NHL Player News

Chabot (undisclosed) will not be in the lineup Thursday versus Chicago, according to Ian Mendes of The Athletic.

Chabot has been dealing with a nagging issue for a couple of weeks, according to coach Jacques Martin. Chabot had an assist Wednesday in a 6-2 win over Buffalo, giving the defenseman 28 points in 44 games. He will be replaced on the blue line by Tyler Kleven, while Ridly Greig could see some power-play time on the second unit in place of Chabot.

Rielly (upper body) will not be available against Washington on Thursday, David Alter of The Hockey News reports.

Rielly will be shelved for a second consecutive contest due to his upper-body injury, though he continues to be classified as day-to-day. Conor Timmins should continue to see opportunities with the No. 2 power-play unit while Rielly and Joel Edmundson (undisclosed) are sidelined.

Ekblad (lower body) will be back in the lineup versus the Islanders on Thursday, according to George Richards of Florida Hockey Now.

Ekblad sat out seven games with the injury. Ekblad missed the first 16 games of the season, recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, and has struggled offensively. The 28-year-old blueliner has only four goals and 17 points in 47 games. If he is unable to pick up the pace, he will miss hitting double digits in goals for only the second time in 10 years. Ekblad will line up alongside Gustav Forsling on the blue line and should see some second-unit power-play time.

Chychrun grabbed a goal and an assist in Wednesday's 6-2 win over Buffalo.

Chychrun extended Ottawa's lead to 4-0 at the 8:49 mark of the opening period, firing a slapshot past Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen before adding an assist on Shane Pinto's empty-netter in the third. The 25-year-old Chychrun now has three goals and four points in his last two games after logging just two assists in his previous 18 contests. He's up to 12 goals and 36 points through 71 games in his first full season with the Senators.

Bryson recorded a pair of assists in Wednesday's 6-2 loss to the Senators.

Bryson was involved in both of Buffalo's second-period goals, setting up John-Jason Peterka's tally early in the frame before adding a second assist on a Connor Clifton marker. It's just the second multi-point game this season for Bryson, who had one point (an assist) in seven games prior to Wednesday. Overall, the 26-year-old blueliner has eight points (one goal, seven assists) through 27 games in a bottom-pairing role.

Kleven was elevated from AHL Belleville on Thursday.

Kleven's promotion doesn't bode well for the availability of Thomas Chabot (lower body) against the Blackhawks on Thursday. Even with Kleven joining the team, he is far from a lock for a spot in the lineup, as Travis Hamonic figures to have the inside track if someone needs to be called upon. Still, Kleven does offer some offensive upside with 17 points in 45 minor-league contests this season.

Lilleberg notched an assist and five hits in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Bruins.

The helper snapped an 11-game point drought for Lilleberg. The 23-year-old defenseman has played most frequently in a bottom-four role this season, though he's rotated regularly with Calvin de Haan in recent weeks. Lilleberg is at four assists, 20 shots on net, 78 hits, 29 blocked shots and a minus-14 rating through 27 appearances.

Perbix notched an assist, two shots on goal and two hits in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Bruins.

Perbix has a helper in three of his last five contests. He assisted on a Brayden Point tally in the second period, which stood as the game-winner. Perbix is up to 23 points, 50 shots on net, 66 hits, 100 blocked shots and a plus-8 rating through 69 appearances, filling a bottom-four role with no power-play usage.

Hedman picked up an assist, fired five shots on goal and went plus-2 in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Bruins.

Hedman missed Sunday's game versus the Ducks due to a lower-body injury, but he was back to his usual self Wednesday. He led the Lightning with 25:49 of ice time and earned his 10th point in nine March appearances with a helper on Nikita Kucherov's empty-net goal. Hedman is up to 70 points (12 goals, 58 assists), 147 shots on net, 93 blocked shots, 62 PIM and a plus-17 rating through 69 contests overall.

Chabot (undisclosed) will be evaluated for an injury Thursday, Murray Pam of Full Press Hockey reports.

Chabot had an assist in Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Sabres, but he saw just 14:54 of ice time in the contest. The defenseman should probably be considered a game-time decision for Thursday's game versus the Blackhawks. If he can't play, Travis Hamonic might enter the lineup.