February 27, 2026
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (not injury-related) is expected to return to the crease for Friday night's action against the Anaheim Ducks, Mitchell Clinton of the Jets' official site reports. Winnipeg started Eric Comrie between the sticks in its first post-Olympics game on Wednesday, giving Hellebuyck some extra rest after he helped Team USA win gold in Milan on Sunday. Hellebuyck had a great tournament with the U.S., but it's been a different story for him with the Jets this season. Across 36 starts, Hellebuyck has posted a 13-16-7 record. He hasn't yet registered a single shutout and holds a 2.79 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage. The three-time Vezina Trophy winner has allowed at least three goals in each of his last five starts, going 1-3-1.
--Taavi PailkSource: Mitchell Clinton
February 27, 2026
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Samuel Girard (lower body) didn't practice on Friday. The team announced that Girard is being evaluated for a lower-body injury. Girard, who was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche at the start of the week, just made his Penguins debut. He logged 17:53 of ice time in Thursday's 4-1 win over the New Jersey Devils, finishing with one shot on goal and four blocks. The Penguins face the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, and Girard is traveling with the team. This suggests he might be available for the contest. If Girard can't play, the Penguins will use Ilya Solovyov or Ryan Graves as his replacement.
--Taavi PailkSource: Pittsburgh Penguins
February 27, 2026
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky had a quality performance in Thursday's 5-1 victory against the Maple Leafs. The veteran goalie stopped 28 of 29 shots on goal and allowed just one goal in the contest, which was a power-play goal in the opening minute of the third period by Maple Leafs center John Tavares. Bobrovsky has struggled throughout the 2025-26 season, with totals of a 3.08 goals-against average and .874 save percentage through 41 appearances, but the two-time Vezina trophy-winning netminder is worth rostering across standard formats.
--Marko23Source: NHL.com
February 27, 2026
Florida Panthers winger Brad Marchand scored two goals in Thursday's 5-1 victory against the Maple Leafs. Marchand opened the scoring in the first period to give the Panthers the lead, and he added an empty-net goal with just over three minutes remaining in the contest while finishing with a plus-two rating. Marchand now has 27 goals through 47 games, which ties him for the team lead, while the veteran forward has totaled 52 points on the season and remains a valuable option across all fantasy leagues.
--Marko23Source: NHL.com
February 27, 2026
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Noah Dobson scored twice in a 4-3 overtime loss versus his former team, the New York Islanders, on Thursday. The goals were his 11th and 12th of the season, and he now has 40 points total on the campaign. The first goal was on even strength in the first period, and the second goal came on the power play halfway through the second frame. Dobson's next game will be on Saturday versus the Washington Capitals.
--Marko23Source: NHL.com
February 27, 2026
New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer scored two goals in a 4-3 overtime win versus the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night. The first goal came at 17:56 into the second period, and the following goal came just 55 seconds later. The rookie now has 18 goals and 23 assists in 59 games played this season. His next game is on Saturday night versus the Blue Jackets.
--Marko23Source: NHL.com
February 27, 2026
Minnesota Wild winger Matt Boldy notched two goals and two assists in his first outings as an Olympic champion on Thursday, playing a pivotal role in an impressive 5-2 road win over the Colorado Avalanche. The 24-year-old recorded two power-play assists and bagged a couple of empty-net goals. Boldy became the first player in franchise history to post four-plus points in back-to-back games. He is carrying an eight-game point streak. Boldy sits third in the league with 34 goals and is one of only nine players to record at least 30 goals and 30 assists during the campaign. After a career-high 73 points in 2024-25, Boldy already has 66 points through 55 outings this season and is poised to shatter his scoring record from last year.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
February 27, 2026
Tampa Bay Lightning winger Jake Guentzel recorded a hat trick of assists in Thursday's entertaining 5-4 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. His passing ability helped Tampa Bay erase a 3-0 deficit in the game, but Guentzel couldn't celebrate a victory over his former team. Guentzel is having a career year in 2025-26, posting 26 goals and 63 points in 57 outings. This could be his first campaign with 90 points. The newly crowned Olympic champion has been especially hot since the turn of the year, amassing 24 points (eight goals, 16 assists) in 18 games in 2026. This stretch includes nine multi-point performances.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
February 27, 2026
Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl had his third four-point game of the season on Thursday night, finishing an 8-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings with a goal and three assists. The German superstar potted a power-play goal in the third period to become only the fifth player born outside North America to record at least eight consecutive seasons with 30 markers. He has also recorded 54 assists in 57 appearances. With 84 points, Draisaitl is fourth in the league. Meanwhile, only his partner in crime, Connor McDavid (40), has managed more power-play points than Draisaitl (36). The deadly duo will look to close out the week in style on Saturday against the San Jose Sharks, who have a 78.7 percent penalty kill.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
February 27, 2026
Colorado Avalanche winger Joel Kiviranta (undisclosed) left Thursday's 5-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild midway through the second period. He was unable to continue after absorbing a hit from Wild defenseman Zach Bogosian. Kiviranta has played in only 30 of Colorado's 57 games and could miss time again. The Finnish forward has contributed two goals and five assists as a fourth-line grinder. Colorado is carrying Zakhar Bardakov as an extra forward, and he'll likely hop into the lineup if Kivirant can't play in Saturday's contest against the Chicago Blackhawks.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
February 27, 2026
Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (illness) was forced to leave Thursday's 5-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche with only 1:04 remaining in the third period. The Swedish netminder became ill during the game. Gustavsson put in a big performance, saving 44 of 45 shots. Jesper Wallstedt allowed one goal on two shots after replacing Gustavsson, who improved to 21-9-6 on Thursday night. With the Wild back in action on Friday against the Utah Mammoth, Wallstedt is likely to receive the starting nod. He has also seen a lot of success in the Wild crease this season, posting a 14-5-4 record.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
February 27, 2026
Los Angeles Kings right wing Joel Armia was limited to 4:46 of action on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers, leaving the game with an upper-body injury. Armia was one of the standout players at the Olympic tournament and was looking to build on that momentum. Unfortunately, he played only a handful of minutes on Thursday night and could miss additional time. Armia has totaled 10 goals and 20 points in 53 games with the Kings this season. Andrei Kuzmenko (undisclosed) or Samuel Helenius could replace Armia in the lineup on Saturday against the Calgary Flames. Kuzmenko is dealing with an undisclosed injury but was labeled day-to-day on Thursday and might be ready to play over the weekend.
--Taavi PailkSource: Los Angeles Kings PR
February 27, 2026
Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty suffered a lower-body injury in Thursday's 8-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. He was limited to 15:15 of ice time, exiting the action in the second period. The former Norris Trophy winner has been held scoreless in 19 of his last 20 outings and could struggle to reach the 20-point plateau this season. In 51 appearances, Doughty has managed three goals and 11 assists. The Kings complete this week's action on Saturday against the Calgary Flames, with Jacob Moverare ready to step in for Doughty if needed.
--Taavi PailkSource: Los Angeles Kings PR
February 26, 2026
St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington is not on the roster for Thursday night's game versus the Kraken. Goaltender Joel Hofer will get the start in his place, and Georgi Romanov will serve as the backup. Binnington is expected to rejoin St. Louis for Saturday's game against New Jersey. For the season, Binnington has a 3.65 goals-against average and an .864 save percentage.
--Marko23Source: NHL.com - St. Louis Blues
February 26, 2026
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood is receiving the start for Thursday's game against the Wild. Blackwood is in net for the second half of the Avalanche's back-to-back set after they picked up a win on Wednesday night against the Mammoth with goaltender Scott Wedgewood in the crease. Blackwood has been productive when healthy this season, with a record of 16-5-1 to go along with a 2.25 goals-against average, three shutouts, and a .916 save percentage through 23 appearances for the league-leading Avalanche.
--Marko23Source: Daily Faceoff
RADIO
