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Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
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.
Trocheck returns to the Rangers' lineup for Saturday's game in New Jersey following a brief absence for roster management during the trade deadline. Despite trade speculation, Trocheck remains with the team and is expected to center the second line alongside Will Cuylle and Taylor Raddysh while seeing time on the top power-play unit. He has recorded 12 goals, 27 assists, and 139 hits in 46 games this season.
Quick will start in net for Saturday's road game against the Devils, marking his first appearance since the Olympic break. The veteran goaltender has struggled recently, losing his last three starts while allowing eight goals on 96 shots. On the season, Quick holds a 4-14-2 record with a 3.10 GAA, an .890 save percentage, and one shutout.
Markstrom will start in goal for Saturday's home game against the New York Rangers. He enters the contest riding a three-game winning streak, during which he has stopped 69 of 74 shots faced. Markstrom has posted an 18-14-1 record this season with a 3.05 GAA and an .888 save percentage across 34 appearances.
Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov is recovering faster than expected from November shoulder surgery and could potentially return for the start of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. General manager Mathieu Darche noted that while his return remains borderline, Romanov is back on the ice and trending well. The Islanders must ensure his $6 million cap hit fits within the roster requirements for the postseason.
Forward prospect Isak Rosen is expected to make his Winnipeg Jets debut Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks following his acquisition from the Buffalo Sabres. The 22-year-old has been highly productive in the AHL this season, recording 43 points in 37 games. While he has played 31 NHL games across three call-ups, the Jets view him as a potential depth scoring option for the near future.
Acquired from the Buffalo Sabres in a trade involving Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn, defenseman Jacob Bryson is set to make his Winnipeg debut Saturday against Vancouver. The 28-year-old has appeared in 35 games for Buffalo this season, recording five points. He is expected to provide dependable depth on the Jets' blue line.
Dustin Wolf will patrol the crease for the Calgary Flames at home against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. Wolf has been sharing duties with Devin Cooley since January 10 and enters the contest with a 17-23-3 record, a 2.97 GAA, and an .898 save percentage across 44 appearances this season. He faces a stiff test against a Hurricanes squad that ranks fourth in the NHL in scoring, averaging 3.48 goals per game.
Aliaksei Protas will return to the Washington Capitals' lineup for Saturday's game against the Boston Bruins after missing Tuesday's loss to Utah due to personal reasons. Protas is slated to occupy a second-line role. Through 59 appearances this campaign, he has been productive, recording 20 goals and 42 points while registering 129 shots on net.
Elvis Merzlikins will get the start in goal for the Columbus Blue Jackets at home against Utah on Saturday. Merzlikins has appeared in 24 games this season, posting a 12-9-1 record with one shutout, a 3.47 GAA, and an .887 save percentage. He will look to contain a Utah offense that currently sits tied for 14th in the league, averaging 3.16 goals per game during the 2025-26 season.
Karel Vejmelka is expected to defend the net for Utah in Saturday's road matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets after being the first goaltender off the ice at morning practice. Vejmelka is enjoying a career year, boasting a 29-16-2 record with a 2.61 GAA and a .900 save percentage. He has already set a new career high in wins, surpassing the 26 victories he recorded last season.
Following the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline, the Vancouver Canucks are encouraged to pursue a contract extension for center Teddy Blueger, who is an unrestricted free agent this summer. Despite missing time due to injury, Blueger has recorded nine points and 34 hits in 15 games. A 2026 Olympian with Stanley Cup experience, Blueger has expressed a desire to remain in Vancouver. A potential three-year, $2.5 million AAV extension is suggested to keep him in the fold.
Andrei Vasilevskiy is expected to start in goal for the Tampa Bay Lightning against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday after being the first goalie off the ice at the morning skate. Vasilevskiy is 28-10-3 this season with a 2.28 GAA and a .913 save percentage in 41 games, though he has struggled recently, going 0-3-0 in his last three outings while allowing 12 goals on 64 shots.
Zach Werenski will return to the Columbus Blue Jackets' lineup for Saturday's game against Utah after missing the previous three contests due to an illness. Werenski has been a key contributor for the Blue Jackets this season, amassing 20 goals, 65 points, 195 shots on net, and 68 blocked shots across 54 appearances.
MacKinnon tallied a power-play goal and two assists in Friday's 5-4 shootout victory over the Stars. The 30-year-old superstar continues to lead the Rocket Richard Trophy race with 42 goals, five ahead of Cole Caufield. He also paces the NHL with a plus-55 rating and sits second in league scoring with 103 points. MacKinnon has maintained a torrid pace, accumulating 12 points, including two goals, over his last seven games in February.
Necas delivered a standout performance in Friday's 5-4 shootout win over Dallas, scoring a goal and adding three assists, including two on the power play. He also secured the shootout winner against Jake Oettinger. Necas has been on a blistering run since the Olympic break, recording 14 points in six games. His 28 goals this season tie a career high, and his plus-43 rating currently ranks second in the NHL, trailing only teammate Nathan MacKinnon.
Tkachuk recorded his sixth career hat trick, including a power-play goal, in Friday's 3-1 victory over Detroit. Since returning from the Milan Olympics with a gold medal, he has been dominant, tallying five goals and nine points in six games. Beyond his scoring, Tkachuk expressed strong support for goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, emphasizing his importance to the Panthers' championship window and long-term success as the team looks to build on its current roster stability.
Anthony Stolarz will patrol the home crease for the Maple Leafs against Tampa Bay on Saturday. Despite a 7-8-3 record this season with a 3.37 GAA and an .891 save percentage across 20 appearances, Stolarz has struggled to secure a win recently, going 0-0-2 in his last two outings despite stopping 67 of 72 shots faced. He now faces a Tampa Bay offense that ranks fifth in the league, averaging 3.45 goals per game.
Following the Flames' trade deadline departures of key veterans like Nazem Kadri and MacKenzie Weegar, Matt Coronato is expected to take on a larger role for Calgary. Coronato currently leads the team with 14 goals and 151 shots on goal. He has demonstrated consistent offensive volume, logging over 2.5 shots in three of his last four games and eight of his last 10 outings, making him a focal point for the team's offense moving forward.
Bobby Brink has been traded to the Minnesota Wild as part of the Philadelphia Flyers' deadline roster moves. The Flyers also traded Nicolas Deslauriers to the Carolina Hurricanes. In response to these departures and ongoing injury concerns, the Flyers have called up top prospect Alex Bump from the AHL's Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Bump is expected to make his NHL debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
