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Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Auston Matthews left Thursday's game against Anaheim with a lower-body injury after absorbing a knee-on-knee hit from Radko Gudas. Matthews, who had scored his first goal since January 27 earlier in the period, was helped to the locker room and did not return. The 28-year-old center has 27 goals and 26 assists in 60 games. His status remains uncertain ahead of Toronto's upcoming back-to-back weekend games.
Juuse Saros will start in goal for the Nashville Predators in Thursday's road game against the Vancouver Canucks. Saros is 2-2-0 in March with a .910 save percentage over four appearances. The 30-year-old goaltender faces a Canucks team that has struggled significantly this season.
Sidney Crosby was mentioned in reports regarding the knee-on-knee hit delivered by Radko Gudas to Auston Matthews on Thursday. Gudas, the defenseman who previously ended Canadian captain Sidney Crosby’s Olympics in the quarterfinals, was ejected from the game against Toronto for his hit on Matthews.
Mikhail Sergachev is expected to return to the lineup for Utah's game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday after missing the previous four games with a lower-body injury. Sergachev has recorded 10 goals and 42 points in 61 games this season and is projected to play alongside MacKenzie Weegar.
Contrary to initial reports, Arvid Soderblom will not start in goal for Thursday's game against Utah, with Spencer Knight taking the crease instead. Soderblom, who holds a 6-10-3 record with a 3.70 GAA and .876 save percentage this season, was previously slated to start as he looked to snap a winless streak. The Blackhawks continue to struggle, posting a 5-10-4 record while averaging only 2.21 goals per game over their last 19 outings.
Karel Vejmelka will protect the home goal for Utah in Thursday's game against the Blackhawks. This marks his third start in the last four contests. In his previous two outings, Vejmelka allowed nine goals on 61 shots, though he managed a 1-1-0 record during that stretch. On the season, the netminder holds a 30-17-2 record with a 2.69 GAA and an .898 save percentage across 50 appearances.
Linus Ullmark allowed three goals on 23 shots in a 3-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday, marking his third sub-.900 save percentage performance in four games. Following the defeat, Ullmark held a brief, 25-second post-game media availability, expressing frustration over a rebound goal by Ivan Demidov that served as the game-winner. The loss leaves Ottawa nine points behind Montreal in the standings.
Lukas Dostal is slated to start in goal for the Ducks on the road against Toronto. Dostal holds a 26-14-2 record with a 3.01 GAA and .893 save percentage across 44 appearances this season. He is coming off a strong performance in Tuesday's 4-1 victory over Winnipeg, where he stopped 12 of 13 shots. He faces a Maple Leafs squad that has struggled recently, losing their last eight games while averaging only 1.88 goals per contest.
After being a game-time decision with a lower-body injury, William Eklund returned to the lineup and scored a spectacular aerial goal in a 4-2 win over the Bruins. The goal snapped a 20-game scoring drought for the 23-year-old winger, who also recorded an assist on Michael Misa's opening goal. Coach Ryan Warsofsky praised Eklund's toughness for playing through the injury, as the win helped the Sharks move back into a Western Conference wild-card position.
Darren Raddysh is expected to return to the Lightning lineup for Thursday's game against the Red Wings. Raddysh missed Tuesday's contest to attend his father's memorial service but has since rejoined the team. He is expected to slot back into a top-pairing role and will contribute on the power play moving forward.
Alex Tuch will not play in Thursday's game against the Washington Capitals due to a lower-body injury. The forward, who has recorded 28 goals and 57 points in 64 games this season, will have his seven-game scoring streak interrupted by the absence. His next opportunity to return to the lineup is Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. In his stead, Tanner Pearson is expected to make his Sabres debut following his recent trade from the Jets.
Yaroslav Askarov will not play in Thursday's game against the Bruins due to a lower-body injury that emerged earlier in the day. The goaltender is expected to miss only this single game. Alex Nedeljkovic will take over the starting goaltending duties for the Sharks while Askarov is sidelined.
Jack Hughes has provided a motivational boost to Team USA as they prepare for their World Baseball Classic quarterfinal matchup against Canada. Hughes, who previously gained international acclaim for scoring the golden goal against Canada during the Winter Olympics, sent what was described as a "nice little fire-up message" to the American squad ahead of the high-stakes elimination game.
Former Canucks first-round pick Vasily Podkolzin is enjoying a career-best campaign with the Edmonton Oilers. Through 65 games in 2025-26, he has recorded 15 goals and 14 assists, surpassing his previous career-high point totals. Beyond his offense, which includes a team-leading five game-winning goals, Podkolzin has evolved into a versatile contributor, logging penalty-kill minutes and maintaining a +14 rating while averaging 15:09 of ice time per game.
Brayden Schenn has joined the New York Islanders following a trade deadline move, waiving his no-trade clause to help the team chase the Stanley Cup. Schenn has already made an impact, standing up for rookie Matthew Schaefer during his debut. His presence allows the coaching staff to shift Calum Ritchie to the wing, providing more lineup flexibility. Schenn brings championship experience from his 2019 title with the Blues, aiming to guide the Islanders' younger core through the stretch run.
New York Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer continues a historic campaign, needing just four goals in the final 17 games to break Brian Leetch's 1988-89 record of 23 goals by a rookie defenseman. His stellar performance has energized the team, prompting GM Mathieu Darche to make aggressive trade deadline moves to support a playoff run. Teammates, including newcomer Brayden Schenn, have praised Schaefer's skill and character, noting his impact on the team's current success.
The New York Islanders added veteran forward and two-time Stanley Cup champion Ondrej Palat at the trade deadline. GM Mathieu Darche secured Palat to provide crucial experience and guidance for the team's younger players, including rookie Matthew Schaefer, as the Islanders look to secure a playoff berth. Palat's arrival is part of a broader organizational effort to reward the team's hard work and provide the necessary veteran presence to compete for the Stanley Cup this season.
The New York Islanders acquired veteran defenseman Carson Soucy at the NHL trade deadline as part of a strategic push to bolster the roster for a potential playoff run. General manager Mathieu Darche targeted Soucy, alongside other veteran additions, to provide depth and experience to the team's lineup. The move is intended to support the team's younger core, including rookie standout Matthew Schaefer, as they navigate the final stretch of the season and compete for a postseason spot.
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood is set to start Thursday's road game against the Seattle Kraken. Wedgewood enters the matchup in excellent form, boasting a 24-4-5 record with a 2.19 GAA and .916 save percentage this season. He is currently riding a four-game winning streak, having allowed only five goals on 102 shots for a .951 save percentage during that span. He will look to continue his success against a Seattle team that has lost three consecutive games.
Adin Hill is confirmed to start in goal for the Vegas Golden Knights at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins this Thursday. Hill enters the matchup looking to rebound from a recent 0-2-0 stretch where he stopped 29 of 34 shots. On the 2025-26 season, he holds a 6-6-3 record with a 3.32 GAA and an .859 save percentage across 17 appearances. He faces a Penguins squad currently dealing with the absences of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
