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Connor Bedard received high praise from new teammate Andrew Mangiapane, who joined the Chicago Blackhawks lineup on Friday. Mangiapane, who previously played with Bedard at the World Championship, noted that the young superstar has matured significantly and remains a special talent in the NHL.
Andrew Mangiapane made his debut for the Chicago Blackhawks in Friday's game against the Vancouver Canucks. In 8:52 of ice time, he recorded three hits and took a penalty while showing tenacity. Mangiapane, acquired via trade, nearly scored his first goal for the team, though it was disallowed. He expressed admiration for teammate Connor Bedard, noting the young star's maturity and elite talent.
Mikhail Sergachev (lower body) was a late scratch for Saturday's game against the Blue Jackets despite being listed on the initial pregame roster. Although he was cleared to return after missing Thursday's win over Philadelphia, the team opted to hold him out at the last minute. Nick DeSimone replaced him in the lineup, and Sean Durzi maintained a top-four role. Given his proximity to playing, Sergachev is considered a game-time decision for Monday's matchup in Chicago.
Jack Hughes recorded his fourth career hat trick and an assist in a 6-3 win over the Rangers on Saturday. The performance marks his first NHL goals since winning Olympic gold with Team USA. Hughes, who has 19 goals in 24 career games against the Rangers, scored twice in the final frame, including an empty-netter. His recent play has been lauded by teammates for his humility and high-level production following the Olympic break.
Kevin Lankinen will start in goal for the Canucks against the Jets on Saturday. The 30-year-old netminder is looking to bounce back after allowing four goals on 22 shots in his previous outing against the Hurricanes on Wednesday. He faces a challenging matchup against a Winnipeg team that has been surging offensively, scoring 15 goals over their last five games since the Olympic break.
MacKenzie Weegar has been cleared to play in Saturday's game against the Blue Jackets after resolving immigration issues. Acquired from Calgary on Wednesday, Weegar is expected to slot into Utah's top defensive pairing alongside Mikhail Sergachev. Despite the visa paperwork concerns, he will miss only one game for his new club. Weegar is projected to be a key top-four fixture for Utah for the remainder of the season.
Yaroslav Askarov will start in goal for the Sharks against the Islanders on Saturday. This marks Askarov's third start in the last five games as San Jose continues to rotate their goaltenders. He takes the crease following Friday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Blues. He faces an Islanders squad that has struggled offensively, scoring only four goals total during their current two-game losing streak.
John Carlson (lower body) remains sidelined for Sunday's game against St. Louis and is targeting a return Tuesday in Winnipeg. Recently acquired from Washington, the veteran defenseman logged 10 goals and 46 points in 55 games this season. Carlson, who spent 17 seasons with the Capitals, expressed excitement about joining the Pacific Division-leading Ducks for a playoff push. GM Pat Verbeek praised Carlson's cerebral play and expects him to anchor the power play upon his return.
After missing Thursday's 6-3 victory over Boston due to a facial injury, Ryan O'Reilly is set to return to the lineup for Saturday's matchup against Buffalo. The veteran center, who has recorded 22 goals and 59 points in 61 games this season, will center the top line alongside Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault. His presence provides a significant boost to the Predators' offensive depth as they look to build on their recent win.
Juuse Saros will get the start in net for Saturday's road game against the Buffalo Sabres. The goaltender is coming off a solid 20-save performance in Thursday's win over Boston. Through 47 appearances this season, Saros holds a 22-18-6 record with a 3.18 GAA and an .892 save percentage. He faces a Buffalo offense that currently ranks seventh in the NHL, averaging 3.40 goals per game, making this a pivotal test for the Predators' netminder.
Following the trade deadline departure of team captains, Frank Nazar is stepping into a larger leadership role for the Chicago Blackhawks. Nazar stated he intends to emulate the professional approach and vocal presence of former teammate Nick Foligno. In recent action against Vancouver, Nazar demonstrated his leadership on the ice by creating a goal for Ryan Donato and scoring a deflection goal himself, showcasing his growing versatility and commitment to the team's future.
Travis Konecny will miss his third consecutive game Saturday against the Penguins due to an upper-body injury. Despite his absence, the 28-year-old winger was spotted in a non-contact jersey at Friday's practice, signaling progress in his recovery. Konecny has been a key offensive contributor for the Flyers this season, recording 23 goals and 34 assists across 58 games. He could potentially return to the lineup as early as Monday's home contest against the Rangers.
The Rangers traded Othmann to the Calgary Flames on Friday, ending his tenure with the organization that drafted him. The 23-year-old forward struggled to secure a permanent NHL role, recording just one goal and two assists in 39 games over the past two seasons while splitting time with the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack. Rangers GM Chris Drury noted the move provides Othmann a necessary opportunity to reignite his career after failing to translate his game to the NHL level in New York.
Sergei Murashov remains a key part of the Pittsburgh Penguins' goaltending pipeline, currently serving as an AHL tandem partner with Joel Blomqvist. The organization recently signed Taylor Gauthier to a one-year entry-level contract for $775,000 to provide additional insurance for the remainder of the 2025-26 season and the playoffs. The Penguins are prioritizing depth at the position as both the NHL roster and the WBS Penguins prepare for potential postseason runs.
Joel Blomqvist continues to serve as part of the Pittsburgh Penguins' AHL goaltending tandem alongside Sergei Murashov. The organization recently signed Taylor Gauthier to a one-year entry-level contract for $775,000 to provide additional insurance for the remainder of the 2025-26 season and the playoffs. The Penguins are prioritizing depth at the position as both the NHL roster and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins prepare for potential postseason runs.
Hintz is sidelined indefinitely after sustaining a lower-body injury during Friday's 5-4 shootout loss to Colorado. The 29-year-old forward, who has recorded 15 goals and 44 points in 53 games this season, is scheduled to consult with another doctor to determine his recovery path. Head coach Glen Gulutzan expressed optimism that Hintz could potentially return to the lineup before the start of the playoffs.
Miller tallied three assists, two hits, two PIM, and a plus-2 rating in Friday's 6-3 victory against Edmonton. The 26-year-old has registered six helpers over his last seven games and may see increased power-play opportunities if teammate Shayne Gostisbehere misses time. On the season, Miller has accumulated 28 points, 88 shots on net, 73 hits, 55 blocked shots, and 42 PIM across 54 appearances.
Knight will not travel to Dallas for Sunday's game due to an ongoing illness that also forced him to miss Friday's contest against Vancouver. The team hopes he will be available for Monday's game against Utah in Chicago. Knight currently holds a 16-18-8 record with a 2.63 GAA, a .908 save percentage, and three shutouts on the season.
The Blackhawks have recalled Commesso from AHL Rockford ahead of Sunday's road game against Dallas. The 23-year-old netminder will provide depth due to Spencer Knight's illness. In two NHL appearances this season, Commesso has stopped 55 of 60 shots faced, posting a 1-1-0 record and one shutout.
Larkin will miss Sunday's road game against New Jersey due to a leg injury sustained in Friday's contest against Florida. Head coach Todd McLellan designated the 29-year-old center as day-to-day for the remainder of the team's four-game road trip. Larkin, who has 28 goals and 27 assists in 63 games this season, is targeting a potential return for Tuesday's matchup against the Panthers.
