Category: NHL

More information is now available about why Vancouver Canucks winger Filip Chytil did not finish Monday night's game. According to Head Coach Adam Foote, the 26-year-old left after the second period due to "migraines he has dealt with in the past that flared up the last couple of games". Foote also said that Chytil is unlikely to play in Vancouver's final game before the 2026 Winter Olympics on Wednesday. 

Post-game on Monday, there was some confusion about what exactly happened to Chytil. Foote said he "tweaked something", but followed it up with "I hope not" when asked if the injury was to the head. Chytil only played 7:36 in the game, with his last shift ending with 3:55 left in the second period. 

Chytil only recently returned after missing three months with a head injury. He has played six games, which included Monday's loss to the Utah Mammoth. In the six games since he returned, Chytil has zero points and nine shots on goal while averaging 14:23 per night.

The Canucks wrap up their pre-Olympic schedule on Wednesday against the Vegas Golden Knights. Vancouver has yet to play Vegas this season. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 pm PT. 

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After Briere addresses Michkov situation, Flyers answer slump with win over Caps originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Flyers showed some resolve Tuesday night after relinquishing a 2-0 lead.

They didn’t unravel and went on to beat the Capitals, 4-2, at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Owen Tippett, Carl Grundstrom, Jamie Drysdale and Rasmus Ristolainen provided the Flyers’ goals. Drysdale’s marker came on the power play and was the game-winner with 5:23 minutes left in the third period.

Ristolainen iced the game with an empty-netter.

The Flyers (25-20-10) snapped a four-game losing streak and stopped the bleeding from a stretch in which they had dropped 11 of 13 games (2-8-3).

Rick Tocchet said the Flyers had a “really good practice” Monday. He was hoping it would translate to Tuesday night. Prior to that practice, the Flyers closed out January with 10 games — seven on the road — in 18 days.

“A lot of young guys, when they don’t get practice time, it’s tough,” Tocchet said at morning skate. “Veteran teams, you don’t have to practice as much. But I always felt with the younger guys, they need the touches, they need to actually touch it and feel it. Video can only do so much.”

It looks like the practice paid off for the Flyers, who were in dire need of a win.

This was the first of four matchups this season between the Flyers and Capitals (28-23-7).

• About 25 minutes before puck drop, Danny Briere threw some cold water on the smoke surrounding his head coach and prized youngster.

Some noise had heightened recently about Tocchet’s handling of Matvei Michkov’s development, as well as the 21-year-old winger’s conditioning coming into training camp. Michkov’s scoring and minutes are down from last season, when he had a dynamic rookie year.

“One thing I can tell you, first of all, is Matvei Michkov is not going anywhere,” Briere said. “Let’s make that clear. Matvei is going to be here for a long time, he’s going to be a good player here for the Flyers. What he’s going through right now is all part of the learning process.”

The Flyers’ general manager expressed confidence in this all working long term.

“I talk to Rick Tocchet on a daily basis, he wants Matvei to succeed,” Briere said. “He wants to develop him to be the best player he can be. Along the way, there are tough lessons that come with that.

“Him and Matvei, they have a good relationship. Sometimes they’re fiery, sometimes when you’re not winning, things are done and said, but they always come back to the table and they want the best for this team, and Rick wants the best for Matvei.”

Not even six minutes into the game, Michkov executed an excellent read and pass to notch a secondary assist on Tippett’s goal, which opened the scoring.

Michkov finished with 15:54 minutes after playing a season-low 10:21 three days ago.

• With just one game left before the Olympic break, the Flyers now have a little bit of momentum.

They came into Tuesday with a 11.1 percent chance to make the playoffs, according to Hockey-Reference.com’s probabilities report. They’re seven points back of the third-place Islanders in a tight Metropolitan Division.

Tocchet’s club has played fewer games than New York and Washington, two of the teams it’s chasing.

• Dan Vladar spoke like a leader after the Flyers’ 3-2 overtime loss last Saturday afternoon to the Kings.

And he played like a leader Tuesday night. He converted 26 saves on 28 shots and carried the Flyers through some dicey moments with a number of key stops.

Just 2:40 minutes into the third period, the Capitals tied the game at 2-2. The Flyers got stuck in their own end and Anthony Beauvillier scored off a rebound right in front. The initial shot was sent through traffic.

Clay Stevenson, playing both games of Washington’s back-to-back set, stopped 18 of the Flyers’ 21 shots.

Grundstrom’s goal came on a funky bounce and handed the Flyers a 2-0 lead 4:45 minutes into the second period.

Not long after that, the Flyers had a golden opportunity to take total control on their power play. Instead, though, they surrendered a shorthanded goal as a deflected shot whipped around the boards and turned into a 2-on-1 rush for the Capitals.

• The Flyers are back in action Thursday when they host the Senators (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

The club then goes 19 days without a game because of the NHL’s participation in the Winter Olympics.

Though everything seems to be going wrong for the Philadelphia Flyers at the moment, one of their most recent trade acquisitions has quietly been a bright spot who continues to shine.

On Tuesday afternoon, the AHL announced that Lehigh Valley Phantoms defenseman Christian Kyrou, acquired by the Flyers in an Oct. 30 trade that sent winger Samu Tuomaala to the Dallas Stars, has been added to the 2026 AHL All-Star roster.

Because he is remaining with the Flyers at the NHL level through the Olympic break, forward Denver Barkey will be unable to participate, so Kyrou will be representing the organization instead.

Kyrou, 22, already has seven goals, 17 assists, and 24 points in just 34 games with the Phantoms this season, surpassing his previous career-high of 23 points in 57 games with the AHL Texas Stars in 2023-24 with more than enough room to spare.

Although a bit streaky, the 5-foot-11 defenseman has been a pleasant surprise for the Flyers, having gotten him in exchange for a winger in Tuomaala who very clearly had no path to NHL time with the organization.

Porter Martone Dominates in Blockbuster Matchups with Gavin McKennaThe top Flyers prospect racked up six points across two consecutive victories over McKenna and Co.

Kyrou is still relatively inexperienced and just played his 100th AHL game earlier this season, but his production has probably warranted an NHL opportunity at some point, even if only to serve as a power play specialist.

Fans have been clamoring for the former second-round pick to get a chance, and while it may be a bit early, it is probably refreshing to see Kyrou get recognized by the AHL for his efforts.

Kyrou, who is a restricted free agent at the end of this season, has three goals, seven assists, and 10 points in his last 10 appearances for the Phantoms.

The trade rumors surrounding Rangers star Artemi Panarin are narrowing down ahead of Wednesday's Olympic roster freeze at 3:00 p.m.

Panarin has been sitting out for "roster management" since Jan. 28 so New York can protect his trade value while the team continues its "retool" process. He last played this season on Jan. 26., and had recorded 57 points (19 goals, 38 assists) over 52 games up to that point.

With the 34-year-old having a no-movement clause in his contract (which he's in the last year of), he has full control of where the Rangers and general manager Chris Drury can trade him. 

According to The Athletic's Vince Z. Mercogliano, Panarin's list of potential trade destinations is at six teams. His top choices, if the two sides can agree to a contract extension, are the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning. Mercogliano notes that it may be hard for either the Panthers or Lightning to meet his financial ask on the extension, but the Lightning may be trying to make something work.

The two teams with more salary cap flexibility that would be able to offer Panarin an extension are the Carolina Hurricanes and Los Angeles Kings. Meanwhile, both the San Jose Sharks and Washington Capitals are said to have the "most appealing assets to offer in return" to the Rangers.

Drury announced on Jan. 16 that the team plans to be very active ahead of the trade deadline amid their disappointing season. New York was 20-22-6 at the time of the letter to fans and is currently 22-28-6 (50 points) and in last place in the Metropolitan Division. 

The "retool" already started last week with the team sending defenseman Carson Soucy to the Islanders in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick, and it appears that Panarin will be next, ending his seven-year tenure with the franchise.

The Detroit Red Wings have emerged as a leading candidate to acquire New York Rangers star Artemi Panarin as the NHL trade deadline approaches, sources say.

The Russian forward, an over point-per-game scorer for much of his career, is reportedly looking to move before the March 6 deadline, potentially with an extension included. Multiple outlets, including TSN’s Chris Johnston, suggest a deal could be completed as early as Wednesday, ahead of the Olympic trade freeze.

Panarin has captured significant attention this season after Rangers management announced they would not be looking to re-sign him. Rumors swirled for weeks about potential landing spots, but Johnston noted that speculation has begun to simmer as New York decides its next move. 

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman recently listed the top teams in the mix: the Washington Capitals, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, and the Detroit Red Wings.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Friedman highlighted that Panarin’s desired contract could range around $50 million, with some teams considering short-term, high-cap deals while others may emulate the structure of Brad Marchand’s six-year, $31.5 million deal with Florida. The Panthers remain in the mix, partly due to Panarin’s close friendship with goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.

Detroit stands out among the contenders for several reasons as they possess significant cap flexibility, a deep prospect pool, and draft capital appealing to the Rangers.

Panarin could slot immediately onto Detroit’s top line alongside stars Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond, providing a major boost to a team looking to accelerate its rebuild. The Red Wings also have relatively few long-term contract commitments outside of key re-signings like Simon Edvinsson, making a sizable contract for Panarin feasible.

However, the decision is not without risk. Panarin, 34, is enjoying another productive season with 19 goals and 38 assists for 57 points in 52 games, but a lengthy extension could be a gamble if his performance declines in the coming years.

For the Red Wings, the question is no longer whether they could acquire Panarin, it’s whether they want to make a bold move now to potentially shorten the timeline toward contention. With a deal potentially coming as early as Wednesday, fans could see the superstar in a winged wheel jersey very soon.

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The Los Angeles Kings are one overtime loss away from putting their names into the NHL record book for most overtime losses in history, and it's not the kind of milestone that a team wants to celebrate over. 

With 14 overtime losses on the season, the most in the NHL, with only the Vegas Golden Knights having the same amount, who sit in first place right now in the Pacific Division, the Kings have turned close games into costly missed opportunities, losing out on critical points in a Western Conference playoff race that has no margin for error.

The LA Kings and Vegas Golden Knights both have FOURTEEN OT losses which is on pace to shatter the NHL record 😳

Those extra points have Vegas leading their division and LA tied for a Wild Card spot 👀 pic.twitter.com/EuqJVoGQDq

— BarDown (@BarDown) February 2, 2026

A Record That Hurts More Than It Helps

This has been a recurring rollercoaster for the Kings this season; it's been the one issue they haven't been able to escape. The inability to close out close games and dig themselves out of a win in overtime or regulation when it becomes a one-possession game. 

Los Angeles also has the most overtime games played, with 23, and a below-average record: 9-14, tying for the most goals against (67) in the NHL with the Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild.

But with all this going on, Los Angeles is still very much alive in the West playoff picture. Despite all the struggles and heartbreaking losses they've gone through, it's still a very tight race. 

The Pacific Division has been very inconsistent this season, with no team you can look at and say is running away with the conference or a clear contender. Only three teams are either exactly .500 or above .500 in the conference: the Edmonton Oilers, San Jose Sharks, and Anaheim Ducks. Not even the number one seed, the Golden Knights, are above .500, with a record of 25-16-14. 

Three-on-Three Is Exposing the Kings' Weaknesses

Three-on-three is designed to reward speed, skill, shot-making, and execution. While the Kings have had solid shot-making and speed, they have struggled this season to score in the 3-on-3 format. 

Whether it's the lazy defense that gets tired in overtime or turnovers that the Kings give up a lot late in games, LA, for most of this season, always loses the same way in every game. 

A Warning Sign

There's also a psychological factor to this repeated outcome for the Kings. With Los Angeles constantly losing the same way, especially in overtime games, that chips away at their confidence, especially when the same mistakes keep surfacing.

A team that expects to compete in the Western Conference shouldn't be learning how to close games in February; it should already have it figured out, as we are well into the second half of the season and almost into the postseason.   

Now, none of this means the Kings are a bad team; in fact, it means the opposite: Los Angeles can compete with anyone on any given night and is competitive almost every night against the best teams in the league.

But being competitive without execution or clutch is how good teams become average or mediocre, and how playoff teams become first-round exits. 

Overtime Change 

Now, fans have argued that much of this inconsistency, not only in the Pacific Division but also in other divisions, has been due to overtime games. Fans have even argued that, from a competitive standpoint, ties would be preferable to the constant drift into 3-on-3 overtime matches, especially for several teams that haven't shown any ability to win in that format.  

The NHL used to have ties; the last season was 2004-05, before the controversial change in 2005-06 eliminated them and adopted 3-on-3 overtime and a shootout. But there have been no discussions in the NHL about changing the overtime rules again or going back to ties, as other professional leagues do in the NFL. 

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The Los Angeles Kings have made multiple roster moves ahead of their Tuesday morning practice, the final practice before the Olympic break. 

The Kings recalled defenseman Joe Hicketts from the AHL's Ontario Reign. In the same transaction, center Kenny Connors is headed back to Ontario.

These roster moves are likely due to the injury that defenseman Mikey Anderson suffered in Los Angeles' last outing against the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. He left the game with an upper-body injury after playing just 2:50 of ice time.

While Anderson has been listed as "day-to-day," Hicketts comes in as a depth defenseman on an emergency basis.

Hicketts, 29, has spent the past six seasons exclusively in the American League, the past three campaigns with the Reign. 

He hasn't made an NHL appearance since 2019-20, and that was with the Detroit Red Wings, where he played six games. Hicketts has a total of 22 NHL contests under his belt, all for the Red Wings.

The undrafted blueliner has a small 5-foot-8 frame and a left-handed shot. He's featured in 41 games this season with the Reign, recording three goals and 14 points. With that, Hicketts has accumulated 41 penalty minutes and a minus-nine plus-minus rating.

As mentioned, Connors gets sent back down to the minors after a brief period with the Kings. The 22-year-old didn't get a chance to set foot on the ice and make an appearance for coach Jim Hiller's squad.

In what is his AHL rookie campaign and first year in professional hockey following three seasons at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Connors has scored nine goals and 24 points in 41 games.

Connors is sixth in Reign scoring and second in plus-minus with a plus-13 rating. 

The Kings' next game is on Wednesday against the Seattle Kraken. These roster moves suggest that Anderson may not be back in time for that affair, and maybe not until after the Olympic break.

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Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice spoke to the media today following an optional practice, providing updates on three recently injured players.

Those players are Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand, and Anton Lundell. All three players are considered day-to-day and possible game-time decisions for tomorrow’s contest against the Boston Bruins. 

“There’s a chance they all play tomorrow; there’s a chance none of them play tomorrow,” said Maurice.

Bennett is the most recent Panthers player to sustain an injury, leaving Monday’s contest against the Buffalo Sabres with an upper-body injury. He exited the game in the first period after logging just 5:11 of ice time and did not return.

The 29-year-old has scored 19 goals and 42 points in 55 games this season and was recently named an injury replacement for Team Canada.

Marchand had returned for four games before suffering another injury. He’s missed the previous two games with an undisclosed injury and is hoping to get back into the lineup before departing for the Olympics. The 37-year-old ranks second in both goals and points on the Panthers.

Marchand was on the ice today, skating in a regular practice jersey. 

Panthers' Brad Marchand Sustains An Undisclosed Injury Against Blues; Set To Re-EvaluatedBrad Marchand was forced to exit Thursday's game against the St. Louis Blues with an undisclosed injury. The Florida Panthers winger will be re-evaluated to grasp the severity of the injury.

Lundell is the final Panthers forward now dealing with an injury, as his is also to the upper body. He’s missed the previous three games, but like Bennett and Marchand, he hopes to return to the lineup before joining Team Finland for the Olympics. 

The 24-year-old has scored 15 goals and 21 assists for 36 points in 52 games this season. 

Panthers' Anton Lundell Returns To Practice In A Non-Contact JerseyAnton Lundell will be out of the Florida Panthers lineup tonight against the Buffalo Sabres, but he did skate in practice today with a non-contact jersey.

The Panthers are now nine points back of the Bruins for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and if they are without all three forwards, they run a real risk of falling even farther behind in the playoff race. Their chances of making the playoffs are already slim, and a pair of losses before the Olympic break would begin to shut the door on their three-peat hopes. 

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The Pittsburgh Penguins saw their six-game winning streak snapped by the Ottawa Senators on Monday night and will try to bounce back in their biggest regular-season game to date on Tuesday against the New York Islanders. 

In fact, this is probably the biggest Penguins game since they played the Boston Bruins on Apr. 13, 2024, with all of their playoff hopes on the line.

A regulation win for the Penguins would give them a four-point cushion on the Islanders with two games in hand. However, a regulation win for the Islanders would pull them even with the Penguins for second in the Metropolitan Division. 

The Islanders enter this game losers of two-straight games and didn't look good in a 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals on Monday. They'll have Ilya Sorokin for Tuesday's game, which is a big deal since he's arguably been the best goaltender in the NHL this year and has covered up many of their defensive warts. Sorokin leads the NHL with 27 goals saved above expected and also has a .916 save percentage and a 2.44 goals-against average. 

Rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer is having a fantastic season for the Islanders, compiling 15 goals and 37 points in 56 games. He's been exceptional in his own zone, and his skating is breathtaking.  

Don't forget about Mathew Barzal, either. His edgework is elite, and he's having a really good season with 15 goals and 47 points in 55 games. Bo Horvat earned his way to the Team Canada Olympic roster this season and has 21 goals and 35 points in 42 games. 

The Penguins will get Bryan Rust back from his three-game suspension on Tuesday, which could be huge for Sidney Crosby. Crosby hasn't been himself for the last week, so getting his linemate back might jumpstart him. 

Stuart Skinner is set to start in goal after Arturs Silovs started on Monday. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT and HBO Max. Fans can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'

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The Ottawa Senators take a four-game winning streak into the Lenovo Center to face the Carolina Hurricanes tonight.

My Senators vs. Hurricanes predictions and top NHL picks are calling for Ottawa to cover the puck line in a low-scoring game tonight. 

Senators vs Hurricanes prediction

Senators vs Hurricanes best bet: Under 6.5 (-105)

The Ottawa Senators have allowed the fewest expected goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5, and the Carolina Hurricanes have surrendered the eighth-fewestper 60, so I’m not expecting the scoreboard to be lit up tonight.

Additionally, the Sens will be playing the second leg of a back-to-back road set, and for the third time in four nights, so it’s a tough schedule spot for Ottawa.

Hurricanes starter Brandon Bussi has also posted a rock-solid .912 SV% and 2.01 GAA with a respectable 4.36 goals saved above expected across his past nine starts.

Senators vs Hurricanes same-game parlay

Ottawa has won four straight with just six goals against, and that highlighted strong defensive play will enable the Sens to keep this game close. Carolina has only won once by multiple goals across its past six games, too.

Sens winger Drake Batherson has marked the scoresheet in three consecutive games and continues to skate on the top line and jump the boards with the No. 1 power-play unit alongside leading scorer Tim Stutzle. The duo has been on the ice for a high-end 5.45 goals per 60 minutes this season, too.

Senators vs Hurricanes SGP

• Senators +1.5
• Under 6.5
• Drake Batherson Over 0.5 points

Senators vs Hurricanes odds

• Moneyline: Senators +150 | Hurricanes -175
• Puck Line: Senators +1.5 (-155) | Hurricanes (+135)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-115) | Under 6.5 (-105)

Senators vs Hurricanes trend

The Senators have covered the puck line in eight of their last 13 away games for +6.35 units and a 34% ROI. Find more NHL betting trends for Senators vs. Hurricanes.

How to watch Senators vs Hurricanes

Senators vs Hurricanes latest injuries

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

There are a couple of different ways you can look at the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Monday night.

You could take the charitable approach and say they have been playing spectacular hockey for more than a month now, and that after such a long, sustained run of excellent play they were probably due for a stinker and a regulation loss.

You could also rightfully acknowledge that the Senators are probably a better team than their record indicates, and with better goaltending would probably be closer to a playoff spot right now. They were nearly flawless on Monday and have been on a roll over the past week-and-a-half, beating quite a few playoff teams rather convincingly.

But I was not really in the mood to be overly charitable after that game. Not because the Penguins are not entitled to loss, or an off night, or because they should win every game. It was not about the result. It was about the way they played. It was about how much of a no-show performance it was in a game where two points were there for the taking against a team below them in the standings.

If the Penguins were still the team everybody expected them to be at the start of the season I think games like Monday become more tolerable, especially after a hot streak. But the Penguins are not that team. They have raised the bar for what should be expected of them this season, and they have done that through their own play.

They entered Monday’s game with the sixth-best points percentage in the NHL, the third-best points percentage in the Eastern Conference, the fifth-most regulation wins in the NHL and a top-10 goal differential. Their underlying numbers are strong, their defensive play has steadily improved, they are getting steady, winnable goaltending.

What anybody expected before the season does not matter at this point.

What you think of their roster on paper does not matter at this point.

What matters is what they are doing on the ice, the way they are playing and the results they are producing.

And those results are that of a good team. A very good team.

This is no longer a team that should be looking at this season as, “Hey, what if we make the playoffs?” This a team that should be looking at this season and expecting to make the playoffs.

The question should not be “can they make the playoffs?” It should be “what can they potentially do in the playoffs?”

That is the position the Penguins have put themselves in in the standings. We are getting down to under 25 games in the regular season, and they are not only in a good position to potentially have home ice in the first round of the playoffs, there is a gap forming between them and the teams on the outside of the playoff picture. Not only due to the gap in points, but also due to the fact the Penguins still have multiple games in hand on pretty much every team they are competing with for one of those playoff spots.

It is a good team, and our expectations for them should be that of a good team. Sometimes that means being disappointed with such a flat effort. Sometimes that means criticism for such a flat effort, even in the context of a larger sampling of good to great games.

That is what makes Monday so disappointing. They did not just lose. They did not lose a competitive, well-played game. They were dominated from start to finish. While Ottawa was excellent, a lot of the Penguins mistakes were also very self-inflicted. There was no crispness to their game, their best players were some of their worst players in the game and had it not been for starting goalie Arturs Silovs absolutely standing on his head that could have easily been a 6-2 or 7-2 game. The fact they were even in a position to potentially get a point with five minutes to play in regulation is a testament to the game Silovs played.

When the Penguins had that disastrous home stand against against the Minnesota Wild and Seattle Kraken back in late November, coming back from the Sweden trip, head coach Dan Muse fumed after one of the games that just playing well and not getting results was not acceptable, and that they should be beyond that point in their expectations.

At the time, when the Penguins were still very early in the season and had not yet developed a larger sampling of play, it was a pretty bold statement from a first-year head coach of a team that was thought to be in a rebuilding season. That mindset is even more true now. Even though this is a team in some sort of a rebuilding phase, and even though there are young players on the roster and players developing, it is still, in general an older more veteran team that now should have serious playoff expectations.

Generally speaking, I am not down on the Penguins based on yesterday’s game.

I am simply down on that performance because my expectations have changed on this season.

This is a good team. Part of me thinks it is a really good team, and perhaps even a better team than a lot of people in Pittsburgh think it is. With strong play comes expectations. The Penguins failed to meet those expectations on Monday. Not because they lost. The way they lost. They have a big opportunity on Tuesday in a big game against the New York Islanders to make up for it.

The Florida Panthers were once again on the losing end of another key Atlantic Division matchup, falling 5-3 to the Buffalo Sabres. 

The urgency was apparent, with 43 shots on goal, but in the end, they allowed timely goals and paid the price. 

While the performances haven't given the organization much to be happy about as of late, one bright spot is the play of rookie Sandis Vilmanis.

He's now played 12 games in his first NHL stint, and he’s given the Panthers every reason to keep him in the NHL for the rest of his career. While averaging 10:44 of ice time, Vilmanis has notched two goals and four points. As the games have gone along, he’s begun to garner more trust from coach Paul Maurice, now recording seven games with more than 10:00 of ice time. 

Last night against the Sabres, Vilmanis got the scoring started, firing the puck into the top corner. It’s been known for quite some time that Vilmanis has a dangerous wrist shot. It’s heavy, accurate and his release is quick, which makes it challenging for goaltenders to track and prepare themselves for.

While the Panthers have been impressed with his shot, he’s shown so much more during these 12 games. His playmaking flies a bit under the radar, but he is more than capable of creating plays for himself and his teammates. But he’s also shown an attentiveness to the defensive side of the puck, and the willingness to mix it up physically. 

“He’s not a single-style player where he has to play with a certain kind of player,” said Maurice about his rookie winger. “He looks like he could play with some guys and be a good player. He’s a good one.”

The 22-year-old has thrown 22 hits, blocked three shots, and has fired 10 shots on goal. If the Panthers had a complaint, it would be that they’d like to see Vilmanis shoot more. With age and experience, Vilmanis will feel more comfortable shooting the puck more frequently.

There’s a lot to like about the Vilmanis’ game, and the stats back it up. According to naturalstattrick.com, at 5-on-5, the Panthers own a 53.40 Corsi For percentage, 54.71 percent of the expected goals, and 60.61 percent of the high danger chances, when Vilmanis is on the ice. Additionally, the Panthers have outscored opponents 6-5 at 5-on-5 while Vilmanis is on the ice. 

Although injuries may end up being the downfall of the Panthers’ season, it has created an opening for Vimanis, and he’s taken advantage of it. The next step for Vilmanis is to force his way up the lineup, but that will come in time; his goal should continue to leave a positive impact on games. 

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The Carolina Hurricanes (34-15-6) are back in action as they take on the Ottawa Senators (27-21-8) tonight at the Lenovo Center.

This will be the last home game before the Olympic break for Carolina, so come and see your team or wait until their next home game which will be on February 26th against the Lightning.

The Canes are riding an eight game point streak. They are 6-1-3 in their last 10 games.

The Sens have won four games in a row since their 4-1 loss to Carolina on January 24th. They are 6-2-2 in their last 10.

Brandon Bussi was in the starter’s crease at the morning skate and will get the start tonight. Bussi has a 21-3-1 record and he sets a new NHL record for fewest number of games needed for every win he gets.

The lines for the Hurricanes at the skate were the same as in recent games.

Svechnikov – Ah0 – Jarvis

Hall- Stankoven – Blake

Ehlers – Staal – Martinook

Kotkaniemi – Jankowski – Carrier

Slavin – Chatfield

Walker – Miller

Nikishin – Gostisbehere

For more information about the game, check out the game preview put out by the team.

https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/preview-february-3-vs-ottawa

For more information about the Senators, check out their feed.

Check out the head-to-head stats before your #Sens take on the Canes tonight 📊#GoSensGo | @betwaycanadapic.twitter.com/50WHWzMF0T

— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) February 3, 2026

Game time is 7 P.M. and it will be broadcast by the FanDuel Sports network.

The NHL has received backlash after slashing a donation to cancer research by $800,000 after a missed shot during a charity promotion.

The incident came during Sunday’s game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins. Rob Higgins, the athletics CEO of the University of South Florida, was brought on to the ice to attempt a shot through a very small opening in an empty goal. If Higgins, who is a cancer survivor, made the shot the NHL said it would donate $500,000 to cancer charities; if he missed the donation would be $100,000. The event was broadcast live on Sportsnet in Canada and ESPN in the US. Higgins missed what was a very tough shot. He was then given another chance, with a guaranteed donation of $200,000 if he missed, which would increase to $1m if he scored. Higgins missed again.

Higgins thanked the Lightning and the NHL for an “amazing honor” but many on social media attacked the league for leaving $800,000 on the table that could have gone to charity.

One account said the move was “classless”, adding that “the NHL should’ve built the widest net and asked dozens of survivors to score symbolically”. Another user called the event “dystopian”.

Higgins was a little more upbeat. “And with that, my hockey career (which thankfully only lasted two shots) is now officially over,” he wrote on X.

If you watched the Montreal Canadiens’ game against the Minnesota Wild on Prime on Monday night, you probably saw the excellent interview Christine Simpson did with Habs coach Martin St-Louis. The most interesting moment of that interview came when Simpson asked the bench boss how the coach-player relationship had evolved since he was an NHL player. He explained:

You know, I came into the NHL, and it was “You do it this way”, and I think with this generation, you have to be demanding, but not demeaning. When I came into the league, they were very demanding and demeaning; at the time, you would get it. And I know I annoyed some of my coaches by going to their office to say, “Why? Can we talk about this? Can I explain something to you?” I feel like I stretched some of my coaches a little bit, and I know I might have been annoying, but I was very curious. […] I encourage that from my players. For me, now I feel that this generation, you have to convince them. And if they’re not convinced, let’s talk about it because I have no problem with you convincing me the other way.

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Hearing a former player describe coaches as demeaning at one stage is unsurprising, especially when he played under a coach like John Tortorella, who was known for being tough. The secret to St-Louis' successful relationship with his players is that there’s tremendous respect going both ways. They respect him because everything they’re going through, he’s been through, and he respects them by treating them as he would have liked to be treated when he was in their shoes.

When you watch a practice, you can often see him get into animated discussions with his players, not because he’s yelling at them or getting annoyed, but because he’s trying to convince them that what he’s trying to teach them is the best way to go about something. Being passionate and believing in what you’re selling is the best way to be convincing.

Lundi, à l’entraînement…🔮😳👌. pic.twitter.com/grw8YKs9HS

— Anthony Martineau (@Antho_Martineau) February 1, 2026

St-Louis may be the boss, but he’s not a dictator; he’s a team player. He’s not on the ice anymore, but he clearly still sees himself as one of the guys working to achieve the same goal, bringing a Stanley Cup to Montreal. This is likely why it’s so rare to see him come out with punishing practices, even when his team suffers a big loss. He doesn’t believe in demeaning and punishing players; for him, the game has evolved, and that’s not how you’ll get the best out of your players.

Martin St. Louis joins @MsChrisSimpson on what it's like coaching in this generation and coaching the Habs ❤️ pic.twitter.com/zrWz4b6UCv

— Sports on Prime Canada (@SportsOnPrimeCA) February 3, 2026

Will that coaching style allow him to finally capture the 25th Stanley Cup that has eluded Montreal for so many years? Time will tell, but so far, the players seem to be reacting very well, and that may be the way to avoid a coach’s message not getting through anymore, because there’s dialogue and not just orders being given.

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