TORONTO — The 2026 Winter Olympic Games are less than 90 days away in Italy, and there is still work to be done on the ice surfaces that will showcase NHL players suiting up at their first Games in a decade.

The league hasn’t allowed its skaters to participate at the Olympics since 2014 in Sochi. Now that they are on the cusp of returning, there are serious questions about the quality of ice both men and women players will be working with in February.

“There’s still work ongoing on the rinks and the ice conditions,” confirmed NHL commissioner Gary Bettman at the NHL GM meetings on Tuesday. “It’s something that we’re monitoring closely, and we have absolutely no control over. This is all on the [International Olympic Committee] and the [International Ice Hockey Federation].”

Bettman said the league is getting “constant reassurances” from the IOC and IIHF that “everything will be fine” with the rinks by the time athletes arrive overseas. At this point, the main hockey rink — Santagiulia Arena — is still under construction. The venue was meant to undergo testing for Olympic events in December, with a U-20 world championship tournament. But that’s now been moved to another rink — the Rho Fiera — that will host secondary hockey matches during the Games.

Those building delays could mean that no games will actually be played at Santagiulia Arena until the women’s hockey schedule officially opens Feb. 5 with an untested ice surface. Beyond just being a safety issue for players, there’s also a question of testing things such as bathrooms and concessions for fans in a newly constructed space.

While the NHL can’t do much to expedite the construction process, they are staying actively involved in what’s going on. When the league’s current Global Series showcase in Sweden between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators wraps up this weekend, NHL executives will make a pilgrimage to Milano-Cortina to check the status of rink construction for themselves.

What they find there remains to be seen. All Bettman can reiterate is that it’s out of the NHL’s hands.

“We’re simply invited guests,” Bettman said.

ST. LOUIS — Jordan Binnington set a franchise record for St. Louis on Tuesday night, and he is looking forward to having a little fun with the milestone.

The 32-year-old Binnington played in his 348th game in a 3-2 win over Calgary, passing Mike Liut for most games played by a goaltender in franchise history.

Liut, who spent five-plus seasons with the Blues before he was traded to Hartford in February 1985, is Binnington’s agent. The new record holder plans to let Liut know who’s on top now.

“Maybe I’ll send him a text tonight just for fun,” Binnington said. “It’s cool how it’s working out like this. He’s a big legend here and he’s in the Blues Hall of Fame.

“He’s someone I look up to and he’s been a big part of my career. It’s cool how life works like that.”

Binnington, a third-round pick in the 2011 draft, has spent his entire career with St. Louis. He became the franchise wins leader with his 152nd victory in 2024, also passing Liut.

“I’m truly honored and humbled,” Binnington said. “We’ve had some good teams here and some good players. I just keep my head down and doing my best.

“It’s cool moments like these to have a night like this where we got a nice win, a much-needed win. We played a good game. It’s special.”

Binnington, who led St. Louis to the franchise’s only Stanley Cup championship in 2019, registered 38 saves in the victory over the Flames. It was his fourth win in 12 games this season.

It was a much different outcome than his previous start.

Binnington was pulled in the second period of last week’s 6-1 loss at Washington. He surrendered four goals on 15 shots, including Alex Ovechkin’s 900th career goal.

“I’m having fun,” Binnington said. “You’ve got to play for the love of the game and why you started. I enjoy these moments, trying to close out a game here at home. I felt the crowd. It’s good to enjoy these moments.”

The Blues held a 3-0 lead before Calgary scored two goals in 29 seconds in the second period.

Calgary peppered Binnington with 31 shots in the last two periods.

“As a goalie, sometimes you like that. You stay in the game,” Binnington said. “Giving up two late in the second was not what we were looking for.

“We regrouped and we found a way to get it done. It was fun game back and forth. I think it’s only going to get better.”

BOSTON — Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews left his team’s 5-3 loss to the Boston Bruins at TD Garden Tuesday night with a lower-body injury.

Matthews, who did not play in the third period, took a hit into the sideboards from behind by Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov midway through the second period. Though Zadorov took a roughing call in the third period, he was not penalized for the hit on Matthews.

“I think it’s a penalty, personally,” Toronto coach Craig Berube. “But I’m not the referee. I don’t like it. I don’t like the hit. He was in a vulnerable position.”

Berube did not have an update on Matthews, who has nine goals and 14 points this season, after the loss.

“I don’t know exactly,” he said. “I can’t give you a timeline or how serious it is right now. I’m not sure when he hurt it, to be honest with you.”

Anthony Stolarz started in goal for Toronto and gave up three first-period goals on 11 shots and was replaced for the second period by Dennis Hildeby, who had 19 stops. The team said Stolarz has an upper-body injury, but Berube didn’t believe it to be “serious.” Berube added, “I think he’ll be fine.”

All told, it was a night to forget for the Maple Leafs, who have lost three in a row. Steven Lorentz, Bobby McMann and Oliver Ekman-Larsson also scored for Toronto, which was swept in a quick two-game home-and-home set with Boston.

The news was much better for the home team. David Pastrnak scored twice to move past 400 goals for his career, and added an assist, as the rebuilding Bruins won their seventh consecutive game.

Pavel Zacha, Hampus Lindholm and Alex Steeves also scored for the Bruins while Jeremy Swayman made 30 saves. Charlie McAvoy had a pair of assists in the win.

Pastrnak’s goal 49 seconds into the second period was the 400th of his career and gave the Bruins a 4-1 lead. He added a power-play goal at 9:48 of the third. He is the sixth player to score 400 or more goals in a Bruins jersey, and is now one goal behind fifth-place Rick Middleton.

Steeves’ goal was his first as a Bruin after four years in the Toronto organization.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.