin will not play, with the Kings opting to give him the break to skate and get up to speed with the systems of his new team.

Whether Vegas outscores its goaltending problems, or simply limits shots so effectively they don’t show up, I expect them to win this game.

Kings vs Golden Knights same-game parlay

Mark Stone hasn’t scored in six straight games, his longest drought of the season. He has, however, scored in 10 of his past 18 home dates and was shifted back onto the top line with Jack Eichel in last night’s game.

He should get plenty of good feeds from one of the league’s best playmakers.

The volume continues to be there for Alex Laferriere regardless of opponent. He has cleared this line in seven of his past 10, including against strong shot suppression sides like Philadelphia, St. Louis and…Vegas!

Kings vs Golden Knights SGP

• Golden Knights moneyline
• Mark Stone anytime goal
• Alex Laferriere Over 1.5 shots on goal

Kings vs Golden Knights odds

• Moneyline: Los Angeles +130 | Vegas -150
• Puck line: Los Angeles +1.5 (-190) | Vegas -1.5 (+160)
• Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-135) | Under 5.5 (-115)

Kings vs Golden Knights trend

Mark Stone has scored in six of his past 10 games in Vegas. Find more NHL betting trends for Kings vs. Golden Knights.

How to watch Kings vs Golden Knights

Kings vs Golden Knights latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

Welcome to this edition of the Vancouver Canucks post-game analytics report. This recurring deep dive breaks down the analytics behind each Canucks game as recorded by Natural Stat Trick. In this article, we look back on Vancouver’s most recent 5–2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. 

Despite a strong first period, Vancouver was unable to keep up to Vegas’ skill throughout the rest of the game. They outchanced the Golden Knights in the first period only, but suffered a brutal collapse in the third period that saw them put up only two scoring chances-for and four shots on net. Throughout the entire game, Vancouver only registered six high-danger scoring chances. 

If there were any doubts about Vancouver’s lack of chances, the heat map from last night’s game confirms it. The Canucks were unable to find good areas to take chances from, with their warmest spot on the map being at the faceoff dots. Defensively, they were unable to keep Vegas from scoring from in-tight, as three of the Golden Knights’ five goals came from directly near Kevin Lankinen. 

While it wasn’t a great night for most, one trio made their mark in their second-straight game. Vancouver’s line of Liam Öhgren, Teddy Blueger, and Conor Garland continued to show up for the Canucks offensively-speaking, factoring into both of the team’s goals last night while also playing the most minutes together with 14:16. They also registered the highest CF% with 62.07% while also generating the most scoring-chances for (7). 

Though he didn’t factor into scoring, Tom Willander had himself a strong night for Vancouver. The defenceman played the fourth-highest minutes on the team with 20:10, also registering the fourth-highest CF% with 51.43%. Willander also generated the most scoring chances-for on the Canucks (9) while allowing the second-least (4). 

Vancouver will now be on break for the next couple of weeks as the 2026 Winter Olympics take place. Seven members of the Canucks organization will represent their countries in Italy, while the rest will have some time off before resuming practice in mid-February. Vancouver’s next game will take place on February 25 at 7:00 pm PT when the Winnipeg Jets roll into town. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

The Florida Panthers are hoping to go into the NHL’s Olympic break on a high.

Florida picked up a 5-4 shootout win over the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night and will complete a pre-pause back-to-back set when they visit the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Thursday’s game will be the fourth and final regular season matchup between the cross-state rivals.

So far, the Lightning have won twice in Sunrise while the Panthers picked up two points in their only other trip to the Treasure Coast back in December.

It’s been a much better season for the Bolts than the Cats, despite both teams having to maneuver serious injury issues.

Entering play Thursday, Tampa is tied with the Carolina Hurricanes for the top spot in the Eastern Conference but takes the tiebreaker on both wins and games played.

Florida, meanwhile, sadly sits eight points behind the Boston Bruins for the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Boston doesn’t play again until after the Olympic break, so Florida can pull within six games of the Bruins with a win on Thursday.

The Panthers received a big boost to their lineup on Wednesday when injured forwards Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett and Anton Lundell all suited up for the Cats.

A healthy Florida squad will go a long way toward the Panthers making a run at crashing the playoff party.

Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Thursday’s tussle in Tampa:

Carter Verhaeghe – Anton Lundell – Sam Reinhart

Eetu Luostarinen – Sam Bennett – Matthew Tkachuk

A.J. Greer – Evan Rodrigues – Brad Marchand

Jesper Boqvist – Cole Schwindt – Mackie Samoskevich

Gus Forsling – Aaron Ekblad

Niko Mikkola – Uvis Balinskis

Tobias Bjornfot – Jeff Petry

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Photo caption: Feb 4, 2026; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) speaks to defenseman Gustav Forsling (42) against the Boston Bruins during the second period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

San Jose Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro and forward Jeff Skinner have both been included on Chris Johnston's latest trade board for The Athletic. 

Ferraro was given the No. 33 spot on Johnston's trade board. This is not the first time that the left-shot defenseman has come up as a trade candidate due to his pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) status.

Johnston noted that the Sharks have had extension talks with Ferraro, so he is a player who they certainly could end up keeping around. However, if the Sharks end up making the left-shot defenseman available for trade, there would likely be a lot of interest in him. This is because he is a solid top-four defenseman who is reliable defensively and is built for playoff hockey. 

In 55 games so far this season with the Sharks, Ferraro has recorded four goals, eight assists, 12 points, 94 hits, and 105 blocks.

As for Skinner, Johnston gave the veteran winger the No. 47 spot and noted that his no-trade list has now changed to an eight-team trade list. With this, the Sharks now have some wiggle room to move him if they wish to. 

Skinner has been scratched multiple times this season by the Sharks and has not appeared in a game for the Pacific Division club since their Jan. 11 contest against the Vegas Golden Knights. This is even with the 33-year-old forward posting two goals and six points in his last six games. 

Teams looking for more secondary offensive production and experience could take a chance on Skinner if he is made available by San Jose. In 32 games this season, he has recorded six goals and 13 points. 

Welcome to the Olympic break, folks!

The NHL is officially paused for around three weeks, with players either heading off to Milan or (probably) heading to some kind of tropical locale for a bit of a break.

The Bruins entered the break with a 5-4 shootout loss to the Florida Panthers last night, their second consecutive shootout loss in the cursed state of Florida.

Your highlights:

If you don’t want to watch the highlights but want a brief recap of what happened:

• It was a back-and-forth game early, but Florida ended up taking a 4-2 lead into the third period on the back of three special teams goals (2 PP, 1 SHG) in the second period.
• The B’s tied it up in the third on goals by Mark Kastelic and Casey Mittelstadt.
• Brad Marchand ended up scoring the eventual winning goal in the shootout, beating Joonas Korpisalo in the fourth round; Mittelstadt’s attempt was stopped by Sergei Bobrovsky, giving the Panthers the win.

The more notable (and rage-inducing) part of the game came in the first period, when Panthers forward Sandis Vilmanis elbowed Charlie McAvoy in the head:

Charlie McAvoy down the tunnel….

…Florida to the powerplay. Unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/j0Y5lNsO4M

— Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) February 5, 2026

Vilmanis was only given two minutes for an illegal check to the head, and the Panthers actually ended up with a power play because the Bruins were given two minutes for roughing for going after Vilmanis, plus a bonus two for unsportsmanlike conduct by the bench.

Only in the NHL could a player get illegally elbowed in the head and have his team end up disadvantaged.

McAvoy did eventually return to the game, and I imagine Vilmanis will end up getting fined like $1,500 or something today.

Marco Sturm’s thoughts on the hit:

Marco Sturm's full thoughts on the Charlie McAvoy hit: pic.twitter.com/VRAhzNLmbc

— Ty Anderson (@_TyAnderson) February 5, 2026

I don’t know why, but the “but, anyway” at the end is funny to me.

Vilmanis didn’t skate another shift after the hit, allegedly leaving with an upper-body injury.

Regardless of your (correct) feelings on the McAvoy incident, this was a game that saw the B’s let down by special teams play.

They were given seven PP opportunities, and only converted once — plus, they allowed a shorthanded goal, so…those kind of cancel each other out.

They also allowed Florida to convert on two of their three PP chances, so not a banner night for the PP or PK.

The B’s head into the Olympic break with points in seven consecutive games, and while taking two out of four points on this Florida trip certainly isn’t the worst result, you can’t help but think they left something on the table.

The glass is either half full or half empty, I guess, depending on your perspective.

Over in Milan, things are off to a bumpy start in the ice hockey world, with the Canadian women’s team’s opening game postponed due to cases of norovirus spreading among the Finland women’s team.

A norovirus outbreak in the Olympic village is………..not ideal.

Anyways, the first half(ish) of the Bruins season is over: 32-20-5, 69 points, currently in a playoff spot (with a four-point cushion).

It’s also worth noting that the B’s are only three points from 2nd/3rd in the division.

Overall, this first half feels like a slight overachievement.

What’s on tap for today?

The Toronto Maple Leafsalways make things interesting.

It looked like a trip to the Stanley Cup playoffs was unlikely for the Maple Leafs as they entered their four-game West Coast road trip last week. They had just lost five straight at home and were eight points out of a playoff spot.

It got worse when they lost to the Seattle Kraken last Thursday; Toronto then was 10 points out of the final wild-card spot. That's when reports surfaced that the Maple Leafs might lean towards being sellers as they approach the March 6 trade deadline, which makes a lot of sense.

Toronto was free-falling in the standings, losing game after game. It felt like their season was slowly — and surely — in jeopardy, and that their consecutive playoff streak (the longest in the NHL) was coming to an end.

However, after wins against the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, and Edmonton Oilers, Toronto is sitting in a different position. They're now six points out of the final wild-card spot, currently held by the Boston Bruins.

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"We talked about coming out of the break, we've got to be prepared and ready to go because we've got, obviously, some catching up to do here," said head coach Craig Berube on Tuesday night after their win in Edmonton.

"But three wins going on the break is a good boost for our team, and I'm proud of our team, the way they competed on this road trip."

All of this begs the question: Where do the Maple Leafs go from here?

The case for being sellers

I think we could all agree that the Maple Leafs have gotten beaten up on the trade front in recent years.

The Fraser Minten-Brandon Carlo deal with the Bruins is one example of that (though Carlo's game is on an upward trajectory as of late). I think you could say the same with paying the Philadelphia Flyers a first-round pick and Nikita Grebenkin for Scott Laughton.

Now, Laughton and Carlo are important to the Maple Leafs' makeup, but many believe it was an overpay for those two in particular. I would agree, to a degree (we'll save that for another day).

Toronto, though, could recoup some of those lost assets ahead of this year's deadline if they decide their season is over.

'We're In A Different Position Than The Past': Is GM Brad Treliving Ready For Maple Leafs To Be Sellers At Trade Deadline?The Maple Leafs fell 5-2 to the Kraken on Thursday night, falling further down the standings.

They've got a few trade chips in unrestricted free agents, like Bobby McMann, whose 19 goals are one off matching a career-high set last season. Laughton is also a UFA at the end of this season.

Those two in particular (McMann, especially) could bring back a decent return.

McMann's a strong, powerful skater who can score and is cheap at a cap hit of $1.35 million. Laughton is a faceoff magician and an incredible teammate. If they're calling it quits on the season, the Maple Leafs need to capitalize on an investment.

Carlo and Simon Benoit have also surfaced as players that Toronto could move to regain some draft capital.

A retool for the Maple Leafs would be approved by most if they remain outside of a playoff spot.

But in their current position in the standings, could they wait a little longer after the Olympic break to decide on the season? They must have several alternative options if things go south, or north.

But apparently not.

TSN's Chris Johnston reported on Wednesday that the Maple Leafs' stance on the trade front hasn't changed, despite inching closer to the second wild-card spot in the East.

"From the Brad Treliving side of things, the Leafs' front office, they've started garnering and engaging in what their players are worth on the market," Johnston reported.

"I don't expect a three-game winning streak, and even perhaps if it extends beyond the break, where the Leafs win a couple games out of the break, I don't believe that's going to alter what this front office wants to do...

"I think the Leafs are going to get a good sense over the break, in terms of what the value is for (their players) is on the market, monitor those decisions. And as we get closer to March 6, I do still think you're going to see the Leafs sell, to some degree."

The case for staying in the playoff race

If you're a Maple Leafs fan, this could likely be what you want.

And I don't blame anyone for wanting Toronto to try to remain in the playoff picture. 

This season, more than ever, feels wide open. Aside from the Colorado Avalanche, there are no real sure bets to win the Stanley Cup. Don't get me wrong, there are some strong teams, like the Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes, Minnesota Wild, and Dallas Stars.

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However, I believe that, when all the chips are down, Toronto still has dangerous enough players to hang with those teams. The same goes for them against the Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, and Detroit Red Wings, all of whom sit higher than the Maple Leafs in the Atlantic Division.

The playoffs are a different animal, though.

Keep in mind, Toronto's season has featured some pretty big highs and lows, which is why I'd say if you still have belief, you're not entirely wrong for it.

They lost Anthony Stolarz for a few months, but Joseph Woll and Dennis Hildeby held down the fort. Thesame occurred on defense with Carlo during the months he was out. They're also currently without Dakota Joshua (lacerated kidney) and Chris Tanev (groin) — both important players in the grand scheme.

'The Slant Is Incorrect' Brad Treliving Pushed Back On Criticism That The Maple Leafs Have Scaled Back How It Deals With InjuriesTreliving pushed back against an article in The Athletic questioning the elimination of a position within the sports sciences department.

Auston Matthews is back to being himself. William Nylander is flying. And if their win against Edmonton taught us anything, it's that when the Maple Leafs play like a team, they're still a robust hockey club.

It's still okay have hope in them; it's what being a fan is all about.

Remember, too, that the Olympic break could do some damage to teams, whether it's injuries or decelerating a club's hot streak. There are definitely a couple of teams in each conference that are riding the high of a strong season.

"I don't know about it," said Berube on whether the almost three-week break could throw some teams into a rut.

"I mean, listen, the Olympics are going to have a lot to say about that, in my opinion. Coming out of the Olympics, you never know what happens, injuries and all that sort of thing.

"But we can't worry about that. We've got to make sure we're prepared and we get the work in when we get back to work and get ready to go again. Right out of the break, we've got two tough opponents in Florida."

The Montreal Canadiens were playing their last game before the Olympic break on Wednesday night against the Winnipeg Jets, and Martin St-Louis decided to give Samuel Montembeault a start for the first time in two weeks, despite Jakub Dobes’ recent form. It was a gutsy decision from the coach, given the fact that Dobes hadn’t lost in regulation in 10 games and that the Canadiens desperately needed the two points.

A Tough Start

The Habs looked like they weren’t ready for puck drop, but thankfully, Montembeault was. He made several big saves in the first few minutes, and while he did give up a goal just six minutes in, it must be said that the Jets were on a power play at the time, and that there was nothing the goaltender could have done on that shot. Furthermore, that goal stemmed from a Phillip Danault mistake on the penalty kill; he had a golden opportunity to clear the zone, but he tried to clear it down the middle, right where the Jets defenseman was.

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The Bécancour native stopped two odd-man rushes in the first frame alone, and it was because of his ability to weather the storm, making 12 stops, that the Canadiens didn’t find themselves in a bigger hole.

SNACKS #GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/RYrrTzjXHh

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) February 5, 2026

He was also able to shut the door for the rest of the game, making 37 saves on the 38 shots he faced for a .973 save percentage. After what he has gone through so far this season, this performance will allow him to head into the break with a positive mindset. 

Taming One Of Their Demons

The Canadiens have struggled all season in the second period, so much so that before the game, they had a minus-10 differential in the middle stanza, while the Jets were plus-four, but it didn’t look like it on Wednesday night. The Habs scored two goals in 1:16 to take a 3-1 lead over the Jets.

Josh Anderson found the back of the net first, with a perfect deflection off a Jayden Struble shot after five minutes of play, and then Lane Hutson scored one of his most impressive goals of the season off an Anderson pass. The power forward’s feed was behind the defenseman, who caught the pass on his backhand, pivoted while skating towards the net, and scored short side high up on a Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck.

https://t.co/owSzMBa4nFpic.twitter.com/CNkcu8IWvc

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) February 5, 2026

As for Montembeault, he added another 13 saves to his tally, keeping the Jets at bay and allowing the Canadiens to go back to the dressing room with a 3-1 lead with 20 minutes to go.

The Veterans Stood Up

When the Jets came out strong in the first frame, it was the veteran line of Danault, Anderson and Gallagher who stood up and turned the tide. The three veterans combined for seven points and were a constant pain in the Jets’ side. Danault won 12 of the 18 draws he took, Anderson registered the go-ahead goal early in the second, and Gallagher delivered the gut punch that sent the Jets down crashing early in the third frame.

Gally lance les « Olé »

Cue the "Olé" chant in Manitoba#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/b3ZjPdhJ0h

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) February 5, 2026

While many analysts were talking about players’ heads being either in Milan for those who are heading to the Olympics and on holiday for the others, the trio was completely focused on the task at hand.

With his three points, Gallagher is now the 26th-highest scorer in Canadiens’ history with 483 points. The 33-year-old can now set his sights on Vincent Damphousse, who’s 25th, but it won’t be easy to catch him since he’s on 498 points. The diminutive winger is also 14th overall in goals and 38th overall in assists.

After many injury-plagued seasons, he played all 82 games last season and has not missed a game so far this year. He has now skated in 891 games with the Canadiens and will soon overtake Patrice Brisebois, who is in 13th place in all-time games played with the Sainte-Flanelle with 896. If he stays healthy, the veteran could reach 1,000 games before the end of his contract since the regular season will have 84 games starting in 2026-27.

With this 5-1 win, the Canadiens moved into second place in the Atlantic Division, at least momentarily. On Thursday, while the Habs will all be heading out on holiday or to the Olympics, the Buffalo Sabres will be taking on the Pittsburgh Penguins, meaning that when the league shuts down for the break, the Sabres and the Habs will have played the same number of games.

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Who:Pittsburgh Penguins (28-15-12, 68 points, 2nd place Metropolitan Division) @ Buffalo Sabres (32-18-6, 70 points, 3rd place Atlantic Division)

When: 7:00 p.m. eastern

How to Watch: Locally broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and MSG-B, streaming on ESPN+

Pens’ Path Ahead: The path for most of the players is an enviable one to spend some time with their families in tropical confines during the NHL’s three-week Olympic break that starts after tonight. The Pens don’t play again until three weeks from tonight at home against New Jersey (Feb 26) leaving for a lot of R&R in the future for most of the team.

Opponent Track: The Sabres have slowed down recently, if ever-so-slightly. They’ve traded wins and losses in the last four outings (beating LA, losing to Montreal, beating Florida and losing to Tampa [OT]) and are 6-2-2 in their last 10. That’s pretty decent, but then again they were 8-2-0 in the prior 10 game stretch and 8-3-0 before that. Since Thanksgiving, Buffalo’s 23-8-2 record is the best in the NHL.

Season Series: The Penguins won 4-2 back on November 26th, dropping Buffalo to 29th place in the NHL with a 9-10-4 record. That wasn’t quite rock bottom for the Sabres (they would lose 5-0 to NJ in the next game) but it was close. After tonight’s game, Buffalo makes one more trip to Pittsburgh on March 5th to close out the three-game season series.

Hidden Stat: Pittsburgh has points in five-straight road games (4-0-1) and are 7-1-1 in their last nine road games, per Pens PR.

Getting to know the Sabres

Projected lines

FORWARDS

Peyton Krebs – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch

Jason Zucker – Ryan McLeod – Jack Quinn

Josh Doan – Noah Ostlund – Konsta Helenius

Isak Rosen – Tyson Kozak – Brock Malenstyn

DEFENSEMEN

Mattias Samuelsson / Rasmus Dahlin

Bowen Byram / Owen Power

Zach Metsa / Jacob Bryson

Goalies: Alex Lyon and Colten Ellis

Potential scratches: Zach Benson, Jordan Greenway, Michael Kesselring

Injured Reserve: Josh Norris, Justin Danforth, Jiri Kulich, Josh Dunne, Connor Timmins, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

• Norris, who last played on Jan 14, was nearing a return. It remains unknown as of now if he’ll be able to comeback for this last game before the break or if they will keep him to the side until afterwards.
• The break is coming at a good time for Buffalo, Benson and Greenway are also dealing with injuries and starting goalie Luukkonen unfortunately had to pull away from Team Finland due to his injury.

Season stats
via hockeydb

• The man dubbed the ‘Lyon King’ has been instrumental in Buffalo’s turn of play. Alex Lyon is 11-1-0 with a 2.08 GAA and .930 save% since December 7th when the Sabres started making their big turnaround. Ellis played on Tuesday against Tampa, so presumably the net will be Lyon’s tonight.
• Many others, of course, have been stepping up too. Thompson has 36 points (17G+19A) in the last 28 games. Dahlin (10G+19A) has been amazing as well. McLeod (6G+20A) has been stacking up points. Tuch (13G+11A) in his last 27 is playing his way into a big ticket in his contract year.
• It’s a big shame that Norris (who has played 8, 50, 56 and now 19 games this season) can’t stay off the IR. His talent is right there but his availability has not allowed him to unlock it.

Key to the game: Which offense comes through?

This game features the two hottest offenses since Christmas, with Pittsburgh and Buffalo tied at exactly 4.05 goals/game. The better question could be reversed for which defense and goaltending can stand up to those offenses but it does stand to reason that the winning team is going to need (at least) four goals tonight.

Another key will be the first period. The Penguins are tops in the NHL with 28 total goals in the first periods since Christmas, the Sabres aren’t far behind with 26. Pittsburgh has been stingier by only allowing 11 first period goals, compared to 20 by Buffalo. A strong first is a great base to have for the rest of the game, the Penguins can’t rest on that alone since Buffalo has been great in the second periods (outscoring opponents by a combined score of 26-13). As a result, the Sabres have only been trailing in one game out of their last 20 after the second period mark.

A troubling statistical outlook shows the Sabres as a team that gets stronger as the game goes along (29 third period goals). The third has been the weakest for the Pens, giving up 20 goals. This likely will not be a comfortable game if the Pens are clinging to a late lead, but that situation is often times better than the alternative.

And now for the Pens

Projected lines 

FORWARDS

Rickard Rakell – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust

Egor Chinakhov  – Tommy Novak – Evgeni Malkin

Anthony Mantha – Ben Kindel – Justin Brazeau

Connor Dewar – Blake Lizotte – Noel Acciari

DEFENSEMEN

Parker Wotherspoon / Erik Karlsson

Brett Kulak / Ryan Shea

Ilya Solovyov / Connor Clifton

Goalies: Arturs Silovs and Stuart Skinner

Potential Scratches: Rutger McGroarty, Kevin Hayes, Ryan Graves

IR: Kris Letang, Filip Hallander, Caleb Jones (suspended), Jack St. Ivany

• The Penguins had an off day yesterday as they finish out this stretch.

Mantha has been red hot lately, almost a shame the break is coming up to stop his recent tear. It’ll be interesting to see how the Pens’ productive second line stacks up against a Buffalo team that can roll two solid defensive pairs in the matchup category there.

With the NHL prepared to hit pause on the 2025-26 season, two of the most unlikely playoff contenders will meet before the Olympic break begins and players scatter either to Italy for The Games or to some far away dentation for some earned R ‘n R.

On the shores of Lake Erie, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres will meet later this evening in a crucial showdown of two teams with playoff aspirations looking to build momentum heading into their extended time off.

Puck drop between the Penguins and Sabres is scheduled for 7:00 PM and will be broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh.

Pens Points…

At 3:00 PM on Wednesday, the NHL’s Olympic roster freeze went into effect, putting a temporary stop to most player movement until later this month. When the freeze lifts, it will be a sprint to the NHL trade deadline which will be less than two weeks away. [Pensburgh]

Two wins in two tried made for a perfect weekend for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins with victories over Syracuse and Lehigh Valley. To top it off, defenseman Matt Dumba was named AHL Player of the Week after recording six points across the two games. [Pensburgh]

There were serious injury concerns surrounding Anthony Mantha when the Penguins signed him over the summer, but the thought was if he could stay healthy and produce, he could be flipped at the deadline. Well he’s stayed healthy and has been productive, but don’t hold your breath for a trade to come. [The Hockey News]

It’s barely February and already several Penguins have posted career seasons or are well on course to do so. Connor Dewar is one of those players, having setting new career marks in goals and points while playing a pivotal role of the Penguins lethal fourth line. [Trib Live]

In hopes of getting his develop back on track, the Penguins recalled prospect Melvin Fernstrom back to North America from his pro team in Sweden and have assigned him to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins where he will spend the rest of the season. [Trib Live]

Defenseman Caleb Jones has been suspended 20 games for violating the NHL performance enhancing substance policy. The suspension is without pay and Jones will receive a mandatory referral to Player Assistance Program for evaluation and possible treatment. [NHL Relations]

NHL News and Notes…

For years, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare tried and failed to help his native France qualify for hockey at the Olympic Games. Now 40, Bellemare will captain his home country in its first Olympics since 2002, and the tournament will serve as his swan song as a player. [AP]

A pair of NHL superstars will have the honor of carrying their nation’s flag at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics this Friday in Milan. Leon Draisaitl will escort the German flag around the San Siro while David Pastrnak will do the same for his native Czechia. [NHL]

Just before the Olympic freeze went into place, the long rumored trade of Artemi Panarin was completed, with the New York Rangers sending the winger to the Los Angeles Kings for a prospect and a pick. Panarin signed a two-year extension with the Kings as well. [Sporting News]

Los Angeles Kings (23-18-14, in the Pacific Division) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (26-16-14, in the Pacific Division)

Paradise, Nevada; Thursday, 10 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Golden Knights -147, Kings +123; over/under is 6

BOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Kings visit the Vegas Golden Knights after Andrei Kuzmenko scored two goals in the Kings' 4-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken.

Vegas is 8-4-4 against the Pacific Division and 26-16-14 overall. The Golden Knights have a 5-4-4 record in games their opponents commit fewer penalties.

Los Angeles is 23-18-14 overall and 5-2-8 against the Pacific Division. The Kings are 18-1-7 in games they score at least three goals.

Thursday's game is the third time these teams meet this season. The Golden Knights won 3-2 in overtime in the previous matchup.

TOP PERFORMERS: Mark Stone has 20 goals and 36 assists for the Golden Knights. Pavel Dorofeyev has six goals and one assist over the past 10 games.

Quinton Byfield has 11 goals and 19 assists for the Kings. Adrian Kempe has five goals and six assists over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Golden Knights: 3-5-2, averaging 3.4 goals, 5.6 assists, 2.3 penalties and 5.1 penalty minutes while giving up 3.3 goals per game.

Kings: 4-2-4, averaging 2.4 goals, four assists, 4.3 penalties and 11 penalty minutes while giving up 2.7 goals per game.

INJURIES: Golden Knights: None listed.

Kings: None listed.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

In their last game before the NHL Olympic break, the Colorado Avalanche took on the San Jose Sharks at Ball Arena. While they tried to lose but were unsuccessful, the Avalanche secured a 4-2 win before a group of eight players head off for the Winter Olympics in Milan.

Let’s break down all the action from tonight!

First Period

After a lackluster offensive performance in the last game, the Avalanche brought some energy to start the game and outshot San Jose 14-5. Of course, there was more power play futility to witness as the Avalanche couldn’t convert on two early opportunities. While the Avs had some good looks overall in the first period, Yaroslav Askarov stopped every single shot he saw, and kept this game at a 0-0 tie heading into the second period.

Second Period

Just over a minute into the second period, Artturi Lehkonen would get the Avs on the board first and give them a 1-0 lead as he crashed the San Jose net, and managed to find the puck in a scramble and put it past Askarov. There was a video review to make sure there wasn’t anything illegal in the mess at the net front but the goal stood.

Lehkonen would give the Avs a 2-0 lead, as Nathan MacKinnon would find him with a phenomenal cross-ice pass as he came flying into the offensive zone, and he made no mistake and one-timed the puck past Askarov. With 17 shots put on net in the second period alone, the Avalanche were firmly in control after the second period.

Third Period

It should have been an easy win at that point but San Jose would tie the game at 2-2, though, with goals from Timothy Liljegren and Philipp Kurashev, both of which came early in the second period. Liljegren would beat Mackenzie Blackwood with a one-timer, and Kurashev would manage to put a bit of a knuckle-puck past Blackwood to tie the game.

After that the game felt a bit tense for the next 10 minutes but Josh Manson saved the day and scored the go-ahead goal to give the Avs the lead back, as he let a one-timer rip from the point and beat Askarov cleanly to give Colorado a 3-2 lead.

Brock Nelson would add an empty-net goal for the Avalanche after that, giving us the final score of 4-2 and a secured victory.

Takeaways

It was certainly nice to see the Avs end on a high note before heading off for the NHL Olympic break. Over the past few games, it wasn’t really hard to see that they had kind of looked past these games and seemingly were just wanting to get to the Olympic break, which is understandable, but it was still nice to see them depart for the next three weeks riding off of a win. Now, Colorado gets some really valuable time for their injured players to rest up and relax, while a handful of them head off to Milan to represent their respective countries in the Olympics. Hopefully, we get to watch some exciting Olympic hockey, and the rest of the Colorado team now gets some valuable time to rest up before the NHL regular season continues after the break.

Upcoming

With the NHL Olympic break now in full swing, Colorado’s next regular-season game is at home on Wednesday, February 25th against the Utah Mammoth at 7 p.m. MT.