Sunday was a good day for hockey. The NHL’s Stadium Series turned into a WWE circus with a goalie fight and a four-goal comeback. On the NHL trade front, the suitors are lining up for Artemi Panarin, but it appears an aggregator site got over its skis and started a fake rumor that quickly spread on those low-quality sites. And we dissected the Pittsburgh Penguins’ identity under the first-year head coach, Dan Muse.
I was surprised to see prospect forward Tanner Howe make his debut yesterday with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. That was a surprise move–to the best of my knowledge, there was no official announcement he was ready or activated. I’ll link to the story below.
Howe is the great mystery of the Penguins’ prospect pool. He was taken 46th overall in 2024, but we’ve scarcely seen him since. He’s suffered a couple of significant injuries, but he was a member of the 2025 Team Canada World Juniors roster because he’s a gritty winger.
Question–Does anyone watch The Final Word on WPXI?
Last night, it came on at 12:30 because of an NBA showcase game that seemed to last six weeks, followed by a postgame show. It doesn’t usually come on until 12 or so during the NFL season. I’m wondering if it’s worth doing anymore.
Also, there are more updates coming today for the PHN+/Sportsnaut platform. It’s been rough, I know. I apologize greatly. Please bear with us, but feel free to share issues, problems, and complaints with me. I don’t use the same interface as you right now, so I’m not seeing what it looks like.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Identity. It’s been a buzzword around the Penguins for years, but not so much this season, though a couple of players have started talking about it. So, we asked Muse. And we analyzed what it means. It’s not an easy answer this year, but we tried to define the new Pittsburgh Penguins identity.
Steelers Now: Derrick Bell has an interesting take on why the Pittsburgh Steelers hired Mike McCarthy.
I’m still less interested in McCarthy than I am in the coordinators. I firmly believe an NFL operation is too big for the head coach to really be effective. It’s those under the general who make or break the system.
WBS Penguins: Tanner Howe played, Matt Dumba racked up some points, and Owen Pickering scored in a big win.
NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now
Stadium Series. Wow. The goalies threw some haymakers.
STADIUM SERIES GOALIE FIGHT 😱 pic.twitter.com/ntCWlmmr25
— ESPN (@espn) February 2, 2026
Boston Hockey Now: To the actual game, it was an extreme four-goal comeback for the Tampa Bay Lightning, and an extreme collapse for the Boston Bruins–who thought they won in OT. A wild game that thrilled the audience went to a shootout. And the Bruins lost.
And in case you’re curious, Jon Cooper explained his wild outfit that was more Scarface than it was NHL coach.
For the Lightning, Anthony Cirelli left with an injury, but Victor Hedman returned to the lineup after a long absence. Hedman back with the Lightning makes them the clear Eastern Conference favorites.
Credit where it’s due. Our competition in Philly got Rick Tocchet on their podcast. Tocchet didn’t spare the rod or spoil the child with Matvei Michkov. I do love it when fan assertions are met head-on by coaches or GMs. Why isn’t Michkov playing more?
Totally not concerned about the answer from Rick Tocchet about Michkov’s ice time from PHLY pic.twitter.com/8j5KTdn0AU
— Drew (@DR3Wheels) February 1, 2026
Detroit Hockey Now: Two truths and a lie. I like this column that Detroit does–I may steal it. Thoughts on the Detroit Red Wings trade targets, the Olympic break, and signing Ben Chiarot. The digestible Red Wings analysis.
TSN Video: Bo Horvat sounded off on the Olympic ice surface, “It’s not as bad as people think.” I know others who say it will make a big difference, but Horvat says, nah.
Yahoo: I hate linking to an aggregation of an aggregation, but I can’t find the source material. Pierre LeBrun reports Panarin’s preferred destination is Florida, but others are lining up.
Tags: Artemi Panarin nhl trade Pittsburgh Penguins
Categorized:Links NHL Trade Rumors