NHL Player News

Cernak (hand) was activated off long-term injured reserve and is expected to play Wednesday versus Anaheim, per Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times.

Cernak hasn't been in the lineup since Nov. 22 because of the injury. He has four assists, 21 PIM, 40 hits and 43 blocks in 19 outings in 2025-26. Max Crozier might be a healthy scratch Wednesday as a result of Cernak's return.

Lyubushkin (illness) will return to the lineup against Buffalo on Wednesday, Owen Newkirk of DLLS Sports reports.

Lyubushkin will return to the third pairing after missing Saturday's 4-3 shootout loss to Chicago. He has produced one goal, six assists, 17 shots on net, 52 blocked shots and 43 hits across 27 appearances this season. Lyubushkin will replace Kyle Capobianco in Wednesday's lineup.

Tanev (groin) is expected to miss a significant amount of time, according to Jonas Siegel of The Athletic on Wednesday.

Tanev sat out Tuesday's 4-0 win over New Jersey, and an exact timeline for his return is unclear. He has provided two assists, eight shots on goal, 15 blocked shots and two hits while being limited to only 11 appearances this season. With Tanev unavailable, Simon Benoit could play regularly again after being a healthy scratch for three straight games before his return to the lineup against the Devils on Tuesday.

Karlsson had two assists, including one on the power play, in Tuesday's 5-1 win over the Hurricanes.

Karlsson assisted Anthony Mantha's power-play goal in the first period and also set up Thomas Novak's strike in the second frame. The 35-year-old veteran is on pace to reach the 60-point plateau if he stays healthy, as he has 28 points (three goals, 25 assists) in 38 games this season.

Hutson picked up two assists, one on the power play, in Tuesday's 3-2 overtime win over the Panthers.

The star blueliner had the primary helper on Montreal's first and last goals of the night, setting up Nick Suzuki for an easy tap-in on the OT winner. Hutson heads into 2026 with plenty of momentum, having produced six multi-point performances in the last 10 games while piling up 16 assists and a plus-12 rating, but zero goals, over that stretch.

Dobson collected two assists, one on the power play, in Tuesday's 3-2 overtime win over the Panthers.

The 25-year-old blueliner helped set up Montreal's first goal of the game by Cole Caufield late in the third period, before having a hand in Nick Suzuki's OT winner. Dobson has delivered three straight multi-point performances to close out December, and through his first 39 games with the Habs he's produced seven goals, 27 points, 95 blocked shots, 75 shots on net, 20 PIM and a plus-4 rating.

Smith (lower leg) is expected to be out for a while, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports Wednesday.

Smith left Monday's 4-1 win over Ottawa because of the injury. He has two assists, 11 PIM, 12 hits and 11 blocks in 15 appearances in 2025-26. Dysin Mayo was summoned from AHL Cleveland on Tuesday and is expected to draw into the lineup against New Jersey on Wednesday.

Fox (upper body) was activated from long-term injured reserve Wednesday, Mollie Walker of the New York Post reports.

The Rangers returned Scott Morrow to AHL Hartford in a corresponding move. Following a 14-game absence, Fox will return to the top pairing and first power-play unit against Washington on Wednesday. He has accounted for three goals, 26 points, 51 shots on net, 41 blocked shots and 15 hits across 27 appearances this season.

Morrow was reassigned to AHL Hartford on Wednesday.

Morrow has three assists in 16 outings with Carolina this season. He also has a goal and three points in 12 appearances with Hartford.

Willander scored a goal on four shots in Tuesday's 6-3 loss to the Flyers.

Willander sandwiched his goal between the Flyers' two empty-netters late in the third period. He's earned five points over his last 11 outings as he starts to get more comfortable on the Canucks' third pairing. Willander is at two goals, nine assists, 25 shots on net, 26 blocked shots and a minus-1 rating through 29 appearances in his rookie year.