October 17, 2025
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone continued his hot start to the season by providing three assists in Thursday's 6-5 victory over the Boston Bruins. The Golden Knights captain collected his assists in the second period, making an impact in all situations. With nine assists, Stone now holds the franchise record for the most helpers in the team's first five games of a season. Although he has yet to lit the lamp this season, having fired 15 shots on net, the goals are likely to come soon. In Thursday's win alone, the veteran forward had six shots on goal.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
October 17, 2025
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin posted a power-play goal in Thursday's 4-2 road win over the Los Angeles Kings. While this was Malkin's first goal of the season, he's had six assists already and leads the Penguins with seven points through five games. The 39-year-old hopes to bounce back this season after struggling for consistency last term. The early signs are promising, but it's important to note that Malkin had an even better start last year, with 11 points in the first five games, before his performance declined. Next up, the Russian veteran will face the San Jose Sharks, who are currently allowing a league-high average of 5.33 goals per game. This matchup offers Malkin a fantastic chance to further boost his scoring tally over the weekend.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
October 17, 2025
Ottawa Senators center Shane Pinto scored his sixth goal of the season in Thursday's 4-3 shootout win against the Buffalo Sabres. Lars Eller and Claude Giroux set him up early in the game, helping Pinto post a new franchise record for most goals scored through the first five games of a season. The 24-year-old shares the league lead in goal-scoring with Pavel Dorofeyev of the Vegas Golden Knights. It's an impressive feat by Pinto, considering Ottawa's struggles at the start of the campaign. Dylan Cozens is the only other player to score more than once for the team. Pinto has also recorded one assist, placing him at the top of the Senators' scoring charts with a total of seven points.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
October 17, 2025
Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield extended his goal-scoring streak to three games on Thursday with a two-goal effort in a 3-2 overtime victory against the Nashville Predators. Caufield tied the game at two with only 20 remaining in regulation and produced the game-winning tally with only three ticks left in overtime. This marks the second-latest sudden-death overtime goal in franchise history. After a scoreless performance in the season opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he finished with a minus-three rating, Caufield has now recorded a four-game point streak. He has tallied five goals and two assists, firing 16 shots on the net.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
October 17, 2025
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere helped to set up three goals in Thursday's 4-1 road victory against the Anaheim Ducks. He assisted Seth Jarvis on two occasions, including once during a power play, and helped Alexander Nikishin score his first career goal. Per The Canes Stats Brand, Gostisbehere is the first player since Wayne Gretzky in 1988 to record a season-opening four-game streak with at least one point and a plus-two rating. In total, the veteran rearguard boasts seven points (one goal, six assists) and a league-best plus-nine rating in four games this season.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
October 17, 2025
New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer continued his impressive start to the season with another assist in Thursday's 4-2 victory against the Edmonton Oilers. The 18-year-old rookie set up Bo Horvat for a power-play goal late in the game. Schaefer became the youngest blue-liner in NHL history to post a season-opening point streak of at least four games. Overall, he's just the seventh player to do it at age 18 or younger. Fantasy managers will be very pleased with what they are seeing from Schaefer, as he has totaled one goal, three assists, and 13 shots across his first four career games.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
October 17, 2025
New York Islanders center Bo Horvat potted three goals in Thursday's 4-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers, recording his second career hat trick. Horvat's markers turned a loss into a win for the Islanders, as the veteran forward scored the game's final three goals. He became the third player in Islanders history to record a hat trick with a power-play, short-handed, and even-strength goal. While Horvat has blown hot and cold at the start of the campaign, he boasts an impressive tally of five points (three goals, two assists) in four games. Additionally, he's averaging a whopping 5.75 shots per game, which adds to his fantasy value.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
October 17, 2025
Seattle Kraken center Frederick Gaudreau (undisclosed) left Thursday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Ottawa Senators in the second period. He was unable to continue due to an undisclosed injury after absorbing a hit from Senators defenseman Tyler Kleven. Gaudreau has started the season as Seattle's fourth-line center, tallying one assist through four games. The Kraken return to action on Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. If Gaudreau doesn't shake off his injury by then, it's likely Berkly Catton will make his NHL debut. He was the eighth pick in the 2024 draft and is coming off back-to-back 100-point campaigns in the WHL with the Spokane Chiefs.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
October 16, 2025
Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk (thumb) will be shelved for six to eight weeks after he had surgery on his right thumb, the team announced on Thursday. The Senators captain sustained the injury in Monday's battle against the Nashville Predators and will miss a second consecutive game on Thursday versus the Seattle Kraken. Following surgery, he's looking at a minimum 20-game absence. This is a huge blow for the Senators, who can count on Tkachuk to make a big impact on both ends of the ice. On Wednesday, Michael Amadio took on a first-line role against the Buffalo Sabres, and David Perron could also see more ice time in the coming weeks.
--Taavi PailkSource: Ottawa Senators
October 16, 2025
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Noah Hanifin (undisclosed) will miss a fourth consecutive game on Thursday against the Boston Bruins. Hanifin played in Vegas' season opener but has since battled an undisclosed health issue. Ben Hutton has entered the lineup during his absence and is expected to continue in a second-pairing role on Thursday. Hanifin's next opportunity to return will come in a special spot, as the Golden Knights host his former team, the Calgary Flames, on Saturday. On Thursday, Vegas also remains without forward Brett Howden (lower body), who will skip a second straight game.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
October 16, 2025
Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Akira Schmid will start Thursday's matchup against the Boston Bruins. Adin Hill (lower body) has received the green light to play, but he will only dress as a backup on this occasion. Schmid performed well as Hill's replacement on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames and will enter Thursday's clash with a 2-0-0 record. He has allowed 1.80 goals while posting a .929 save percentage. The Golden Knights are massive -240 favorites on Thursday night, making this a very favorable spot for Schmid.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
October 16, 2025
New Jersey Devils goaltender Jake Allen (cramping) has been cleared to face the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers, on Thursday night. Allen exited the previous contest due to cramping, but he now appears to be back at 100 percent. The team is going to need some big performance from him in the upcoming games, as Devils starter Jacob Markstrom (lower body) is expected to sit out at least a couple of weeks of action. Nico Daws will dress as Allen's backup on Thursday. Before exiting Monday's clash against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Allen showed off good form by saving 23 of 24 shots. He catches the Panthers at a good time, as Paul Maurice's team finishes a back-to-back and will play a third game in four nights.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
October 16, 2025
Anaheim Ducks right wing Troy Terry (personal) is expected to be in the lineup on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes, Zach Cavanagh of The Sporting Tribune reports. Terry missed the morning skate for personal reasons, but Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville believes he will play in Thursday's contest. Having Terry available is huge for Anaheim, as the 28-year-old winger has enjoyed a fine start to the season. With three games played, Terry has produced three assists. He operates on a line with Frank Vatrano and Mikael Granlund. Additionally, Terry is a regular on Anaheim's top power-play unit and has registered assists with the man advantage in back-to-back games.
--Taavi PailkSource: Zach Cavanagh
October 16, 2025
Dallas Stars forward Matt Duchene (upper body) will skip Thursday's action against the Vancouver Canucks. Duchene was hurt in Tuesday's 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild and will miss his first game of the campaign. His absence will likely give Wyatt Johnstone the second-line center role, with Radek Faksa also moving up in the lineup to join the third line. Meanwhile, Adam Erne is set to see his first minutes of the season. Duchene, who has tallied one assist and one goal in three contests this season, took part in Thursday's morning skate, so he could be back in the lineup very soon.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
October 16, 2025
Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (lower body) has been deemed a game-time decision for Thursday's meeting with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Kings captain is dealing with a lower-body injury and may have to exit the lineup after beginning his retirement tour with a four-game assist streak. He's had one even-strength and three power-play helpers. Kopitar's absence would boost Phillip Danault's fantasy value, as he will likely get a chance to join the top six. Samuel Helenius is expected to fill the gap in the lineup if Kopitar can't play.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
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