NHL Player News

Merzlikins made 33 saves in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Sharks.

Columbus took a 2-1 lead into the third period, but Merzlikins gave up a power-play tally to Macklin Celebrini less than a minute into the final frame before Igor Chernyshov slapped home a one-timer with 85 seconds left for the winner. Merzlikins has had an up-and-down March, going 3-1-2 over seven outings with a 2.90 GAA and .882 save percentage as he falls firmly behind Jet Greaves on the Blue Jackets' depth chart.

Bourque scored two empty-net goals on two shots and registered an assist in Saturday's 6-3 win over Pittsburgh.

Bourque played a hand in each of the last three goals scored by Dallas on Saturday when he slid the primary helper on the team's fourth goal of the second period before scoring two empty-net tallies to seal the deal in the third. With the trio of points, the 24-year-old forward is up to 16 goals, 19 assists, 130 shots on net, 65 hits and 20 blocked shots across 73 games this season. With Bourque officially playing as many games as he did in his first full year with the Stars, the sophomore forward has taken a step up in all major stat categories apart from blocks. He has become a factor for Dallas offensively with five goals and 12 points over his last 14 games. Bourque is a solid streaming option in fantasy for the time being, and his value is increasing in dynasty formats.

Smith pocketed two assists in Saturday's 3-2 win over Columbus.

The 21-year-old had a hand in both of Igor Chernyshov's tallies as the Sharks' precocious top line of Smith, Chernyshov and Macklin Celebrini combined for three goals and six points. Smith has two multi-point efforts in the last three games, and on the season he's collected 21 goals and 49 points in 58 contests.

Celebrini scored a power-play goal and added an even-strength assist in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Blue Jackets.

Both points came in the third period as the Sharks rallied from a 2-1 deficit. Celebrini shook off a brief scoring lull with the performance, having managed just two assists in his prior six games. The 19-year-old phenom has delivered 36 goals and 98 points in 71 contests, putting him on the verge of becoming the first teenager since Sidney Crosby in 2006-07 to reach triple-digit points, and just the sixth in NHL history -- a list that also includes Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux.

Chernyshov scored two goals, one the game-winner, in Saturday's 3-2 victory over the Blue Jackets.

The Sharks' top line of Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith and Chernyshov did all the damage for the visitors, accounting for three goals and six points in a comeback win. The goals were Chernyshov's first in the NHL in 2026, snapping an 11-game drought. Through his first 19 contests at the top level, the 20-year-old winger has five five goals and 14 points.

Nedeljkovic turned aside 22 shots in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Blue Jackets.

The Sharks were down 2-1 heading into the third period, but Nedeljkovic shut the door on the home side and gave his offense a chance to mount a comeback. In the process, the veteran netminder snapped a winless stretch in which he had gone 0-4-1 in five outings with a brutal 4.40 GAA and .818 save percentage. With Yaroslav Askarov (upper body) sidelined again, however, Nedeljkovic will be San Jose's top option between the pipes in the short term as the team pushes for a playoff spot.

Schaefer notched two assists, one on the power play, in Saturday's 5-2 win over Florida.

The teenage phenom helped set up tallies by Brayden Schenn and Simon Holmstrom as part of a five-goal second period for the Islanders. Schaefer has piled up four goals and 15 points in 14 March contests, and his 56 points (22 goals, 34 assists) through 74 games on the season has tied the franchise scoring mark for a rookie defenseman, set by Stefan Persson in 1977-78.

Gatcomb produced a goal and an assist in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Panthers.

The 26-year-old fourth-liner snapped a 12-game point drought and a 36-game goal drought with the performance, as he had a hand in the Islanders' first and last tallies during a five-goal second period. Gatcomb has just two goals and six points in 42 contests on the season, but he has dished 175 hits -- tying him for 25th in the NHL despite the fact that he didn't become a regular part of the Isles' lineup until December.

Schenn scored a goal and added two assists, one on the power play, in Saturday's 5-2 win over Florida.

The Islanders were down 2-0 after the first period, but Schenn led the charge in an immediate response as New York potted five goals in the second frame. It was the veteran center's first multi-point performance since joining the Isles at the trade deadline, and in 11 games for his new club, he has produced three goals and seven points with 22 shots on net, 19 hits, 17 PIM, 12 blocked shots and a minus-1 rating.

Sorokin stopped 19 shots in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Panthers.

Matthew Tkachuk got two pucks by him in the first period, but Sorokin shut the door on Florida the rest of the way as New York's offense came to life. The veteran netminder is benefitting from some stingy defensive work in front of him -- Sorokin has faced 30-plus shots only once in his last nine outings, going 5-4-0 with a 2.36 GAA and .910 save percentage over that span.