NHL Player News

Doughty (lower body) won't play Saturday versus the Flames, Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site reports.

Doughty was injured Thursday versus the Oilers, and it will cost him at least one full contest. Jacob Moverare is expected to enter the lineup Saturday, likely in a third-pairing capacity. It's unclear if Doughty will be ready to go for Monday's game versus the Avalanche.

Rinzel (illness) won't play against Colorado on Saturday, Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Rinzel has one goal and one assist in the past three games. He has provided two goals, 10 points, 51 shots on net, 37 blocked shots and 28 hits in 32 NHL outings this season. Kevin Korchinski will replace Rinzel in Saturday's lineup.

Kiviranta (undisclosed) isn't expected to play Saturday versus Chicago, per Colleen Flynn of Colorado Hockey Now.

Kiviranta is considered day-to-day after sustaining the injury during Thursday's game against Minnesota. He has two goals and seven points in 30 appearances in 2025-26. Zakhar Bardakov is expected to draw back into the lineup due to Kiviranta's absence.

Dach (undisclosed) will play against Colorado on Saturday, according to Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times.

After missing Thursday's 4-2 loss to Nashville, Dach will return to the lineup in a fourth-line role. He has contributed three goals, nine points, 51 shots on net, 27 blocked shots and 184 hits across 52 appearances this season.

Blackwood is expected to start at home against Chicago on Saturday, per Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Blackwood has a 16-6-1 record, 2.29 GAA and .916 save percentage in 23 outings with Colorado in 2025-26. He turned aside 31 of 34 shots en route to a 5-2 loss to Minnesota on Thursday. Chicago is 1-5-2 while averaging just 2.13 goals per game across its past eight outings.

Knight will defend the road net against the Avalanche on Saturday, Scott Powers of The Athletic reports.

Knight stopped 22 of 25 shots in Thursday's 4-2 loss to Nashville, with the fourth goal being an empty-netter. He has a 16-17-7 record this campaign with a 2.63 GAA and a .907 save percentage through 40 appearances. Colorado ranks first in the league with 3.81 goals per game during the 2025-26 season.

Sorokin is set to start on the road against Columbus on Saturday, per Andrew Gross of Newsday.

Sorokin has won his last three outings with the Islanders while turning aside 76 of 84 shots (.905 save percentage). He's 21-13-2 with a 2.45 GAA and a .915 save percentage in 36 appearances in 2025-26. Columbus went on an incredible 11-1-0 run across its final 12 games before the Olympic break, but the Blue Jackets suffered a 4-2 loss to Boston on Thursday.

Markstrom is expected to start on the road against St. Louis on Saturday, per Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site.

Markstrom has a 15-14-1 record, 3.20 GAA and .884 save percentage in 31 appearances in 2025-26. He stopped 33 of 36 shots en route to a 4-1 loss to Pittsburgh in his last start Thursday. St. Louis went 1-7-1 in its final nine games before the Olympic break, but it started off the post-Olympic schedule on a positive note with a 5-1 victory over Seattle on Thursday.

Wahlberg was loaned to AHL Rochester on Saturday, per Heather Engel of NHL.com.

Buffalo activated Zach Benson (upper body) from injured reserve in a corresponding move. Wahlberg was a healthy scratch for Buffalo's last two games. He has six goals and 25 points in 47 AHL appearances this season.

Benson (upper body) has been activated off injured reserve Saturday, per Heather Engel of NHL.com.

The Sabres returned Anton Wahlberg to AHL Rochester in a corresponding move. Benson has seven goals, 26 points, 20 PIM, 75 shots, 21 hits and 15 blocks in 42 appearances in 2025-26. He missed four straight games due to the injury, and an illness delayed his return to practice. However, he will return to the lineup against Tampa Bay on Saturday.