NHL Player News

Goligoski generated an assist against the Lightning on Thursday.

Goligoski has yet to score a goal this season while chipping in six helpers over 20 games. With the veteran blueliner averaging less than a shot per game (.85), he is unlikely to break out of his goal drought any time soon, especially considering he is averaging the lowest ice time of his career (15:13).

Sandin (illness) was not at practice Friday and won't play in the evening's contest versus Carolina, per Bailey Johnson of The Washington Post.

Sandin's spot at practice was taken by Ethan Bear, who also replaced him on the second power play. Sandin exploded offensively for the Capitals last season after his trade from Toronto, scoring three times and adding 12 assists in 19 games. He has not had the same offensive luck this season, picking up 11 assists in 36 games.

Reilly scored a goal on a team-high six shots in Thursday's 5-1 victory over Arizona.

Reilly extended the Islanders' lead to 2-0 midway through the first period, firing a wrist shot over the blocker of Connor Ingram. It's Reilly's third goal of the season and his first point in five games. Overall, the 30-year-old blueliner has eight points (three goals, five assists) through 18 games with the Islanders as he continues to see time on the third pairing and second power-play unit with both Ryan Pulock (lower body) and Adam Pelech (upper body) on long-term injured reserve.

Graves scored a goal on one shot in Thursday's 6-5 victory over the Bruins.

Graves' 19-game goal drought came to a close with his tally Thursday. It was just the second goal of the year for the defenseman, who is well off a 20-point pace after having reached that mark in each of the previous two campaigns. The Nova Scotia native has also underwhelmed defensively, which has led to him dropping to the third pairing.

Dahlin scored an empty-net goal and added a power-play assist in Thursday's 6-1 win over the Canadiens.

The 23-year-old blueliner didn't have a flawless performance however, as it was his giveaway in the second period that led to a Joel Armia short-handed tally and spoiled Devon Levi's chance at a shutout in front of his hometown Montreal crowd. Dahlin is having another strong offensive season with 11 goals and 31 points in 38 games, but his minus-14 rating is putting a damper on any Norris Trophy talk.

Dobson recorded a pair of assists in Thursday's 5-1 win over Arizona.

Dobson set up Bo Horvat's opening power-play goal in the first period before adding a second helper on Julien Gauthier's tally in the third. The 23-year-old blueliner has had a breakthrough year offensively -- Dobson is up to 38 points (six goals, 32 assists) through 38 games, fourth most among defensemen this season.

Dunn notched a goal and an assist in Thursday's 4-1 victory over the Senators.

Dunn set up Tomas Tatar's goal in the second period before burying a rink-long empty-netter in the third, sealing the Seattle win. The 27-year-old Dunn extended his point streak to five games -- he has three goals and five assists in that span. He's up to seven goals and 33 points through 39 games this season after tallying a career-best 64 points last year.

McAvoy notched two assists in Thursday's 6-5 loss to the Penguins.

The 26-year-old blueliner hasn't scored a goal since Nov. 18 against the Canadiens, a stretch of 17 games, but McAvoy's hardly been invisible during his goal drought. He's piled up 13 helpers during that time, including eight in the last six games, and he's on pace for a career-best campaign with 25 points (three goals, 22 assists) through 29 contests.

Karlsson notched two assists, one on the power play, in Thursday's 6-5 win over the Bruins.

It's his first multi-point effort since Dec. 13, but Karlsson's goal drought now stands at 17 games, a stretch in which he's collected eight helpers. The 33-year-old blueliner hasn't come close to last season's career-best 101-point pace in his first campaign with Pittsburgh, but he's still been reasonably productive with six goals and 26 points through 37 contests.

Lindgren posted one shot, two hits and two blocked shots over 22:19 of ice time in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Blackhawks.

Lindgren's more valuable on the ice than in fantasy, as his toughness sets the tone in the locker room and his defensively responsible play allows partner Adam Fox to freelance in the offensive zone. Case in point, Lindgren didn't miss a shift after getting high sticked in the third period, and he finished just three seconds behind Jacob Trouba's team lead in ice time. Four of Lindgren's six points this season came in a five-game burst late in December, but he has gone three games without a point since.