Bruins Fall in Shootout, Trade Deadline Buzz, and Olympic Hockey Heats Up
It was a rollercoaster night for the Boston Bruins, who battled hard but ultimately came up short in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Florida Panthers. The game had everything-physicality, missed opportunities, and a dramatic finish-but the Bruins leave Florida with just two points out of a possible four.
Let’s break it down.
Bruins Lose Grip in the Second, Rally Late
Boston came out swinging early, but special teams proved to be their Achilles’ heel. The Bruins went just 1-for-7 on the power play, and the second period was where things really unraveled. Florida took advantage of Boston’s miscues, and despite a strong third-period push, the Bruins couldn’t close the gap in regulation.
Joonas Korpisalo stopped 22 shots in net, keeping Boston within reach, and the team showed fight in forcing overtime. But in the shootout, it was Brad Marchand-wearing Panthers colors now-who sealed the deal with the game-winner. The former Bruins captain wasn’t even expected to play, but he made his presence felt in a big way.
The game also had some bite. A high hit from Florida’s Sandis Vilmanis on Charlie McAvoy stirred things up early, and a spirited scrap between Tanner Jeannot and AJ Greer added to the intensity. The two teams clearly weren’t interested in easing into this one.
Worth noting: McAvoy and Vilmanis will see each other again soon-this time on the international stage. Team USA and Latvia face off on February 12 at 3:10 PM in Olympic play.
Bruins Make a Roster Move
Following Friday’s game, the Bruins reassigned forward Matt Poitras to Providence. Poitras made three appearances with the big club and scored a goal in Sunday night’s game at Raymond James Stadium.
Meanwhile, the Providence Bruins continue to roll. They picked up their eighth straight win with a 2-1 victory over Bridgeport.
Riley Tufte and Christian Wolanin provided the offense, and Michael DiPietro stood tall with 36 saves. The P-Bruins are back in action Friday night in Rhode Island.
Trade Freeze Sparks Late Deals
The NHL’s roster freeze kicked in Wednesday afternoon, but not before a couple of big moves went down.
The biggest headline? Artemi Panarin is headed to Los Angeles.
The Rangers shipped the star winger west in exchange for prospect Liam Greentree, a conditional 2026 third-round pick, and a conditional 2028 fourth-rounder. Not long after the deal was finalized, Panarin inked a two-year extension with the Kings worth $11 million per year.
Not to be outdone, the Devils made their second move of the week, acquiring veteran center Nick Bjugstad from the Blues. New Jersey sent Thomas Bordeleau and a fourth-round pick to St.
Louis in the deal. Earlier in the week, they moved on from Ondrej Palat as they continue to reshape their roster.
Injury Watch: Jack Hughes Still Out
Jack Hughes remains sidelined for the Devils and won’t suit up for today’s game. However, he’s still expected to join Team USA for the Olympics. Head coach Sheldon Keefe labeled him “day-to-day” but acknowledged the clock is ticking with limited games left before the break.
Suspension Hits Penguins Blue Line
Tough news out of Pittsburgh, where defenseman Caleb Jones has been hit with a 20-game suspension for violating the NHL’s performance-enhancing substance policy. Jones, who’s been battling injuries since October-including a setback during an AHL rehab stint-issued a statement suggesting the positive test was linked to a substance used in his recovery process.
Prospect in Legal Trouble
One of the top prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft, Penn State forward Gavin McKenna, is facing serious legal trouble. McKenna has been charged with felony aggravated assault, along with several misdemeanors, stemming from an altercation at a bar in Central Pennsylvania following Penn State’s outdoor game.
Reports indicate the incident involved a physical confrontation with an individual allegedly harassing a family member. The legal process will play out, but it’s a major development for a player expected to be a top pick in the coming draft.
Boston College Adds Blue Line Talent
Boston College made a quiet but significant move, landing defenseman Carson Woodall from the Windsor Spitfires. Woodall currently leads all OHL defensemen in scoring with 54 points (9 goals, 45 assists). A big pickup for the Eagles as they look to bolster their blue line heading into the stretch run.
Olympic Hockey Is Here
The women’s Olympic hockey tournament officially gets underway today, and there’s plenty of Boston representation. Seven members of the PWHL’s Boston Fleet are suiting up for their respective national teams-three for Team USA, and one each for Czechia, Finland, Germany, and Switzerland.
Thursday’s Olympic Schedule:
- 10:40 AM ET: USA vs. Czechia (live on USA Network, re-air at 5:30 PM)
- Finland vs. Canada has been postponed due to a Norovirus outbreak.
It’s rescheduled for February 12.
Friday’s Olympic Schedule:
- 6:10 AM ET: France vs. Japan (Peacock)
- 8:40 AM ET: Czechia vs. Switzerland (Peacock)
Tonight’s NHL Slate
The Bruins are off until February 26, but there’s still plenty of action on the NHL calendar tonight:
- Penguins at Sabres - 7:00 PM ET
- Islanders at Devils - 7:00 PM ET
- Hurricanes at Rangers - 7:00 PM ET
- Senators at Flyers - 7:00 PM ET
- Predators at Capitals - 7:00 PM ET
- Panthers at Lightning - 7:30 PM ET (ESPN+/Hulu)
- Kings at Golden Knights - 10:00 PM ET
So while the Bruins take a breather, hockey fans have no shortage of storylines to follow-from trade buzz and Olympic matchups to a packed NHL schedule. Buckle up. February is just getting started.