The Pittsburgh Penguins currently have a 31-15-13 record and are second in the Metropolitan Division with 75 points. With this, it would not be surprising if they continued to look to add to their roster ahead of the deadline.
Yet, with the Penguins retooling, the possibility of them trading more of their players should not be ruled out. Because of this, one of their goaltenders is continuing to create chatter as a trade candidate.
"Skinner is a positionally sound goaltender who excels at remaining square to the shooter. He’s also got plenty of big-game experience from consecutive runs to the Stanley Cup Final with the Oilers," Johnston wrote.
With Skinner being a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA), it would not be surprising if the Penguins at least listened to offers on the 27-year-old goalie. They also already showed that they are not afraid to move pending UFAs, as they recently dealt defenseman Brett Kulak to the Colorado Avalanche.
With the Penguins having two young goalies in Sergei Murashov and Arturs Silovs, it is fair to wonder if Skinner could be made available. This is especially so if the Penguins do not have plans to re-sign him.
Teams looking for more depth between the pipes could take a chance on Skinner. In 37 games this season split between the Edmonton Oilers and Penguins, he has a 19-12-6 record, a 2.76 goals-against average. a .891 save percentage, and two shutouts.
Mike and Dan are relaxed and excited as the Islanders win three in a row and put themselves in good position for both the playoffs and the NHL Trade Deadline.
We were worried that going into two places they never win in – Montreal and Columbus – and coming back to face the rabid Panthers at home could be a significant hill for the Islanders to climb immediately after the Olympic break. But behind the Disney Dads, Anders Lee and J-G Pageau, and the literally unbelievable Matthew Schaefer, they won all three in uncharacteristically exciting fashion and have us thinking that something special is going on here. Going down 0-2 in each of them isn’t ideal, but coming back to get points and create separation between them and the teams chasing them means everything right now as teams enter their final 24 game stretch.
The wins also mean that the games this week in California against the Ducks, Kings and Sharks have just a little less weight on them. If they can keep the streak going, they have a real chance to lock things up long before the season’s final week, which is huge departure from the last few seasons.
Later, we look ahead to Friday’s NHL Trade Deadline and how the Islanders have positioned themselves to do something big. Adding around the edges might be okay in most seasons, but if they can find some bigger fish to relieve the pressure on their current leaders, they might really scare the rest of the field.
Finally, we pay our respects to two great NHL voices that we have lost recently.
REFERENCES
The Islanders already made a huge trade (for Bridgeport). Goodbye, Julien Gauthier.
RIP Jim Robson, who’s call of Bob Nystrom’s goal in 1980 will remain in Islanders and NHL lore forever.
RIP Boomer Gordon, a great radio host, good person and a friend who will be missed.
This picture really is incredible:
Subscribe to our Patreon! Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, discounts and much more. Or follow us for free to get announcements and our weekly release calendar. Try a free 7-Day trial of our Country Club tier to sample what we offer.
The Pinot Project has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena.
Visit Lighthousehockey.com for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion.
Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (@FansFirstSN).
Theme song: “Morning Haze” by Family Dinner. Hear more of their music on Spotify.
Please subscribe, download, rate, review or spread the word about Islanders Anxiety, Weird Islanders: The Podcast! and all of our podcasts any way you can. All of it helps to raise the show’s profile and maybe could get us another fancy sponsor to sell out to in the near future. Leave us a five star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Former Senator Mark Stone was injured on Sunday in curious circumstances.
The Vegas Golden Knights captain was skating through the neutral zone against the Pittsburgh Penguins and took the lightest of cross-checks from defenseman Kris Letang. Stone immediately skated off in pain, left the game and did not return.
"I barely touched him," Letang told rinkside analyst Darren Pang right after the play.
Mark Stone left the game injured after this play with Kris Letang and he will NOT return 🤕 pic.twitter.com/si55E8Oi24
In fact, it was barely a standard cross check, almost more of cross check shove. Vegas head coach Bruce Cassidy, the former Ottawa 67s great, wasn't sure about Stone's status after the game.
"I assume he'll be on the plane with us to Buffalo and then probably have a better update (on Monday)," Cassidy told the media. "Upper body is all I was told and we'll see where it lands."
When asked about the impact of losing Stone in the game, Cassidy had a thoughtful reply. He said the club has been used to pushing through with players out of the lineup this season, but because of his past, an injury to Stone lands a little differently.
"I just think it's the timing of it, maybe. Mark's had some injuries before, so guys are concerned for him, rightfully so. So I think that would be the biggest effect (on the team today), you know, is he OK? Or did he re injure something he has in the past? I think everybody's kind of worried about that. So that probably plays in your mind a little bit. But we're certainly not going to use that as an excuse for how we played. We just weren't good enough."
It added injury to the insult of a 5-0 Sunday loss for the Knights.
Meanwhile, seeing Stone injured while taking such light contact on the week of the NHL trade deadline is sure to raise eyebrows with some of the more suspicious fans around the league.
While Stone has had injuries in the past, it's also true that seeing him on the injury list before the deadline, which hasn't happened yet in this case, has happened more than once before.
The silver lining in Stone (or anyone else) going on LTIR was the creation of cap space so that the Knights could make trades at the deadline. Then, when the playoffs arrived and there is no cap, the Knights were often fortunate that Stone was ready to rejoin the bolstered roster.
That led to complaints of cap circumvention, and whether the Knights were truly doing that or not, it cannot be argued they were playing by the NHL's rules.
But no one can make that claim with Stone's latest injury. The loophole is now closed.
"Playoff Cap Counting" was announced back in September as an add-on to the new CBA which officially begins next season. The 2026 trade deadline is set for this Friday at 3 pm.
Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was first published by The Hockey News. More headlines here:
img alt="Get a first bet encore up to $800 with the BET99 promo code COVERSNHL" width="100%" loading="lazy" src="https://img.covers.com/promo-articles/bet99nhlcreative2526.jpeg"Get a first bet encore up to $800 with BET99 bonus code COVERSNHL. (not available in Ontario)
Our best NHL player props for Monday, March 2
Take a look at our best bets and expert analysis below.
Prop #1: Adam Fantilli Over 2.5 shots
-120 at BET99
Columbus Blue Jackets go-to center Adam Fantilli has only picked up 10 shots across his past 26 games despite recording a healthy 26 attempts. That 38.5% conversion rate is well below the 47.7% mark he posted through the first 52 games of the season, and there’s nothing scary about this matchup.
The New York Rangers rank below average in both shots allowed per game and Corsi For percentage at 5-on-5, and Fantilli is also one of the primary shooters on Columbus' No. 1 power-play unit.
Landeskog has been on the ice with MacKinnon for a healthy 265:15 of ice time this season, and the Avs have scored 6.79 goals per 60 minutes while also running wild at 5-on-5 with 58.0 Corsi For percentage and 56.6 expected goals percentage.
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
Where to watch: ESPN+, Sportsnet+
Prop #3: Marco Kasper Over 0.5 points
+160 at BET99
Detroit Red Wings forward Marco Kasper is projected to skate on the No. 1 line with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. Raymond paces the team in points, with Larkin ranking third, so this is an excellent opportunity for the 2022 eighth-overall pick.
Kasper is also finding his footing with seven points and 29 shots across his past 12 games. Plus, the Nashville Predators have surrendered the fifth-most goals per game.
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.
The Buffalo Sabres are in a position to add to their roster. At the time of this writing, the Sabres have a 35-19-6 record and are second in the Atlantic Division standings. With this and the Sabres looking to avoid extending their playoff drought to 15 years, they should not be afraid to make some moves.
One trade need that the Sabres could look to address is bringing in another forward to their middle six. Due to this, they are now being connected to an interesting forward from the Toronto Maple Leafs.
In a recent article for The Athletic, Matthew Fairburn named Maple Leafs forward Bobby McMann as an "ideal target" for the Sabres.
"McMann is the type of fast, forechecking winger who would fit on any of Buffalo’s lines. He’s also got some goal-scoring pop to his game and only makes $1.35 million per year," Fairburn wrote.
There is no question that McMann would be a nice addition to the Sabres' roster. The 6-foot-2 forward is currently in the middle of a strong season for the Maple Leafs. In 59 games this campaign with the Original Six club, McMann has recorded 19 goals, 13 assists, 32 points, and 133 hits. This was after he set career highs with 20 goals, 14 assists, 34 points, and 136 hits in 74 games this past season with the Maple Leafs.
When looking at how McMann has performed over the last two seasons with the Maple Leafs, it is clear that he would give the Sabres a nice mixture of secondary scoring and grit if acquired. This would be beneficial for the Sabres, but especially when the games get tougher during the playoffs.
Due to his ability to play both wings, the Sabres would be able to slot McMann in multiple spots in their lineup. Yet, the idea of a line with him, Josh Norris, and Josh Doan is an appealing one. Furthermore, he would give the Sabres another clear option for their power play because of his offensive skill.
Nevertheless, with the Sabres looking to get into the playoffs, it would make sense for them to bring in a forward like McMann. It will be interesting to see if they do just that.
Overall you have to be happy with the way the Pittsburgh Penguins played their first week back out of the 2026 Winter Olympic break. Despite not having captain Sidney Crosby in the lineup, they still earned five out of a possible six points to help maintain their place in the second playoff spot in the Metropolitan Division. While Saturday’s game against the New York Rangers produced a frustrating result, letting a 2-0 lead slip away against a bad team and losing yet another shootout, the way they responded on Sunday made it all pretty easy to let go. The important thing at this point is to just keep collecting points. They are.
Now they enter an important week for their season: Trade deadline week.
Yes, there are games to be played as well, and they really start to get into the meat of their tough March schedule, but it is also going to be fascinating to see how Kyle Dubas handles this week from a roster move perspective.
He has already been busy this season, having traded Tristan Jarry to the Edmonton Oilers for Stuart Skinner, Brett Kulak and a 2029 second-round draft pick, acquiring Egor Chinakhov from the Columbus Blue Jackets for second-and third-round picks, and then most recently trading defenseman Kulak to the Colorado Avalanche for defenseman Samuel Girard and another 2028 second-round draft pick.
That is a lot.
There might still be more ahead.
The big questions to watch this week:
Does he make a move for another depth defenseman?
Does he try to acquire a center for the short-term with Crosby sidelined, or is he confident enough in the Penguins ability to win games and stay competitive until the captain returns?
Does he risk trading Anthony Mantha for what could be a big return, even though he has turned out to be a big part of this roster?
Does he trade Skinner to further add to the Jarry trade tree, while also creating an opportunity for Sergei Murashov to get a more permanent look and role in the NHL?
Does he find another impact player with term-remaining on their contract that fits in with the current young core?
We know he has a ton of draft pick capital to trade from, he has opportunities to acquire more if he trades from that, and we know the Penguins have an enormous amount of salary cap space to work with both this season and in future seasons.
There are a lot of possibilities here. My guess is there is at least one more trade of some importance before Friday. It is just a matter of what that looks like.
In between all of that there are games to deal with.
The week begins on Tuesday with a road game at the Boston Bruins. The Bruins have been wildly inconsistent all season and remain a tough team to get a read on. Their record is fine. Their underlying numbers are terrible and suggest a team that has overachieved.
David Pastrnak is one of the best players in hockey and the main guy they have to be concerned with, while Morgan Geekie has turned into a top goal-scorer (nobody saw that happening) and gives them a strong 1-2 punch offensively. But they have limited depth beyond those two and a defense that gets really thin as soon you get beyond Charlie McAvoy.
The Penguins always seem to struggle in Boston, and already lost there once this season having lost a 1-0 game back on January 11. They have just one regulation defeat since then, going 10-1-4 in the 15 games since, earning 24 out of a 30 possible points. That is an .800 points percentage.
The Penguins then return home for a three-game homestand that begins on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. Buffalo has been the NHL’s best team record-wise since mid-December, and is coming off an impressive 6-2 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. They look for real and are going to be a very formidable opponent. The Penguins, however, have won the first two games of the season against Buffalo, outscoring them by a 9-4 margin. The first game was probably a little misleading with its 4-2 final score (the Sabres were arguably the better team in that game), but the Penguins response before the Olympic break was a thoroughly convincing win.
They then have another weekend back-to-back. The first of those games will be on Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers kind of sunk out of the playoff race before the Olympic break and are now going into the NHL Trade Deadline as likely sellers. It remains to be seen what their roster will look like on Saturday, but I would not anticipate any major changes. This will be the fourth meeting of the season, with the Penguins have won two of the first three and collecting five out of a possible six points in those games. The past two games have been completely one-sided with the Penguins outscoring them by an 11-4 margin.
The Penguins then conclude the week on Sunday, book-ending it with another game against the Bruins, this time at home. Both teams will be playing the second half of a back-to-back, while the Penguins will have the advantage of not having to travel and already being at home.
On paper, this is a tough schedule. They have three games against likely playoff teams, but the Penguins have done extremely well in those matchups this season. Against teams currently in a playoff position, they are 12-5-7, good enough for a .645 points percentage. That would be a 105.7 points pace over an 82-game season. Against teams with a top-10 points percentage they are even better with a 9-3-3 record this season. They have been able to consistently raise their game and level of play against playoff teams and the top teams in the league.
Still, these are going to be some tough games. Given where the Penguins are in the standings, the cushion they have created for themselves and the fact they are still without Crosby for the time being, they pretty much need to just play .500 hockey to maintain things until Crosby returns. Anything that results in four or more points this week should be considered a win.
Lucas Raymond is on pace to average more than a point per game for the first time in his career.
With most of his points coming by way of assist, my Red Wings vs. Predators predictions see him picking up a helper against a weak defensive side.
Let’s dive deeper into my NHL picks for Monday, March 2.
Red Wings vs Predators prediction
Red Wings vs Predators best bet: Lucas Raymond Over 0.5 assists (-105)
Lucas Raymond has recorded an assist in 19 of his last 30 games against bottom-half defenses, consistently taking advantage of favorable matchups.
He has a great one on Monday, as the Nashville Predators rank 28th in goals against, conceding 3.44 per game.
They continue to struggle defensively, sitting 27th in 5-on-5 goals allowed over the last 10 games, and have also conceded a power-play goal in five straight.
Raymond leads the Red Wings in points at full-strength and on the power play, making him a prime candidate to take advantage.
Red Wings vs Predators same-game parlay
Dylan Larkin goes as Raymond goes. He’s hit the scoresheet in eight of the past 10 games when Raymond has picked up a point, which makes sense given they correlate on the top line and power play.
Moritz Seider shoots more on the road when Detroit doesn’t control the matchups. He generates a lot of his volume from the right point, where the Predators rank 27th in shots allowed over the last 20 games.
Red Wings vs Predators SGP
Lucas Raymond Over 0.5 assists
Dylan Larkin Over 0.5 points
Moritz Seider Over 1.5 shots on goal
Red Wings vs Predators odds
Moneyline: Red Wings -105 | Predators -115
Puck Line: Red Wings +1.5 (-275) | Predators -1.5 (+220)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+105) | Under 6.5 (-125)
Red Wings vs Predators trend
Lucas Raymond has assists in four of his last six games against Nashville. Find more NHL betting trends for Red Wings vs. Predators.
How to watch Red Wings vs Predators
Location
Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN
Date
Monday, March 2, 2026
Puck drop
2:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN Detroit, FDSN South
Red Wings vs Predators 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.
The 2026 NHL trade deadline is less than a week away, and the Pittsburgh Penguins are certainly a team to keep an eye on leading up to it. The Penguins have already made multiple trades this season, but they should not be done yet.
One area that the Penguins could look to improve is their center depth. Due to this, one player who could make a lot of sense for Pittsburgh to target is Boston Bruins center Matthew Poitras.
Poitras is a name to watch leading up to the deadline, as The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta recently reported that the Bruins are open to trading the 21-year-old forward. With Poitras still being young and having plenty of skill, he is the kind of player that the Penguins should consider taking a chance on.
If the Penguins brought in Poitras, he would give them another solid forward prospect to work with. He also has a decent amount of NHL experience, too, as he has recorded seven goals, 20 assists, and 27 points in 69 career NHL games over three seasons. However, with the Bruins having several centers, he has had trouble cementing himself as a full-time player in Boston.
Yet, a change of scenery could be exactly what helps Poitras take that next step. The potential for him to blossom into an impactful middle-six forward is there, and it is fair to wonder if he could do just that with the Penguins.
Poitras has appeared in 49 games this season with the Providence Bruins, where he has 10 goals and 31 points. This is after the 2022 second-round pick had 17 goals and 41 points in 40 games with Providence this past season. Overall, the young forward has shown promise in the AHL and could be a good player for the Penguins to add to their system because of it.
The Vancouver Canucks (18-24-7) return to Rogers Arena on Monday when they take on the Dallas Stars (36-14-9). For the Canucks, they will have their eyes on snapping a five-game losing steak, which started back on January 31. As for the Stars, it is full steam ahead as they have eight-straight.
As the trade deadline approaches, the rumour mill continues to swirl around Vancouver. Tyler Myers has sat out the last two games while players like Evander Kane and Teddy Blueger have continually been mentioned in trade rumours. With the way this season has gone, Monday could very well be the final game for some of the Canucks roster.
Shifting to the game itself, Vancouver needs to have a stronger effort than they did on Saturday. While the Canucks were able to generate shots, most chances in the offensive zone were one-and-done. Vancouver also has to be more aware as they gave up far too many odd-man rushes in Saturday's loss.
Players To Watch:
Center Elias Pettersson:
The big question heading into Monday is how will Elias Pettersson respond? Not only was he benched for the final half of the third period on Saturday, but he was called out by Adam Foote who made it clear he needs to play better. With no goals in his last 13 games, Pettersson needs to find a way to step up and show that he can be a valuable part of the future.
Jamie Benn:
Could Monday be the final time Jamie Benn plays an NHL game in British Columbia? It is possible as the 37-year-old Victoria-born forward faces the Canucks for the final time this season. If this is the end for Benn, he will go down as one of the provinces best players as in 1,229 games, he has scored 400 goals while recording 979 points.
Nov 20, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn (14) defends against Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland (8) in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Vancouver Canucks (18–34–7):
Points:
Elias Pettersson: 13–22–35
Filip Hronek: 5–27–32
Jake DeBrusk: 13–15–28
Brock Boeser: 12–14–26
Evander Kane: 10–16–26
Goaltenders:
Thatcher Demko: 8–10–1
Kevin Lankinen: 7–20–4
Nikita Tolopilo: 3–3–2
Jiří Patera: 0–1–0
Dallas Stars (36-14-9):
Points:
Mikko Rantanen: 20-49-69
Jason Robertson: 33-35-68
Wyatt Johnston: 32-31-63
Miro Heiskanen: 7-41-48
Roope Hintz: 15-29-44
Goaltenders:
Jake Oettinger: 24-10-4
Casey DeSmith: 12-4-5
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.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
DENVER, COLORADO - FEBRUARY 26: Brett Kulak #27 of the Colorado Avalanche skates against the Minnesota Wild at Ball Arena on February 26, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Colorado Avalanche News
Countdown to TradeCentre: Could the Avalanche and Nazem Kadri reunite? [TSN]
Are the Colorado Avalanche trying to acquire Nashville Predators’ Ryan O’Reilly? [NHL Trade Rumors]
Bednar laments discipline as penalties sink Avs in tough loss. [The Hockey Writers]
New defenseman Brett Kulak looked comfortable in his Avalanche debut. [Colorado Hockey Now]
Avalanche primed for another big move before the deadline. [Sports Illustrated]
Keep track of predictable trade deadline buzz words with Bingo Card 4.0 [Mile High Hockey]
News Around the League
Edmonton Oilers waive forward Andrew Mangiapane, defenceman Alec Regula. [Sportsnet]
What we’re hearing going into the NHL’s trade deadline next Friday. [Ottawa Citizen]
‘It’s clearly fake’: Brady Tkachuk unhappy with White House video that insulted Canadians. [Global News]
L.A. Kings fire coach Jim Hiller and name D.J. Smith as the interim replacement. [CBC]
The Maple Leafs aren’t used to being on the trading block. But misguided playoff hopes have hurt the franchise before. [Toronto Star]
New York Rangers - 23-29-7 - 53 Points - 2-7-1 in the last 10 - Won 1 - 8th in the Metro.
Columbus Blue Jackets - 29-21-8 - 66 Points - 7-2-1 in the last 10 - OT Loss 1 - 5th in the Metro.
Team Notes Per CBJ PR
Columbus has earned points in 12 of its last 14 games since Jan. 11 (11-2-1) after picking up a point in a 4-3 OT loss to the NY Islanders on Saturday.
Monday's contest at New York begins a stretch of eight games in 13 days through Mar. 14. It includes two back-to-back sets; Mar. 2 at New York/Mar. 3 vs. Nashville and Mar. 9 vs. Los Angeles/Mar. 10 at Tampa Bay. The club is 14-5-3 (.705 pts. pct.) in back-to-backs this season.
Since Dec. 22, the Blue Jackets have gone 15-6-2 (32 pts, .696 points pct.) and are among NHL leaders in team save percentage (.908/4th), goals-against per game (2.65, 5th-T), penalty kill pct. (83.8 pct./5th), points pct. (5th-T), points (6th-T) and goals-for per game (3.39/12th).
The club has scored the opening goal in 12 of the past 14 games and has scored first 36 times in 2025-26 (24-7-5).
Player Notes Per CBJ PR
Charlie Coyle posted an assist on Saturday and has tallied 5-8-13 and four multi-point efforts in the last eight games.
Adam Fantilli has registered goals in consecutive games (2-1-3), points in three-straight (2-2-4), and has totaled 3-6-9 in the past eight contests. He has set a single-season career high in assists with 15-24-39 in 58 games in 2025-26.
Boone Jenner (207-203-410, 785 GP), who is the club's all-time leader in games played and ranks third in goals and points, is one assist from tying David Vyborny (204) for third-most in CBJ history.
Mason Marchment scored his 10th goal as a Blue Jacket on Saturday and required the fewest games by any player to reach the mark with the franchise (10-6-16, 16 GP).
Zach Werenski helped Team USA capture a Gold Medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics (1-5-6, 6 GP). He has set a franchise record for defensemen with points in nine-straight games (2-11-13) after posting two assists against the Islanders. He also has points in 22 of his past 24 games played since Dec. 11 (11-24-35, 11 multi-point efforts).
Blue Jackets Stats
Power Play - 19.6% - 18th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 77.4% - 24th in the NHL
Goals For - 179 - 17th in the NHL
Goals Against - 184 - 19th in the NHL
RangersStats
Power Play - 22.6% - 10th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 79.7% - 15th in the NHL
Goals For - 153 - 28th in the NHL
Goals Against - 185 - 20th in the NHL
Series History vs. TheRangers
Columbus is 24-24-1-7 all-time, and 11-8-1-5 on the road vs. New York.
CBJ scored their most goals at Madison Square Garden as well as tied the overall series record in a 7-3 win on Mar. 9, 2025, in the most recent meeting at New York.
The winning team has recorded four or more goals (including SO goals) in nine of the past 11 games overall and 13 of the last 16 games of the series dating back to Oct. 29, 2021.
The Blue Jackets have recorded the three most recent hat tricks (MR: Adam Fantilli in 7-3 win at NYR on Mar. 9, 2025) and penalty shot attempt (Brandon Saad, unsuccessful in 5-2 win at NYR on Feb. 26, 2017).
CBJ has killed off 18-of-21 Ranger's power play attempts in the last 10 games (85.7 pct.).
Who To Watch For TheRangers
Mika Zibanejad leads the Rangers with 24 goals, 29 assists, and 53 points.
Igor Shesterkin is 18-12-5 with a SV% of .917
Jonathan Quick is 4-14-2 with a SV% of .890. His last start was on February 5th.
CBJ Player Notes vs.Rangers
Zach Werenski has 19 points in 27 career games vs. the Rangers.
Boone Jenner has 16 points in 36 games.
Mason Marchment has 6 points in 9 games against New York.
Injured Reserve
Brendan Smith - Lower Body - Missed 20 Games IR - Out for the rest of the regular season.
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 157
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.
Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!
Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story.
Let us know what you think below.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
ELMONT, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 03: Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins warms up prior to the game against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on February 03, 2026 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Steven Ryan/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
It appears that the Penguins and Evgeni Malkin’s party are once again going to be discussing a contract extension — something that recently seemed like it might not happen until the end of the season.
– The possibility of a Kadri/Avs reunion – What Guerin and the Wild might do next – Stamkos & O'Reilly's future in Nashville – Malkin & Pens talking about an extension pic.twitter.com/21z5DoMXlD
“They talked last week, they’re supposed to talk again this week,” Friedman said. “Malkin had some frustration yesterday after their game that things weren’t more secure for next year, but they’re supposed to talk again next week.”
After Saturday’s game against the New York Rangers, Malkin spoke at length about his status and not having a contract for next year. As it stands, Malkin is set to become a free agent in July if a contract extension isn’t reached.
“We talked a little bit with JP a couple days ago and he just say like, wait to end of season and see what’s going on,” Malkin said. “Nothing we can say right now. It’s not my job to talk to Kyle or somebody. I just play my game and just wait. Sid has injury, I want to help the team win, of course. Like no crazy news. I’m just waiting. And I think my agent tell me, like, wait to end of season.”
Shortly after Malkin spoke, The Athletic’s Josh Yohe reported that before he left the locker room, Malkin said a chat might still take place next week, specifically mentioning Monday.
“It’s clear that no negotiations have taken place yet, that the bigger decision is whether he’s invited back,” Yohe said. “I doubt the money would be hard to figure out.”
Feb 28, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (86) takes a shot against the St. Louis Blues in the first period at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-Imagn Images | Joe Puetz-Imagn Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
The losing streak is snapped: Goals from Timo Meier, Dougie Hamilton and Nico Hischier helped to push the Devils to a 3-1 win over the Blues on Saturday. [Devils NHL]
Luke is back:
#NEWS: We have assigned D Colton White to Utica (AHL) and activated D Luke Hughes off injured reserve. pic.twitter.com/YWV9hg8M77
Just a few hours after the Blues game, Jack appeared on Saturday Night Live:
A bit more here on the logistics of getting Jack from St. Louis to New York in short order: “After cruising at 49,000 feet and cramming for the ‘SNL’ appearance by reading the script, Hughes landed in Teterboro, N.J., at 10:01 p.m. He jumped on a helicopter at Teterboro and flew to W30th Pier from 10:08 p.m. to 10:18 p.m. There, a car was waiting to hustle the traveling party to 30 Rock, where they arrived at the ‘SNL’ loading docks at 10:32 p.m — 58 minutes before the show’s cold open. So, in all, it took Hughes 2 hours and 59 minutes from game’s end in St. Louis to get to his final destination.” [The Athletic ($)]
“We’re less than a week away from the NHL trade deadline, a time of year that most anticipated the New Jersey Devils to be buyers at. However, given the scope of the season – the Devils are nearly cemented as a non-playoff team – it’s likely that New Jersey will be selling. Let’s talk about some names that could be shipped out ahead of the trade deadline:” [Infernal Access ($)]
Hockey Links
The Kings have fired Jim Hiller:
We have relieved Jim Hiller of his duties and named D.J. Smith interim head coach for the remainder of the season, Kings Vice President and General Manager Ken Holland announced.
In addition, Kings player development coach Matt Greene will join Smith as an assistant coach.… pic.twitter.com/3MCzFfNF41
“Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin is being ruled out for the rest of the NHL regular season and postseason, which will allow the team to use all of his $9.85 million in salary cap space before next Friday’s trade deadline, an NHL source confirmed on Friday.” [ESPN]
“Florida is sitting eight points back of the cutoff line right now, which will force it to make some tough decisions leading up to the trade deadline. If the Panthers were to get in, they would certainly still be threatening, especially if Barkov returns, but to spend assets at the deadline in a season that may be too far gone doesn’t make a lot of sense. Instead, the Panthers could use this as an opportunity to reload for what will no doubt be a much more competitive and healthier team next year.” [Sportsnet]
A wild moment in Saturday’s UConn-UMass game:
An odd situation unfolded in OT between UConn and No. 19 UMass.
With the game tied 3-3 and 1:48 left, the arena lights went out at the Mullins Center during a UConn breakaway, blowing the play dead.
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 01: Arturs Silovs #37 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates with teammates after defeating the against the Vegas Golden Knights at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 1, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Here are your Pens Points for this Monday morning…
The Pittsburgh Penguins wrapped up another back-to-back set on Sunday, returning home to host the Vegas Golden Knights. The day before, they let the game get away from them in New York, escaping with a loser point, but the team, led by Bryan Rust, Ben Kindel, and others, shutout Vegas to earn two big points. [Recap]
The big off-ice news over the weekend centers around Evgeni Malkin and his seemingly never-ending quest to get a contract extension with the only team he has ever played with. Malkin made it known that his agent, J.P. Barry, will discuss a potential contract extension with the team following the season. [Trib Live]
News and updates from around the NHL…
The Los Angeles Kings fired coach Jim Hiller on Sunday after losing five of their past six games and falling out of playoff position. [Associated Press via TSN]
The Edmonton Oilers placed forward Andrew Mangiapane and defenseman Alec Regula on waivers. [TSN]
Vancouver Canucks star Elias Pettersson was benched late in the team’s 5-1 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Saturday, with head coach Adam Foote saying the forward “has to be better.” [Sportsnet]
The Toronto Maple Leafs are on life support, and the plug may soon be pulled on this season. Captain Auston Matthews called his team’s 5-2 weekend loss to the Ottawa Senators “embarrassing,” after a tough stretch has left their playoff hopes quickly fading. [Sportsnet]
Chicago Blackhawks (23-28-9, in the Central Division) vs. Winnipeg Jets (23-26-10, in the Central Division)
Winnipeg, Manitoba; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Blackhawks visit the Winnipeg Jets after Teuvo Teravainen's two-goal game against the Utah Mammoth in the Blackhawks' 4-0 win.
Winnipeg is 6-7-3 against the Central Division and 23-26-10 overall. The Jets have given up 182 goals while scoring 167 for a -15 scoring differential.
Chicago is 23-28-9 overall with an 8-6-2 record against the Central Division. The Blackhawks have a 6-7-4 record in one-goal games.
The matchup Tuesday is the third meeting between these teams this season. The Blackhawks won 2-0 in the last meeting.
TOP PERFORMERS: Mark Scheifele has scored 27 goals with 43 assists for the Jets. Adam Lowry has five assists over the past 10 games.
Tyler Bertuzzi has 26 goals and 19 assists for the Blackhawks. Connor Bedard has five goals and two assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Jets: 3-3-4, averaging 2.1 goals, four assists, 2.7 penalties and 5.7 penalty minutes while giving up 2.9 goals per game.
Blackhawks: 2-6-2, averaging 2.2 goals, 3.6 assists, 2.7 penalties and 5.7 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game.
INJURIES: Jets: None listed.
Blackhawks: None listed.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Fantilli Over 2.5 shots
Landeskog Over 0.5 assists
Kasper Over 0.5 points
