3 weeks agoLos Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar produced a game-winning performance in Thursday's season opener against Buffalo, scoring all three goals in a 3-1 win. The Kings pulled off a third-period comeback, with Kopitar scoring his seventh career hat trick. He tied the game with an even-strength marker right at the start of the period, hit a power-play goal with 1:38 remaining in regulation, and capped things off with an empty-netter. Kopitar became the seventh player in NHL history to open a campaign with a natural hat trick. The Kings captain has been close to reaching the 30-goal plateau a couple of times in recent seasons and might finally do it in 2024-25, judging by his goal-scoring form in the first game. He should be good for 40-plus assists as well.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 weeks agoSan Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini enjoyed a prolific NHL debut on Thursday, picking up two points in a 5-4 overtime loss to St. Louis. He opened the scoring with seven minutes played and tallied an assist on a Tyler Toffoli goal near the end of the first period. At 18 years and 119 days old, Celebrini became the third-youngest player in NHL history with a multi-point outing in his debut. Celebrini logged 17:35 of ice time, with 1:44 of it coming on the power play, and finished with an even rating while firing off two shots on goal. It was the perfect start to Celebrini's NHL career, but tougher challenges are definitely up ahead for him.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 weeks agoSt. Louis Blues left wing Alexandre Texier missed Thursday's clash with the Sharks because of an upper-body injury. Texier logged 13:03 of ice time in St. Louis' season-opening 3-2 win against Seattle on Tuesday, logging an assist on Jordan Kyrou's game-winner, but he also appears to have gotten injured in the contest, as the French forward had a maintenance day on Wednesday. He took part in the warm-ups ahead of Thursday's game before being ruled out. Blues head coach Drew Bannister has labeled Texier as day-to-day. Zack Bolduc replaced him on the second line. The 21-year-old could keep his spot as the Blues return to action on Friday night against Vegas, increasing his fantasy value.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: St. Louis Blues
3 weeks agoDetroit Red Wings defenseman Jeff Petry was forced to exit Thursday's season opener against Pittsburgh early due to an upper-body injury. He was ruled out for the rest of the game early in the third period. Petry finished scoreless and had one shot with one hit and a minus-one rating across 9:34 of action. The veteran skated on the second defensive pairing. Albert Johansson looks set to hop into the lineup to replace him on Saturday versus Nashville if Petry is sidelined. The 23-year-old has yet to make his NHL debut but has shown good ability in the minors, collecting 21 points (six goals, 15 assists) in 66 appearances last season.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Detroit Red Wings
3 weeks agoFlorida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (lower body) is under evaluation after getting hurt near the end of the game against Ottawa on Thursday. Barkov crashed into the boards when he tried to prevent an empty-net goal. He couldn't put weight on his right leg. The team returns to action on Saturday in a road contest against Buffalo. With two games played, Barkov boasts one assist and two shots for the season. If the Panthers captain is forced to miss time, Sam Bennett should take over as the first-line center, with Anton Lundell moving up to the second and Eetu Luostarinen potentially shifting from the wing to the center on the third line.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 weeks agoPittsburgh Penguins right wing Bryan Rust (lower body) will remain out on Thursday versus Detroit. Rust missed Wednesday's season opener against the Rangers due to a lower-body injury and isn't quite ready to play on Thursday either, despite skating in the morning. With Rust unavailable, Anthony Beauvillier, Drew O'Connor, and Rickard Rakell all got decent looks on the top line next to Sidney Crosby Wednesday night. The team struggled badly and was shut out in a 6-0 defeat, so head coach Mike Sullivan could shake things up for Thursday's matchup.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Michelle Crechiolo
3 weeks agoBuffalo Sabres winger Zach Benson (lower body) will play against Los Angeles on Thursday. After sustaining a lower-body injury versus New Jersey at the weekend, Benson was initially considered a game-time call for the team's home opener. The 19-year-old will skate with Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch on the first line and should see time on the second power-play unit. Jiri Kulich also remains in the top six, with JJ Peterka (concussion) sidelined.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Heather Engel
3 weeks agoBoston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman will make his first start of the season in Thursday's matchup versus Montreal. Swayman sat out Tuesday's season opener against Florida after missing training camp due to a contract dispute. Joonas Korpisalo got the nod and was lit up in a 6-4 loss. Swayman should do better on Thursday, as it's a much easier matchup. Boston also catches the Canadiens on the second night of a back-to-back following their curtain-raiser against Toronto on Wednesday. Swayman has a fantastic 7-0-1 career record against Montreal.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Fluto Shinzawa
3 weeks agoMinnesota Wild defenseman Declan Chisholm (illness) will miss Thursday's season opener against Columbus. He's caught an illness bug right before the start of the season and is forced to sit out at least one game. The 24-year-old registered eight points (three goals, five assists) and 36 blocks in 29 games with the Wild last season. Jon Merrill will fill in for Chisholm on the third defensive pairing against the Blue Jackets. Merrill is very limited offensively and doesn't offer enough defensively either to be considered a fantasy target.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Michael Russo
3 weeks agoNashville Predators goaltender Scott Wedgewood is expected to get the start against the Dallas Stars on Thursday. Wedgewood gets a chance to take on his former team on opening night due to Juuse Saros' (lower body) injury. The 32-year-old played well in Texas last season, going 16-7-5 with a 2.85 goals-against average and a .899 save percentage. Wedgewood should know a thing or two about stopping the Dallas attack, but he has to outbattle Jake Oettinger to get the victory on Thursday. Four years into his NHL career, Oettinger has yet to lose his season debut.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Emma Lingan
3 weeks agoColumbus Blue Jackets forward Dmitri Voronkov (upper body) does not require surgery and is expected to be back by the end of November. Voronkov suffered an upper-body injury in a preseason game last week. The 24-year-old had 34 points (18 goals, 16 assists) in 75 games during his rookie campaign last season. Columbus kicks off the campaign on Thursday versus Minnesota, with Boone Jenner (shoulder) and Justin Danforth (wrist) also missing from the attack. This will give fresh signing Kevin Labanc a top-six role, while veteran James van Riemsdyk also has a chance to impress as a second-line piece.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Svoboda
3 weeks agoColumbus Blue Jackets center Boone Jenner (shoulder) underwent surgery on Wednesday and will be out for 5-6 months. He injured his shoulder in practice last week. The team is hopeful of getting Jenner back before the end of the season, with general manager Don Waddell mentioning Columbus' outdoor game against Detroit on March 1 as a potential target date for Jenner. With Jenner sidelined, Sean Monahan is expected to take on first-line center duties in Thursday's season opener against the Minnesota Wild.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: TSN
3 weeks agoFlorida Panthers defenseman Adam Boqvist (face) will not play against Ottawa on Thursday. The 24-year-old is forced to sit out the action after taking a puck to the face on Tuesday versus Boston. Boqvist's absence will give Nate Schmidt his Panthers debut. The 33-year-old veteran will roll on the third defensive pairing but could also see some power-play time. 46 of Schmidt's 220 career points (47 goals, 173 assists) have come with the man advantage. Aaron Ekblad will take over from Boqvist on the first power-play unit.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: George Richards
3 weeks agoOttawa Senators forward Tim Stutzle (upper body) is ready to return to the lineup for Thursday's regular-season opener against Florida. He missed Ottawa's preseason finale at the weekend due to an upper-body injury. Stutzle will join forces with Brady Tkachuk and Claude Giroux on the top line and skate on the first power-play unit. The German star can heat up in a hurry and appears poised for another productive campaign after totaling 160 points (57 goals, 103 assists) across the previous two seasons.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Bruce Garrioch
3 weeks agoOttawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk (upper body) will be in the lineup against Florida on Thursday. The Senators captain was kept out from the team's preseason finale due to an upper-body injury, but he's in game shape for a special matchup against his brother Matthew on Thursday. The two have previously met each other 22 times during the regular season. Matthew Tkachuk has outplayed his younger brother in the clashes, notching 25 points against his 11. Brady should have plenty to prove on Thursday after going completely scoreless in the matchup last season.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Bruce Garrioch
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