NHL Player News

Englund scored a goal on one shot with five hits and two PIM in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Canadiens.

Englund's wrister caught Sam Montembeault leaning the wrong way to give the Kings a 3-1 lead late in the third period. It was the first goal of the season for Englund, who entered 2024-25 with just one goal over six NHL seasons. He's filled in for Joel Edmundson (personal) over the last two games and has logged nine hits in his two starts.

Anderson scored a goal on one shot along with two blocks and one hit in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Canadiens.

Anderson tied the game at one apiece late in the first period with a rising slapshot that made it through the screen and past Sam Montembeault. It was a rare goal for the Kings' defenseman, who scored twice in 2023-24 and entered this season with 11 career markers in 272 regular-season appearances.

Moser scored a goal and added two assists in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Golden Knights.

The 24-year-old broke in past the Vegas defenders and tapped a bouncing puck five-hole past Adin Hill. It was Moser's first three-point game of his career. He's skating on the top pairing with Victor Hedman and is primed to put up a potential 40-point campaign.

Durzi (upper body) is expected to require surgery to address his injury, which will keep him out of action for 4-5 months, Cole Bagley of KSL Sports reports.

Durzi will likely be sidelined until after the 4 Nations Face-Off in mid-February. This is a massive blow to Utah's blue line, especially since John Marino (upper body) is also absent on a week-to-week basis. Michael Kesselring took over Durzi's top-pairing role Wednesday versus the Ducks, while Juuso Valimaki is poised for more power-play time.

Matheson (upper body) won't return to Thursday's game versus the Kings.

Matheson's potential absence looms large over an inexperienced Montreal blue line. The 30-year-old defenseman didn't play after the first period of Thursday's game. If he can't suit up Saturday on the road versus the Islanders, Lane Hutson and Kaiden Guhle figure to take on larger roles while Jayden Struble would be the leading candidate to enter the lineup.

Dahlin has yet to score a goal this season despite registering 10 shots through five games.

Dahlin put up five shots in Wednesday's 6-5 defeat to the Penguins, so it's possible a goal is right around the corner for the blueliner. The fact that he's managed just one assist as well during this five-game stretch is no doubt a concern for fantasy players. Unless he can turn things around quickly, he may not be able to repeat last season's 20-goal, 59-point performance.

Toews (lower body) will not be in action versus Anaheim on Friday, Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette reports.

Toews will be sidelined for a third consecutive game due to his lingering upper-body injury. Considering how long the blueliner has already been out, the Avalanche could designate him for injured reserve without impacting his ability to return to the lineup when healthy. Oliver Kylington looks poised to remain in a top-pairing role alongside Cale Makar while Toews is sidelined, though the team's defensive struggle could see a shake-up in defensive pairs sooner rather than later.

Phillips was called up by the Blackhawks on Thursday.

Phillips has no points and five PIM in one game with AHL Rockford in 2024-25. He split the 2023-24 regular season between Chicago and Rockford, recording six assists and 22 PIM in 33 outings with the Blackhawks as well as four goals, 14 points and 20 PIM in 29 appearances with Rockford. Alec Martinez (groin) was placed on injured reserve in a corresponding move. Phillips might draw into the lineup Thursday versus San Jose, but it wouldn't be surprising if he ends up being a healthy scratch.

Martinez was placed on injured reserve Thursday due to a right groin injury.

Martinez had already been ruled out for Thursday's home opener against the Sharks due to what was initially described as a lower-body injury, and he'll be sidelined for at least a week after being evaluated by the team's training staff. Nolan Allan will take Martinez's place in the third pairing alongside Connor Murphy on Thursday, while Isaak Phillips was recalled from AHL Rockford in a corresponding move.

McCabe recorded two assists, three hits, two PIM and a plus-3 rating in Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Kings.

McCabe had a hand in goals by Bobby McMann and Morgan Rielly in the blowout win. Through four contests, McCabe has three assists, a plus-7 rating, 10 hits and 10 blocked shots. The 31-year-old defenseman provides a lot of physicality, and his offense should be at a passable level since he's playing on the second pairing at even strength. McCabe is unlikely to unseat Oliver Ekman-Larsson or Morgan Rielly for power-play time.