Player news from trusted outlets
Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
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.
Meredith Gaudreau, widow of NHL player Johnny Gaudreau, shared her reflections on the U.S. men's hockey team's Olympic gold medal victory, noting her presence during the trip.
Arturs Silovs will start Sunday vs. Vegas, aiming to extend his recent success. He's won his last two starts, allowing only three goals on 57 shots. On Sunday, Silovs recorded a 5-0 shutout victory over the Golden Knights, stopping all 22 shots. This win brings his season record to 13-7-8 with a 2.75 GAA and .902 save percentage across 28 games. His current three-game win streak and strong recent performance (1.77 GAA, .934 SV% over last nine) make him a notable waiver-wire target.
David Rittich will defend the home crease for the New York Islanders against the Florida Panthers on Sunday. This marks Rittich's first start since the Olympic break and comes in the second half of a back-to-back set. He has seen limited playing time recently, with a 2-4-1 record, a 3.29 goals-against average, and an .844 save percentage in seven appearances since the start of the calendar year.
Devin Cooley will be the starting goaltender for the Calgary Flames on Sunday against the Anaheim Ducks. This marks Cooley's first start since the Olympic break. The 28-year-old netminder has a 7-6-3 record with a 2.27 GAA and a .921 save percentage this season. The Ducks, who have the league's 13th-ranked offense, present a challenge for Cooley.
Joel Hofer has been named the starting goaltender for the St. Louis Blues' game against the Minnesota Wild on Sunday. This start continues the Blues' 50-50 split in net over their last 10 games between Hofer and Jordan Binnington. Hofer, 25, holds a 13-11-3 record with a 2.87 GAA and an .897 save percentage this season. He faces the Wild's 11th-ranked offense.
Filip Gustavsson will protect the home net for the Minnesota Wild against St. Louis on Sunday. The 27-year-old netminder stopped 44 of 45 shots in Thursday's 5-2 win over Colorado before leaving due to an illness, but recovered in time to serve as backup Friday. This season, Gustavsson holds a 21-9-6 record with a 2.60 GAA and a .909 save percentage across 37 appearances. St. Louis ranks 28th in the league with 2.58 goals per game.
Arvid Soderblom led the Chicago Blackhawks out for warmups and will start Sunday's game against the Mammoth, marking his first appearance since Jan. 29, a span of six games. The 26-year-old netminder, who is 5-9-2 on the season with a 3.84 GAA and an .874 save percentage, will be looking for his first win since Jan. 4. This start comes on the second night of a back-to-back for the Blackhawks.
Karel Vejmelka will patrol the home crease for the Utah Mammoth against Chicago on Sunday. He is coming off a 21-save performance in Friday's 5-2 win over Minnesota. The netminder holds a 28-15-2 record this campaign with a 2.60 GAA, a .901 save percentage, and one shutout through 46 appearances. Chicago sits 26th in the league with 2.61 goals per game this season.
Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone exited Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins due to an undisclosed injury and will not return. He logged only 6:06 of ice time before his departure. Stone has accumulated 21 goals and 60 points in 43 appearances this season. Braeden Bowman stepped in to replace him on the top line for the Golden Knights.
Alex Nedeljkovic is confirmed as the starting goaltender for the San Jose Sharks in Sunday's game against the Jets, as reported by Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now. This outing marks Nedeljkovic's first start since late January and his initial appearance following the post-Olympic break schedule, coming as the Sharks play the second game of a back-to-back. The 30-year-old netminder enters Sunday's contest with a season record of 10-9-2, a 2.91 goals-against average, and an .899 save percentage. He will be challenged by a Jets offense that currently ranks 24th in the league, averaging 2.86 goals per game.
Adin Hill is confirmed to start in goal for the Vegas Golden Knights against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday. He recently made 15 saves in Wednesday's 6-4 win over the Kings. This season, Hill holds a 5-3-3 record with a 3.34 GAA and an .865 save percentage across 13 appearances. The Penguins, who rank sixth in the league with 3.40 goals per game, present a significant challenge for Hill as he looks to bolster his campaign statistics.
Zach Werenski extended his point streak to nine games, setting a Columbus Blue Jackets franchise record for defensemen, despite Saturday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Islanders. In that game, he contributed two assists, five shots, and two hits. These helpers increased his season totals to 45 assists and 65 points, along with 195 shots on goal and 68 blocked shots through 54 games. Since December 11, the 28-year-old blueliner has amassed 35 points in 24 games, being held scoreless only twice, strengthening his Norris Trophy candidacy.
St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas (leg) was activated from injured reserve Sunday and is expected to return to the lineup against Minnesota. This marks his return after a 13-game absence. Prior to his injury, Thomas had accumulated 11 goals, 33 points, 60 shots on net, and 23 blocked shots across 42 appearances this season, providing a significant boost to the Blues' offense.
Edmonton Oilers blueliner Evan Bouchard continued his exceptional offensive surge with a goal and two assists, including a power-play helper, in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Sharks. Since the Olympics, Bouchard has tallied two goals and six points in three games, contributing to an impressive run of six goals and 21 points over his last 10 contests. His 69 points (17 goals, 52 assists) through 61 games this season already surpasses his 2024-25 total of 67 points in 82 games, propelling him past Cale Makar and Zach Werenski to claim the NHL scoring lead among defensemen.
