NHL Player News

Sturm scored a goal and added four hits in Thursday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Canadiens.

Sturm earned his first point in three games since he returned from a lower-body injury. He's added four shots on net, 10 hits and five blocked shots in that span. The 29-year-old center has 12 points, 34 shots on net, 63 hits, 22 blocked shots and a minus-5 rating over 44 appearances in a bottom-six role this season, putting him on track to fall short of the 20-point mark for the second year in a row.

Beck logged an assist, two shots on goal and two hits in Thursday's 4-3 overtime win over the Sharks.

The helper was Beck's first career point, which came in his ninth NHL appearance. Eight of those games have been this season, in which he's added nine shots on net and 17 hits. The 21-year-old centered the second line but saw just 11:34 of ice time Thursday, last among all Montreal forwards. Beck has plenty of potential, but the forward lines are fairly interchangeable aside from the top line for the Canadiens, so he may struggle to make an impact during this stint in the NHL. He could also head back to AHL Laval once Kirby Dach (lower body) is healthy.

Newhook scored a goal on two shots in Thursday's 4-3 overtime win over the Sharks.

The Canadiens never led until Cole Caufield's overtime winner, which was made possible by Newhook's equalizer early in the third period. February was a good month for Newhook, who put up two goals and five assists over eight contests for his most productive month of the campaign so far. He's now at 11 goals, 20 points, 79 shots on net, 63 hits and a minus-14 rating over 59 appearances. It's well behind his level from 2023-24, when he had a career-best 34 points in just 55 games.

Athanasiou was recalled from AHL Rockford on Friday, Charlie Roumeliotis of WGN Radio reports.

Athanasiou appeared in five games for Chicago earlier this year, and he was held without a point while recording five hits, four blocked shots and a minus-1 rating. He missed time with a wrist injury earlier in the year but has made 16 appearances in the AHL, recording eight goals, eight assists and 18 PIM. The 30-year-old will likely serve in a depth role but could compete for time in the lineup, especially as the trade deadline approaches.

Interim head coach Joe Sacco said Friday that Poitras (lower body) made it through practice well and could be an option for Saturday's game in Pittsburgh, Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald reports.

Poitras sustained a lower-body injury during Thursday's game against the Islanders, but it doesn't appear as though he's dealing with a significant ailment. The Bruins will likely wait to see how he fares during Saturday's morning skate before determining his status, but he seems to be trending in the right direction.

Lundell produced a goal and two assists in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Oilers.

He found his way onto the scoresheet in each period to produce his first multi-point performance since Dec. 16. Lundell has a solid three goals and 10 points over the last 12 games, and he's closing in on a career-best campaign -- he needs four more goals to tie his career high of 18, and four more points to reach his career-best mark of 44, with both marks getting set over 65 games as a rookie in 2021-22.

Miller (illness) is considered a game-time decision for Friday's game against the Maple Leafs, Peter Baugh of The Athletic reports.

Miller didn't practice Thursday due to an illness and is apparently still dealing with the issue Friday, as the Rangers want to see how he feels leading up to puck drop before determining his status. The 31-year-old has been productive over three appearances since the 4 Nations Face-Off break, totaling three goals, two assists, 13 hits and a blocked shot while averaging 16:49 of ice time. He was on the ice for the Rangers' optional morning skate Friday, which is an encouraging sign, but Brennan Othmann and Arthur Kaliyev are candidates to enter the lineup if Miller is held out against the Maple Leafs.

Suzuki scored two goals and added an assist in Thursday's 4-3 overtime win over the Sharks.

The 25-year-old center struck twice in the first period before setting up Cole Caufield for the OT winner. Suzuki has produced multiple points in all three games since play resumed following the 4 Nations Face-Off, piling up three goals and eight points, and the surge has carried him up to 60 points for the fourth straight season.

Wennberg pocketed two assists in Thursday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Canadiens.

The veteran center recorded his first points in three games since play resumed after the 4 Nations Face-Off. Wennberg hadn't produced a multi-point performance since Nov. 21, and on the season he's managed eight goals and 25 points in 55 appearances. If 19-year-old linemate Will Smith keeps heating up though, Wennberg could be positioned to take advantage.

Smith scored a goal and added an assist in Thursday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Canadiens.

The fourth overall pick in the 2023 Draft produced his first multi-point performance since Jan. 20, helping to set up Fabian Zetterlund early in the first period before snapping home a tally of his own late in the second. Smith is coming into his own, racking up three goals and 11 points over the last 12 games with an impressive plus-8 rating for a Sharks team that has only one win during that span.