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Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Florida Panthers forward Anton Lundell is probable for Wednesday's game against the Boston Bruins, according to Head Coach Paul Maurice. His potential return would provide a boost to the Panthers' lineup as they battle for crucial points before the NHL pauses for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett (upper body) is cleared to play in Wednesday's game against Boston after exiting Monday's game. Head Coach Paul Maurice confirmed his return. Additionally, Bennett will replace Anthony Cirelli on Team Canada's Olympic roster for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy. Since January 1st, Bennett has tallied six goals, seven assists, 22 PIM, 20 hits, and six blocked shots in 16 appearances, averaging 19:28 of ice time.
Sergei Bobrovsky will start Wednesday's home game against the Bruins for the Florida Panthers. He has struggled to secure wins since the start of the calendar year, posting a 3-8-0 record with a 3.87 GAA and a .829 save percentage over his last 11 starts, including three consecutive losses. Despite Boston's strong offense (3.38 goals per game), Bobrovsky previously secured a 4-3 victory against them on Oct. 21, stopping 28 of 31 shots.
Mathieu Olivier scored two goals in Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Devils, both coming in the third period as insurance tallies. He has now lit the lamp four times in his last four contests, snapping a 10-game point drought. The physical winger has collected eight goals and 17 points in 42 games this season, along with 155 hits, 62 PIM, 54 shots on net, 30 blocked shots, and a plus-8 rating.
Elvis Merzlikins turned aside all 24 shots he faced in Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Devils, securing his first shutout of the season and the 12th of his career. The 31-year-old netminder has won three straight starts and five of his last six, posting a sharp 2.03 GAA and a .924 save percentage over that recent stretch, as he vies for the starting job.
Seth Jarvis scored two goals, including one on the power play, in Tuesday's 4-3 win over Ottawa. Both tallies came in the second period, helping Carolina build a 3-1 lead. Since returning from a rib injury in early January, Jarvis has been productive, accumulating six goals and 14 points in his last 14 games, with three goals and five assists on the power play. His second goal Tuesday marked his 25th for a third consecutive season.
Sebastian Aho scored a goal and added two assists, one on the power play, in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Senators. His first-period goal, which deflected off an opponent's skate, was his 20th of the season. Aho then assisted on two Seth Jarvis tallies in the second frame. He has delivered five multi-point performances in his last 11 games, accumulating three goals and 14 points over that stretch.
Connor Hellebuyck is slated to start Wednesday's home game against the Canadiens, as reported by Mitchell Clinton of the Jets' official site. The Winnipeg Jets' goaltender has struggled recently, posting a 1-3-3 record with a 2.83 GAA and .901 save percentage over his last seven starts. He will aim to right the ship in the Jets' final game before the Olympic break. This start comes as he tries to improve his performance against a team that ranks 16th in the NHL with 3.17 goals per game this year.
Martin Necas (lower body) has been officially ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Sharks, Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette reports. This marks the third consecutive game the Colorado Avalanche forward will miss due to his ongoing lower-body injury, sidelining him heading into the Olympic break. Although Necas is on Czechia's roster for the upcoming Olympics, it is currently uncertain whether his injury will impact his availability for the tournament. Valeri Nichushkin is anticipated to continue with an increased role for the Avalanche during Wednesday's matchup.
Vancouver Canucks forward Teddy Blueger has been impressive since returning from injury on January 21, scoring in four of his seven appearances. He recently found the back of the net against the Mammoth on Monday and the Ducks last Thursday, bringing his road goal total to two in three games this season. Blueger, who previously played for the Vegas Golden Knights in 2022-23, scored against them in one of their four meetings last season.
Sidney Crosby, representing the Pittsburgh Penguins, has been identified as a key player to watch at the 2026 Olympics, which will be held in Italy. He is highlighted as one of the Olympians to keep an eye on from each participating team in the tournament. This recognition places him among the top athletes expected to make an impact on the international stage during the games.
Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk has been a significant catalyst for the team's offense since his return to the lineup. In the eight games with Tkachuk healthy, the Panthers have controlled a 57.43% share of scoring chances, ranking second in the league. He leads the team in high-danger chances and expected goals over this period and historically averages 3.7 shots on goal over 23 meetings against the Bruins.
At 40, France captain Pierre-Edouard Bellemare is set to make his Olympic debut at the Milan Cortina Games, marking his country's first qualification since 2002. This will be his final major event before retirement, capping a decade-long NHL career that included 700 regular-season and 85 playoff games with teams like the Flyers, Golden Knights, Avalanche, Lightning, and Kraken, along with two Stanley Cup Final appearances. Bellemare, who signed his first NHL contract at 29, expresses immense pride and enjoyment in this career-defining accomplishment.
Avery Hayes contributed to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins' perfect weekend, scoring in both games. He tallied a goal in the first period during their 4-1 victory over Syracuse and later scored one of two back-to-back power-play goals in a dominant 6-2 win against Lehigh Valley. Hayes' offensive contributions helped the Penguins secure two significant wins.
New York Islanders forward Bo Horvat scored two goals on Tuesday night, including the game-winning goal just 52 seconds into overtime. His clutch performance secured a 5-4 victory for the Islanders over the Pittsburgh Penguins, handing Pittsburgh its second consecutive loss.
Goaltender Filip Larsson has been placed on unconditional waivers by the Pittsburgh Penguins for the purpose of contract termination. Larsson, who had been the team's third-string goalie, had not started a game since December 14th and opted to terminate his contract to pursue other opportunities.
Seth Jones (upper body) last played on January 2nd, logging only three minutes of ice time before exiting. The Florida Panthers are hopeful the Olympic break will provide enough time for him to heal, with an anticipated return on February 26th. Before his injury, Jones was a significant contributor on the power play, tallying five of his six goals and eight of his 18 assists with the man-advantage. He was previously replaced on Team USA's Olympic roster due to this injury, making him a potential fantasy hockey trade target.
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brayden Point (lower body) has been transferred to long-term injured reserve (LTIR) as of Tuesday. He last played on January 12th and is ruled out until the Olympic break, meeting the 10-game/24-day requirement. Despite this, he remains a possibility for Team Canada at the Olympics. Point, who had 11 goals and 30 points in 37 appearances before his injury, is expected to be fully healthy upon his return and should be a point-per-game player down the stretch. He was absent from the Lightning's recent game.
Cutter Gauthier scored his 25th goal of the season, opening the scoring at 4:01 of the second period with a snap shot from the top of the right circle just as a power play expired. His goal contributed to the Anaheim Ducks' 4-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken in their final game before the Olympic break. The Ducks have now won nine of their last 11 games, moving within one point of the Pacific Division lead.
Alex Killorn scored a goal from a sharp angle 24 seconds into the third period, contributing to the Anaheim Ducks' 4-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken. His goal helped build a 4-0 cushion for the Ducks in their final game before the Olympic break. Anaheim has now won nine of their last 11 games, moving closer to the Pacific Division lead and two points ahead of the Kraken for third place.
