Overview
- With the roster freeze in effect, the league pauses for Milano Cortina after the Rangers traded Artemi Panarin to the Kings just before the deadline.
- Andrei Vasilevskiy made 33 saves as Tampa Bay routed Florida 6-1, extending his run to 16-0-1 in 17 games and pushing the Lightning to 19-1-1 over their last 21.
- Lightning coach Jon Cooper confirmed Anthony Cirelli and Nick Paul would be out, with Cirelli removed from Team Canada’s Olympic roster and Sam Bennett named as his replacement; Paul is not expected back until after the break.
- Columbus beat Chicago 4-0 for a seventh straight win, with Zach Werenski reaching 20 goals before the break and Jet Greaves posting a shutout, while the Blackhawks saw Wyatt Kaiser (status uncertain) and Colton Dach (day-to-day) leave hurt.
- Off the ice, Penguins defenseman Caleb Jones received a 20-game suspension for violating the NHL/NHLPA performance-enhancing substances program, and top prospect Gavin McKenna was charged with felony aggravated assault.