RADIO
Ryan Lindgren a Game-Time Call Saturday
Seattle Kraken defenseman Ryan Lindgren (upper body) will be a game-time decision for the second contest of the 2026 NHL Global Series in Finland on Saturday against Carolina, Mike Benton of the Kraken Audio Network reports. The Kraken lost Lindgren to an upper-body injury just four games into the season. His return should boost a defense that's leaking 3.59 goals per game. However, Lindgren has minimal fantasy value. He finished last season with nine points (two goals, seven assists), 48 SOG, 118 blocks, and 47 hits in 76 games.
Source: Mike Benton
Source: Mike Benton
Jordan Staal Could Return Saturday
Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (calf) could return to action on Saturday against the Seattle Kraken at the 2026 NHL Global Series in Finland, Shawn P. Roarke of NHL.com reports. The 2026 Conn Smythe Trophy winner has missed 16 games with a calf injury, but he's practiced this week and worked on the power play Friday, a strong signal that Staal is ready to return. Staal hasn't replicated his 2026 playoffs MVP form this season, going scoreless in six outings. With Carolina's frontline back at full strength, Eric Robinson figures to be the odd man out Saturday.
Source: Shawn P. Roarke
Source: Shawn P. Roarke
Tom Willander Available Against Rangers
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tom Willander (lower body) looks ready to return from a four-game absence on Friday against the New York Rangers, Adam Kierszenblat of The Hockey News reports. The Canucks are planning two defensive changes, with Willander and Cameron Crotty replacing Luke Schenn and Guillaume Brisebois. With the Canucks struggling, Willander has been limited to three assists in 16 games this season and has no goals on 12 SOG. The Rangers don't travel well, putting Willander and the rest of the Canucks in a good spot to have some joy during a frustrating campaign.
Source: Adam Kierszenblat
Source: Adam Kierszenblat
Filip Chytil Expected to Return Friday
Vancouver Canucks center Filip Chytil (shoulder) is set to return to action on Friday against the New York Rangers, Adam Kierszenblat of The Hockey News reports. He has missed five games with a shoulder injury. The Canucks still need to activate Chytil from Injured Reserve. Friday will mark a special occasion for Chytil, as he'll face the Rangers for the first time since they traded him to Vancouver in 2025. After moving across the border, the Czech forward has dealt with several health issues. This season, Chytil has appeared in just seven games, recording two assists. Chytil is expected to take a spot on the second line and the second power-play unit, so he may be able to do some damage against his former team.
Source: Adam Kierszenblat
Source: Adam Kierszenblat
Jonathan Marchessault Remains Out Friday
Nashville Predators winger Jonathan Marchessault (lower body) will miss a sixth straight game on Friday against Vegas, Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site reports. The veteran forward was on the ice for an optional morning skate on Friday, but he hasn't been cleared to return from a lower-body injury. Marchessault has struggled to produce offense this season, recording five points (two goals, three assists) in 14 games. With Marchessault out, Nils Hoglander has moved to the second line, tallying one goal and three assists in the last two games.
Source: Brooks Bratten
Source: Brooks Bratten
Dylan DeMelo Out Week-to-Week
Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dylan DeMelo (lower body) will be out week-to-week after exiting early in Thursday's blowout win over Dallas, Ken Wiebe of The Winnipeg Free Press reports. With DeMelo out, the Jets lose a defenseman who does a lot of dirty work and occasionally chips in offensively. In 19 appearances this season, DeMelo has registered eight points (one goal, seven assists), 17 SOG, 23 blocks, and 27 hits. DeMelo's absence will likely allow Haydn Fleury to re-enter the lineup. Fleury lacks fantasy appeal due to his offensive shortcomings, though he has recorded assists in each of his last two outings.
Source: Ken Wiebe
Source: Ken Wiebe
Lian Bichsel to Miss Upcoming Back-to-Back
Dallas Stars defenseman Lian Bichsel (lower body) is expected to miss at least two games, Robert Tiffin of NHL.com reports. The Swiss blue-liner suffered a lower-body injury in Thursday's defeat to Winnipeg, and we likely won't see him on the ice over the weekend when Dallas faces Buffalo and Florida in a back-to-back set. Bichsel leads Dallas in hits with 39. He is also among the team leaders with 24 blocks. Offensively, Bichsel has posted one assist in 17 appearances, making him a non-factor in fantasy. Still, Bichsel's absence is significant since the Stars' blue line has already been without Miro Heiskanen (upper body) and Kyle Capobianco (leg).
Source: Robert Tiffin
Source: Robert Tiffin
Sean Monahan Suffers Upper-Body Injury Against Lightning
Columbus Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan (upper body) was limited to 9:58 of action in Thursday's 3-1 loss to Tampa Bay. He registered a power-play assist before leaving the game with an upper-body injury. Only recently, Monahan dealt with a lower-body ailment but managed to avoid missing any time. He must recover from his most recent injury by Saturday to remain in the lineup. The veteran forward has dished out four assists in the last seven games, but Monahan's overall performance has been disappointing in 2026-27. He has just seven points (one goal, six assists) in 18 games. Cole Sillinger and Charlie Coyle are the likeliest options to fill in for Monahan in the top six if needed.
Source: Columbus Blue Jackets PR
Source: Columbus Blue Jackets PR
Joel Eriksson Ek Exits Early Thursday
Minnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek (upper body) left Thursday's 5-2 win over Toronto midway through the second period. He couldn't carry on after receiving a high hit from Maple Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe. Eriksson Ek is part of a hugely successful first line in Minnesota, which hasn't yet allowed a goal during five-on-five action this season. The Swedish forward is known for his strong defense and has upped his offensive game, posting 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) in 20 games. Danila Yurov and Ryan Hartman are candidates for larger roles if Eriksson Ek has to miss some action. Marco Sturm would likely fill the void in the lineup.
Source: Sportsnet
Source: Sportsnet
Chris Kreider Sustains Apparent Leg Injury Thursday
Montreal Canadiens left wing Chris Kreider (leg) was injured in unfortunate circumstances against Boston on Thursday. In the third period, he was involved in a collision with Bruins forward Michael Eyssimont. Kreider couldn't put any weight on his left leg as he exited the ice. The veteran forward has notched three goals and nine points in 18 games this season. He's averaging just 13:35 of ice time, making it difficult for Kreider to contribute regularly on offense. If Kreider can't play in Saturday's matchup with Colorado, the Canadiens must change things up on the third line and the second power-play unit.
Source: Sportsnet
Source: Sportsnet
Cale Makar Hurt Versus Senators
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (lower body) didn't finish Thursday's contest against the Ottawa Senators, leaving the action in the second period. Colorado suffered two massive injury blows in this game, as Nathan MacKinnon (lower body) was also ruled out for the rest of the game at the start of the third period. Makar has recently racked up points for fun but couldn't add to his tally against Ottawa. He has 23 points (five goals, 18 assists) in 19 games. If Makar isn't available on Saturday against Montreal, Devon Toews and Sam Malinski are likely to see more usage, including power-play time.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Nathan MacKinnon Exits With Injury Thursday
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (lower body) exited Thursday's 4-3 overtime loss to Ottawa in the second period. Cale Makar (lower body) was also hurt in the second period, leaving the Avalanche without two of their top stars. MacKinnon is typically very durable and has rarely missed time in recent campaigns. He's on track for a second consecutive 120-point season, tallying 10 goals and 20 assists in 20 outings. While Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar didn't have an update on MacKinnon or Makar after Thursday's game, we should get more info ahead of Saturday's clash with Montreal. Brock Nelson is poised to rejoin the top six if MacKinnon misses time.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Matias Maccelli Cleared to Return Thursday
New York Islanders winger Matias Maccelli (lower body) will return from a nine-game absence on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings. Jean-Gabriel Pageau (lower body) will be unavailable, but the Islanders have a good replacement in Maccelli, who has recorded six points (two goals, four assists) in eight games. Maccelli will be part of the third line and the first power-play unit. This is a good matchup for the Islanders' forward group, facing a team that allows 3.44 goals per game.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Anthony Cirelli, Yanni Gourde Out Thursday
Tampa Bay Lightning forwards Anthony Cirelli (undisclosed) and Yanni Gourde (undisclosed) won't play in Thursday's contest against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Cirelli was banged up in Wednesday's blowout win over Buffalo and will miss at least one game. Gourde's absence may be related to the fact that he only recently made his season debut, and the team doesn't want to overwork him in a back-to-back situation. With two centers out of the lineup, the Lightning will use Jake Guentzel in the middle on the first line. There's also a chance for Zemgus Girgensons and Conor Geekie to see extra ice time.
Source: Eduardo A. Encina
Source: Eduardo A. Encina
Linus Ullmark Returns to Action Thursday
Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark (lower body) will return to the crease on Thursday night against the Colorado Avalanche. The Senators get their No. 1 netminder back for a very difficult matchup after losing Ullmark to a lower-body injury on Oct. 21. Ullmark kicked off the season in phenomenal form, posting a 7-1-0 record, 1.33 goals-against average, and a .945 save percentage. He has allowed two or fewer goals in all of his eight starts. The Avalanche are tied with Carolina for the highest goals-for average, so Ullmark can't show any signs of rust Thursday night.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
