NHL Player News

Larsson recorded two assists, two hits, four blocked shots and a plus-3 rating in Thursday's 5-2 win over the Islanders.

Larsson had gone 21 contests without a point entering Thursday. He had 27 hits, 41 blocked shots, 35 shots on net and a plus-3 rating in that span, serving as an effective defensive presence despite the lack of offense. For the season, he's at five points, 43 shots, 59 blocks, 37 hits, 17 PIM and a plus-6 rating over 27 appearances in a top-pairing role.

Dunn scored a goal on two shots, added two assists and went plus-2 in Thursday's 5-2 win over the Islanders.

One of Dunn's helpers came on the power play. The 28-year-old defenseman now has four points over three contests since he returned from a long-term injury. The 28-year-old is up to two goals, five assists, 17 shots on net, 12 blocked shots, seven hits and a plus-4 rating through seven appearances this season. Dunn's presence in a top-four role should elevate the Kraken's offense as a whole.

Faulk (upper body) won't play Thursday versus the Flames, Matthew DeFranks of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Faulk will miss his second straight game. The 32-year-old defenseman's next chance to play is Saturday versus the Oilers. Faulk's absence has been covered by Scott Perunovich.

Evans (hand) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Islanders, per Sound of Hockey.

Evans also missed Tuesday's 4-2 win over Carolina. He has three goals, 16 points, 40 hits and 42 blocks over 25 outings in 2024-25. Josh Mahura is set to play in his second straight game due to Evans' injury.

Guhle was a late scratch for Thursday's game against Nashville due to an illness.

Guhle has two goals, six points, 10 PIM, 26 hits and 48 blocks in 20 outings this campaign. Justin Barron, who was a healthy scratch in Montreal's previous two games, is expected to draw back into the lineup due to Guhle's absence.

Lauzon (lower body) was put on injured reserve Thursday, per the NHL media site.

Lauzon hasn't played since Nov. 25, so he can be activated whenever he's healthy. He has an assist, 19 PIM, 103 hits and 31 blocks over 22 outings in 2024-25. Michael McCarron (upper body) was taken off injured reserve in a corresponding move.

Matinpalo isn't expected to play Thursday versus Detroit because of an illness.

Matinpalo, who was called up from AHL Belleville on Tuesday, hasn't made his NHL season debut. He has two goals and six points in 17 appearances with Belleville in 2024-25. If he's healthy in time for Saturday's tilt against Nashville, then he might get a shot on the third pairing.

Murphy notched two assists, two shots on goal, three blocked shots and two PIM in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Bruins.

Murphy snapped a four-game slump with his two-assist performance. Prior to that dry spell, he had been limited to two helpers over the first 10 games of November. Murphy's playing style relies on physicality more than offense, but he's having a pretty good year on both fronts. The 31-year-old blueliner has 10 helpers, 25 shots on net, 32 PIM, 42 hits and 60 blocked shots through 26 outings. Last season, he put up just eight points over 46 appearances.

Wotherspoon was scratched for the third straight game to begin December when he sat out Wednesday's 4-2 win over the Blackhawks.

Wotherspoon sat just once in November after playing only two games in October. He appears to have fallen out of favor again, with Jordan Oesterle picking up playing time to begin this month. Wotherspoon didn't do anything to help his cause -- he's stuck on zero points while adding eight shots on net, 19 hits, 17 blocked shots and four PIM across 15 appearances this season.

Oesterle notched two assists, two shots on goal, two blocked shots and a plus-2 rating in Wednesday's 4-2 win over the Blackhawks.

Oesterle was one of six Bruins to put up multi-point efforts, and this was his first such game of the year. He has three helpers over six appearances and has played in three straight contests, displacing Parker Wotherspoon from the lineup. Oesterle has added seven shots on net, eight blocked shots, five hits and a plus-1 rating, though he's unlikely to sustain enough offense to help in fantasy.