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Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.

Thursday, March 5

Vegas Golden Knights Acquire Veteran Center Nic Dowd

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The Vegas Golden Knights have acquired 35-year-old center Nic Dowd from the Washington Capitals in exchange for goaltender Jesper Vikman, a 2027 third-round pick, and a 2029 second-round pick. Dowd, who has 16 points in 55 games this season, is expected to bolster Vegas's penalty kill and defensive depth. He remains under contract through next season with a $3 million cap hit. To facilitate the roster move, the Golden Knights placed forward Mark Stone on injured reserve.

John Gibson Cleared to Return for Friday's Matchup

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Detroit Red Wings goaltender John Gibson (upper body) has been cleared to play and is available for Friday's home game against Florida. The 32-year-old has posted a 23-12-2 record with a 2.57 GAA and .906 save percentage across 39 appearances this season. Following his return to availability, the Red Wings have reassigned goaltender Sebastian Cossa to the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins.

Linus Ullmark Named Starter for Thursday Road Clash Against Calgary

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Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark will draw the start for Thursday's road game against the Calgary Flames. This marks his fourth consecutive start following the Olympic break. Ullmark has posted a 1-0-2 record with a 2.94 GAA and .887 save percentage over his last three outings. He previously faced the Flames at home on Oct. 30, stopping 26 of 29 shots in a 4-3 overtime victory.

Seth Jones Resumes Contact, Remains Sidelined

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Seth Jones (upper body) has returned to full-contact practice but will not play in Thursday's game against the Blue Jackets. Sidelined since early January, the 31-year-old is progressing in his recovery. Head coach Paul Maurice indicated that Jones' return to game action depends on his ability to handle harder, basic puck skills during practice. While a specific return date remains unclear, Jones is trending toward a return to the lineup in the near future.

Joonas Korpisalo Named Starter Against Nashville

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Joonas Korpisalo will start in goal for the Boston Bruins on the road against the Nashville Predators on Thursday. The 31-year-old netminder has appeared in 23 games this season, recording an 11-8-2 record, a 3.11 GAA, and one shutout. With the Bruins facing a back-to-back set this weekend against Washington and Pittsburgh, Korpisalo is expected to split the upcoming starts with Jeremy Swayman.

Roope Hintz Expected to Return Friday Against Avalanche

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Roope Hintz (illness) is expected to return to the Dallas Stars' lineup for Friday's game against the Colorado Avalanche. Hintz must be activated off injured reserve before he can suit up. The 29-year-old center has been productive recently, recording one goal and seven assists, including four power-play points, over his last eight outings.

Marcus Johansson Out at Least Two Games with Upper-Body Injury

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Marcus Johansson (upper body) will miss the Minnesota Wild's upcoming two-game road trip starting Friday in Vegas. The 35-year-old veteran sustained the injury during the third period of Tuesday's game against Tampa Bay and did not return. Johansson has recorded 13 goals and 26 assists in 57 appearances this season. Michael McCarron is expected to draw into the lineup to fill the vacancy left by Johansson.

Avalanche Acquire Center Nicolas Roy from Maple Leafs

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The Colorado Avalanche have acquired center Nicolas Roy from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a conditional 2027 first-round pick and a conditional 2026 fifth-round pick. Roy, 29, has recorded five goals and 20 points in 59 games this season. The 2027 pick is top-10 protected, sliding to an unprotected 2028 first-round pick if triggered. Roy, who carries a $3 million AAV through next season, provides the Avalanche with significant playoff experience and defensive depth.

Corey Perry Seeks Extension, Rejects Trade Deadline Move

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Los Angeles Kings forward Corey Perry has informed the organization that he wishes to sign a contract extension and is not interested in being traded at the deadline. The 40-year-old veteran, who holds a full no-trade clause, has recorded 11 goals and 28 points in 49 games this season. Perry is currently on an expiring one-year deal and has expressed a desire to remain in Los Angeles, where he ranks sixth on the team in points.

Daniil Tarasov Expected to Start Thursday Against Columbus

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Daniil Tarasov is slated to defend the net for the Florida Panthers in Thursday's road game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Tarasov has struggled in his recent outings, losing his last three starts while allowing 12 goals on 94 shots for an .872 save percentage. On the season, the 26-year-old holds an 8-9-2 record with a 2.80 GAA and a .903 save percentage. He looks to rebound against a Columbus offense averaging 3.12 goals per game.

Jesper Vikman Traded to Washington Capitals in Nic Dowd Deal

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Goaltender Jesper Vikman was traded from the Vegas Golden Knights to the Washington Capitals on Thursday. The transaction was part of a package deal that sent veteran center Nic Dowd to Vegas. In addition to Vikman, the Capitals received a 2027 third-round draft pick and a 2029 second-round selection. The move bolsters the Capitals' assets as they navigate the trade deadline period.

Rasmus Andersson Contextualized in Vegas Roster Moves

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Rasmus Andersson is noted as a key recent addition to the Vegas Golden Knights' defensive corps, having been acquired from the Calgary Flames prior to the Olympic break. His acquisition serves as part of the team's aggressive strategy to bolster their roster ahead of the trade deadline, which also included the recent trade for center Nic Dowd. Andersson remains a central figure in the team's defensive plans for the remainder of the season.

Ryan O'Reilly Out Day-to-Day With Facial Injury

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Ryan O'Reilly will miss Thursday's game against Boston due to a facial injury and is currently listed as day-to-day. The veteran center has recorded 22 goals and 37 assists in 61 games this season. Despite ongoing trade rumors, he is expected to remain in Nashville. In his absence, Filip Forsberg is projected to move to the top line to skate between Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault.

High Asking Price for Blues Star Robert Thomas

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The St. Louis Blues are reportedly seeking a significant return for center Robert Thomas, with rumors suggesting an asking price of three high-value assets. Despite a down season with 13 goals and 24 assists in 44 games due to injury, Thomas remains a top-tier playmaker signed through 2031. The Boston Bruins are considered a potential suitor as they look to fill their long-standing need for a No. 1 center.

Jack Hughes Reportedly Dating Singer Tate McRae

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New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes is reportedly in an exclusive relationship with Canadian singer-songwriter Tate McRae. The pair, who have been seen together since late last year, are managing their schedules during the busy NHL season. Hughes, a U.S. Olympic hero who scored the overtime gold-medal goal in Milan, has been supported by McRae at Devils games throughout the season.

Dylan Larkin Returns After Injury Scare

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Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin returned to Wednesday's overtime loss against Vegas after a concerning injury scare. Larkin was cross-checked by Brayden McNabb and struggled to leave the ice, but he was able to finish the game. Head coach Todd McLellan confirmed Larkin was sore but noted his ability to return was a positive sign. The team is currently awaiting further updates from the training staff.

Travis Konecny to Miss Third Consecutive Game

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Travis Konecny will miss his third straight game Thursday against the Mammoth due to an upper-body injury. Although Konecny participated in Thursday's morning skate, he remains day-to-day. The 28-year-old forward's next opportunity to return to the Philadelphia lineup is Saturday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Dan Vladar to Make Third Consecutive Start

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Dan Vladar will draw his third consecutive start for the Philadelphia Flyers in Thursday's home game against the Mammoth. Vladar is currently on a two-game winning streak, during which he has maintained a 1.44 GAA and a .948 save percentage. He looks to continue his strong play against a Mammoth offense that ranks 15th in the NHL with 3.16 goals per game.

Igor Shesterkin to Start Against Maple Leafs

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Igor Shesterkin will defend the home crease for the Rangers against the Maple Leafs on Thursday. This marks his fourth consecutive start following the Olympic break. In his previous three outings, Shesterkin has posted a 1-0-2 record with a 3.20 GAA and an .885 save percentage. He previously faced Toronto on October 16, stopping 22 of 24 shots in an overtime loss. The Rangers look to him to anchor the defense in this upcoming matchup.

Sergei Bobrovsky Drawing Trade Interest

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Multiple teams, including the Montreal Canadiens, Carolina Hurricanes, and San Jose Sharks, have inquired about Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky ahead of the trade deadline. Bobrovsky, 37, is in the final year of his contract and has struggled this season with a 22-19-1 record and .873 save percentage. While a trade is possible, there is also speculation he could sign a team-friendly extension after the season.