Fists were flying Tuesday night, though the most entertaining blows came off the ice, during the Islanders’ clash with the Penguins.
In a viral video posted on social media during the Islanders’ wild 5-4 overtime win over the Penguins, a fight broke out in the stands at UBS Arena, where a pair of Penguins fans were escorted out — but not before some added drama.
As a female fan wearing a yellow No. 71 Evgeni Malkin jersey turned around to leave, she flipped off a different fan and threw two punches at a male who was sitting in his seat.
“She was being crazy, and then on the way out, she lunged at fans in a different section and started swinging at them too,” one eyewitness, Tori Schneebaum, tells The Post.
Security then finally corralled her before she walked up the stairs, departing to thunderous applause with surrounding fans happy she was being given the boot.
Schneebaum added that the fans around her united in booing and yelling at her for the unhinged behavior.
One X account claiming to be an eyewitness says the woman was wearing a “Finally 21” sash, implying it was her 21st birthday.
A female Penguins fan flips off another fan in a wild scene at UBS Arena. X, @nickhirshon
The video shows that she was wearing a sash, but it’s unclear what it says.
The account adds that the woman allegedly slapped a mother who was with her two kids, which was the reason security was called in the first place.
If it was indeed her birthday, it’s certainly one she’d like to forget. It’s unclear if there will be any legal consequences from the incident.
The female fan began throwing punches in the stands before security took her away. X, @nickhirshon
In a physical back-and-forth game, the Islanders were able to overcome a third-period deficit to tie the game and eventually win in overtime thanks to a game-winning goal by Bo Horvat, his second of the game.
The win puts the Islanders third in the Metropolitan Division at 31-21-5 and they’ll face the Devils on Thursday.
The Florida Panthers were hoping to have some reinforcements this week.
Florida will play a back-to-back set against the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning before the NHL pauses for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Desperate for every point they can get in the standings, the Panthers have been playing without Brad Marchand and Anton Lundell, and then on Monday Sam Bennett missed the final two periods of Florida’s loss to Buffalo.
All three of the injured Cats were on the ice for Wednesday’s morning skate at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale.
Afterwards, Florida Head Coach Paul Maurice said that Bennett would be able to play against the Bruins and that Lundell was probable.
Marchand will remain out of the lineup, Maurice said.
#FlaPanthers injury updates for tonight against Boston, per Paul Maurice: Sam Bennett is playing. Anton Lundell is probable. Brad Marchand is out.
Photo caption: Dec 23, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) comes off the ice after the warmups before the game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center. (James Guillory-Imagn Images)
Things are going well for the Buffalo Sabres right now. They currently have a 32-18-6 record and are third in the Atlantic Division standings. With the Sabres being in a good spot in the standings, there is an expectation that they will be buyers at the 2026 NHL trade deadline.
In a recent article for The Athletic, Matthew Fairburn argued that the biggest trade need the Sabres should look to address is their defensive depth.
"Adding another depth defenseman capable of playing a physical style would help them in their push for the playoffs," Fairburn wrote.
It is easy to understand why the Sabres are being urged to strengthen their defensive depth. When looking at their current roster, it is clear that they could use another solid defenseman. Adding another right-shot defenseman, specifically, would be beneficial for the Sabres.
When looking at trade candidates around the league, a few names that could make sense for the Sabres to pursue include Connor Murphy (Chicago Blackhawks), Luke Schenn (Winnipeg Jets), Zach Whitecloud (Calgary Flames), and Braden Schneider (New York Rangers).
Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see if the Sabres look to bring in at least one defenseman ahead of the deadline.
The Montreal Canadiens will play their last game before the Olympic break on Wednesday night against the Winnipeg Jets. It will be the second duel between the two sides this season. Montreal won the first one in a shootout in early December and will be keen to sweep the season series. Winnipeg is currently nine points out of a playoff position in the Western Conference and has a 4-3-3 record in its last 10 games, having lost its previous match 4-3 in overtime to the Dallas Stars.
Meanwhile, the Canadiens are now back in the first wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference after the Buffalo Sabres claimed a point on Tuesday night in their 4-3 overtime loss against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Montreal and Buffalo have now played the same number of games and have the same number of points, but the Sabres have the edge in regulation wins with 26. In contrast, the Canadiens only have 20. Since that’s the first tie-breaker, it gives Buffalo third place in the division.
Montreal put Samuel Blais on waivers yesterday. If he clears, that will allow him to see some action in the AHL with the Laval Rocket over the Olympic break, meaning that it shouldn’t be seen as an indication that Patrik Laine is about to re-enter the lineup to play against his former team. Jayden Struble will, however, come in for Arber Xhekaj, who played less than six minutes in the last game.
The Habs and Jets have split their last 10 duels equally, with each team claiming the victory five times. When Montreal beat the Jets in early December, Jakub Dobes faced Eric Comrie in net. Neither team has confirmed its goaltender yet, but Dobes started the Canadiens’ last game, so Samuel Montembeault has not played since January 24 against the Boston Bruins. While Dobes couldn’t get the Canadiens the win against the Minnesota Wild, he still had a very good game, which allowed them to walk away with a point. Still, Martin St-Louis has decided to go back to Montembeault.
Dobes has a 1-0-0 record against the Jets with a 1.85 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage. Meanwhile, Montembeault has a 1-4-1 record with a 3.47 GAA and a .881 SV.
At the other end of the ice, reigning Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck has seen the lion’s share of the work this season, playing in 35 games while Comrie has featured in 19. The latter has a 0-2-2 record against the Habs with a 2.68 GAA and a .917 SV, while the former is 13-6-2 with a 2.82 GAA and a .912 SV against Montreal. Hellebuyck was also in the net for the Jets’ last game on Monday night, but he will still get the net on Wednesday night.
Up front, Phillip Danault is the only Canadiens player to have scored over 20 points against the host; he has 23 points in 30 games, while Brendan Gallagher has 19 points in 29 games. Captain Nick Suzuki is in third place with 17 points in 20 games. Interestingly, the Jets are one of the few teams that Cole Caufield has never scored a goal against, but he still has seven points in 10 duels with the Manitoba outfit. As for Noah Dobson, who is currently on a four-game point streak, he only has two points in eight duels with them.
Meanwhile, Kyle Connor has always been a thorn in the Canadiens’ side with 28 points in just 23 games against the Habs. He’s also on a four-game point streak right now, just like Mark Scheifele, who has 25 points in 31 games. Gustav Nyquist completes the top three with 21 points in 35 games against Montreal.
The game is scheduled for 7:00 PM, and you can catch it on RDS and Sportsnet. Stephen Hiff and Trevor Hanson will be the referees, while Travis Toomey and Travis Gawryletz will be the linemen. After the game, the Canadiens will be off until February 17, when they’ll resume training at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard, but their next game will only take place on February 26 against the New York Islanders. While most players will use the break as a holiday opportunity, four Habs will be heading to Milano-Cortina: Suzuki, Oliver Kapanen, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Alexandre Texier (health permitting).
The Vancouver Canucks continue their road swing this evening as they head to Sin City to face the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena tonight.
Teddy Blueger has come alive as a goalscorer lately, and my Canucks vs. Golden Knights predictions and NHL picks are eyeing him to score against his former team.
Canucks vs Golden Knights prediction
Canucks vs Golden Knights best bet: Teddy Blueger anytime goalscorer (+450)
Teddy Blueger isn’t exactly a household name in the NHL, but he’s been impressive for the Vancouver Canucks lately. After missing a lot of the campaign due to injury, the Latvian returned last month on January 21, and he’s scored in four of seven appearances since then.
Blueger scored one of Vancouver’s two goals in a loss to the Mammoth on Monday, and he also found the back of the net last Thursday against the Ducks. The 31-year-old has two goals in three road games this season.
He did play for the Vegas Golden Knights for part of the 2022-23 campaign, and he scored in one of the four meetings against them last season.
Canucks vs Golden Knights same-game parlay
Jake DeBrusk is averaging 2.80 shots on goal per game this season, and he’s cashed the Over in three of his last five appearances. In fact, he has 10 shots on target across his previous three games alone.
Evander Kane hasn’t exactly been living up to expectations for the Canucks, compiling just 25 points. However, his shot total sits at just 1.5 tonight, and he’s hit the Over in three straight contests.
He put five pucks on net against the Mammoth, and he had another two SOG against the Leafs on Saturday.
Canucks vs Golden Knights SGP
Teddy Blueger anytime goalscorer
Jake DeBrusk Over 2.5 shots
Evander Kane Over 1.5 shots
Canucks vs Golden Knights odds
Moneyline: Canucks +240 | Golden Knights -300
Puck Line: Canucks +1.5 (+100) | Golden Knights -1.5 (-115)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 | Under 6.5
Canucks vs Golden Knights trend
The Canucks have cashed the Under in 10 of their last 15 road games for +4.45 units and a 26% ROI. Find more NHL betting trends for Canucks vs. Golden Knights.
How to watch Canucks vs Golden Knights
Location
T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV
Date
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Puck drop
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet Pacific
Canucks vs Golden Knights latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
Players can be sent down if they are waiver exempt, except for players that played in 16 of the team's 20 NHL games prior to the freeze, or have been on the NHL roster for 80 league days prior to Jan 21
🚨PuckPedia Breaking News
During the Olympic Freeze from Feb 4 to Feb 22, no trades are permitted.
There are also restrictions on which players can be sent down during the freeze.
Players can be placed on waivers during the freeze, but if the player was waived after their NHL team's final game before the freeze, they do not have to report to their new team until February 17.
There are no restrictions on sending players down prior to the freeze.
For the New York Islanders, this means Calum Ritchie -- who has missed the past five games with a lower-body injury -- is unable to be sent down to Bridgeport in the American Hockey League since he has been on the NHL roster since October 31st, 2025, 82 days before Jan 21.
The only two other waiver-exempt players currently on the NHL roster are Matthew Schaefer and Maxim Shabanov, who have each been on the NHL roster for the entire season.
With the Islanders having just one game left before the 19-day break and sitting just four points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets for a playoff spot, the front office will have plenty of time to evaluate the future ahead of the final stretch of the season and the March 6 trade deadline.
The Edmonton Oilers head south to face the Calgary Flames for the Battle of Alberta at the Scotiabank Saddledome tonight.
My Oilers vs. Flames predictions and top NHL picks are calling for Edmonton to win the rivalry’s final installment of the season tonight.
Oilers vs Flames prediction
Oilers vs Flames best bet: Oilers moneyline (-130)
The Edmonton Oilers allowing a pair of power-play tallies and an empty-net goal in the third period to lose 5-2 to the Maple Leafs on Tuesday has provided an excellent price on Edmonton against the Calgary Flames tonight.
Calgary is 1-4-2 since trading defenseman Rasmus Andersson, and the Flames have scored the fewest goals per game (1.72) during the stretch.
This is also a bounce-back spot for Edmonton, and I think the Oilers playing for the second consecutive night is more than priced in, given the proximity of the two cities.
Oilers vs Flames same-game parlay
In addition to the highlighted offensive shortcomings in Calgary, the Flames have also only hit the Over in two of their past 13 games. The Oilers are sporting the lowest team save percentage at 5-on-5 during the same stretch, too, so I’m anticipating improvement in net for Edmonton tonight to help keep this total Under the number.
Turning to Edmonton winger Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, he’s marked the scoresheet in 11 of 16 games since the calendar flipped to January. Skating with superstar Connor McDavid at 5-on-5 and with the No. 1 power-play is a huge help, with Nugent-Hopkins and No. 97 being on the ice for an elite 6.77 goals per 60 minutes this season.
The Flames have only cashed the Over in two of their last 13 games for -7.75 units and a -55% ROI. Find more NHL betting trends for Oilers vs. Flames.
How to watch Oilers vs Flames
Location
Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB
Date
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Puck drop
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet
Oilers vs Flames latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
The Vancouver Canucks (18–32–6) take part in their final game before the 2026 Winter Olympic break when they face the Vegas Golden Knights (25–16–14) later tonight. This marks the final game of the Canucks’ mom’s trip, with the team’s first game resulting in a 6–2 loss to the Utah Mammoth on Monday. Vegas’ last game took place on Sunday, during which they lost by a score of 4–3 to the Anaheim Ducks. Tonight’s match is not the Golden Knights’ last before the break, however, as they will also face the Los Angeles Kings tomorrow night.
This is the first time the Canucks and Golden Knights will face each other this season, as the two teams’ other matchups aren’t until March 30 and April 7. By the time they face each other again, Vancouver and Vegas will likely have their respective post-season fates locked-down.
Vegas will be a desperate team heading into tonight’s game, as the Golden Knights’ last win came against the Toronto Maple Leafs on January 23. Throughout their current five-game losing streak, Vegas has dropped all but one of their games by a single goal. Two of these losses were against Pacific Division teams.
For the Canucks, a win tonight would be a good morale booster as the team prepares to enter the 2026 Winter Olympic break. After a long stretch of losses as well as injury after injury, Vancouver will benefit from a break to re-set and rest during what has undoubtedly been a difficult season.
Players To Watch:
Teddy Blueger
Since returning to the Canucks’ lineup on January 21 against the Washington Capitals, Teddy Blueger has scored four goals and tallied one assist. The centre’s presence in Vancouver’s lineup has been greatly missed from both a defensive and depth perspective, though the fact that he’s been contributing offensively definitely helps. As a pending UFA and soon-to-be Olympian for Team Latvia at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Blueger will be a player to watch as the Canucks take part in their final game before the break.
Pavel Dorofeyev
Dorofeyev has gotten off to an impressive start for Vegas this season, putting together a team-leading 24 goals as well as 17 assists. He’s already 12 points away from setting a new career-high with 27 games remaining in the Golden Knights’ season. Throughout his past 10 games, the forward has scored seven goals and potted one assist, though his point totals have been limited to three throughout his team’s five-game losing streak.
Feb 22, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights left wing Brandon Saad (20) skates ahead of Vancouver Canucks left wing Jake DeBrusk (74) during the third period at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Vancouver Canucks (18–32–6):
Points:
Elias Pettersson: 13–21–34
Filip Hronek: 5–27–32
Jake DeBrusk: 13–15–28
Brock Boeser: 12–13–25
Evander Kane: 9–16–25
Goaltenders:
Thatcher Demko: 8–10–1
Kevin Lankinen: 7–18–4
Nikita Tolopilo: 3–3–1
Jiří Patera: 0–1–0
Vegas Golden Knights (25–16–14):
Points:
Jack Eichel: 19–45–64
Mitch Marner: 15–41–56
Mark Stone: 20–35–55
Tomáš Hertl: 22–26–48
Pavel Dorofeyev: 24–17–41
Goaltenders:
Akira Schmid: 15–6–6
Carter Hart: 5–3–3
Adin Hill: 3–3–3
Carl Lindbom: 2–4–2
Game Information:
Start time: 7:00 pm PT
Venue: T-Mobile Arena
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: Sportsnet 650
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Chicago Blackhawks - 21-24-9 - 51 Points - 3-5-2 in the last 10 - Lost 2 - 6th in the Central
Columbus Blue Jackets - 25-20-7 - 57 Points - 7-3-0 in the last 10 - Won 3 - 5th in the Metro.
Team Notes Per CBJ PR
Columbus has won a season-high six-straight games, as well as 10 of its past 11 games overall, while outscoring opponents 42-26 since Jan. 11 following its 3-0 victory at New Jersey last night.
CBJ lead the NHL in wins, points pct. (.909) and team save percentage (.916) and rank second in goals-against/game(2.36), sixth-T in goals for/game (3.82) and seventh in power play pct. (29.6) over that stretch.
The club has scored the opening goal in nine of the past 11 games and has scored the first goal in 33 contests, tied for fourth-most in the NHL in 2025-26.
Columbus leads the NHL in goals by defensemen and ranks fourth in points with 42-98-140 in 55 contests.
CBJ conclude their 11th of 16 back-to-back sets of the season (13-5-3 .690 pts. pct;) vs. Chicago tonight.
The Jackets have allowed two power play goals over the last eight contests and lead the league in penalty kill pct. since Jan. 17 (91.7 pct., 1st in NHL; 22-of-24).
Player Notes Per CBJ PR
Charlie Coyle has notched 9-6-15 in the last 11 contests and ranks second-T in the NHL in goals since Jan. 11.
Jet Greaves (5-0-0, 2.47 GAA, .914 SV%, 1 SO) and G Elvis Merzlikins (5-1-0, 2.03 GAA, .925 SV%, 1 SO) have each won five games for the Blue Jackets since Jan. 11.
Boone Jenner (203 career assists) is one assist from tying RW David Vyborny for the third-most all-time in CBJ history.
Kirill Marchenko, who missed last night's game due to illness, has points in his past four games (1-4-5) and in 15 of his last 19 contests since Dec. 22 (9-11-20).
Mathieu Olivier (two goals at New Jersey) has notched multiple points in three of the past four games (4-2-6).
Zach Werenski has recorded assists in five-straight games (8 assists) and points in six consecutive (1-8-9). He leads NHL blueliners in goals (tied, 19), points (61), multi-point efforts (20), points-per-game (1.20), even strength goals (16), even strength points (45) and shots on goal (181) this season.
Blue Jackets Stats
Power Play - 19.9% - 18th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 76.9% - 28th in the NHL
Goals For - 170 - 18th in the NHL
Goals Against - 176 - 21st in the NHL
BlackhawksStats
Power Play - 19.5% - 19th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 85.6% - 1st in the NHL
Goals For - 151 - 26th in the NHL
Goals Against - 176 - 20th in the NHL
Series History vs. TheBlackhawks
Columbus is 43-46-2-13 all-time, and 22-21-1-8 at home vs. Chicago.
The Blue Jackets are 7-0-1 in the last 8 games of the series and have won 6-straight overall.
The winning team has scored four or more goals in 11-straight meetings and 13 of the last 15 in the series overall since Feb. 11, 2021.
The CBJ beat the Blackhawks 4-2 on January 30th
The winning team has won by multiple goals in each of the past nine meetings, including seven instances of by at least three goals.
The teams have combined for six-plus goals in 12 of the past 15 contests, including nine with seven or more goals.
The Blue Jackets have recorded a power play goal in six of the past eight meetings (6-of-21; 28.6 pct.).
Who To Watch For TheBlackhawks
Tyler Bertuzzi leads the Blackhawks with 25 goals.
Connor Bedard leads Chicago with 30 assists and 53 points.
Goalie Spencer Knight is 16-17-7 with a SV% of .909.
Arvid Soderblom is 5-9-2 with a SV% of .874.
CBJ Player Notes vs.Blackhawks
Zach Werenski has 21 points in 19 career games vs. the Blackhawks.
Boone Jenner has 12 points in 23 games.
Charlie Coyle has 15 points in 39 games against Chicago.
Injured Reserve
Brendan Smith - Lower Body - Missed 17 Games IR - Out for the rest of the regular season.
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 153
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on FANDUEL SPORTS NETWORK. The radio broadcast will be on 97.1 The Fan, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
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The Florida Panthers enter tonight's matchup with the Boston Bruins riding a four-game losing streak, and are desperate for points to hang around in the playoff race.
My Bruins vs. Panthers predictions expect them to get a much-needed win in a big divisional clash on home ice.
Let’s break down my NHL picks for Wednesday, February 4, with puck drop scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET on TNT.
Bruins vs Panthers prediction
Bruins vs Panthers best bet: Panthers moneyline (-140)
While the Florida Panthers haven’t gotten the results they’ve wanted, they have largely played good hockey since Matthew Tkachuk returned to the lineup.
In the eight games with Tkachuk healthy and available, the Panthers have controlled a 57.43% share of the scoring chances. That is the second-highest mark in the league, trailing only the Lightning, who won seven of their eight games.
They are spending a lot of time on the front foot and getting significantly more chances than they’re giving up.
That can’t be said of the Boston Bruins, who sit 26th with a 45.21% scoring chance share over the same period of time.
Part of that is the penalty trouble they’ve run into, but I’m not sure that can be dismissed. They lead the league in PIMs per game and sit 26th in PK% this season. It’s nothing new; it’s the norm.
Including special teams, the Panthers will likely earn an edge in the shot/chance department this evening. They might also get reinforcements as the returns of Brad Marchand and Anton Lundell are looming.
Look for the back-to-back Stanley Cup winners to give Boston their best shot in an attempt to get some crucial points before the break.
Bruins vs Panthers same-game parlay
Tkachuk leads the Panthers in high-danger chances and expected goals over the past eight games. He’s creating a lot of looks, and that should continue tonight. He always seems to save his best for the Bruins, averaging 3.7 shots on goal over the past 23 meetings.
The Bruins have had a couple of days off since the Stadium Series game, which should benefit Hampus Lindholm. He has been very productive in similar situations, recording multiple shots in six straight following two days of rest.
Florida has won seven of the past 10 matchups with Boston. Find more NHL betting trends for Bruins vs. Panthers.
How to watch Bruins vs Panthers
Location
Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL
Date
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
TNT
Bruins vs Panthers latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 29: Rutger McGroarty #2 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the Chicago Blackhawks at PPG PAINTS Arena on January 29, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Olympics are approaching and there’s a housekeeping note to be aware of starting this afternoon. From PuckPedia:
During the Olympics, there are restrictions on teams making player transactions. The Olympic Roster freeze goes from February 4 at 3pm ET to February 22 at 11:59 ET.
During the freeze:
-No Trades are permitted -Players can be sent down if they are waiver exempt, except for players that played in 16 of the team’s 20 NHL games prior to the freeze, or have been on the NHL roster for 80 league days prior to Jan 21 -Players can be placed on waivers during the freeze, but if the player was waived after their NHL team’s final game before the freeze, they do not have to report to their new team until February 17.
There are no restrictions on sending players down prior to the freeze.
The biggest bullets for the Penguins are likely the first two listed. Kyle Dubas will be unable to make any trades during this period – and the regular NHL trade deadline will be fast approaching on Friday March 6th soon after the Olympic freeze is lifted.
The second point handles players being moved from the NHL to AHL roster. Currently only Rutger McGroarty and Ryan Graves can be sent by Pittsburgh to Wilkes-Barre without needing waivers. Graves, who was removed from the IR on Monday, is eligible for this since he cleared waivers on 12/31 and has only played two NHL games since that point and has not been on the NHL roster for 30 days since clearing waivers due to his stint on IR. Graves has been on the AHL roster within the last 80 days to satisfy that wrinkle of the rule.
Big takeaway might be that based on the rules the Pens can keep both of these players on the NHL roster for tomorrow night’s game against Buffalo and still look to send them down to the AHL if they wish to keep them playing games over the coming weeks, it doesn’t have to be before today’s official freeze at 3pm today.
Then again, Wilkes-Barre also has a game tonight, so the Penguins could always opt to send McGroarty down before the freeze today for participation in that game. Being as McGroarty didn’t play in last night’s NHL game that would be more about strategic management to get him playing again in the AHL more than it would have anything to do with the freeze rules impacting timing, but so it goes to know that the Pens could keep McGroarty with the NHL team for tomorrow if they so wanted.
The third bullet could apply to someone like Caleb Jones, who would need to be waived today and clear tomorrow and be assigned prior to Pittsburgh’s final game before the break. Jones would also have to be healthy enough to be removed from IR, to which the Pens don’t have a spot for him currently on the 23-man roster. Those extra machinations it would take in order to re-assign Jones fully to the AHL before the freeze could go to leave him where he is for a while longer yet as he works back from a second injury this season.
Otherwise, it should be straight-forward for the team at this point going into the break. Besides the four players going to play in Italy for their respective countries (Sidney Crosby, Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell and Arturs Silovs) the rest of the team can enjoy their well-earned break without having to worry about getting traded in the next few weeks as the league takes a pause.
The Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues tend to play low-event games against one another.
With both teams playing at a snail’s pace, my Blues vs. Stars predictions expect more of the same tonight.
Let’s break down my NHL picks for Wednesday, February 4.
Puck drop is set for 9:30 p.m. ET from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, with the game airing on TNT.
Blues vs Stars prediction
Blues vs Stars best bet: Under 5.5 (+110)
The Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues have played each other three times this season, and 16 total goals were scored in those games (5.33 per), and two stayed Under the number.
It’s not just the lack of goals that stands out, but the process that has led to it. Their games featured an average — yes, average — of 44 total shots on goal. The highest output we’ve seen was 50, and the Blues won the battle 26-24.
A lack of shots is not a coincidence. The Blues rank 27th in 5-on-5 pace this season, while the Stars come in at 31st. Both teams play painfully slowly and are methodical with and without the puck.
The Stars rank fourth in goals against per game and control matchups on home ice, making it difficult for the Blues, who sit 30th in scoring, to find the net.
While the Blues have struggled to keep the puck out, they actually rank Top 6 in 5-on-5 shot suppression and expected goals against over their last 10 games.
It won’t be easy for the Stars, who sit 28th in 5-on-5 scoring rate during that span, to create looks.
Expect another low-event matchup between these Central Division foes.
Blues vs Stars same-game parlay
Miro Heiskanen has averaged 2.4 shots on goal and cleared this line in 76% of his home games. That includes a multi-shot performance against the Blues in the only meeting in Dallas thus far.
Going the other way, Jimmy Snuggerud has ramped up his shot volume, averaging 2.7 shots on 5.9 attempts over his last 10, well above season averages of 2.1 shots and 4.7 attempts. He’s taking on a bigger role with so many key players sidelined.
Blues vs Stars SGP
Under 5.5
Miro Heiskanen Over 1.5 shots on goal
Jimmy Snuggerud Over 1.5 shots on goal
Blues vs Stars odds
Moneyline: Blues +185 | Stars -225
Puck Line: Blues +1.5 (-130) | Stars -1.5 (+110)
Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-130) | Under Under 5.5 (+110)
Blues vs Stars trend
Seven of the past 10 head-to-head meetings have gone Under the total. Find more NHL betting trends for Blues vs. Stars.
How to watch Blues vs Stars
Location
American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Date
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Puck drop
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
TNT
Blues vs Stars latest injuries
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
The Florida Panthers are running out of time if they want to defend their back-to-back Stanley Cup wins.
With only 27 games remaining on their schedule, the Panthers know they have quite a bit of work to do in order to catch up to the teams currently holding Stanley Cup Playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.
Entering play Wednesday, Florida has racked up 59 points in their 55 games played.
That total has the Cats sitting nine points behind Wednesday’s opponent, the Boston Bruins, who hold the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Florida holds one game in hand on the Bruins, which may or may not come in handy, depending how the next 10 to 15 games go for the Panthers.
Having the healthiest lineup possible for the next two games will go a long way toward Florida procuring all four possible points.
That means we’ll be closely monitoring the status of Panthers forwards Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand and Anton Lundell.
All three are considered day-to-day and we could all or none of them in the Cats’ lineup on Wednesday night.
“There’s a chance they all play tomorrow, there’s a chance none of them play tomorrow,” Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice said after Tuesday’s practice at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale.
Florida is scheduled to hold an optional morning skate ahead of the Bruins game, so there’s a chance Maurice could have an update at that time.
Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Wednesday’s clash with the Bruins:
Photo caption: Jan 11, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) moves the puck against the Boston Bruins during the second period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - FEBRUARY 3 : Sean Monahan #23 of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Connor Brown #16 of the New Jersey Devils fight for the puck during the second period of the NHL regular season game at the Prudential Center on February 3, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Maclean/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
Jack remains out:
"He's trying to do everything that he can to get to that point but it's really up to the medical team at this point. They're not confident with where he's at but we'll just see what tomorrow brings." – #NJDevils HC Sheldon Keefe on Jack Hughes https://t.co/8Hg0AYHZrU
It’s over. As with every time the Devils have tried to build some momentum as of late, the team fell flat on Tuesday night. The Blue Jackets took a 3-0 win. [Devils NHL]
“To recap, Fitzgerald either wouldn’t part with the pieces necessary to land the league’s 2nd best defenseman, couldn’t move money to make room, or couldn’t best a package built around players he passed on with higher selections. I don’t know which is worse. Whatever the case, Hughes is excelling in Minnesota and it seems possible – perhaps even likely – he decides to stay long-term. Meanwhile, the Devils sit 15th in the Eastern Conference and very much lack a true No. 1 defenseman.” [Infernal Access ($)]
Hockey Links
“(Barry) Trotz announced his plans to step down as the Predators’ GM in a news conference on Monday, confirming earlier reports that he’ll remain in place until his successor is found. The 63-year-old was adamant the decision wasn’t due to health reasons or because he was (pursuing) another opportunity in coaching — something Trotz did for more than 1,800 NHL games prior to joining Nashville’s front office as former GM David Poile’s replacement in 2023.” [ESPN]
'Pens Owen Pickering handles the puck during the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins home opener on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. (Photo by Jason Ardan/The Citizens' Voice via Getty Images)
It was a perfect weekend for the WBS Penguins, two games and two big wins. Nick Hart from WBSPenguins.com gives the quick glance of the action.
Saturday, Jan. 31 – PENGUINS 4 vs. Syracuse 1 On Crosscheck Cancer Night, the Penguins delivered a feel-good win for their fans. Avery Hayes and Rafaël Harvey-Pinard scored in short order in the first period, and Matt Dumba tallied the emotional apex of the season so far in the second. When it appeared as if Syracuse was building momentum, Gabe Klassen shut it down with a shorthanded goal.
Sunday, Feb. 1 – PENGUINS 6 at Lehigh Valley 2 Six different skaters lit the lamp as the Penguins continued their season-long dominance of the Phantoms. Aidan McDonough got things started, followed by Nolan Renwick midway through regulation. Boko Imama buried a breakaway early in the third period. Then, Hayes and Owen Pickering scored back-to-back power-play goals. Harvey-Pinard rounded out the afternoon’s offense, while Dumba posted a pro-career high four assists.
The story of the week in the AHL was Matt Dumba. The veteran recorded six points (1G+5A) in just two games en route to being named the AHL player of the week. The story gets even deeper and better than that individual honor.
Dumba had a touching moment with a young fan as part of the team’s “Crosscheck Cancer Night” and played an inspired game.
Prior to tonight’s game, Matt Dumba chatted with one of our puckdroppers, Sophia, who just finished her final round of chemo this month.
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) February 1, 2026
It hasn’t been an easy turn or season for Dumba, clearing waivers and being assigned back to the AHL. His game didn’t receive the universal praise that players like Tristan Jarry, Danton Heinen, Ryan Graves and Philip Tomasino got over the last year or so for being incredible players at the AHL level, so it’s nice to see Dumba create at least one really fantastic week.
The other note, at the other end of the spectrum from a veteran like Dumba, is two rookies earning their first career AHL points. 2024 second round pick Tanner Howe made his AHL debut this week after working his way back from an ACL injury suffered last year and picked up an assist in his very first game. 2023 third round pick Emil Pieniniemi, after going through some drama about delaying accepting an ECHL assignment, also finds himself in the AHL these days, and a point-scorer in his second game.
As we mentioned last week, the WBS lineup has been filling up with AHL contracts out of necessity lately and not exactly a bevy of players with bright NHL futures, it’s nice to see former recent somewhat high draftees start gaining a little traction in the AHL as they get to work with careers that could have some NHL potential one day down the line.
There hasn’t been much change in the standings, Wilkes-Barre remains second in the division and likely won’t be leaving that spot for a while in either direction.
The upcoming NHL roster freeze might be worth watching. Pittsburgh could presumably send Rutger McGroarty and maybe even Ryan Graves down to the AHL for the break. One player who won’t be with the AHL Pens much longer is third string goalie Filip Larsson. Sergei Murashov and Joel Blomqvist have been taking up all the ice time, Larsson hasn’t started a game since December 14th so he’s opted to get his contract terminated and move onto the next chapter.
Given the games played column above, WBS isn’t going to be that busy in the upcoming weeks considering they have a division-high 45 games in the books. The AHL Pens only have seven games in the three-week stretch from Feb 5-26 that makes up the NHL roster freeze.
