Overview
- Buffalo beat New Jersey 2-1 as Tage Thompson posted a goal and an assist and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 27 of 28 shots, handing the Devils a fourth straight loss despite a strong Jake Allen effort.
- New Jersey’s long-shot postseason outlook keeps the focus on selling before the deadline, with reports highlighting defenseman Dougie Hamilton as a potential trade piece given his contract and recent scratch.
- The Rangers welcomed back Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox but blew a 2-0 lead in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Flyers, decided by Matvei Michkov after Trevor Zegras tied it early in the third.
- The league’s schedule restarted after a three-week Olympic pause headlined by Jack Hughes’ overtime winner for Team USA, with several medalists rejoining clubs and quickly returning to action.
- Trade talk is accelerating around multiple teams, including reported interest in the Blues’ Robert Thomas and Justin Faulk as Thomas takes a personal leave, while matchups like Bruins–Blue Jackets frame the Eastern wild-card chase.