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NHL News

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

Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Sidelined with Undisclosed Injury, Misses Oilers' Road Trip

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Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (undisclosed) will not travel with the Edmonton Oilers for their upcoming three-game road trip. The 31-year-old forward, who posted 18 goals and 67 points in 80 regular-season games last year, along with 7 goals and 22 points in 25 playoff outings, remains a crucial part of the Oilers' supporting cast. While his 37-goal, 104-point 2022-23 campaign was likely an anomaly, he's projected for another 60-70 point season. Nugent-Hopkins' role alongside Zach Hyman and Connor McDavid is expected to continue, especially with new signings Adam Henrique, Jeff Skinner, and Viktor Arvidsson solidifying other lines. Historically, RNH has consistently contributed on the power play, recording 20-plus power-play points in four consecutive seasons, making it his greatest fantasy attribute. Despite past injuries and fluctuations in production, including a career-high 68 points in 2018-19, he's committed long-term with an eight-year contract and remains a solid fantasy option, albeit with expected regression from his career-best shooting percentage.

Justin Faulk Remains a Smart Add, Contributing Consistently for St. Louis Blues

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Justin Faulk of the St. Louis Blues continues to be a wise fantasy hockey acquisition. Despite jockeying for a position on the Blues' top power-play unit, his peripheral statistics, including hits and blocks, ensure his relevance in most fantasy formats. Faulk has experienced a significant increase in roster percentage since the start of November, indicating his consistent value. He is also noted as a trending player in broader fantasy hockey discussions.

Scott Wedgewood Continues to Impress as Most-Added Goalie, Justin Faulk a Trending Defenseman

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Scott Wedgewood of the Colorado Avalanche has emerged as the most-added player in fantasy hockey since the season's start, showing a significant increase in roster percentage. He is also receiving ample starts, turning the Avalanche's goaltending situation into a timeshare with Mackenzie Blackwood due to Blackwood's injury and Wedgewood's strong performance. Meanwhile, Justin Faulk of the St. Louis Blues is a consistently smart add, maintaining relevance through his peripheral stats like hits and blocks, even as he competes for a spot on the Blues' top power-play unit. Faulk has also seen a notable surge in roster additions since the start of November.

Kirill Marchenko Extends Impressive 12-Game Point Streak with Two Assists

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Kirill Marchenko of the Columbus Blue Jackets extended his point streak to 12 games by recording two assists in Monday's 4-3 shootout victory over the Canadiens. Both assists came in the second period, setting up goals for teammates Adam Fantilli and Dmitri Voronkov. Although Marchenko has not scored in his last five games, his playmaking ability has kept his streak alive, accumulating 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) over this span. This season, the 25-year-old winger has amassed eight goals and 22 points in 19 contests, continuing his development from a breakout 2024-25 season.

Maxim Shabanov to Debut Alongside Mathew Barzal for Islanders vs. Stars

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Maxim Shabanov will start on the top line alongside Mathew Barzal and Jonathan Drouin for the New York Islanders' game against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night. Shabanov returned from a 12-game absence due to an upper-body injury on Sunday and impressed coach Patrick Roy with his play, not shying away from contact. If Simon Holmstrom is unable to play due to illness, Maxim Tsyplakov is expected to draw back into the lineup, likely playing on the fourth line with Casey Cizikas and Calum Ritchie.

Ilya Sorokin Set to Start in Detroit, Reflecting on Rollercoaster Performance and Future Role

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Ilya Sorokin is scheduled to start in Detroit on Thursday, per Andrew Gross. After a brilliant 2022-23 season where he posted a 2.34 GAA and .924 save percentage in a career-high 62 games, dragging the Islanders to the playoffs, his 2023-24 campaign was abysmal with a 3.01 GAA and .909 save percentage, leading to him being benched behind Semyon Varlamov. His play suffered from deeper net positioning and poor tracking. Despite this, Sorokin is still considered elite, and his .909 save percentage remains above league average. He signed an eight-year, $8.25 million extension and is expected to be the Islanders' unquestioned starter for the rest of the decade, though Varlamov's remaining contract suggests a potential continued timeshare. The Islanders' blue line will be healthier, and Sorokin's 2024-25 performance is anticipated to fall between his recent extremes.

David Rittich to Start Against Stars, Coming Off Career Year with Kings

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David Rittich is scheduled to start in goal Tuesday against the Stars. He is coming off a career year in Los Angeles during the 2023-24 season, where he recorded a 2.15 GAA and .915 save percentage with three shutouts in 24 NHL games, posting a 16-6-3 record and starting two playoff games. This performance followed a mediocre 2022-23 season with the Jets (2.67 GAA, .901 SV% in 21 appearances) and a challenging 2021-22 season in Nashville (3.57 GAA, .886 SV% in 17 games). Previously, he served as a backup in Calgary and Nashville after an extended look as a starter in Calgary from 2018-2020. For the upcoming season, Rittich is projected for 25-plus games with strong ratios, making him a solid streaming option, despite the input data listing his current team as the New York Islanders.

Jesper Wallstedt Set to Start Against Carolina, Extends Contract with Wild

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Jesper Wallstedt will patrol the home crease for the Minnesota Wild against Carolina on Wednesday, as reported by Michael Russo of The Athletic. The 23-year-old goalie has been on a strong run, stopping 89 of 91 shots during a three-game winning streak, including shutout victories in his last two outings. Wallstedt signed a two-year, $4.4 million contract extension with the Wild in October of 2024. For the 2025 season, he holds a 4-0 record with two shutouts, a 2.10 GAA, and a .924 save percentage. He faces a challenging opponent in the Hurricanes, who rank second in the league with 3.63 goals per game.

Dustin Wolf to Start in Chicago, Coming Off Shootout Loss and Recent Extension

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Dustin Wolf will defend the road net for the Calgary Flames against the Blackhawks on Tuesday, according to Derek Wills of Sportsnet 960 The Fan. The 24-year-old goalie is coming off a 23-save effort in Saturday's 4-3 shootout loss to Winnipeg. This season (2025), Wolf has a 5-10-2 record with one shutout, a 3.01 GAA, and an .896 save percentage across 17 appearances. He recently signed a significant seven-year, $52.5 million contract extension with the Flames in September of 2025. The Blackhawks present a scoring threat, tied for sixth in the league with 3.28 goals per game this campaign.

Jamie Benn Activated from Injured Reserve, Set for Season Debut Against Islanders

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Jamie Benn (upper body) has been activated from long-term injured reserve and is slated to return to the Dallas Stars' lineup against the Islanders on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. The 34-year-old forward, entering his age-35 season, recorded 21 goals and 60 points in 82 games during the 2023-24 season, following a career-best 78-point campaign in 2022-23. Known for his physicality and power-play production, Benn is expected to contribute around 20-25 goals and 50-55 points this season, alongside ample hits and penalty minutes. His 2022-23 'Bennaissance' saw him achieve 33 goals, 45 assists, and a career-high 30 power-play points, fueled by a 17.4% shooting percentage. While his offensive output has fluctuated throughout his career, including a 2014-15 season where he led the NHL in points with 87, Benn remains a key veteran presence for the Stars, playing a mentoring role to younger talents like Wyatt Johnston.

Joey Daccord Activated from IR, Starting Tuesday Against Red Wings

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Joey Daccord has been activated off injured reserve and will make his return to the Seattle Kraken's lineup, starting in goal at home against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. Daccord, who missed five games, was the first goaltender off the ice at morning skate, confirming his start. The 29-year-old, a 2015 seventh-round selection, holds a 6-2-3 record this season with a 2.83 GAA and a .900 save percentage through 11 appearances. He signed a five-year, $25 million contract with the Kraken in October of 2024. The Red Wings enter the contest with a 2-2-1 record in their last five games.

Matt Murray Faces Six-Week Absence with Lower-Body Injury, Future with Kraken Uncertain

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Matt Murray (lower body) is expected to be sidelined for approximately six weeks, as announced by the team on Tuesday. The 29-year-old goaltender, who last played in the NHL in 2022-23 and missed most of last season due to bilateral hip surgery, was placed on LTIR in July 2023 and was projected to miss at least 10 games and 24 days to start 2023-24, with speculation he could miss the entire season. Murray's extensive injury history is a significant concern for the Seattle Kraken, who need reliability and cap relief. A two-time Stanley Cup winner with Pittsburgh, his career has been marked by inconsistency since being acquired by Ottawa from Pittsburgh and signing a four-year, $25 million deal, where he posted a 10-13-1 record with a 3.38 GAA and .893 SV%. While he showed flashes of brilliance, including a 25-9-5 record with a 2.34 GAA and .930 SV% in 39 appearances in a past season, his health remains the biggest question mark for the positionally-sound netminder.

Jake Oettinger to Start Tuesday, Aims for Elite Comeback After 2023-24 Dip

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Jake Oettinger is slated to protect the home net against the Islanders on Tuesday. The 25-year-old netminder experienced an "off year" in 2023-24, despite ranking sixth in NHL wins (35), his 2.72 GAA barely cracked the top-20, and his .905 save percentage tied for 25th among goalies with 25+ starts. His GSAx (goals saved above expectation) significantly dropped from eighth-best in 2022-23 to 50th last season. Despite this, Oettinger is considered one of the world's best young goalies, with two All-Star appearances and two top-five Vezina Trophy votes in his three full seasons. With Casey DeSmith as a "sturdy, but unspectacular" backup, Oettinger is expected to log 55-60 starts and return to elite form, with his best years likely ahead. His 2022-23 season saw him go 37-11-11 with a 2.37 GAA and a .919 save percentage over 62 games, establishing him as a full-time starter.

Jordan Binnington Starts in Toronto, Coming Off Career-Best Season for Blues

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Jordan Binnington will be the starting goaltender for the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday in Toronto. The 30-year-old netminder is coming off what was arguably the best season of his career in 2023-24, where he cemented himself as one of the NHL's top-10 goalies. He played in 57 games, achieving a 28-21-5 record with a .913 save percentage and an impressive 29.74 goals saved above expected (GSAx), ranking second in the NHL. Binnington and Joel Hofer formed a top goalie tandem last season and are expected to continue this in 2024-25, though Hofer's growth might lead to a 60/40 split in starts. Despite a career-worst 2022-23 season (27-27-6, 3.31 GAA, .894 SV%) and on-ice meltdowns, he remains the Blues' No. 1 goalie, backed by a six-year, $36 million contract signed in March 2021.

Darnell Nurse Faces Intense Scrutiny Amidst Oilers' Struggles

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Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse is under intense scrutiny from fans and analysts due to his slow start to the season. Despite playing over 20 minutes per night, Nurse has three goals and seven points in 21 games with a -8 plus/minus. Detractors point to alarming defensive metrics, a lack of offensive impact, and costly penalties. His large contract ($9.25 million per season) exacerbates the criticism, with social media discussions highlighting concerning statistics, such as being on the ice for 188 scoring chances against, the second-most in the NHL. The pressure on Nurse has reached a boiling point, with many questioning his role and future with the team.

Anthony Cirelli Cleared to Play Against Devils, Expected to Provide Consistent Two-Way Production

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Anthony Cirelli (upper body) is expected to be available for Tuesday's home game against the New Jersey Devils. The 27-year-old center is known for his consistent two-way play, typically recording between 0.44 and 0.65 points per game, translating to roughly 36-53 points per 82 contests. While he has an injury history, he has made over 75 regular-season appearances in two of his last three campaigns, mitigating concerns. Cirelli is projected for 40-45 points in 2024-25, along with over 30 PIM, 100 shots, and 60 hits, likely maintaining a positive plus/minus. Described as "Mr. Reliable" and a "Bergeron-lite" talent, his elite forechecking, possession, and off-puck skills make him valuable on the ice, even if his fantasy relevance is currently in the 45-50 point range. A 2015 third-round pick, he signed an eight-year, $50 million contract with Tampa Bay after posting 17 goals and 43 points in 76 games in 2021-22.

Elias Lindholm Joins Bruins on Road Trip, Poised for First-Line Role After Signing Seven-Year Deal

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Elias Lindholm (lower body) is set to travel with the Boston Bruins for their three-game road trip through California. Lindholm recently signed a significant seven-year, $54.25 million deal with Boston after an underwhelming stint with the Canucks last season, where he tallied just 12 points in 26 regular-season games following a trade from Calgary. The Bruins are hoping for the playoff version of Lindholm, who contributed five goals and five assists, including two power-play points, in 13 playoff appearances. He is projected to slot into a first-line role alongside Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak to start the 2024-25 campaign, which could potentially lead to a 40-goal season, a feat he has achieved once before, with a more conservative expectation of 30-35 goals. A durable two-way center, he previously recorded no fewer than 47 points in five years with Calgary and posted a career-high 42 goals and 82 points in 2021-22.

Charlie McAvoy Sidelined with Upper Body Injury, Misses Bruins' Road Trip Out West

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Charlie McAvoy (upper body) will not accompany the Boston Bruins on their upcoming road trip out west. This latest setback follows a season where McAvoy set a personal best with 12 goals but fell short of 50 points for the first time in three years, partly due to reduced power-play production. Despite this, the minutes-eating defenseman is expected to maintain over 24 minutes of ice time per game and is a strong candidate for at least 30 points, a threshold he has rarely missed in his seven-year career. He previously recovered from shoulder surgery that sidelined him for a month in 2022-23, a season that saw him post 7 goals, 45 assists, and a plus-29 rating. A season prior, he achieved career highs with 10 goals, 46 assists, and 56 points, including 21 power-play points. McAvoy, a former Norris Trophy finalist, remains a crucial two-way force for the Bruins' blue line.

Auston Matthews Targets Saturday Return, Doubtful for Thursday's Blue Jackets Game

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Auston Matthews (lower body) is targeting a return to the ice on Saturday, making him doubtful for Thursday's game against the Blue Jackets. General Manager Brad Treliving indicated the absence wouldn't be "too, too long." Matthews, recognized as the NHL's premier goal scorer, recorded 69 goals in 2023-24, the most since 1995-96, and is the only player with multiple 60-goal seasons in the salary cap era. Despite a high number of even-strength goals and some past injury history, he played 81 games last season, a career high since his rookie year. With five 40-goal seasons, a Calder, two Rocket Richards, a Hart, and a Ted Lindsay Trophy, Matthews consistently performs above a point-per-game pace. He remains a top-tier fantasy asset, anchoring the Toronto Maple Leafs' top line and power-play unit with his elite shooting and leadership.

Andrei Vasilevskiy Set to Start Tuesday, Eyeing Return to Elite Form After Injury-Impacted Seasons

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Andrei Vasilevskiy is confirmed to start in goal for the Tampa Bay Lightning at home against the Devils on Tuesday. This follows a challenging 2023-24 season where he won 30 games despite missing nearly two months due to offseason back surgery, finishing with a 2.90 GAA and .900 save percentage. While his recent stats were down, he showed flashes of his elite form late in the season and is expected to return to All-Star caliber play, remaining a top fantasy goalie pick. His 2022-23 campaign also saw him struggle by his high standards, posting a .915 save percentage and 2.65 GAA, and he later underwent back surgery in September that sidelined him for 8-10 weeks. Historically, Vasilevskiy has been a dominant netminder, earning a Vezina Trophy, Conn Smythe, and leading the NHL in wins multiple times, consistently delivering strong GAA and save percentages over his career despite a heavy workload. Fantasy managers should note his historical post-All-Star dip.