January 24, 2026
Montreal Canadiens winger Alexandre Texier (lower body) will return to action on Saturday against the Boston Bruins. The French forward missed a couple of games earlier this week due to a lower-body injury. Since moving to Montreal in late November, Texier has seen a lot of success, posting 16 points (seven goals, six assists) in 27 outings. He's had four multi-point games in January, including his first career hat trick a couple of weeks back against the Florida Panthers. On Saturday, Texier will rejoin Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield on the first line. Joe Veleno will be scratched to make room for Texier in the lineup.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 24, 2026
Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (upper body) will miss his ninth consecutive game on Saturday night against the St. Louis Blues. The Kings captain is traveling with the team on a six-game road trip, but Saturday's game comes too soon for him. It's possible that Kopitar will return at some later point during the trip. With Kopitar out, Alex Laferriere is handling first-line center duties, skating with Adrian Kempe and Corey Perry. Laferriere has struggled to make an impact in the role, going five straight games without registering a point.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 24, 2026
Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty (illness) is expected to be back in the lineup on Saturday against the St. Louis Blues. The 2016 Norris Trophy winner didn't play in Tuesday's win over the New York Rangers due to illness. Jacob Moverare is expected to exit the lineup to make room for Doughty. 41 appearances into his 18th NHL campaign, Doughty has recorded 13 points (three goals, 10 assists), 64 shots, 46 blocks, and 22 hits. He hasn't scored any points in his last 11 appearances, marking the worst offensive slump of Doughty's career.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 24, 2026
Minnesota Wild winger Matt Boldy (lower body) is poised to rejoin the lineup on Saturday against the Florida Panthers. "Boldy, I would anticipate playing tonight," Wild head coach John Hynes said after the morning skate. Boldy, who has missed four games due to a lower-body injury, worked with Marcus Johansson and Joel Eriksson Ek during the session. The Wild have seen Boldy take a significant leap in 2025-26, averaging more than a point per game. He has contributed 27 goals and 24 assists in 48 appearances. The 24-year-old shares the team lead in goals with Kirill Kaprizov and ranks second to the Russian forward in points.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 24, 2026
Florida Panthers winger Brad Marchand (undisclosed) was activated from Injured Reserve ahead of Saturday's tilt against the Minnesota Wild, Alex Baumgartner of Five Reasons Sports reports. The veteran forward has missed seven games due to an unspecified injury. Marchand has been great for the Panthers this season, scoring 23 goals and 46 points in 41 games. With Matthew Tkachuk also back in the lineup, Florida is looking much more dangerous up front. Marchand is expected to slot into a middle-six role upon his return and will join the top power-play unit.
--Taavi PailkSource: Alex Baumgartner
January 23, 2026
New York Islanders center Bo Horvat (lower body) will return to the lineup on Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres. The Islanders have been without their top centerman for nine games due to a lower-body injury. Despite playing only once in January, Horvat remains the Islanders' top goal-scorer with 21 markers. He has also managed 12 assists in 36 appearances. On Friday, Horvat practiced on the top line with Emil Heineman and Jonathan Drouin and worked on the first power-play unit. With Horvat back in the lineup, Jean-Gabriel Pageau will drop down to the third line.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 23, 2026
St. Louis Blues forward Dylan Holloway (ankle) won't play on Friday night against the Dallas Stars. Holloway recently returned from a high-ankle sprain, but he landed back on the shelf after making just one appearance. Friday's game will be his second consecutive absence. The 24-year-old has returned to St. Louis for a precautionary MRI and is considered day-to-day. Holloway has taken a big step backwards this season, recording only 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) in 34 games. With Holloway unavailable, Jonatan Berggren has moved to the first line. The Blues' attack will also have Mathieu Joseph (elbow) back from a seven-game absence on Friday night.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 23, 2026
Colorado Avalanche forward Ross Colton (lower body) will miss Friday's clash against the Philadelphia Flyers. He sustained a lower-body injury during Wednesday's loss to the Anaheim Ducks and is considered day-to-day. Friday's game will mark Colton's first absence of the season. He has tallied 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in 48 contests. Joel Kiviranta (lower body) is ready to return from a 10-game absence and will fill in for Colton on Friday. The Finnish forward is having a disappointing season and shouldn't draw fantasy interest. Colton's first chance to return will be on Sunday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 23, 2026
Vancouver Canucks center Filip Chytil (upper body) will return to the lineup on Friday against the New Jersey Devils. He has been cleared to play after missing three months due to an upper-body injury. Chytil had three goals in six games at the start of the season before being hurt against the Washington Capitals on Oct. 19. The 26-year-old will slot into the second line, joining Drew O'Connor and Brock Boeser. Chytil will also hop on the second power-play unit. Earlier this week, the Canucks welcomed back another long-term absentee in Teddy Blueger, and their center depth is expected to get another boost soon with Marco Rossi's (lower body) return.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 23, 2026
Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish (upper body) will miss a second straight game on Friday against the Seattle Kraken. Due to an upper-body injury, McTavish was a late scratch on Wednesday against the Colorado Avalanche. Unfortunately, he will be out for another game on Friday night and is likely to miss more time after traveling back to Anaheim while the team continues its five-game road trip. However, Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville is optimistic that McTavish can return to action at some point during the trip. With Leo Carlsson (thigh) also out, the Ducks are currently without their top two centers. Mikael Granlund and Jansen Harkins are expected to center the scoring lines against Seattle.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 23, 2026
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz (upper body) will make his long-awaited comeback in Friday's matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights. He hasn't played since Nov. 11, missing over two months due to an upper-body injury. In 13 outings, Stolarz has posted a 6-5-1 record this season. He hasn't been anywhere near his best form, allowing 3.51 goals with a .884 save percentage. To make a winning return, Stolarz must contain the NHL's sixth-best offense on Friday night. Vegas has an outstanding power play, helping the team average 3.33 goals per game.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 23, 2026
Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (lower body) will be in action on Friday against the Vegas Golden Knights. Initially, it was uncertain whether Ekman-Larsson would be available after he exited Wednesday's loss to Detroit early due to a lower-body injury. The Swedish veteran was in danger of missing his first game of the season. Ekman-Larsson has recorded 31 points (eight goals, 23 assists), 72 shots, 41 blocks, and 62 hits in 50 appearances. He's already surpassed his offensive output from last season and is on pace to record a second 50-point year in his career.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 23, 2026
Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes set up three goals, including Kirill Kaprizov's game-winner, in Thursday's 4-3 overtime victory against the Detroit Red Wings. The star blue-liner also helped Kaprizov net a power-play goal in the first period and assisted Mats Zuccarello early in the third frame. Amazingly, despite this being only his 20th appearance for the team, Hughes already matched a franchise record for the most three-assist games in a single season. It was his fourth hat trick of assists with the Wild. Overall, Hughes has posted 24 points (two goals, 22 assists) in 20 games since moving to Minnesota. He has finished six of his outings with multiple points, including three of the last four.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 23, 2026
Pittsburgh Penguins winger Anthony Mantha scored two goals in Thursday's 6-2 road win over the Edmonton Oilers. He provided the goals in the span of 22 seconds early in the first period. Sidney Crosby quickly added another one, giving Pittsburgh three goals inside 37 seconds against the team's former goalie, Tristan Jarry. These were Mantha's first goals since the turn of the year. He has struggled in front of the net after wrapping up 2025 with a three-game goal streak. Still, it has been a good campaign for Mantha, who sits on 34 points (16 goals, 18 assists) through 50 appearances. Should he maintain his current scoring rate, the 31-year-old would get to celebrate a new career high at the end of the season.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 23, 2026
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves recorded his first shutout of the season in Thursday's tough matchup against the Dallas Stars, finishing a 1-0 victory with 28 saves. Zach Werenski did the business at the other end. Greaves has become a solid option for fantasy managers as the season has progressed. Currently, he is on an 8-4-1 run over his last 13 starts. The 24-year-old has allowed two or fewer goals six times over that span. For the season, Greaves holds a 15-12-6 record, with a 2.62 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
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