2 weeks agoMontreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson was forced to an early exit on Thursday versus Los Angeles due to an upper-body injury. He left the game after the first period, finishing with 7:35 of ice time. Matheson registered one shot and one block in the contest. The severity of the injury is currently unknown. It's a huge loss for the Canadiens if Matheson has to spend some time on the sidelines, as the 30-year-old logs heavy minutes as a member of the first defensive pairing and the top power-play unit. Matheson boasts three assists for the season and sits second on the team with 12 blocks through five games. With him out, Lane Hutson logged over 30 minutes of ice time on Thursday, while Kaiden Guhle also saw extra action.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Sportsnet
2 weeks agoLos Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper (lower body) will not suit up against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday. He continues to nurse a lower-body injury, sitting out a second consecutive game. David Rittich will log another start despite having a nightmare in his season debut on Wednesday versus Toronto. The Czech netminder lasted only 32:22, allowing four goals on 14 shots. Pheonix Copley, who gave up two goals on 12 shots against the Maple Leafs, will continue as the backup versus Montreal. Rittich owns a 1-3-1 career record against the Canadiens and takes on a team that has averaged 3.00 goals per game this season.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Zach Dooley
2 weeks agoBuffalo Sabres right wing Jack Quinn won't feature against the Blue Jackets on Thursday, exiting the lineup as a healthy scratch. The young winger gets some time off to reset after logging one assist and a minus-four rating in five games to start the season. Jiri Kulich takes over from Quinn on the second line and should also see time on the second power-play unit. He's been quiet early in the season as well, going scoreless in three appearances with four shots and a minus-one rating. However, Kulich and the Sabres have a chance to kickstart their campaign on Thursday against a struggling defense that has allowed 3.67 goals per game.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Buffalo Sabres
2 weeks agoCalgary Flames left wing Samuel Honzek will be out week-to-week with an upper-body injury. He got hurt on Tuesday versus Chicago, and unfortunately, it looks like the rookie winger will have to sit out multiple games. Despite skating on the first line and seeing power-play time, Honzek has gone scoreless in his first four NHL appearances, producing six shots on goal. He earned himself a top-six job by scoring seven points (one goal, six assists) in four preseason games. The Flames return to action on Saturday versus Seattle, with Matt Coronato expected to replace Honzek on the first line.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Sportsnet
2 weeks agoChicago Blackhawks defenseman Alec Martinez (groin) will miss Thursday's game against San Jose and has been placed on Injured Reserve. The veteran rearguard faces a spell on the sidelines due to a groin strain. Martinez, who joined the Blackhawks on a one-year deal in free agency in the summer, has recorded one assist with four shots and 15 blocks through the first four games of the season. He's been a core member of the backline, averaging over 21 minutes a night. Chicago has called up Isaak Phillips from the minors to add defensive depth, while Nolan Allan is expected to replace Martinez in the lineup on Thursday. This will be his second NHL appearance. Allen went scoreless in 10:26 of ice time in his debut against Seattle on Oct. 8.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBC Chicago
2 weeks agoSt. Louis Blues defenseman Nick Leddy (lower body) has been ruled out for Thursday's contest against the Islanders. He played through a lower-body injury on Tuesday versus Minnesota and couldn't practice on Wednesday. Ryan Suter is expected to step into a first-pairing role, while Pierre-Olivier Joseph will re-enter the lineup on the third pairing. Leddy is considered day-to-day and will have his first opportunity to return to action on Saturday versus Carolina.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: David Solomon
2 weeks agoOttawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark (muscle strain) will remain on the shelf for Thursday's clash with the Devils. The Senators hoped to have their No. 1 back on Thursday after he sat out Monday's matchup against Los Angeles, but Anton Forsberg will get another start, with Mads Sogaard working as his backup. Ullmark's next chance to return comes on Saturday versus Tampa Bay. Forsberg gave up three goals on nine shots on Monday and was pulled in the second period in favor of Sogaard, who didn't look sharp either, but the team somehow squeezed out an 8-7 victory in overtime. It could be another bad day at the office for Forsberg on Thursday, as he faces a very talented offense. The Devils have averaged 3.17 goals per game while going 4-2-0.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Bruce Garrioch
2 weeks agoColumbus Blue Jackets right wing Justin Danforth (wrist) is poised to make his season debut in Thursday's matchup against Buffalo. He missed the first three contests of the season following offseason wrist surgery. Danforth will skate with Mikael Pyyhtia and Cole Sillinger on the third line, with Kent Johnson jumping to the second line. Kevin Labanc will make way in the lineup, sitting out the game as a healthy scratch. Danforth has 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists) in 71 games with the Blue Jackets, including four points in the final two games. He certainly has some offensive ability and could do damage against a defensively fragile and tired team that played last night in Pittsburgh.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Brian Hedger
2 weeks agoVancouver Canucks defenseman Derek Forbort has left the team for personal reasons and will not play against Florida on Thursday. It's possible Forbort will miss the rest of the team's current road trip, which includes two more stops after Thursday night. The veteran blue-liner has registered one assist with three shots and five blocks in the first three games of the season, averaging 16:53 of ice time on the third defensive pairing. Vincent Desharnais and Erik Brannstrom are the candidates to replace him in the lineup on Thursday. Neither player holds any fantasy value.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
2 weeks agoVegas Golden Knights left wing Victor Olofsson (lower body) will not play against Tampa Bay on Thursday. He was injured on Tuesday versus Washington and could miss an extended period after he was seen on crutches. It's an unfortunate blow for Olofsson, who did well in the first few games of the season, scoring three goals in four games. Tanner Pearson will replace the Swedish winger on the second line. The veteran boasts one assist through four appearances this season with two shots on goal. However, Pearson has so far been limited to only fourth-line minutes and could have a greater impact in a larger role in Thursday's matchup.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
2 weeks agoDallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin (lower body) will be absent for a second consecutive game on Thursday versus Washington. He's battling a lower-body injury and will get his next opportunity to return on Saturday against Edmonton. Seguin landed on the shelf after enjoying an excellent start to the season. He posted two goals and one assist across the first three games of the campaign. Seguin's absence has boosted Evgenii Dadonov's fantasy value, as the Russian winger joined the second power-play unit on Tuesday versus San Jose while skating on the second line. However, the veteran forward has struggled offensively so far, going scoreless in four games with 11 shots.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
2 weeks agoDetroit Red Wings right wing Christian Fischer (upper body) will rejoin the lineup for Thursday's battle against the Rangers. He was injured against Nashville last weekend and missed Monday's tilt versus the Rangers. Fischer is still looking for his first points of the season. He tallied five goals and 14 assists across 79 outings last term. The 27-year-old is expected to join Andrew Copp and Michael Rasmussen on the third line for Thursday's action. Austin Watson comes out of the lineup and has been reassigned to the minors.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Ted Kulfan
2 weeks agoDetroit Red Wings winger Vladimir Tarasenko (illness) will play against the Rangers on Thursday. He was forced to sit out Wednesday's practice because of an illness but won't miss any game time. Tarasenko should join his usual partners, J.T. Compher and Lucas Raymond, on the second line. The campaign has not gone too well for Tarasenko so far, as he boasts only one point through three games, having found the back of the net in last week's season opener against Pittsburgh. However, he should be eager to perform well in a matchup against his former team. Tarasenko has tallied two goals and one assist in four games against the Rangers since leaving New York.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Ted Kulfan
2 weeks agoNew York Rangers left wing Chris Kreider (illness) appears ready to play on Thursday against the Red Wings. He missed Wednesday's practice because of an illness but participated in Thursday's morning skate, working on his usual spot on the first line. The Rangers' top trio hasn't quite hit top gear yet, but Kreider has been prolific on special teams and can't complain after scoring three times in the first three games of the season. He has tallied 11 goals and 12 assists in 30 career appearances against Detroit.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Mollie Walker
2 weeks agoDallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger has signed an eight-year extension with the team. The deal is worth $66 million, giving Oettinger a cap hit of $8.25 million starting next season. The 25-year-old has developed into an elite netminder in recent years, putting together a 116-48-23 career record. He boasts a 2.49 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage with 11 shutouts. Oettinger is a perfect 3-0-0 for the 2024-25 campaign ahead of his fourth start of the year on Thursday versus Washington. He has allowed only five goals so far with a .946 save percentage.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
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