NHL News
Bo Horvat Strikes Twice In Victory
New York Islanders center Bo Horvat found the back of the net twice and powered the Islanders to their overtime victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday evening. Horvat would score his first goal of the evening in the third period. Then in overtime, Horvat would find the back of the net for the second time to seal the victory. During this contest, Horvat logged an impressive five shots on goal and added three hits with a plus-two rating. Since the start of March (10 games), Horvat has scored four goals and added two helpers. During this stretch, Horvat has averaged 3.5 shots on goal per game with 14 hits and four blocked shots. Through 67 games this season, the 29-year-old has scored 23 goals and added 24 helpers. He will look to stay productive on Saturday afternoon when the Islanders host the Calgary Flames.
5 hours ago
John Tavares Tallies Three Points In Victory
Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares tallied three points during their 4-3 victory over the New York Rangers on Thursday evening. Tavares would open the scoring as he found the back of the net for the 28th time this season on a snapshot. Later in the frame, Tavares would add the secondary assist on Bobby McMann's 19th goal of the campaign. In the second, Tavares would score his second goal of the evening, this time on a slap shot. This performance earned him his 1,100 career point. He is the eighth active player to achieve this feat. Over his previous 10 contests, the 34-year-old has found the back of the net seven times and added four helpers. Through 62 games, Tavares has scored 29 goals and added 31 helpers with a +5 rating. He will look to stay hot on Saturday evening against the Nashville Predators.
5 hours ago
Colton Dach Sustains Injury On Thursday
Chicago Blackhawks rookie center Colton Dach (arm) exited Thursday's contest early with an apparent arm injury and is set to undergo further evaluation. He logged just over 11 minutes of ice time against the Los Angeles Kings before exiting. During this time, Dach held a -1 rating and added two hits and two blocked shots. Fantasy managers should monitor his status leading up to their next contest against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday afternoon. If Dach were to miss this game, Philipp Kurashev and Patrick Maroon could re-enter the starting lineup. Over his last 10 games entering Thursday, Dach tallied three points (two helpers) with 39 hits and 13 penalty minutes. Through his first 21 NHL contests, Dach has tallied an impressive 89 hits and is a viable source for this category in deeper formats.
5 hours ago
Ryan McDonagh Exits Early On Thursday
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh (head) exited Thursday's contest early after being struck in the head by a puck. He logged 21 minutes of ice time before exiting the contest. He tallied one blocked shot and held a +2 rating. Fantasy managers should monitor his status as he could be in danger of missing Saturday's contest against the Utah Hockey Club and potentially Sunday's game against the Vegas Golden Knights. Over his previous six games entering Thursday, McDonagh tallied three points (all helpers) with eight shots on goal and 13 blocked shots. Through 68 games this season, McDonagh has found the back of the net twice and added 20 helpers with an impressive 133 blocked shots. If McDonagh were to miss time, the Lightning would likely promote a defenseman from the AHL roster.
5 hours ago
Stuart Skinner Exits Early On Thursday
Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner (concussion) was removed from Thursday's contest by a concussion spotter. The 26-year-old only missed the final five minutes of the contest. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to his status leading up to their next game on Saturday against the Seattle Kraken. Before exiting, Skinner stopped 13 of the 16 shots he saw. He was replaced by Calvin Pickard. If Skinner were to miss any significant period of time, Pickard would operate as the clear top goaltender in the Edmonton crease. Over his past eight games before Thursday, Skinner carried a 3.01 GAA with an .889 save percentage. During this stretch, he held a 3-4 record. Pickard has held a modest .900 save percentage with a 3.13 GAA over his last six appearances.
5 hours ago
Connor McDavid Departs With Lower-Body Injury
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (lower body) exited Thursday's contest with a lower-body injury. McDavid departed during the second period in clear pain. Before exiting, he tallied one helper and held a +1 rating. Fantasy managers should closely monitor his status heading into their next contest on Saturday against the Seattle Kraken. No. 2 center Leon Draisaitl (undisclosed) was also unable to play on Thursday, which could leave Edmonton quite undermanned for Saturday's game. Entering Thursday, McDavid was riding a 12-game point streak and was able to extend it to 13 before exiting. During these 12 games, McDavid found the back of the net four times and added 14 helpers. Through 63 games, McDavid has tallied 90 points. If he were to miss Saturday's game, Draisaitl will take his spot on the top line or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will shift to the center position.
6 hours ago
Marc-Edouard Vlasic Unavailable Against Hurricanes
San Jose Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic (upper body) will sit out Thursday's matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes. After making 10 consecutive appearances, Vlasic will drop out of the lineup due to an upper-body injury. Due to health issues, Vlasic has made only 17 appearances for the Sharks this season, recording two assists and 29 blocks. Vlasic's exit from the lineup will give Luca Cagnoni a chance to make his NHL debut. The 20-year-old gets an opportunity to impress after flashing some good upside in the minors. Cagnoni has recorded 47 points (13 goals, 34 assists) in 56 AHL appearances with the San Jose Barracuda.
18 hours ago
Zach Benson Unlikely To Play Thursday
Buffalo Sabres left wing Zach Benson (illness) will likely exit the lineup on Thursday against the Utah Hockey Club. He is not feeling well and is set to sit out his seventh game of the season. The 19-year-old has notched 10 goals and 23 points in 60 appearances this term. In his absence, Jack Quinn may skate in a top-six role against Utah. Quinn broke out of a slump with two assists in Monday's victory over the Boston Bruins. He will now aim to log points in back-to-back games for only the fifth time this season. Quinn boasts similar numbers to Benson, sitting on 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists) through 59 outings.
18 hours ago
JJ Peterka Cleared To Return Thursday
Buffalo Sabres winger JJ Peterka (lower body) is expected to return to the lineup on Thursday against the Utah Hockey Club. He has missed the past three games due to a lower-body injury. The 23-year-old will head back to the first line, teaming up with Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch. These three have been Buffalo's most prolific forwards all season. Peterka has contributed 19 goals and 32 assists across 61 games. Before exiting the lineup, Peterka went scoreless in back-to-back games. However, he has improved his scoring rate recently and was riding a season-best seven-game point streak only a couple of weeks ago.
18 hours ago
William Karlsson Good To Go Thursday
Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson (lower body) is poised to return to the lineup on Thursday against the Boston Bruins after the team activated him from long-term Injured Reserve. He last played on Jan. 20, missing 20 games. Vegas is set to pair Karlsson with Nicolas Roy and Reilly Smith on the second line. The Swedish veteran, who has posted 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) in 38 games this season, is also expected to join the second power-play unit. Victor Olofsson will exit the lineup after finishing all seven March appearances scoreless. Although Karlsson may be rusty on Thursday, he will make his comeback in a favorable matchup, as the Golden Knights are expected to dominate against a Boston team that has won only 11 road games all season.
18 hours ago
Thatcher Demko Dresses As Backup Thursday
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko (lower body) will return to the lineup on Thursday against the St. Louis Blues, dressing as the backup to Kevin Lankinen. Demko has been out of action since Feb. 8 due to a lower-body injury. Now that he is once again considered game-ready, Demko could return to the net on Saturday when the Canucks take on the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Demko owns a 6-6-3 record for the season with 2.87 goals allowed. At the start of February, he posted his first shutout of the season, and Demko's save percentage stands at .891. Demko's return has a negative impact on Lankinen's fantasy stock, but he has been solid during his absence and will likely continue to see significant playing time.
18 hours ago
Andrei Svechnikov Doubtful For Thursday
Carolina Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov (upper body) will likely remain sidelined for Thursday's matchup against the San Jose Sharks. Svechnikov returned to practice on Monday, raising hopes that he would be ready to rejoin the action against the Sharks; however, the Russian forward is considered doubtful for Thursday's game. Tyson Jost is set to keep his spot in the lineup, while Jackson Blake is expected to continue skating in a first-line role. The rookie winger broke a five-game dry spell with an assist last time out against the Philadelphia Flyers. Overall, Blake has recorded 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) in 67 games during his rookie season, but he has only added to his tally three times since the start of February.
19 hours ago
Leon Draisaitl Likely Out On Thursday
Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (undisclosed) is expected to miss Thursday's matchup against the Winnipeg Jets. He is dealing with a minor injury, and the team considers him day-to-day. So far this season, Draisaitl hasn't missed any action, totaling 49 goals and 101 points in 68 games. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will likely move up in the lineup and grab Draisaitl's spot as the second-line center. This will boost Ryan Nugent-Hopkins' fantasy value, although he has already put together back-to-back big performances, posting one goal and five assists over the past two games. For the season, Nugent-Hopkins has notched 45 points (17 goals, 28 assists) in 67 contests.
19 hours ago
Casey DeSmith Starting On Thursday
Dallas Stars goaltender Casey DeSmith will get the starting nod on Thursday evening against the Tampa Bay Lightning. DeSmith has been deployed as the clear No. 2 netminder in Dallas, as Jake Oettinger has seen the majority of starts. Since the start of February, DeSmith has appeared in just five contests. During this stretch, he has held a perfect 5-0 record with a .915 save percentage and 2.41 GAA. Through 20 total appearances this season, the 33-year-old has posted a 12-6 record with a solid .914 save percentage with a 2.42 GAA. DeSmith has posted two shutouts and has allowed two goals or less in 11 of his contests. However, he will have a tough task this evening, facing a potent Tampa Bay offense. He should be viewed as a high-risk option in DFS and only started in deeper redraft formats.
23 hours ago
Sergei Bobrovsky Facing Columbus On Thursday
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky will get the starting nod on Thursday evening against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Bobrovsky allowed three goals on 15 shots during his last start and will look to bounce back this evening. Before that poor outing, Bobrovsky held a strong 4-1 record with a .949 save percentage and a 1.21 GAA. During this stretch, he posted two shutouts and only allowed two or more goals twice. Through 45 total contests this season, the 36-year-old has held a 28-15-2 record with a 2.51 GAA and a .906 save percentage. He has posted four shutouts and has allowed two or fewer goals in 23 contests. He should be viewed as a solid play in DFS formats, as he should see a high volume of shots facing a Columbus offense that has scored the ninth-most goals per game this season.
23 hours ago
Jeff Petry Traveling With The Team
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jeff Petry (undisclosed) will travel with the team on their upcoming road trip. However, Petry is not expected to return to the lineup on Saturday against the Golden Knights but could return on Monday against the Utah Hockey Club. The 37-year-old has been sidelined since the first week of January. Through 34 games this season, Petry has found the back of the net just once and added five helpers. During this stretch, Petry has held a -7 rating with 39 hits and 56 blocked shots. When Petry does return, fantasy managers should expect him to return to the bottom defensive pairing alongside Justin Holl. He will only carry value in deeper formats that reward hits and blocked shots.
23 hours ago
Nick Jensen Not Playing On Thursday
Ottawa Senators defenseman Nick Jensen (lower body) will remain sidelined on Thursday evening against the Colorado Avalanche. Jensen has missed the previous two contests due to this injury. Jensen will look to return to action on Saturday when the Senators travel to New Jersey to face the Devils. While Jensen remains out this evening, fantasy managers should expect Nikolas Matinpalo to remain in the starting lineup. Before his injury, Jensen tallied one point (one helper) over his last seven contests. During this stretch, Jensen added four hits with 12 blocked shots. Through 60 total games this season, the 34-year-old has found the back of the net three times and added 16 helpers with 47 hits and 74 blocked shots. When he does return, he will only carry value in deeper formats that reward blocked shots.
Yesterday
Erik Gustafsson Does Not Practice On Thursday
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Erik Gustafsson (undisclosed) was not able to practice on Thursday. Gustafsson suffered this injury during their contest on Tuesday evening and could be in danger of missing their next game on Saturday against the Vegas Golden Knights. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he may need to miss time. Over his previous six contests, Gustafsson has tallied just one point (a helper) with four hits and four blocked shots. Through 60 games this season, Gustafsson has found the back of the net twice and added 16 helpers. Gustafsson has been effective on the power play, tallying eight of his helpers on the man advantage. In addition, Gustafsson added 28 hits with 44 blocked shots. If he were to miss Saturday's game, William Lagesson could enter the starting lineup.
Yesterday
Alexander Romanov Not Expected To Play On Thursday
New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov (illness) is still not feeling "100 percent" and will likely remain sidelined on Thursday evening when the Islanders face the Montreal Canadiens. Romanov was unable to play in their last contest and is trending toward missing his second-straight contest. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status leading up to warm-ups but should expect Adam Pelech to remain in the starting lineup. Before his injury, Romanov tallied three points (two goals) over his last 10 contests. During this stretch, Romanov logged an impressive 23 hits and 29 blocked shots. Through 52 contests this season, Romanov has found the back of the net four times and added 14 helpers. The 25-year-old has averaged 2.3 hits per game and 2.7 blocked shots per game.
Yesterday
Matt Boldy Strikes Twice In Victory
Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Boldy found the back of the net twice during their victory over the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday evening. Boldy would score his first goal in the opening frame during 5-on-5 play. Later in the contest, Boldy would score the empty-netter to put the game out of reach. This outing snapped an 11-game goal drought for the 23-year-old. During this 11-game stretch, Boldy tallied six helpers with a -9 rating. Through 69 total games this season, the former 12th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft has found the back of the net 23 times and added 35 helpers. Boldy has tallied 18 of his points on the power play and added 39 hits and 49 blocked shots. Boldy will look to stay hot on the scoresheet on Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres.
Yesterday
