NHL Player News

Blackwell notched a shorthanded assist and two blocked shots in Saturday's 5-3 loss to Utah.

Blackwell's playing time has remained a little sporadic over the last month -- he's been scratched five times in the Stars' last 15 games. Should the team opt to rest forwards ahead of the playoffs, that would help Blackwell play consistently in the short term, though he should still be in the mix for fourth-line duties during the postseason. The 32-year-old has 16 points, 61 shots on net, 83 hits, 23 blocked shots and a plus-3 rating over a career-high 62 appearances in 2024-25.

Steel logged a shorthanded assist in Saturday's 5-3 loss to Utah.

Steel snapped a five-game point drought when he helped out on a Brendan Smith tally in the second period. The 27-year-old Steel has held steady in a bottom-six role for the Stars for much of the season. He's now at 24 points in 77 contests, exactly matching his offensive output from 2023-24. Steel has earned two of his points while shorthanded this season, and he's added 88 shots on net, 59 hits, 25 blocked shots, 31 PIM and a minus-4 rating.

Johnston scored a power-play goal on two shots in Saturday's 5-3 loss to Utah.

Johnston ended a four-game stretch in which he was limited to one assist. The 21-year-old had posted a six-game goal streak prior to his recent downturn, which coincides with the Stars' five-game losing streak. Johnston is still having a fantastic year with 32 goals (matching his career high), 70 points, 25 power-play points, 197 shots on net and a plus-2 rating over 80 appearances.

McBain logged two power-play assists, two shots on goal and four hits in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Stars.

McBain helped out on goals by Sean Durzi and Josh Doan in the second period. With five points over his last five games, McBain has found some success on offense late in the season. His effort Saturday earned him a career year with 27 points (13 goals, 14 helpers), including three on the power play. He's added 89 shots on net, 287 hits, 50 blocked shots, 78 PIM and a plus-8 rating over 80 appearances in a middle-six role.

Nelson scored two goals Saturday in a 5-4 loss to the Kings.

He earned the 300th and 301st goals of his career. According to Dan Greenspan of NHL.com, Nelson is the 28th American-born NHLer to hit 300 and one of just six active forwards, joining Patrick Kane, Chris Kreider, Auston Matthews, Max Pacioretty and James van Riemsdyk. Nelson could be a difference-maker for the Avalanche in the postseason. He has compiled 27 goals and 50 points in 78 NHL playoff outings.  

Schmaltz scored a power-play goal on four shots in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Stars.

The goal gave Schmaltz 61 points this season, matching his career-high total from last year. The 29-year-old has been fine with four points over six outings in April, with much of that stretch seeing him in a second-line role as opposed to the first-line spot he occupied for most of the campaign. He's contributed 23 power-play points, 182 shots on net, 43 blocked shots and a minus-13 rating across 80 appearances in 2024-25.

Hayton scored a goal on two shots and added an assist in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Stars.

Both of Hayton's points came on the power play. The 24-year-old center has three goals and two assists over six outings in April while seeing time on the second line and first power-play unit. With the tally, he reached the 20-goal mark for the first time, and he's added 25 assists for a career-best 45 points in 80 appearances. Hayton has added 154 shots on net, 43 blocked shots, 29 hits and 29 PIM as a regular in Utah's top six this season.

Cooley scored a goal and added two power-play assists in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Stars.

Cooley has two goals and four helpers over his last three contests. He factored in on three straight goals during the second period. The 20-year-old center is up to 24 goals, 62 points (20 on the power play), 154 shots on net, 59 hits, 44 PIM and a plus-1 rating over 73 appearances. Cooley has played on the first line for a few weeks and may be making that his long-term home in Utah's lineup.

Horvat had a goal and an assist in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Flyers on Saturday.

His goal was clutch -- he knotted the game 3-3 with 1:01 remaining in the third period to force overtime. Horvat is a tenacious guy, but his offense has dropped this season after delivering 71 goals and 148 points over the last two years. He currently has 27 goals and 56 points this campaign, but he does have seven points (three goals, four assists) across his last seven appearances. Like every other Islander, Horvat has had a meh season, so this run is a nice way to turn the page. He'll put it behind him in the offseason and bring a fresh aggression to 2025-26.

Kampf (upper body) won't travel for Sunday's road game versus the Hurricanes, Mark Masters of TSN reports.

Kampf's absence will reach at least five games, and he'll be questionable at best to play Tuesday versus the Sabres. The 30-year-old will likely play in a fourth-line role once he's cleared to return, bumping either Nicholas Robertson or Pontus Holmberg from the lineup.