NHL Player News

Howe (knee) was reassigned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Sunday.

Howe underwent ACL reconstruction surgery last April and started the 2025-26 campaign on non-roster injured reserve. However, his demotion to the AHL indicates he is ready to resume playing. Howe had 18 goals and 46 points in 47 games between Regina and Calgary during the 2024-25 WHL regular season.

Rakell scored a power-play goal and added an even-strength assist in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Rangers.

After helping to set up Anthony Mantha's second tally of the game in the second period, Rakell gave the Pens a 4-1 lead just 80 seconds into the third as he flipped a rebound past Jonathan Quick. Rakell got onto the scoresheet in six of the final eight games in January, collecting four goals and seven points over that stretch, but Saturday's power-play goal was his first since Dec. 21.

Mantha scored two goals in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Rangers.

The veteran winger continued a scoring surge that has seen him find the back of the net five times in the last four games. Mantha has been streaky throughout his career, part of the reason why he's played for four different teams over the last three seasons, but he remains on track for career-best numbers in his first campaign with Pittsburgh, producing 19 goals and 40 points in 53 contests.

Kolosov was assigned to AHL Lehigh Valley on Sunday.

Due to the absence of Samuel Ersson (lower body), Kolosov was Dan Vladar's backup in Saturday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Kings. If Ersson remains unavailable for Tuesday's home matchup against Washington, Kolosov could be an option to return to the NHL level.

Acciari scored two goals in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Rangers.

The fourth-line grinder has only two multi-point performances on the season, but they have come in the last two games. Acciari is having a disappointing season for the most part -- after reaching triple digits in both hits and blocked shots in 2024-25, he has only 44 hits and 31 blocks in 40 games so far this season, but he has chipped in six goals, 15 points and a plus-9 rating.

Skinner made 15 saves in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Rangers.

The Penguins seemed to have the game well in hand, holding a 3-0 lead late in the second period and going ahead 5-1 before two minutes had elapsed in the third, but a wild finish saw the Rangers come storming back. Skinner gave up two goals in the final 67 seconds but still came away with his fifth straight win. Over eight outings in January, he went 7-1-0 with a sharp 2.13 GAA and .910 save percentage.

Gavrikov produced an even-strength goal and a shorthanded assist in Saturday's 6-5 loss to the Penguins.

Both points came in the third period as the Rangers tried to rally from a 5-1 deficit. Gavrikov is taking advantage of the latest absence for Adam Fox (lower body), and over the last seven games, the 30-year-old Russian has delivered two goals and six points, including one goal and two assists on the power play.

Trocheck scored a shorthanded goal and added two assists in Saturday's 6-5 loss to the Penguins.

All three points came in the third period as the Rangers tried to rally from a 5-1 deficit. New York's second line did most of the heavy lifting on offense, as Trocheck, Alexis Lafreniere and Will Cuylle combined for four goals and seven points. Trocheck's shortie was surprisingly his first of 2025-26 after he had a career-high six last season. Through 32 games on the current campaign, he has produced 12 goals and 36 points.

Lafreniere scored two goals, one on the power play, and added an assist in Saturday's 6-5 loss to the Penguins.

The 24-year-old winger got an attempted comeback from a 3-0 deficit started late in the second period when he ripped a shot past Stuart Skinner on the short side. The Rangers' second line did most of the heavy lifting on offense, as Lafreniere, Vincent Trocheck and Will Cuylle combined for four goals and seven points. Lafreniere delivered four multi-point performances through 14 games in January, producing four goals and 12 points on the month.

Quick turned aside 28 of 33 shots in Saturday's 6-5 loss to Pittsburgh, with the Penguins' final goal getting scored into an empty net.

Seven of the 11 goals on the afternoon were scored during a wild third period, but Quick wasn't to blame for the final result, as the Rangers got out-played in all three frames. The 40-year-old netminder managed only one win in January despite holding down the No. 1 job between the pipes, going 1-7-1 in nine outings with a brutal 4.63 GAA and .827 save percentage, but he should be able to return to a more sheltered role once Igor Shesterkin (lower body) is back.