About Taavi Pailk - RotoBaller
Vasily Podkolzin OK After Being Stretchered Off The Ice
Vancouver Canucks right wing Vasily Podkolzin has announced that he's "all good" after being involved in a scary incident in the AHL on Wednesday. In the Abbotsford Canucks' 5-2 victory over the Colorado Eagles, Podkolzin hit his head on the ice and appeared to have been convulsing after taking a hit from an opposition player.... Read More
Frederick Gaudreau Ruled Out For Thursday
Minnesota Wild forward Frederick Gaudreau is battling a lower-body issue and has remained behind as the team is about to kick off a three-game road trip in Philadelphia on Thursday. Gaudreau is typically a very effective bottom-six player, and he registered 82 points across the previous two campaigns, but the 30-year-old has yet to generate... Read More
Jack Hughes Logs Three More Assists On Wednesday
New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes kept the assists coming for the team in Wednesday's encounter with the Capitals, finishing a 6-4 loss with three helpers. He became only the third player in NHL history with three assists in a single period on consecutive days. Hughes has put up a true playmaking clinic so far,... Read More
Dylan Strome Scores Twice In Wednesday's Victory
Washington Capitals center Dylan Strome provided two goals as the team secured a morale-boosting 6-4 victory over the Devils Wednesday night. It's been a rough start to the campaign for the Capitals, but they were able to produce a three-goal first period with Strome hitting the second goal, and the team then bounced back impressively... Read More
Alex Ovechkin Tallies Two Points Wednesday
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin scored in a second consecutive game and tallied an assist as the team beat New Jersey 6-4 on Wednesday. Ovechkin, who played in his 1,500th career game, helped Dylan Strome on the score sheet in the first period and capped off the team's win with an empty-net goal. It's... Read More
Rasmus Sandin Injured On Wednesday
Washington Capitals defenseman Rasmus Sandin left Wednesday's 6-4 win over New Jersey early after sustaining an undisclosed injury. He logged 17:43 of ice time in the contest, leaving after taking a big hit from Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler. Sadin has been quiet to start the year, and an injury layoff would be a further blow... Read More
Cam Thomas Makes History With 36-Point Outing
Brooklyn Nets guard/forward Cam Thomas had a spectacular season debut Wednesday versus Cleveland, producing 36 points off the bench in a 114-113 loss. It's the most points a player has scored in a season opener off the bench since the NBA started tracking starters in 1970-71. Thomas completed the historic outing with 13-for-21 shooting from... Read More
Cade Cunningham Scores 30 Points With Zero Free Throws
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham showed in the season opener against Miami on Wednesday that 2023-24 could be a very special campaign for him as he registered a game-high 30 points in a 103-102 loss without a single trip to the free-throw line. Playing in his first regular-season game since Nov. 9, 2022, Cunningham notched... Read More
Kristaps Porzingis Has Historic Debut With Celtics
Boston Celtics forward/center Kristaps Porzingis got his career in Beantown off to a historic start with a 30-point effort in Wednesday's 108-104 victory over New York. It's the most points a player has recorded in his Celtics debut. Dominique Wilkins had held the record for 29 years with 25 points. Porzingis hit the historic mark... Read More
Victor Wembanyama Battles Foul Trouble In Long-Awaited Debut
San Antonio Spurs forward/center Victor Wembanyama had a tough time avoiding fouls in his regular-season debut on Wednesday against Dallas. He ended up playing only 23 minutes, finishing a 126-119 loss with five fouls. The limited playing time had a big effect on Wembanyama's numbers. However, he still managed to post a decent line with... Read More
Draymond Green Set To Sit Again Friday
Golden State Warriors forward/center Draymond Green (ankle) will remain in street clothes for Friday's battle with Sacramento. The four-time All-Star has made very good progress in his recovery from a left ankle sprain, but he will be forced to skip another game. Green's next chance to make his season debut will come Sunday against the... Read More
Jarred Vanderbilt Remains Unavailable Thursday
Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt (heel) will remain sidelined Thursday against the Suns. He hasn't recovered from a left heel issue that also limited him to just one preseason outing. Vanderbilt's injury has opened the door for Tauren Prince to begin his Lakers career as a starter, and he had a very impressive debut... Read More
Cam Reddish Probable For Thursday
Los Angeles Lakers forward Cam Reddish (foot) is considered probable for Thursday's matchup against Phoenix. The 24-year-old is nursing a sore right foot. Reddish provided decent minutes off the bench in his Lakers debut on Tuesday versus Denver, scoring seven points and registering four rebounds with one block. The former 10th-overall pick can add a... Read More
Alex DeBrincat Misses Practice With Illness
Detroit Red Wings winger Alex DeBrincat couldn't practice on Wednesday due to an illness, leaving him iffy for Thursday's matchup against the Jets. DeBrincat has had a dream start at his new hockey club, posting a league-high nine goals and notching 13 points in seven outings. Red Wings center Dylan Larkin has also benefited from... Read More
Alex Nedeljkovic Troubled By Lower-Body Injury
Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic suffered a lower-body injury in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Stars. He was able to get through the game and also tried to practice on Wednesday but left the session early. The 27-year-old gave up four goals on 34 shots Tuesday. It was his second start of the season after... Read More
John Ludvig Diagnosed With Concussion
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman John Ludvig has been diagnosed with a concussion and will be out indefinitely. The 23-year-old made his NHL debut Tuesday versus Dallas but had to exit the game in the middle of the second period after getting hurt in a collision with Dallas forward Radek Faksa. Ludvig appeared to have been briefly... Read More
Alexander Barabanov Out With Broken Finger
San Jose Sharks winger Alexander Barabanov has broken a finger and faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines. He was injured in Tuesday's 3-1 loss to Florida, and Sharks head coach David Quinn noted after postgame that he expects Barabanov to be out for "a while." Barabanov has gone scoreless in six appearances this season,... Read More
Hunter Shepard Starts For Washington Wednesday
Washington Capitals goaltender Hunter Shepard will be the man between the pipes in Wednesday's matchup against New Jersey. He will make his NHL debut as Washington completed a back-to-back set. The Capitals are forced to go with their third option in goal because of Charlie Lindgren's (upper body) injury. Shepard had an outstanding college career... Read More
Brett Pesce Ruled Out For 2-4 Weeks Following Surgery
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brett Pesce (lower body) is set to remain on the shelf for at least two more weeks after undergoing surgery. His official timetable for recovery is 2-4 weeks. Pesce has already been absent for Carolina's last two games. Jalen Chatfield has started to see regular action in his place, while Tony DeAngelo... Read More
David Savard Out For 6-8 Weeks
Montreal Canadiens defenseman David Savard will miss 6-8 weeks of action due to a fractured left hand. He was injured in Monday's matchup versus Buffalo, leaving Montreal without another big piece from the back after Kaiden Guhle (upper body) got knocked out of the lineup. Justin Barron replaced Savard on the first defensive pairing on... Read More
Adam Fantilli Logs Two Points Tuesday
Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli had a goal and an assist in Tuesday's heartbreaking 3-2 overtime loss to Anaheim. The 19-year-old picked up a power-play assist and scored his second career goal to help Columbus grab the lead twice, but the encounter ended in a disappointment. Fantilli became the fourth-youngest player in franchise history... Read More
Ryan Hartman Collects Five Points In Win Over Oilers
Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman tore the Oilers apart Tuesday night, matching his career high with five points in a 7-4 win. The 29-year-old potted his second career hat trick and delivered two assists. All of the points came in even-strength situations. Hartman had totaled only one goal and one assist through the first five... Read More
Jeremy Swayman Shuts Out Blackhawks
Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman stopped all attempts from Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday, posting his 10th career shutout with 23 saves in a 3-0 win. Only Frank Brimsek (16) and Tuukka Rask (11) have had more shutouts with the Bruins before age 25. Swayman hasn't put a foot wrong at the... Read More
Mikko Rantanen Racks Up Four Points Tuesday
Colorado Avalanche right wing Mikko Rantanen had a hat trick of assists and scored his fifth goal of the season when the team continued its perfect start to the campaign with a 7-4 triumph over the Islanders. The Islanders tried to become the first team to defeat the Avalanche this season and battled well, but... Read More
Tyler Toffoli Scores Fifth Career Hat Trick
New Jersey Devils left wing Tyler Toffoli showed the Montreal Canadiens what they are missing on Tuesday, netting his fifth career hat trick in a 5-2 victory. Toffoli, who skated in 89 games for the Canadiens a couple of years back, had a power-play goal in the third and wrapped up the hat trick with... Read More
Jonas Johansson Shuts The Door On Carolina
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Jonas Johansson celebrated his second career shutout on Tuesday with a 32-save effort against Carolina. The Hurricanes had Sebastian Aho back in the lineup but simply couldn't figure Johansson out as the Swedish netminder backstopped his team to a 3-0 win. Johansson, who is filling in for Andrei Vasilevskiy (back) at... Read More
Tage Thompson Tallies Three Points In Tuesday's Win
Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson came to life in Tuesday's matchup against Ottawa, recording two goals and an assist in a 6-4 win. He had a power-play helper on Alex Tuch's first goal of the season and scored the team's final two goals himself. Thompson, who had a monster year last term with 94 points... Read More
Bones Hyland Questionable For Wednesday's Action
Los Angeles Clippers guard Bones Hyland (ankle) is regarded as questionable for Wednesday's season opener against Portland. The 23-year-old sprained his left ankle in the Clippers' preseason finale against Denver last week. He was able to get through practice on Tuesday, but Hyland's status for the game is still up in the air. The speedy... Read More
Terance Mann Misses Opening Night
Los Angeles Clippers guard/forward Terance Mann (ankle) won't be in the lineup Wednesday versus Portland. The 27-year-old suffered an ankle sprain in Monday's practice. This is a very unfortunate blow for Mann, as Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue had just confirmed him as the fifth starter for the season. He was reportedly battling with Robert... Read More
Aleksej Pokusevski Good To Go Wednesday
Oklahoma City Thunder forward/center Aleksej Pokusevski (ankle) has been removed from the injury report, which signals that he's available for Wednesday's season opener against Chicago. The 21-year-old was considered a major doubt for the start of the season after he sprained his right ankle last month during a workout, but he recovered quicker than expected... Read More