NHL Player News

Dvorak produced an assist, two shots on goal and two blocked shots in Tuesday's 3-2 overtime loss to Utah.

Dvorak snapped a four-game slump with the primary helper on Alex Newhook's third-period marker. The 28-year-old Dvorak is holding steady in a middle-six role, playing as a two-way center. He has two goals, six helpers, 25 shots on net, 23 blocked shots and a minus-6 rating over 21 appearances. His 2023-24 was interrupted by two long-term injuries, but he posted no fewer than 28 points in the four campaigns before that, and that seems to be a reasonable level of offense for him to aim for this season.

Newhook scored a goal on two shots and added two PIM in Tuesday's 3-2 overtime loss to Utah.

Newhook put the Canadiens ahead 2-1 early in the third period, but Jack McBain offered a quick response for Utah. The goal was Newhook's first point since his two-goal game versus the Devils on Nov. 7. The 23-year-old forward has seen steady middle-six minutes this season and was on the first line amid a lineup shuffle Tuesday, but it hasn't led to sustained success. He has five goals, no assists, 28 shots on net, 14 hits and a minus-10 rating across 21 appearances, so his fantasy value is likely to be limited to deeper formats.

Hayton posted an assist and three shots on goal in Tuesday's 3-2 overtime win over the Canadiens.

Some lineup shuffling in November has derailed what looked to be a breakout season for Hayton. His helper Tuesday snapped a seven-game slump, and he's managed just two assists over 11 contests this month. He's also out of the power-play mix, which won't help his numbers. The 24-year-old center has nine points, 40 shots on net, 14 blocked shots and a plus-2 rating over 22 appearances. He should easily surpass the 10-point effort he mustered in 33 games in 2023-24, but a return to the level of his 43-point 2022-23 campaign is going to require a few warm stretches to combat his recent cold spell.

Cooley logged an assist and a plus-2 rating in Tuesday's 3-2 overtime win over the Canadiens.

Cooley has picked up five points over his last three contests. He set up a Jack McBain tally at 4:17 of the third period as Utah tied the game at 2-2, forcing overtime. Cooley's recent surge has him up to 17 points with 45 shots on net, 17 hits and a plus-6 rating through 22 appearances. He's on a pace that would shake out around the 60-point mark if he can sustain it all season, a strong improvement on his decent 44-point rookie season from 2023-24.

Keller registered an assist in Tuesday's 3-2 overtime win over the Canadiens.

Keller still doesn't have a goal on 18 shots in November, but he has racked up nine helpers over 11 games this month. The 26-year-old winger set up Dylan Guenther's goal just after a power play expired in the second period. Keller has six goals, 14 assists, 50 shots on net and a minus-3 rating through 22 appearances in his usual top-line role this season.

Schmaltz recorded two assists and three shots on goal in Tuesday's 3-2 overtime win over the Canadiens.

Schmaltz is once again on a playmaking surge, racking up five assists over his last five contests. The 28-year-old remains snakebit for goals -- he's now come up empty on 44 shots this season, though he has 17 helpers through 22 appearances. He's also posted a minus-6 rating, and just four of his assists have come on the power play. It feels like Schmaltz just needs to get that first goal to fall for the dam to break.

McBain scored a goal on two shots in Tuesday's 3-2 overtime win over the Canadiens.

McBain has scored in three straight games and has a total of eight goals this season, matching his total from 2023-24. He's four off his career high from 2022-23. While the 24-year-old has finished at an elite rate, he's not providing many assists, adding just three of them over 22 appearances this season. The power forward rounds out his stat line with 18 shots on net, 39 PIM, 63 hits, 10 blocked shots and a plus-5 rating.

Ryan missed practice Tuesday while dealing with an illness, Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic reports.

Ryan will have plenty of time to get healthy ahead of Friday's matchup with Utah. The veteran forward is mired in a season-long 20-game goal drought during which he recorded just 13 shots and two helpers. Given his lack of offensive upside, Ryan's potential absence is unlikely to impact the majority of fantasy players.

Pageau posted an assist, two shots on goal and two hits in Monday's 4-2 loss to the Red Wings.

The helper was Pageau's first point in five games, though the Islanders have scored just nine times in that span. The 32-year-old remains in a top-line role as the team awaits the returns of Anthony Duclair (leg) and Mathew Barzal (upper body). Pageau has produced 10 points, 39 shots on net, 47 hits and a minus-2 rating across 22 appearances and offers some upside as a depth forward in fantasy.

Copp logged an assist in Monday's 4-2 win over the Islanders.

Copp set up a Moritz Seider tally in the first period. The helper snapped an eight-game point drought for Copp, who had 11 shots on net, seven blocked shots and one hit in that span. The 30-year-old has functioned as a third-line center this season, picking up eight points, 25 shots on net, 12 blocked shots and a plus-3 rating over 21 appearances. That's a level of production a bit too low for consideration in most fantasy formats.