NHL Player News

Merzlikins made 29 saves in Monday's 5-4 overtime win over the Rangers.

The Blue Jackets seemed to have the game well in hand when they took a 4-0 lead into the second intermission, but Merzlikins not only lost his shutout just 30 seconds into the third frame, he nearly lost the game entirely as the Rangers fired 17 shots his way as part of a furious comeback effort. Kirill Marchenko was able to beat Igor Shesterkin in OT to salvage the win for the visitors, however. Merzlikins has won four of his last five as he maintains a timeshare with Jet Greaves, posting a 2.40 GAA and .906 save percentage over that stretch.

Saros turned aside 27 of 30 shots in Monday's 4-2 loss to the Red Wings, with Detroit's final goal getting scored into an empty net.

After a stellar showing for Finland at the Olympics en route to a bronze medal, Saros has returned to Nashville and been dragged back down by the team's defensive struggles. The veteran netminder has allowed at least three goals in 11 straight NHL outings dating back to Jan. 13, going 4-3-3 over that stretch with a rough 4.06 GAA and .877 save percentage.

Kasper pocketed two assists, one shorthanded, in Monday's 4-2 win over the Predators.

The 21-year-old center helped set up an Emmitt Finnie tally early in the first period, as well as Albert Johansson's game-winner late in the second. Kasper is longer skating in a top-six role, but he's still finding ways to be productive. Over the last 13 games, he's managed three goals and nine points.

Appleton collected two assists, one shorthanded, in Monday's 4-2 win over the Predators.

The veteran winger had a hand in an Emmitt Finnie tally early in the first period, and Albert Johansson's game-winner late in the second. Appleton snapped a 19-game point drought with the performance, and offensive opportunities have been tough to come by in a bottom-six role. On the season, Appleton has five goals and 13 points in 51 contests.

Raymond scored a goal and added an assist in Monday's 4-2 win over Nashville.

The star winger tied the game at 2-2 with his 20th goal of the season midway through the second period before setting up Alex DeBrincat for an empty-netter late in the third. Raymond continues to surge toward a career-best season, and over the last 13 games for Detroit, dating back to Jan. 16, he's racked up six goals and 15 points.

DeBrincat produced a goal and an assist in Monday's 4-2 win over the Predators.

The 28-year-old winger potted his first goal since Jan. 29 when he tucked home an empty-netter inside the final minute of the third period. DeBrincat reached 60 points with the performance, the fifth straight season he's achieved that feat, and he remains on track for one of the best campaigns of his career with 31 goals and 29 assists in only 61 games.

Talbot picked up the win in Monday's 4-2 victory over the Predators, stopping 18 of the 19 shots he faced after replacing John Gibson (upper body) to begin the second period.

Gibson left after taking a hard shot off the shoulder, but Red Wings coach Todd McLellan indicated after the game that the issue wasn't thought to be serious. It was Talbot's first win in 2026, with his last W coming back on Dec. 28, and he's fallen firmly behind Gibson on the depth chart since then. Over six outings since the beginning of January, Talbot's gone 1-2-2 with a 3.39 GAA and .899 save percentage.

Forsberg stopped 35 of 38 shots in Monday's 4-2 loss to the Avalanche. The fourth goal was an empty-netter with two seconds left in the game.

Forsberg has been struggling of late, and while Monday's game was a tough test, he was still beaten three times, though his .921 save percentage suggests his performance wasn't all that bad. The Swedish netminder has racked up three losses in his last five outings, and that includes the 8-1 loss to the Oilers in which he allowed four goals in relief. Forsberg owns a 3.45 GAA and .894 save percentage in four appearances since the league resumed following the Olympics.

Clarke scored a power-play goal in Monday's 4-2 loss to the Avalanche.

Clarke made it a 2-1 game at the 17:20 mark of the first period after burying a wrister past Mackenzie Blackwood, but the Avalanche would turn things around late in the game. It was Clarke's eighth goal of the campaign. The 23-year-old blueliner is on the verge of setting a new career-high mark in points. His previous best output was 33 points in 78 regular-season contests in 2024-25, but he's up to 30 points (eight goals, eight assists) in 60 appearances this term. As a member of the top defensive pairing in both even-strength and power-play situations, it seems it'll only be a matter of time before Clarke surpasses that 33-point threshold.

Blackwood stopped 19 of 21 shots in Monday's 4-2 win over the Kings.

Blackwood was beaten once in the first period, courtesy of a power-play goal from Brandt Clarke, and once more in the second when Angus Booth tipped the puck in from close range. Other than that, though, Blackwood was solid enough to secure his second consecutive win. He has a 2.03 GAA while stopping 64 of 70 shots faced in his three appearances since the league resumed following the Olympics break.