NHL News
Jakob Chychrun Out On Thursday
Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun (upper body) will sit out Thursday's game against Montreal. After getting injured on Tuesday versus the Rangers, Chychrun was on the ice Thursday morning but wore a non-contact jersey and isn't ready to play. The 28-year-old exits the lineup with four points (two goals, two assists) in eight games to his name. Alex Alexeyev will enter the lineup for his season debut on Thursday, with Martin Fehervary moving up to the first defensive pairing. Fehervary is an offensively limited player and likely won't make as big of an impact in the offensive zone as Chychrun does.
Oct 31
Justin Barron, Kaiden Guhle Back For Canadiens Thursday
Montreal Canadiens defensemen Justin Barron (upper body) and Kaiden Guhle (upper body) will rejoin the lineup on Thursday versus Washington. Barron returns from a three-game absence, while Guhle has been absent for five games. The two will provide a good boost for the Canadiens backline. Guhle, who boasts four points (one goal, three assists) in five games this season, is the more attractive fantasy option of the pair. He will skate with Mike Matheson on the first defensive pairing. Barron, who has been limited to one assist in seven outings, joins Jayden Struble on the third pairing.
Oct 31
Blake Lizotte Activated From Injured Reserve
Pittsburgh Penguins center Blake Lizotte (concussion) has been activated from Injured Reserve ahead of Thursday's meeting with Anaheim. He's available to make his season debut after recovering from a concussion. Lizotte was hurt in a preseason game after linking up with the Penguins on a two-year, $3.7 million deal in the summer. The 26-year-old will fill a bottom-six role on the team. Last season, Lizotte produced 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in 62 appearances. He has averaged around 0.33 points per game for his career, meaning Lizotte can make an impact offensively at times, but he definitely isn't somebody who gets on the score sheet regularly.
Oct 31
Brandon Montour Will Miss Thursday's Game
Seattle Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour (personal) will not be in the lineup against Toronto on Thursday. Montour returned to Seattle due to the birth of his second child. The talented blue-liner is fresh off his first career hat trick and a four-point game. Ryker Evans is set to play a larger role at the back on Thursday and should replace Montour on the first power-play unit. The 22-year-old has been effective offensively for the team, recording six points (three goals, three assists) in 10 games.
Oct 31
Frederik Andersen Out Week-To-Week
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (lower body) will be out week-to-week, head coach Rod Brind'Amour announced Thursday. Andersen will miss a second consecutive game on Thursday versus Boston. The Danish veteran has gone 3-1-0 in four starts this season, allowing 1.49 goals with a .941 save percentage. Pyotr Kochetkov will carry most of the workload until Andersen is ready to return. He also owns a 3-1-0 record for the year but has weaker numbers in other areas. The 25-year-old has given up 2.77 goals with a .894 save percentage.
Oct 31
Jake Guentzel Nets Two Goals Wednesday
Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Jake Guentzel provided two goals as the team beat Colorado 5-2 on away ice Wednesday night. Guentzel potted a pair of even-strength goals in the first and second periods, putting Tampa Bay 4-1 ahead. He's now on four goals and 11 points in 10 appearances with his new team. Brought in as essentially Steven Stamkos' replacement, Guentzel has quickly adapted to his new surroundings and already has four multi-point efforts for the campaign. He has a chance to record a third consecutive multi-point game in the next matchup against Minnesota.
Oct 31
Elvis Merzlikins Celebrates First Shutout Of The Season Wednesday
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins stopped the Islanders from scoring on Wednesday, picking up his first shutout of the season with 26 saves in a 2-0 win. The Latvian netminder has now saved 57 of 58 shots across his last two starts since returning to the lineup from a lower-body injury. Merzlikins improved to 2-2-0 on Wednesday and has a 2.05 goals-against average for the season with a .925 save percentage. The next time he heads out, Merzlikins will be battling for his first three-game winning streak in three seasons.
Oct 31
Brandt Clarke Has Three Assists In Wednesday's Win
Los 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.
Oct 31
Jacob Markstrom Shuts Out Canucks
New 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.
Oct 31
Artturi Lehkonen Expected Back Next Week
Colorado 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.
Oct 31
Erik Cernak Injured Versus Colorado
Tampa 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.
Oct 31
Timothy Liljegren Traded To Sharks
The 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.
Oct 31
Samuel Honzek Available On Wednesday
Calgary 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.
Oct 30
Michael Kesselring Good To Go Wednesday
Utah 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.
Oct 30
Vladimir Tarasenko A Game-Time Call On Wednesday
Detroit 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.
Oct 30
Miles Wood To Miss 7-10 Days
Colorado 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.
Oct 30
Ross Colton Out For 6-8 Weeks With A Broken Foot
Colorado 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.
Oct 30
Connor McDavid Ruled Out For 2-3 Weeks
Edmonton 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.
Oct 30
Tim Stutzle Amasses Four Points In Big Win
Ottawa 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.
Oct 30
Brandon Montour Scores First Career Hat Trick
Seattle 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.
Oct 30
Jakob Chychrun
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Capitals
