NHL Player News

Pionk missed Wednesday's practice due to an illness, per Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press. The defenseman is questionable for Thursday's game versus New Jersey.

Pionk has five goals, 25 points, 53 PIM and 187 hits in 68 outings in 2023-24. If he can't play Thursday, then Colin Miller, who has spent the past three games as a healthy scratch, might serve on the second pairing alongside Brenden Dillon.

Nurse logged a power-play assist, two blocked shots and two PIM in Tuesday's 3-2 overtime win over the Canadiens.

Nurse has picked up four points over his last six outings. His helper Tuesday came at a good time, as he had the secondary assist on Leon Draisaitl's goal in overtime. Nurse is up to 24 points, 143 shots on net, 135 hits, 150 blocked shots, 46 PIM and a plus-3 rating over 66 appearances. Just five of his points have come on the power play, though he remains in the mix for time on the second unit.

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

Bouchard had the secondary helper on an Adam Henrique tally in the second period. The assist, which was Bouchard's fifth over the last four games, got him to 50 helpers on the year. The 24-year-old defenseman has added 15 goals, 177 shots on net, 90 blocked shots and a plus-25 rating in a breakout campaign. While his defensive lapses occasionally get him into trouble, Bouchard's got a high floor with a role on the top power-play unit.

Ekholm logged two assists, three blocked shots, two shots on goal and a plus-2 rating in Tuesday's 3-2 overtime win over the Canadiens.

Ekholm set up both of the Oilers' goals in regulation. The defenseman has remained a steady two-way presence over the last month with 11 points across his last 15 games. He's up to 30 points, 132 shots on net, 113 hits, 79 blocked shots and a plus-32 rating across 64 outings overall. Ekholm should continue to see significant minutes in a top-four role.

Hakanpaa (lower body) won't play Wednesday versus Arizona, Brian Rea of Bally Sports Southwest reports.

Hakanpaa has two goals, 12 points, 33 PIM, 196 hits and 123 blocks in 64 outings in 2023-24. Due to Hakanpaa being unavailable, Nils Lundkvist is projected to draw into the lineup against the Coyotes.

Brodin (lower body) will have an MRI on Wednesday but reportedly hasn't damaged his ACL, per Michael Russo of The Athletic.

Brodin will face a tight timeline to recover with just a month remaining in the regular season. While the 30-year-old blueliner hasn't been officially ruled out for any contests yet, fantasy players probably shouldn't expect him to play versus the Kings on Wednesday. With Brodin out of the lineup, both Dakota Mermis and Alex Goligoski should be in contention for regular minutes.

Hughes notched two assists, one on the power play, in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Penguins.

The 20-year-old blueliner had a hand in a Timo Meier tally in the second period and Alexander Holtz's game-winner in the third. Hughes' goal drought stands at 27 games, a stretch in which he's managed 11 assists with a minus-14 rating as he's shown signs of fatigue toward the end of his first full NHL season.

Pettersson scored his fourth goal of the season in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Devils.

The 27-year-old blueliner got the Penguins on the board midway through the second period, snapping a 14-game goal drought in the process. Pettersson is up to 26 points on the season, a new career high, and he's rounded out his line with 89 hits, 94 shots on net, 129 blocked shots and a plus-18 rating through 68 contests.

Seider produced a goal and an assist in Tuesday's 4-3 overtime win over the Blue Jackets.

The 22-year-old blueliner also added five shots on net, three blocked shots, a hit and a plus-2 rating to his ledger. Seider's second-period tally was his eighth of the season, a new career high, and over the last 16 games he's collected 10 points (two goals, eight assists) with 12 PIM, 24 shots on net, 43 blocked shots and 44 hits.

Werenski scored a goal and added two assists, one on the power play, in Tuesday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Red Wings.

The 26-year-old blueliner opened the scoring early in the first period before helping set up tallies by Alexandre Texier and Kirill Marchenko. Werenski has a goal and 10 points over the last 11 games, and on the season he's up to 43 points (five goals, 38 assists) in 57 contests. If he stays locked in down the stretch, Werenski has a shot at recording his first career 50-point campaign.