3 weeks agoLos Angeles Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke sent out three assists in Wednesday's 6-3 victory over Vegas. He registered two even-strength and one power-play assist. Drew Doughty's (ankle) injury left the Kings' blue line in trouble, but his absence has allowed Clarke to play a more prominent role, and he's been very impressive with his work thus far. The 21-year-old averages a point per game through 11 outings, having notched one goal and 10 assists. Only three blue-liners in the league have been more productive offensively. Clarke isn't afraid to put his body on the line either, boasting 19 blocks for the year. He'll aim to extend his point streak to five games in Saturday's favorable matchup against the Blackhawks, who are allowing 3.30 goals per game.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 weeks agoNew Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom kicked away 20 shots to register his first shutout of the season in Wednesday's 6-0 victory against Vancouver. Markstrom, a former Canuck, neutralized a team that had scored at least three goals in five straight games. The Swedish netminder improved to 5-3-1 for the season, and he now boasts a 2.68 goals-against average with a .903 save percentage. It's safe to say Markstrom has enjoyed a good start with his new club. He's also been getting plenty of help from his teammates, as New Jersey has limited the opposition to 21.7 shots per game across the last three matchups.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 weeks agoColorado Avalanche winger Artturi Lehkonen (shoulder) is penciled in to return to the lineup on Tuesday versus Seattle. The Finnish forward has been sidelined for the start of the season because of shoulder surgery. He will sit out one more game as Colorado visits Nashville on Saturday. Lehkonen's return will be a big boost for a team that has lost a number of forwards to injuries, with Valeri Nichushkin also sitting because of a suspension. The Avalanche will use Lehkonen in a top-six role, and he should also get plenty of usage on the power play.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Evan Rawal
3 weeks agoTampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak suffered an upper-body injury in Wednesday's contest against Colorado. He was forced to exit the game after taking a high hit by Avalanche forward Matt Stienburg. Lightning head coach Jon Cooper did not have an update on Cernak after the game. Cernak is a physical force at the back for Tampa Bay, who also occasionally provides offense. He has recorded three assists in 10 games this season while blocking 15 shots and delivering 16 hits. Nick Perbix will likely rejoin the lineup if Cernak can't play on Friday versus Minnesota. He's also sitting on three assists through seven appearances.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Gabby Shirley
3 weeks agoThe San Jose Sharks have acquired defenseman Timothy Liljegren in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Defenseman Matt Benning went the other way, along with a 2025 third-round and a 2026 sixth-round draft pick. Liljegren skated in just one game with the Maple Leafs this season, sitting as a healthy scratch. He made 55 appearances last season and performed well. Liljegren finished the 2023-24 campaign with 23 points (three goals, 20 assists), 62 shots, 116 blocks, and 92 hits. He should be a good addition to the Sharks blue line and will definitely have a chance to play regularly. Benning, on the other hand, will have to get used to sitting in the press box. He has zero points in seven games this season with seven shots, 10 blocks, and nine hits.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 weeks agoCalgary Flames left wing Samuel Honzek (upper body) was activated from Injured Reserve on Wednesday. It looks like the young winger is ready to rejoin the lineup versus Utah. He has been out for five games with an upper-body injury. Honzek saw usage on the first line at the start of the campaign, but he has yet to score any points in four appearances. The 21-year-old is projected to rejoin the lineup as a member of the third line. It's a lesser role for Honzek, but his new linemates, Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman, have also proven to be productive. The two have combined for nine points this season.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Calgary Flames
3 weeks agoUtah Hockey Club defenseman Michael Kesselring (illness) will play against Calgary on Wednesday. He was a question mark for the clash after missing Tuesday's practice due to an illness. Kesselring has been a two-way force for Utah on the blue line, averaging 20:27 of ice time. His role has grown in recent games due to Sean Durzi's (shoulder) absence. Newly acquired Olli Maatta will make his debut in defense for Utah on Wednesday, meaning Robert Bortuzzo will have to settle for a seat in the press box.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Cole Bagley
3 weeks agoDetroit Red Wings Vladimir Tarasenko (illness) is considered a game-time decision for Wednesday's tilt against Winnipeg. Tarasenko is battling a flu bug and didn't skate on Wednesday morning. Nine games into the season, Tarasenko has yet to hit top gear, picking up one goal and two assists. Michael Rasmussen is expected to step into a third-line role if Tarasenko can't play on Wednesday. The team has recalled Austin Watson from the AHL on an emergency basis, although Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde has also suggested that he might use seven defensemen against the Jets.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Ansar Khan
3 weeks agoColorado Avalanche goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen will make his team debut on Wednesday versus Tampa Bay. Kahkonen was picked up off waivers a few weeks back. He's worked himself into game shape on a conditioning stint in the AHL, going 0-2-0 with the Colorado Eagles while posting a 2.57 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage. Alexandar Georgiev, who is off to a horrible 1-4-0 start to the campaign, will dress as Kahkonen's backup on Wednesday. Justus Annunen will sit as a healthy scratch despite riding a four-game winning streak. It's a challenging matchup for Kahkonen against a team that averages 3.78 goals, but a good performance could lead to more playing opportunities for him going forward.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Corey Masisak
3 weeks agoColorado Avalanche left wing Miles Wood will miss the next 7-10 days with an upper-body injury. Wood joins a number of other attacking players on the shelf, meaning defenseman Oliver Kylington will be used as a forward on Wednesday versus Tampa Bay. Nikolai Kovalenko will move to the first line, while Ivan Ivan gets to roll with the second line. The latter is also expected to be part of the top power-play unit. Despite missing some of its best players, Colorado has the third-best power play in the league with a 33.3 percent efficiency. The team faces a struggling 71.9 percent penalty kill on Wednesday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Corey Masisak
3 weeks agoColorado Avalanche forward Ross Colton (foot) will be out for 6-8 weeks. He broke his foot while blocking a shot in Monday's 5-2 loss to Chicago. In Colton, the Avalanche will lose their top goal-scorer. Colton has lit the lamp eight times in 10 games this season, adding one assist. Nikolai Kovalenko will replace Colton on the top line in Wednesday's matchup against Tampa Bay. The Russian winger has been limited to four points (one goal, three assists) in 10 appearances. But his productivity has improved in recent outings -- Kovalenko has tallied one goal and two assists in the past three games -- and the move to the first line will be a big boost to his fantasy value.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 weeks agoEdmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (ankle) is expected to miss 2-3 weeks of action. The three-time MVP was hurt on Monday versus Columbus. As a result of McDavid's injury, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is set to return to a center role, having practiced with Jeff Skinner and Zach Hyman on Wednesday. Leon Draisaitl will skate as the first-line center. He was riding with Viktor Arvidsson and Vasily Podkolzin on Wednesday. The Oilers offense has badly struggled, with the team ranked last in the league with a 2.20 goals-for average. It will be interesting to see if the new-look lines improve the situation.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 weeks agoOttawa Senators forward Tim Stutzle tallied two goals and two assists as the team cruised to an easy 8-1 victory over St. Louis on Tuesday. Stutzle scored both of his goals during even-strength play and had his assists on the power play. With his seventh career four-point effort, Stutzle passed Marian Hossa for the most by a Senators player age 24 or younger. The young German star is off to an impressive start to the season, going scoreless in only one game and totaling 14 points (five goals, nine assists) across nine outings. He will carry a five-game point streak into the next matchup against the Rangers.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 weeks agoSeattle Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour crushed it against Montreal on Tuesday night, finishing an 8-2 road win with his first career hat trick and four points. He set a new franchise record for most points scored by a defenseman in a single game. Three of his points, including two goals, came on the power play for Montour, who's only the eighth blue-liner in the past 40 years to score a natural hat trick. Montour hasn't quite found his stride with his new team, but the big performance has provided a nice boost for his stat line. The 30-year-old has scored nine points (four goals, five assists) in 10 games with 33 shots, 11 blocks, and 19 hits.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 weeks agoSeattle Kraken center Chandler Stephenson came to life with four assists in Tuesday's 8-2 demolition job against Montreal. Stephenson sat on only four points for the year and had gone three games without any points before putting on a playmaking clinic. Three of his helpers came on the power play. The 30-year-old now has one goal and seven assists for the season with 10 games played. Stephenson needs to find consistency on the second line. He has bolstered his points tally in only four games this season while struggling during even-strength play, which has resulted in a minus-five rating for him.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
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