Player news from trusted outlets
Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen has received an automatic one-game suspension following his ejection from a second game within a three-game span. The disciplinary action stems partly from an incident where Rantanen hit New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov from behind, leading to Romanov's shoulder injury and subsequent surgery. Rantanen was ejected from that game due to the hit, which contributed to his automatic ban.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (Buffalo Sabres) will start Sunday's game against the Hurricanes, marking his first back-to-back starts this season and sixth overall. The 26-year-old holds a 2-2-1 record, 3.01 GAA, and .881 save percentage in five appearances. He faces a tough challenge as the Hurricanes, with the NHL's second-best offense (3.62 GPG), have scored at least three goals in their last five games.
Frederik Andersen (Carolina Hurricanes) will start in Buffalo on Sunday. He has lost his last three outings (0-1-2), surrendering 10 goals on 69 shots. This season, Andersen holds a 5-4-2 record with a 3.07 GAA and an .883 save percentage through 11 appearances. He will face a Sabres team tied for 14th in the league with 3.14 goals per game.
Chicago Blackhawks forward Andre Burakovsky (undisclosed) will not play against Colorado on Sunday, marking his second consecutive missed game. There is currently no definitive timeline for his return to the lineup, according to Scott Powers of The Athletic. Despite feeling slightly better, Burakovsky did not participate in Sunday's morning skate. This season, he has recorded seven goals, 15 points, and 26 shots on net through 18 appearances.
Zach Benson (lower body) has been activated from injured reserve by the Buffalo Sabres after missing 10 games. He is expected to return to the lineup Sunday against Carolina. Prior to his injury, Benson recorded eight assists, 16 shots on net, six blocked shots, and four hits in eight appearances this season. The Sabres made a corresponding move, returning Isak Rosen to AHL Rochester.
Mattias Ekholm scored a goal and added two assists for a three-point performance in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Panthers. He also registered three shots on net, two hits, and a dominant plus-5 rating. This marks his first multi-point game since Oct. 28 and his first three-point effort since March 18 of last season. Through 24 contests this campaign, the blueliner has two goals, 10 points, 49 shots, 48 blocked shots, and a minus-1 rating for the Edmonton Oilers.
Evan Bouchard recorded three assists, one shot on net, one blocked shot, and a plus-5 rating in Saturday's 6-3 victory over the Panthers. He set up Jack Roslovic for two first-period goals and contributed to Vasily Podkolzin's game-winner in the second. This marks his second three-assist performance in the last six games. Through 24 contests this season, the 26-year-old blueliner has accumulated three goals and 20 points for the Edmonton Oilers.
Jack Roslovic scored two goals in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Panthers, with both tallies coming in the first period as the Oilers built an early lead. He is currently on a hot streak in November, having accumulated eight goals and 13 points over 12 games this month. Roslovic is a key contributor as part of the Edmonton Oilers' top six forward group and their top power-play unit.
Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson continued his impressive run, scoring a goal on six shots, adding an assist, and going plus-2 in Saturday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Flames. This performance extends his goal streak to six games, during which he has tallied 10 goals. He's also on a seven-game point streak, contributing five assists. Robertson now has 28 points (13 goals, 15 assists) in 22 outings this season, along with 96 shots on net and a plus-9 rating, solidifying his position among the NHL's top offensive players.
Nick DeSimone scored the tiebreaking goal 7:32 into the third period, an unassisted deflection, securing a crucial 3-2 victory for the Utah Mammoth over the scuffling New York Rangers. This marked DeSimone's second goal and his first game-winner of the season, effectively snapping the Mammoth's four-game losing streak. He fired a slap shot off a Rangers player's shin pad to put Utah ahead, contributing significantly to their comeback victory.
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel delivered a dominant performance Saturday, recording two goals, including a shorthanded one, and two even-strength assists in the team's 5-3 win over the Capitals. Hagel was directly involved in four of the five goals, marking a season-high in points for a single game and his sixth multi-point effort of the campaign. He snapped a two-game pointless streak and now has 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists) in 20 appearances this 2025-26 season, maintaining his top-six role.
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby achieved a significant milestone, recording his 500th multi-point game with a goal and an assist against the Seattle Kraken. This feat makes him only the sixth player in NHL history to reach this mark and the third-fastest at 1,373 games, trailing only Wayne Gretzky (738 GP) and Marcel Dionne (1,262 GP). Crosby scored the tying goal and assisted on Evgeni Malkin's go-ahead goal, though the Penguins ultimately lost in overtime. He is now 13 points shy of tying Mario Lemieux for the Penguins' franchise points record.
Noah Dobson delivered a strong performance for the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, netting two goals in a 5-2 victory over the Maple Leafs. These markers, his second and third of the campaign, came late in the first and early in the second period. The defenseman now boasts 15 points in 21 outings this season, showcasing a rebound from his 39-point total in 71 games with the Islanders during the 2024-25 regular season.
Pittsburgh Penguins' 21-year-old rookie goaltender Sergei Murashov delivered a largely solid performance in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Seattle Kraken. Despite his efforts, Matty Beniers tied the game in the third period with a shot past Murashov, and the overtime goal was a shot from distance he was off-angle for. While hard to blame for the loss, Murashov would likely want the OT goal back. He continues to impress with his confidence, challenging shooters and showing no panic in net since his recall, making himself as big as possible in net.
Mackenzie Blackwood delivered a commanding performance for the Colorado Avalanche, making 35 saves in a 3-0 shutout victory over the Nashville Predators. Despite being outshot 35-26, Blackwood stood tall, making incredible saves throughout the game, including stellar stops on Roman Josi, Filip Forsberg, and Erik Haula. This heroic effort extended the Avalanche's winning streak to eight games, improving their NHL-best record to 15-1-5. Blackwood insisted he only needed steady minutes to rediscover his form, proving it with this statement game.
Thomas Chabot (Ottawa Senators) appeared to aggravate his upper-body injury during Saturday's game against the Sharks, tweaking something late in the third period and not taking another shift. Despite this, Chabot spoke to the media post-game, stating he 'felt great' upon his return to the lineup, which suggests the issue may not be serious. Fantasy managers should monitor his availability closely for Monday's game versus the Kings.
Daniil Tarasov (Florida Panthers) is slated to start Monday's road game against the Predators. Head coach Paul Maurice indicated Tarasov's relief appearance Saturday versus the Oilers, where he saved all 12 shots faced, served as a warmup for this pre-scheduled start. Tarasov's season record stands at 1-3-1, having allowed 13 goals on 144 shots for a .910 save percentage.
Brayden Point (Tampa Bay Lightning) exited Saturday's game against the Capitals with an undisclosed injury, with head coach Jon Cooper offering no immediate update on his status. Point attempted to play through the injury, sustained late in the second period, but was done after taking just one shift in the third. This incident, coupled with Nikita Kucherov's injury in the same contest, could leave the Lightning's offense short-staffed for Monday's home game versus the Flyers.
Aaron Ekblad (Florida Panthers) missed Saturday's game against the Oilers due to an illness, clarifying that his absence was not from a previously reported upper-body injury. Ekblad is expected to be fine for Monday's game in Nashville, though his status should be confirmed prior to the contest. The 29-year-old defenseman had not missed a game this season before Saturday, recording five points and a minus-5 rating over 20 appearances.
Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane recorded two assists in a 4-3 overtime comeback victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets, bringing his career NHL point total to 1,354. This achievement ties him with former Red Wing Brendan Shanahan and places him tied for 29th on the NHL's all-time scoring list. Kane is playing in his second full season with the Red Wings, and third overall, since joining the club as an unrestricted free agent in December 2023.
