Player news from trusted outlets
Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Evander Kane (Vancouver Canucks) has been highlighted in a Monday guide for fantasy hockey pickups. The article provides essential information on who to add and how to prepare for the upcoming week in fantasy leagues, suggesting Kane as a potential acquisition for managers looking to bolster their roster before the trade deadline.
Marcus Foligno (Minnesota Wild) has been placed on injured reserve Monday due to a lower-body injury. While the designation is retroactive, he is expected to miss at least the next two games. The team has not yet offered a clear recovery timeline for the winger. Both Tyler Pitlick and Ben Jones should be in contention to see minutes with Foligno on the shelf.
Bobby McMann has been elevated to the top line alongside Auston Matthews and William Nylander for the Toronto Maple Leafs' game against the Philadelphia Flyers. McMann is expected to capitalize on this opportunity, with odds favoring him to record at least one point. He has exceeded his shots on goal total in eight of his last nine games.
Dan Vladar was the first goalie to leave the ice Monday, indicating he will guard the road cage against Toronto, Mark Masters of TSN reports. The 28-year-old netminder has been heavily utilized, appearing in seven of the Flyers' last eight contests, posting a 2-2-2 record and a 2.23 GAA. The Flyers appear content to continue giving Vladar a significant workload ahead of Samuel Ersson. He needs just two more victories to reach the 10-win mark for the first time in his NHL career.
Elvis Merzlikins is set to start Monday's road game against the Rangers. This will be his second start since the Olympic break. In eight appearances this calendar year, Merzlikins boasts a 5-3-0 record with a 2.44 GAA and a .909 save percentage. He faces a favorable matchup against the Rangers, who rank sixth-worst in the league with 2.59 goals per game this season.
Valeri Nichushkin is having a strong season for the Colorado Avalanche and is expected to continue his production against the Los Angeles Kings. He has recorded a point in 64% of his road games. Nichushkin has seen an uptick in performance since being moved to the second line with Artturi Lehkonen and Brock Nelson. The Kings have allowed 22 goals in their last five games.
Igor Shesterkin is expected to start Monday's home game against the Blue Jackets, confirmed by his presence as the first goalie off during morning skate. This marks his third consecutive start post-Olympic break. In his last two overtime outings, he posted a 1-0-1 record with a 2.37 GAA and .912 save percentage. Shesterkin previously faced Columbus on Nov. 15, recording a 2-1 overtime victory with 26 saves on 27 shots.
Anthony Stolarz is slated to start in goal for the Toronto Maple Leafs at home against the Flyers on Monday, March 2. This follows a strong relief appearance Saturday where he stopped all 12 shots faced against the Senators. With a back-to-back upcoming, Stolarz is projected to get the nod in two of the Leafs' next three contests, potentially earning a split share of starts with Joseph Woll. This marks a significant opportunity for Stolarz to solidify his role in the crease.
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin and the team are scheduled to discuss a contract extension this week. Malkin expressed frustration about his future security after a recent game but acknowledged his agent advised waiting until the season's end. Negotiations are expected to resume, with the focus on securing his role beyond the current season.
Casey DeSmith is noted as a successful spot starter for fantasy hockey, boasting a 12-4-5 record with a 2.31 goals-against average and .913 save percentage in 22 appearances. He has allowed two or fewer goals in six of his last seven games. With the Dallas Stars facing a road back-to-back early in the week, DeSmith is a likely candidate for favorable matchups, potentially playing on Monday or Tuesday.
Pavel Buchnevich is highlighted as a strong waiver wire addition for fantasy hockey managers, particularly for categories like goals, points, shots, and power-play production. He has recorded six goals and seven assists in his last 10 games, including a five-game point streak with five goals and three assists. The St. Louis Blues forward is expected to be a solid pickup during their upcoming three-game road trip.
Cutter Gauthier netted two goals, including a crucial third-period power-play snipe, in the Anaheim Ducks' 3-2 shootout win over the Calgary Flames. He finished with nine shots and two hits. Gauthier's impressive recent form includes eight goals in his last 11 games, contributing to his season total of 28 goals and 52 points through 58 appearances. The Ducks secured their eighth consecutive home win, improving their overtime record to 14-3.
Matthew Tkachuk recorded three assists and three shots on goal in Sunday's 5-4 loss to the Islanders, with one helper coming on the power play. He contributed to the Panthers' last three goals. The star winger now has 13 points (5 G, 8 A), including 8 on the power play, 40 shots, 14 hits, 21 PIM, and a minus-7 rating through 13 appearances this season.
Sam Bennett scored two goals on four shots in Sunday's 5-4 loss to the Islanders, including a first-period power-play goal and an even-strength tally. He's been strong since the Olympic break with three goals and two assists in three games. The 29-year-old now has 22 goals, 47 points, 156 shots, 105 hits, 72 PIM, and a minus-11 rating in 60 appearances, with a 30-goal, 60-point campaign still possible.
Matthew Schaefer had his first career three-point game in Sunday's 5-4 win over the Panthers, scoring twice on five shots and adding an assist. The 18-year-old rookie defenseman also blocked four shots, went plus-4, and logged two PIM, reaching the 20-goal mark for the season. He now has 44 points, 146 shots, 84 blocks, 30 PIM, and a plus-14 rating over 61 appearances, establishing himself as a borderline No. 1 fantasy defenseman.
Igor Shesterkin's shootout save percentage of .738 is now the best in New York Rangers franchise history, following his performance in Saturday's win. He has stopped 52 of 57 shots since returning from a lower-body injury, bringing his season save percentage to .913. Coach Mike Sullivan praised Shesterkin as the best goalie in the game, noting his ability to change outcomes. The Rangers are managing his workload carefully after his absence.
Matvei Gridin was denied on the final shootout attempt by Lukas Dostal, resulting in the Calgary Flames' 3-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. Gridin's attempt came after Joel Farabee and Yegor Sharangovich scored for the Flames in regulation. The Flames' goaltender, Devin Cooley, made 34 saves in the contest.
Leo Carlsson was a contributor in the Anaheim Ducks' 3-2 shootout victory over the Calgary Flames, converting his attempt in the tiebreaker. His involvement helped secure the Ducks' eighth consecutive home win, building on Cutter Gauthier's two regulation goals. The team's strong performance in overtime games was also highlighted.
Mason McTavish scored the shootout-winning goal for the Anaheim Ducks in their 3-2 victory over the Calgary Flames. He also contributed to the team's offensive efforts in regulation, which saw Cutter Gauthier score twice. McTavish's goal helped seal Anaheim's eighth straight home win and improved their overtime record.
Lukas Dostal made 32 saves, including the crucial stop on Matvei Gridin's final attempt, to secure the Anaheim Ducks' 3-2 shootout win against the Calgary Flames. This victory marked the Ducks' eighth consecutive home win. Dostal's performance was key in regulation as well, helping the team force overtime where Mason McTavish scored the winner.
