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Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Philipp Grubauer will protect the road net for the Seattle Kraken versus the Blues on Thursday, Matthew DeFranks of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Grubauer, 34, will handle the second half of a back-to-back set. He went 2-2 over four appearances for Germany during the Olympics. The Kraken's distribution of work between Grubauer and Joey Daccord was unpredictable before the break, and their future crease share remains unclear.
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Emil Andrae will return to the lineup against the Rangers after being a healthy scratch for six games. The 24-year-old, praised for his puck-moving and offensive assertiveness, will get a chance to prove his consistency and potentially earn penalty-killing time, which head coach Rick Tocchet highlighted as a key factor in his temporary removal from the lineup. This return marks a critical developmental checkpoint for Andrae.
Ottawa Senators' top scorer Tim Stutzle, who represented Germany in the Olympics, was a game-time decision for Thursday's game against Detroit due to the flu and physical exhaustion. Despite missing practice since his Olympics ended, he is expected to play. Stutzle has 28 goals and 61 points in 57 games this season and is projected to play with Drake Batherson and Claude Giroux.
Charlie McAvoy is expected to play Thursday for the Boston Bruins against the Blue Jackets, confirmed after returning from the Olympics. He is anticipated to log top-pairing minutes and power-play time. His presence on the ice for warmups solidifies his return. (230 characters)
Brandon Bussi will start in goal for the Carolina Hurricanes at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday. Bussi enters this game having won his last seven starts, allowing only 12 goals on 152 shots (.921 save percentage) before the Olympic break. This matchup against the hot Lightning team presents a high-stakes challenge for Bussi.
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider, who led Team Germany in Olympic ice time, expressed excitement to return to NHL action. With 24 crucial games remaining, including many against divisional opponents, Seider emphasized the need for consistent play to secure a playoff spot, stating, 'You can separate in those situations, and that's exactly what we had to do.'
Joseph Woll is slated to start in goal for the Toronto Maple Leafs on the road against the Florida Panthers on Thursday. This marks his return after the Olympic break, having not played since February 2nd. Woll has secured wins in his last two starts, stopping 56 of 60 shots. His season record stands at 13-7-4 with a 2.92 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage over 25 games. Florida, meanwhile, was struggling prior to the break, losing five of their last six contests.
Darcy Kuemper is slated to start in goal for the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers. This comes after Kuemper struggled heading into the Olympic break, posting a 2-2-0 record with a 3.37 goals-against average and an .866 save percentage in his last five games. He faces a challenging matchup against an Oilers team that ranks fourth in the NHL in goals per game.
Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy, a pending unrestricted free agent, is a potential trade target for the Buffalo Sabres. The 32-year-old veteran, who has 12 points (4 goals, 8 assists) in 57 games this season, could provide blueline reinforcement. Speculation suggests he might cost the Sabres a 2027 second-round pick, with the price for right-shot blueliners expected to rise as the trade deadline approaches.
Spencer Knight has been named the starting goaltender for Thursday's road game against the Nashville Predators. This marks Knight's return to action following the Olympic break. In his last five appearances before the break, Knight posted a 1-3-1 record with a 3.18 goals-against average and an .864 save percentage.
Mitch Marner is expected to be back in action for the Vegas Golden Knights versus Washington on Friday. Marner was on a five-game point streak prior to the Olympic break, with four goals and two assists. The 28-year-old is anticipated to return to a top-six role and rejoin the No. 1 power-play unit.
Mark Stone is slated to return to the Vegas Golden Knights lineup for Friday's game against the Capitals. Stone, who did not play Wednesday after participating in the 2026 Winter Olympics, should rejoin the team ahead of the matchup. This season, Stone has recorded 21 goals and 39 assists in 41 appearances, averaging 19:33 of ice time.
Tom Wilson, recovering from an illness, will be available for the Washington Capitals' game against the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday. Wilson had been performing well offensively before the Olympic break, with one goal and six assists in his last nine games. With 49 points in 50 games this season, he is on pace to exceed 60 points for the second consecutive year.
Jack Eichel has been removed from the non-roster list by the Vegas Golden Knights ahead of Friday's game against Washington. Eichel was given an extra day to recover from his travel following the Olympics. Prior to the break, the 29-year-old center was on a four-game point streak with two goals and five assists and is expected to return to the top line and the No. 1 power-play unit.
Ilya Sorokin will start in goal for the New York Islanders on the road against Montreal on Thursday. Sorokin was the starting goalie during morning skate and will officially defend the net in the Islanders' first game back from the Olympic break. In his last five starts, he has a 4-1-0 record with a 2.01 GAA and a .930 save percentage.
Adam Fox (lower body) is set to return to the lineup for the New York Rangers against the Flyers on Thursday. Fox has only played in three of the team's last 30 games due to injury, including two stints on long-term injured reserve. In 30 games this season, the 28-year-old defenseman has recorded four goals and 24 assists and is expected to contribute significantly, including on the Rangers' No. 1 power-play unit.
Nashville Predators' netminder Juuse Saros is a game-time decision for Thursday's home game against Chicago. Currently second in the NHL with 44 starts, Saros holds a 1-1-2 record and a 4.75 GAA over his last five outings. If the 30-year-old doesn't get the nod, Justus Annunen is expected to start for the Preds. (400 characters)
Montreal Canadiens prospect Adam Engstrom will be sidelined for at least four weeks with an upper-body injury sustained in a recent Laval Rocket game. The 22-year-old Swedish defenseman, who had 33 points in 40 AHL games and appeared in 11 NHL games this season, was considered the first call-up option for the Canadiens. His absence is a significant blow to the organization, especially given his strong performance and his pairing with David Reinbacher, which was the team's best.
Montreal Canadiens' 24-year-old netminder Jakub Dobes is expected to start Saturday's home game against Washington. This follows Sam Montembeault getting the nod for Thursday's game. Dobes has been strong in his last seven appearances, posting a 6-0-1 record with an .886 save percentage, having not suffered a regulation loss during that span. (429 characters)
Columbus Blue Jackets' goalie Elvis Merzlikins will start Thursday's road game against Boston. Prior to the Olympic break, Merzlikins was effective, posting a 5-1-0 record with a 2.03 GAA and a .924 save percentage over his last six starts. He faces a challenging matchup against the Bruins, who rank tied for sixth in the NHL with 3.39 goals per game. (471 characters)
