It’s been a long road for Dmitry Kulikov and Tomas Nosek, but with their recent upgrade from non-contact jerseys to full participants, their return to game action is near.
While the NHL was on pause, Kulikov and Nosek had begun participating in Florida Panthers practices, skating without contact. Prior to the Olympic break, they had both been seen skating in private groups.
Kulikov had played just two games before suffering a torn labrum. The 35-year-old rejoined the Panthers in the 2023 off-season, following their loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup final.
He’s played a vital role for the Panthers in their back-to-back Stanley Cup wins, and they’ve missed his defensive abilities and physical nature on the back end.
On Dec. 30, coach Paul Maurice spoke to the media and said the Panthers anticipate Kulikov's return in mid-March. With the way he’s progressed in his return, he appears to be on track to do so.
As for Nosek, he hasn’t played a game this season after undergoing off-season surgery to repair a knee injury. Maurice and the Panthers’ staff haven’t been as open about when Nosek could return to the lineup. They’ve approached his injury situation with patience and have been taking it day by day.
While it’s unknown when Nosek could make his season debut, he’s cleared multiple steps in his recovery and is now ramping up to get into game shape. He could return to the Panthers’ lineup at some point in March.
The Panthers will host the Toronto Maple Leafs tomorrow in a critical playoff hopeful matchup.
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The Montreal Canadiens should be looking to add another impactful center ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline. Due to this, one player who has naturally been viewed as a potential fit for the Canadiens is Nashville Predators center Ryan O'Reilly.
There is no question that O'Reilly would be a strong addition to the Canadiens' top six if acquired. The 35-year-old forward is in the middle of a very good season with the Predators, as he has 20 goals, 36 assists, 56 points, and a plus-8 rating. He is also a well-known leader, so he would be a good mentor for the club's younger players as well.
However, based on a new report, the chances of the Canadiens landing O'Reilly might not be so great.
In his latest trade board for Sportsnet, Nick Kypreos reported that O'Reilly's preference is to play for a "quieter" market and that it's likely the veteran forward would not want to be traded to Montreal because of it.
"Montreal has also been connected to him, but he wants to go somewhere quieter, so it's unlikely he'd green-light a move there. And although O'Reilly doesn't have any trade protection, the Predators are still trying to work with him on a landing spot," Kypreos wrote.
With O'Reilly not wanting to play in a big market, the Canadiens may not be the best fit for him personally. Furthermore, one of the main reasons why O'Reilly ended up not re-signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2023 NHL off-season was because of their media spotlight. Being traded to Montreal would put him in a similar situation.
Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see what moves the Canadiens end up making ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline, but O'Reilly might not be an option for them.
Vegas Golden Knights forward Pavel Dorofeyev was red-hot heading into the Olympic break, piling up six goals and 31 shots over his last 10 games.
With Jack Eichel sidelined, my Golden Knights vs. Kings predictions see Dorofeyev picking up where he left off while taking on more responsibility offensively.
Let’s dive deeper into my NHL picks for Wednesday, February 25.
Golden Knights vs Kings prediction
Golden Knights vs Kings best bet: Pavel Dorofeyev Over 2.5 shots on goal (-115)
The Vegas Golden Knights will be without leading scorer Jack Eichel, which means others like Pavel Dorofeyev will have to drive the offense.
Dorofeyev has generated shots at a much higher rate in Eichel’s absence, averaging 3.4 shots on 7.0 attempts through seven games without the star center, well above his outputs (2.6 shots on 5.5 attempts) when he is in the lineup.
Dorofeyev’s shot is most prominent on the power play. He leads Vegas in power-play shots and will have plenty of chances to record them against a 27th-ranked Los Angeles Kings penalty kill.
Golden Knights vs Kings same-game parlay
Dorofeyev has scored six times over his last nine games. Given that he is a bigger focal point of the offense when Eichel isn’t around, he has a good chance of finding the net again.
Artemi Panarin has a great opportunity to start his Kings tenure on a high note. The Golden Knights have struggled to get saves, and they will be missing multiple key players (Eichel, Noah Hanifin).
Golden Knights vs Kings SGP
Pavel Dorofeyev Over 2.5 shots on goal
Pavel Dorofeyev anytime goal
Artemi Panarin Over 0.5 points
Golden Knights vs Kings odds
Moneyline: Golden Knights -110 | Kings -110
Puck Line: Golden Knights +1.5 (-275) | Kings -1.5 (+220)
Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-120) | Under 5.5 (+100)
Golden Knights vs Kings trend
Pavel Dorofeyev has cleared 2.5 shots in 11 of his last 13 games without Jack Eichel in the lineup. Find more NHL betting trends for Golden Knights vs. Kings.
How to watch Golden Knights vs Kings
Location
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Puck drop
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
TNT, HBO Max
Golden Knights vs Kings 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.
EAST MEADOW, NY -- Nobody wants to see players get hurt but sadly it's a part of the game. Unfortunately for the Pittsburgh Penguins, who the New York Islanders trail by one point in the standings for second place in the Metropolitan Division, Sidney Crosby is going to miss some time.
Forward Sidney Crosby (lower-body) has been placed on Injured Reserve.
Crosby sustained a lower-body injury in the 2026 Winter Olympic Semi-finals and will be sidelined for a minimum of four weeks. While Evgeni Malkin usually rises to the occasion when No. 87 is out, it's a major blow to a team that many didn't think would be where they are in the standings.
Regardless of how well the Penguins play out of the break, the Islanders are in control of their own playoff destiny. They are four points up on the Washington Capitals and Columbus Blue Jackets -- Columbus has two games in hand on the Islanders.
The Islanders play Columbus in their second game back from break but first is a matchup with the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday at 7 PM ET.
DENVER, COLORADO - DECEMBER 23: Brock Nelson #11 talks to Gabriel Landeskog #92 of the Colorado Avalanche during a pause in the game against the Utah Mammoth at Ball Arena on December 23, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Ashley Potts/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Olympic break is finally over!
After a three week pause for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, the Colorado Avalanche kick off the next phase of their historic 2025 – 2026 campaign for one last(?) visit to Salt Lake City to face the Utah Mammoth.
Colorado Avalanche (37-9-9)
The Opponent: Utah Mammoth (30-23-4)
Time: 7:00 P.M. MST/9:00 P.M. EST
Watch: ALT, ALT+ (Avalanche Broadcast Area), KUPX-TV (Utah Broadcast Area), ESPN+, NHL Center Ice (Outside Regional Broadcast Areas – US), SN+, NHL Centre Ice (Canadian Broadcast Areas)
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio KKSE-FM 92.5 FM
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche won’t have the luxury of easing their way into the swing of things as the NHL schedule resumes. They play five games in seven days right out of the chute, with four of those games coming in two back-to-back contests. Tonight’s game against Utah marks the first in those pairs of back-to-back games; the Avs will face the Minnesota Wild for the first time on Ball Arena ice on Thursday evening.
The Avs were one of three teams that sent at least eight (8) players to Italy to participate in the Olympic games. Martin Nečas was selected to play for Czechia. Having previously played in the Olympics (Sochi, 2014), Gabe Landeskog made his return to the Olympic stage, now representing Sweden as its team captain. Joel Kiviranta and Artturi Lehkonen were selected to the Finland roster, capturing the bronze medal. Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Devon Toews played for Canada, earning the silver medal. Brock Nelson, a third-generation Olympian, captured gold for the United States, adding the fourth Olympic gold medal to his family mantle, joining his grandfather Bill Christian and great uncle Roger Christian (Squaw Valley, 1960) and his uncle Dave Christian (Lake Placid, 1980).
While it will be a welcome sight to see a (relatively) healthy Avalanche lineup for the first time in nearly two months, there will be one notable absence on the roster. On Tuesday morning, the Avalanche announced that they had traded defenseman Sam Girard, along with their second round pick in 2028, to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenseman Brett Kulak. Kulak, 32, was acquired from the Edmonton Oilers in the deal that sent him and goaltender Stuart Skinner to Pittsburgh. During his brief tenure with the Penguins, Kulak scored one goal and added six assists for a total of seven points in twenty-five games. He had two assists in thirty-one games played with Edmonton earlier this season. This is a considerable drop off from his previous season with Edmonton, where he set a career best in goals (7), assists (18), and points (25).
Coach Jared Bednar said this of Kulak: “You’re getting a big, solid D that can skate, and defend real well, and move the puck. He does a lot of good things, a guy that has been to back to back Stanley Cup Finals, and was an integral part of [Edmonton’s] blue line, and what they were trying to do as a team. We like the player a lot, and so, we’re excited.”
He added, “This is a big, strong guy that defends really well. He’s got a ton of experience as well. It’s just a different look for us, right? I think Kulak’s a guy, that depending on how you’re matching up in the playoffs, that he can go up and play with a guy like Cale if I want to move [Toews] against another team’s top line. […] Maybe Kulak can go up and Toews can go down and he can take care of that matchup with a guy like Manson. It gives us flexibility there that I don’t think we necessarily had with [Girard].”
Bednar noted that Kulak, along with most of the Avs roster, would arrive in Salt Lake City on Tuesday night, with some members of the team flying out this morning in order to get some extra rest.
With the NHL season paused through the Olympic break, MacKinnon will look to reclaim the NHL points lead; he trails Olympic teammate Connor McDavid (96) by three points. MacKinnon entered the Olympic break as the NHL’s goal scoring leader (40), the only player in the League to reach this milestone thus far. Nelson is one goal shy of reaching the thirty goal mark for the fourth time in his career. With Mackenzie Blackwood going 1-1 in both games before the break, expect Scott Wedgewood to start in goal this evening. Wedgewood last started on January 29, a 7-3 loss against the Montréal Canadiens at Bell Centre.
The Avs still remain the undisputed leader across the Central Division, Western Conference, and League standings. A win today would give them a seven point cushion over second place Minnesota, and although they still have two games in hand over their division rivals, every point will matter even more as teams jockey for position ahead of the postseason. The Dallas Stars, who have a game in hand on Minnesota and sit one point behind them in the division, host the Seattle Kraken tonight, so one can bet that Minnesota will be keeping a close eye on both games.
The Avs currently lead the season series against Utah, winning two of the three games played. They have yet to win at Delta Center to this point in the season, but won the most recent matchup on December 23, a 1-0 decision.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Nečas Gabe Landeskog – Brock Nelson – Valeri Nichushkin Ross Colton – Jack Drury – Victor Olofsson Joel Kiviranta – Parker Kelly – Gavin Brindley
Defense: Devon Toews – Cale Makar Josh Manson – Brent Burns Brett Kulak – Sam Malinski
Between the Pipes: Scott Wedgewood Mackenzie Wedgewood
Utah Mammoth
Utah started out 2026 with a bang, going 12-5 since the start of January. They sit in fourth place in the Central Division standings, edging out the Anaheim Ducks by one point for the first wild card spot in the Western Conference. They won two of their previous three contests prior to the start of the Olympic break, a 6-2 defeat of the Vancouver Canucks, and a 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Tonight’s game is the third of a five game home stand at Delta Center, where Utah has performed considerably well: they boast a 17-8-2 record on home ice.
Occupying a wild card spot may seem a bit surprising during this sophomore campaign for Utah, but those who followed the former Arizona Coyotes are familiar with this trend. While there have been some changes to the present-day roster, the current version’s performance has echoes of its previous incarnation, being competitive just enough to find themselves on the periphery of the postseason, only to fall short time and again. Utah GM Bill Armstrong, with the backing of his new ownership group in Ryan and Ashley Smith, has infused his team’s roster with some new life, acquiring defenseman Mikhail Sergachev from the Tampa Bay Lightning prior to their inaugural season, and right wing J.J. Peterka from the Buffalo Sabres. Sergachev set a personal best in goals (15) in his first season with Utah and currently leads all defensemen in points (38). Peterka, who signed a five year, $38.5 million dollar extension as part of the trade with Buffalo, is tied with Sergachev in points, and ranks third in goal scoring (20). Armstrong may have a few more moves up his sleeve as the trade deadline approaches, so this could be the year that his squad bucks the trends of the past, which would be an incredible testament to the club’s performance since taking the ice in downtown Salt Lake for the first time last October.
Like Colorado, Utah sent multiple players to Italy to participate in the Olympics. Peterka was selected to the German Olympic roster, defenseman Olli Määttä joined Kiviranta on Finland’s roster, goaltender Karel Vejmelka joined Nečas to represent Czechia’s goaltending contingent, and captain Clayton Keller won gold with the United States alongside Nelson.
Keller leads all skaters in assists (37) and points (54). Dylan Guenther leads all skaters in goals (25), just two shy of his personal best (27). Nick Schmaltz is second in goals (23), equaling his personal best he set during the 2021-2022 season with Arizona. Vejmelka is tied for first place with Tampa’s Andrei Vasilevskiy in goaltender wins (27), a personal best since entering the League with Arizona during the 2021-2022 season.
Tonight’s game wraps up the four game series against Colorado. Utah’s previous victory came on October 21, with Guenther scoring the game winning goal for the 4-3 decision.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Clayton Keller – Nick Schmaltz – Lawson Crouse J.J. Peterka – Barrett Hayton – Kailer Yamamoto Michael Carcone – Jack McBain – Dylan Guenther Brandon Tanev – Kevin Stenlund – Liam O’Brien
Defense: Mikhail Sergachev – Sean Durzi Nate Schmidt – John Marino Ian Cole – Nick DeSimone
With the Winter Olympics now behind us for another four years, it's intriguing to think about how different the Senators' roster could look by the time the 2030 Games in the French Alps roll around.
At the moment, barring a trade, only four players are locked into Ottawa contracts that take them beyond 2030. And of the four, three are definitely on their nation's radar, and two are shoo-ins.
Tim Stutzle
Nov 13, 2025; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators center Tim Stutzle (18) scores against Boston Bruins goalie Joonas Korpisalo (70) in the third period at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-IMAGN Images
Stutzle is in year three of an eight-year, $66.8 million deal that will take him to 2031. He is a lock for Team Germany in 2030 and probably two or three Olympic Games after that if the NHL continues to participate beyond France.
That's certainly not automatic.
Steve Warne and Gregg Kennedy discuss which players will be more likely to come home to the NHL more inspired after the Olympics, the gold medalists or the silver medalists?
As a sidebar, the league has to be concerned about the injuries in the tournament. Sidney Crosby heads back to Pittsburgh injured. LA Kings star Kevin Fiala suffered a gruesome season-ending leg injury, and Stutzle might not be 100 per cent either.
After Germany bowed out in the quarterfinal, TSN's Mark Masters alluded to Stutzle getting his shoulder checked out, which Stutzle didn't directly respond to, but he's clearly a man who left it all on the ice in Italy.
"Yeah, to be honest, I'm pretty exhausted," Stutzle said. "My body's hurting, but I'm excited to get back to playing (NHL) hockey again."
Stutzle would be a key player for any nation, but on Team Germany, he might be welcome to play for them into his 40s.
Jake Sanderson
No Senator is locked in longer than Jake Sanderson, whose eight-year $64.4 million contract expires in 2032. Sanderson played a bigger role for Team USA this year than he did last year at the 4 Nations Face-Off and continues to improve in the NHL. With 46 points, he's tied for eighth in NHL scoring among defensemen, and he's easily one of the fastest skaters in the league.
Travis Green said this week that Sanderson hasn't yet hit his ceiling as a player. That's bad news for the rest of the world. He'll be 27 in France, and should be right in his prime by then.
Shane Pinto
Jan 8, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Ottawa Senators center Shane Pinto (12) controls the puck in the first period against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Pinto's four-year deal, worth $30 million with the Senators, kicks in this fall, and his progress with the Senators and Team USA will be interesting to monitor. Pinto went to the Team USA orientation camp last summer, so he's already on their radar. But to get to France, he'll need to elevate his point production (29 points in 47 games).
The Senators believe he can do that, or they wouldn't have just doubled his salary to $7.5 million. But right now, three of the four locked-in players on this list are centres, so Pinto may continue to be blocked through 2030, playing the role of reliable third-line two-way centre.
But there's a chance that Brady Tkachuk (2028 UFA) and Drake Batherson (2027 UFA) may explore free agency, so it's easy to imagine a move to the wing to vault Pinto into a top-six role and power play time.
Dylan Cozens
Jan 31, 2026; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators center Dylan Cozens (24) skates against the New Jersey Devils during the first period at Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
In 2023, the Buffalo Sabres inked Cozens to a seven-year, $49.7 million extension, then traded him to Ottawa less than two years into the contract. The Workhorse from Whitehorse is a member in good standing with Hockey Canada, representing us twice at U18s, twice at the World Juniors, and twice at the men's World Hockey Championships.
With 43 points in 57 games, Cozens is on pace for 62 points, which would be the second-best season of his seven-year career. So while he's not on Canada's Olympic radar right now, he's a 25-year-old whose career appears to be heading in the right direction.
By the time the Olympic flame is lit in the French Alps in 2030, the Senators could look like an entirely different team. But if these four are still leading the way, Ottawa fans can feel pretty good about where the future is headed.
Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was first published by The Hockey News. More headlines here:
The 2025–26 NHL season is officially back in session, with the Vancouver Canucks returning from the break with a home-ice matchup against the Winnipeg Jets. Vancouver started off their 2026 Winter Olympic break with a 5–2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on February 4, while the Jets lost 5–1 to the Montréal Canadiens on the same day.
Winnipeg has two players on their roster who were part of the USA’s gold medal-winning effort — Kyle Connor and Connor Hellebuyck — though it’s still slightly unclear which of them will take part in today’s game. On the Canucks’ side, Filip Chytil remains out of the lineup due to a facial fracture sustained in practice, while previously injured players such as Brock Boeser, Nils Höglander, and Zeev Buium have all taken part in the team’s practices through the past few days. Their statuses for tonight’s game will be confirmed later on in the day.
Through the final 25 games of their 2025–26 season, many will be watching the Canucks not for their usual end-of-season playoff push, but to get a better gauge of what the future looks like moving forward. Younger players like Tom Willander, Zeev Buium, and Liam Öhgren will be some who likely get increased minutes as a result of this. With the NHL Trade Deadline coming up, this will also probably end up occurring due to the moves many want Vancouver to make.
Heading into the 2026 Winter Olympic break, the line of Öhgren, Conor Garland, and Teddy Blueger found success together. These three played particularly well compared to the rest of the teams’ performances in the final two games against Vegas and the Utah Mammoth, as they factored into every goal scored during this span of time. The trio were put together during Vancouver’s practices through the past couple of days and will likely skate together again tonight.
Players To Watch:
Conor Garland
Alongside Blueger and Öhgren before the break, it looked as though Garland had begun to find his form. The forward had three assists in Vancouver’s games against Utah and Vegas at that time, with those being his first points since a two-assist night against the San Jose Sharks on December 27. Garland’s name has emerged in trade reports as of late, making the next couple of games leading into the March 6th Trade Deadline all the more notable.
Kyle Connor
Fresh off winning a gold medal with Team USA, Connor will be returning to the Jets with energy that his American teammates may not have. The forward skated in only two games while at the Olympics, sitting out of his team’s final four matches. Heading into the break earlier in February, Connor had been riding a five-game point-streak that he can increase with a goal or an assist later tonight.
Nov 11, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Winnipeg Jets defenseman Neal Pionk (4) watches as goalie Connor Hellebuyck (37) makes a save on Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser (6) in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Vancouver Canucks (18–33–6):
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: 7–19–4
Nikita Tolopilo: 3–3–1
Jiří Patera: 0–1–0
Winnipeg Jets (22–26–8):
Points:
Mark Scheifele: 27–41–68
Kyle Connor: 25–39–64
Gabriel Vilardi: 21–29–50
Josh Morrissey: 10–32–42
Alex Iafollo: 9–11–20
Goaltenders:
Connor Hellebuyck: 13–16–7
Eric Comrie: 9–9–1
Thomas Milic: 0–1–0
Game Information:
Start time: 7:00 pm PT
Venue: Rogers Arena
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: Sportsnet 650
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 NHL resumes following the Olympic break, and the Winnipeg Jets head to Rogers Arena for a must-win game against the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday, February 25.
Winnipeg needs wins in bunches to make a playoff push, and my top Jets vs. Canucks predictions and NHL picks are calling for Winnipeg to continue its recent dominance over Vancouver tonight.
Jets vs Canucks prediction
Jets vs Canucks best bet: Jets moneyline (-125)
The Vancouver Canucks are just 6-17-4 on home ice this season, so I’m happy to lay the vig with a superior Winnipeg Jets lineup.
Both teams are dealing with injuries and Olympic returnees, so while there are questions to be answered on both benches, I also value Winnipeg beating Vancouver in eight of their past 10 matchups.
Of course, the Jets also rank higher in Corsi For percentage and expected goals percentage at five-on-five, in addition to both special teams.
Jets vs Canucks same-game parlay
Vancouver has scored the fourth-fewest goals per game (2.54), and Winnipeg has hit the Under in six of its past nine games. Additionally, the Jets haven’t hit an Over with a 6.5 total since November 29.
Turning to Winnipeg center Mark Scheifele, he recorded two or more shots in 10 of 14 games before the Olympic pause, and he also averaged a hefty 21:49 of ice time centering the top line and jumping the boards with the No. 1 power-play unit.
Vancouver has also allowed the seventh-most shots per game this season.
Jets vs Canucks SGP
Jets moneyline
Under 6.5
Mark Scheifele Over 1.5 shots
Jets vs Canucks odds
Moneyline: Jets -130 | Canucks +110
Puck Line: Jets -1.5 (+185) | Canucks +1.5 (-225)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+105) | Under 6.5 (-125)
Jets vs Canucks trend
The Vancouver Canucks have only won five of their last 25 games at home (-15.35 Units / -57% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Jets vs. Canucks.
How to watch Jets vs Canucks
Location
Rogers Arena, Vancouver, CA
Date
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Puck drop
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
TSN3, SNP
Jets vs Canucks 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.
Now that action is about to resume in the NHL, the conversations will go from how great Connor Hellebuyck was in the gold medal game to how things are going in front of the net for the Montreal Canadiens.
After a rough start to the season for Samuel Montembeault and Jakub Dobes, the organization called up Jacob Fowler to shake things up and even sent the Bécancour native to the Laval Rocket for a conditioning stint. It looked like it might have done the trick for a short while, but Montembeault stumbled again, and shortly thereafter, Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton elected to let goaltending coach Eric Raymond go.
A few days later, the Canadiens announced that they were promoting Marco Marciano, the Laval Rocket goalie coach. Fast forward to now, have a lengthy Olympic break, and everyone is anxious to see how things will go between the pipes. Dobes hasn’t lost in regulation since December 9, and Montembeault was solid in his last game before the break. It will be interesting to see how things go now that Mariano has had time to work with his new goalies.
Yesterday, La Presse’s Simon-Olivier Lorange published an article featuring former Canadiens’ goaltender Cayden Primeau’s comments on the newly appointed goalie coach, and the 26-year-old gave him a ringing endorsement. Speaking to Lorange on the phone, he explained:
I’ve only got incredible things to say about him. That nomination was fully deserved, and it was about time that it happened to him. I’m looking forward to seeing what he does in the NHL.
-
Primeau also praised his work ethic:
I’ve never met anyone who works harder than him. He’s the first to get to the arena, and often, the last to leave. You can tell he’s enjoying it, and it makes everything more fun.
-
According to the now member of the Carolina Hurricanes organization, Marciano has a knack for working on the mental side of things:
He’s excellent on the mental side. He uses many techniques to help his goaltenders with everything they are experiencing. He tries to find solutions everywhere.
-
That’s an encouraging comment given the fact that Montembeault’s issues seemed to be more mental than anything else this season. As Martin St-Louis often said, he didn’t forget how to play goalie, and when a netminder lets the first shot in repeatedly, it’s often a sign of nerves. It looks like the Habs’ netminders will be in good hands with Marciano, who now has an opportunity to prove what he can do in the big league.
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 04: A shot by Cleveland Monsters center Luca Del Bel Belluz (10) sneak sunder Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins goaltender Filip Larsson (31) for a goal during the third period of the American Hockey League game between the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Cleveland Monsters on April 4, 2025, at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
It was all systems go for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this past week, victors in all three of their recent games. Even the weekend snowstorm in New York couldn’t stop WBS from getting in and out of Bridgeport with a shutout win.
Wednesday, Feb. 18 – PENGUINS 7 at Springfield 2 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton scored a season-high seven goals in its decimation of Springfield, the team’s first win out of the All-Star break. Avery Hayes scored another hat trick, bringing him to 19 goals on the year. Ville Koivunen and Tanner Howe both had two-goal nights in front 30 saves by Sergei Murashov.
Saturday, Feb. 21 – PENGUINS 4 vs. Bridgeport 3 The Penguins scored four-straight goals to outlast the Islanders on Military Appreciation Night presented by MetLife. After Bridgeport seized a 2-0 lead, Filip Hållander and Atley Calvet lit the lamp before the first intermission. Sebastian Aho gave Wilkes-Barre/Scranton the lead in the middle frame, and video review granted Koivunen the game-winner in the third.
Sunday, Feb. 22 – PENGUINS 4 at Bridgeport 0 Murashov posted 25 saves for his third shutout of the season, while Wilkes-Barre/Scranton secured is third-straight win. Howe started the scoring early in the second period, followed by Connecticut native Phil Kemp. Third-period power-play goals by Gabe Klassen and Aidan McDonough put things to bed.
Just as good as winning is a lot of the names that Pittsburgh will want to see are doing well: Avery Hayes is back up in the NHL, Murashov notched another shutout, Rutger McGroarty had three assists, rookie Tanner Howe is up to seven points in eight games on the season, Ville Koivunen has four goals and six points in the last four games. Lots of encouraging signs from the farm.
Koivunen is one of the most intriguing players in the system, he’s having all sorts of AHL success (including 31 points in 25 games, making him third in the league in points/game). Koivunen’s limitations skating were evident in his NHL games this season, yet his AHL production is showing this is a player on the verge of another chance. It’s now his draft+5 season, he turns 23 over the summer. After accumulating seven NHL points in eight games playing out the stretch in Pittsburgh last season many thought that 2025-26 might have been Koivunen’s time to take that huge step forward. It hasn’t worked out that way to this point, but he looks very close. He might be the most intriguing case of seeing where a fast forward to 10 or 12 months to see where he’s at with his career.
For now, it’s Wilkes’s gain to have such a solid point-producer in the lineup. The Penguins remain in second place in their division, and although they’ve climbed to within two points of Providence, the Bruins have a commanding four-games in hand still to play.
Up next this week will be a tough task for WBS, they’re in Cleveland for two games on Friday and Saturday night. The Monsters are in third place in the North Division and carry an impressive 7-2-1 record over their last 10 games.
Way back on February 5th, the Devils lost at home to the New York Islanders 3-1. The game was scoreless after the 1st period before the Devils and Islanders traded goals in the 2nd period. Nico Hischier (who is the captain of the team, in case Bryce Salvador never told you before) had the lone goal for the Devils, his 19th of the year. The Islanders sealed the game with 2 late goals in the 3rd period (one of them an empty net goal). On the bright side, as Tim said in his recap of this game, at least the Devils made progress in this game, only losing 3-1, as opposed to the 9-0 nuke that the Islanders dropped on the Devils back on January 6th. Jake Allen started in net for the Devils and while he did let up 3 goals, it’s hard to win when the team in front of you only scores 1 goal.
The game was their 3rd loss in a row, and also their 5th loss in their last 6 games. During their 3 game losing streak, the Devils have only scored 2 goals, while letting up 10 goals. 10 goals against in 3 games, is actually not horrible. Scoring 2 goals in 3 games though is atrocious. The lack of offense though has been a problem for a while now with the Devils. As of this article, the Devils have scored 146 goals this season. That’s good for dead last in the entire Eastern Conference, including 5 goals behind the Rangers. Their goal output is “good” for 31st, in the league, only 4 more than the Calgary Flames. The Devils have suffered many problems this season, not just one or two specific problems. Right now though, it doesn’t matter what your goalies do, or what your defense does, if you can’t put the puck in the net.
Last Sabres Game
Like the Devils, The Sabres also played their last game on February 5th, losing 5-2 at home to the Penguins. The Sabres jumped out to an early lead, less than 2 minutes into the game, on Jason Zucker’s 15th goal of the season. The Penguins would score 2 goals before the end of the 1st, to make it 2-1 and they added another goal in the 2nd to start the 3rd period up 3-1. Tage Thompson scored less than 2 minutes into the 3rd period on the PP, his 30th of the season, to bring the Sabres within 1 goal at 3-2. However, the Penguins added 2 late goals, including an empty net goal, to put the game away 5-2.
The loss was their 2nd in a row, and 3rd in their last 4 games. However, prior to that, the Sabres had a 5 game win streak from 1/20 – 1/29. Overall the Sabres are playing pretty well this season. They currently have 32 wins, which is tied for 4th place in the Eastern Conference. Alex Lyon has been the go to man in net for the Sabres, having started 25 games already this season. He started 4 out of the last 5 games for the Sabres before the break, however, with the time off, I would expect him to get the start tonight.
Injuries, Roster for Tonight, Yada, Yada, Yada.
The Devils held a practice on Tuesday afternoon, and Amanda Stein posted the lines on X. Keep in mind that Timo Meier and Jonas Siegenthaler were traveling back to NJ on Tuesday. Per Stein, “both will be back for the morning skate ahead of facing Buffalo.” As of this article, it looks like Jack’s arrival time in New Jersey is still to be determined.
Here's how the #NJDevils are lining up today at practice… so, take this for what it is… of course, they are still missing some key components.
Grimace has been feeling good so far this week from watching the Jack Hughes goal over and over on YouTube. To be frank, I had to politely ask him to turn if off after the 115th time. I think he’s just overconfident at this point, but he has predicted a Devils win for tonight.
Grimace’s 2025-2026 Season Prediction record currently stands at 12-11-0.
Your Take
I know there are a large number of Devils fans that are still riding the high of seeing Jack Hughes score the golden goal for USA in the olympics. That was awesome to see, and great for his confidence and the sport in general. With that being said, the Olympics are over and this is the NHL, not Team USA. Will the high from that game and the confidence from the win carry over to the Devils? Hopefully, the answer is yes. At the same time, nothing would surprise me with this team this year. Feel free to leave your thoughts and comments below and thanks for reading!
In a shameless bit of non hockey related self promotion (approved by Chris – thanks Chris), I wanted to plug my brand new podcast on here, if any of you are interested in listening. We have a light hearted, fun discussion about any movies, music or video games mostly from the 1980s and 1990s. Please feel free to listen to us on any of the formats below and any feedback is welcome (positive and negative). Also, please follow us and subscribe, even if you think we stink. 🙂
There's an opportunity for more trades because there's a gap between the haves and the have-nots, and top teams have needs. The last-place Canucks, who already moved Quinn Hughes and Kiefer Sherwood, have Evander Kane and Teddy Blueger as pending free agents. The Rangers could move Vincent Trocheck, Flames center Nazem Kadri would be coveted and the Blues could be sellers.
Will the Panthers keep their Stanley Cup hopes alive?
They won the last two Stanley Cup titles, went to the Final the year before that and were Presidents' Trophy winners in 2021-22. But that string of success suffered a serious blow when captain and Selke Trophy winner Aleksander Barkov needed ACL surgery after being injured on his first day of practice in September.
They're also missing defensemen Dmitry Kulikov and Seth Jones and sit in last place in the Atlantic Division with 61 points, eight points out of a playoff spot. The good news is Matthew Tkachuk returned before the break and that Jones is skating with a non-contact jersey. Bill Zito is a creative general manager and Paul Maurice a top-notch coach. They have 25 games to make up those points, which is possible if they come out strong after the break. And as they showed the last three years, if they make it into the postseason, they can go far.
Can the Sabres end their playoff drought?
Their 14 years out of the playoffs is an NHL record. It looked like it might reach 15 when they started slowly. But things turned around when they fired general manager Kevyn Adams and promoted Jarmo Kekalainen. They pushed a winning streak to 10 games and now sit in the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. But they lost three out of four heading into the break and will need to remedy that, especially when they will be facing the Lightning and Golden Knights two times each in the next 11 games.
Can the Red Wings end their playoff drought?
They haven't made the playoffs in nine years and are sitting in third place in the tough Atlantic Division. Other teams have a game or more in hand. But their goaltending is better than in the past because of John Gibson, and they have plenty of cap space to make a move at the deadline.
Can Kings overcome the loss of Kevin Fiala?
Fiala broke his leg while playing for Switzerland at the Olympics, had surgery and will miss the rest of the regular season. The Kings have Panarin now, but his acquisition was designed to boost an offense that had Fiala in the lineup. Fiala leads the Kings with 17 power-play points. Los Angeles is three points out of a playoff spot, so it might need to make another trade.
You guys get to be on the same team again. | NHLI via Getty Images
The NHL is back in action after its damn-near-monthlong Olympic break with eight games tonight, though the Islanders don’t resume until tomorrow night in Montreal, one of 12 games Thursday.
That didn’t keep them from kicking off the looming trade frenzy, though, with a minor league swap of Julien Gauthier to the Blues/Springfield for Matt Luff for the Isles/Bridgeport. This continues what is becoming a tradition of late-season scrapyard swaps between these two franchises.
Both guys have NHL experience and can step in when needed, but they are primarily AHL resources at this point. The Blues are terrible this season and have dealt with a cascade of forward injuries but only afforded Luff five NHL games. He’s been a scorer in the A though. Gauthier looked like he might have a chance at a regular bottom-line role a couple of seasons ago before injuries derailed both 2024-25 and 2025-26.
Both Isles Olympians are back in town (Bo Horvat did not skate though) and expected to play Thursday. [THN | Isles]
The official announcement of Luff for Gauthier. [Isles]
Patrick Roy knows how both Horvat and Ondrej Palat are feeling after falling short at the Olympics. Roy was on the 1998 Canada team that fell to the Czechs. [Newsday]
Five important games among many for the Isles down the stretch. [Newsday]
Islanders Anxiety podcast: Dan and Mike relive the Olympics and some hilarious hot takes. [LHH]
Elsewhere
The Penguins continue to build flexibility and get younger, flipping Brett Kulak (part of the Jarry trade) to Colorado for Samuel Girard and a second-round pick. [NHL]
The Kyper trade board is updated for the drama to follow over the next week. [Sportsnet]
The Canucks are one of those teams that knows they’re about to lose some guys. [Sportsnet]
Coming off IR just in time for the trade deadline, Blake Coleman is a Flame until he’s told he’s not. [NHL]
Out since the first day of training camp, Aleksandar Barkov says he’s on track for a playoff return following knee surgery. [NHL]
OTTAWA, ON - JANUARY 28: Samuel Girard #49 of the Colorado Avalanche skates with the puck against the Ottawa Senators on January 28, 2026, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Here are your Pens Points for this Wednesday morning…
Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas made yet another intriguing trade on Tuesday, as the March 6 trading deadline draws nearer. The Penguins have traded defenseman Brett Kulak to the Colorado Avalanche for defenseman Samuel Girard and a second-round pick in the 2028 draft. [PensBurgh]
Ryder Fetterolf, a Sewickley, Pennsylvania, native playing goalie for the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s, has been one of the league’s top netminders this season with an impressive record, strong metrics, and multiple shutouts, earning a spot in the Top Prospects Game as he prepares for the NHL Draft. [Trib Live]
Forward prospect Bill Zonnon is embracing his role as a visible Black hockey player and role model, using his platform to inspire youth and highlight the importance of representation in the sport. He credits seeing players like P.K. Subban as a child for shaping his passion and is proud to give back through community engagement and leadership. [Penguins]
Updates from around the NHL…
The International Ice Hockey Federation says it will continue using 3-on-3 overtime at international tournaments, including the Olympics, despite criticism that the format strays from traditional 5-on-5 hockey. Critics argue it isn’t true to the sport, but IIHF president Luc Tardif defended it as necessary to fit tight tournament schedules. [Sportsnet]
Winnipeg Jets forward Jonathan Toews said he will not waive his no-movement clause before the March 6 trade deadline. Toews, 37, said he wants to keep playing for his hometown club as they try to climb the standings. [Sportsnet]
Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen will miss at least the next two weeks with a lower-body injury suffered during the Winter Olympics. The team expects him to return before the end of the regular season. [TSN]
Chicago Blackhawks (22-26-9, in the Central Division) vs. Nashville Predators (26-24-7, in the Central Division)
Nashville, Tennessee; Thursday, 8 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Blackhawks travel to the Nashville Predators looking to stop a three-game road losing streak.
Nashville is 26-24-7 overall with an 8-9-3 record in Central Division games. The Predators have a 20-6-2 record in games they score at least three goals.
Chicago has gone 22-26-9 overall with a 7-4-2 record in Central Division play. The Blackhawks have committed 217 total penalties (3.8 per game) to rank 10th in league play.
The matchup Thursday is the third time these teams square off this season. The Blackhawks won 3-0 in the previous meeting.
TOP PERFORMERS: Steven Stamkos has 28 goals and 16 assists for the Predators. Filip Forsberg has seven goals and five assists over the past 10 games.
Tyler Bertuzzi has 25 goals and 17 assists for the Blackhawks. Ilya Mikheyev has three goals and six assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Predators: 3-4-3, averaging 3.3 goals, six assists, 3.3 penalties and 7.7 penalty minutes while giving up 4.2 goals per game.
Blackhawks: 3-5-2, averaging 2.2 goals, 3.7 assists, 2.7 penalties and six penalty minutes while giving up 3.1 goals per game.
INJURIES: Predators: None listed.
Blackhawks: None listed.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Panthers Coach Provides Injury Updates On Pair Of VeteransThe Florida Panthers are hoping to begin adding injured players back into their lineup, and coach Paul Maurice provided some encouraging updates on Dmitry Kulikov and Jonah Gadjovich. 
Video Shows Injured Panthers Sasha Barkov, Seth Jones Doing On-Ice Work At Team Practice Facility Sasha Barkov and Seth Jones hit the ice over the weekend, working thier way back from injuries as the Panthers gear up for a playoff push. 
