February 2, 2026
Washington Capitals defenseman Matt Roy (lower body) has been cleared to return from a three-game absence on Monday against the New York Islanders, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports. The team has activated Roy from Injured Reserve ahead of the contest. Roy ranks second on his team with 106 blocks and is looking to post a fifth consecutive 20-point season. In 53 appearances, Roy has managed one goal and 13 assists. Washington's defense will also get Martin Fehervary (personal) back into the lineup after he missed Saturday's win over Carolina for the birth of his daughter.
--Taavi PailkSource: Tom Gulitti
February 2, 2026
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews (upper body) will return from a 13-game absence on Monday night against the Detroit Red Wings. He has been cleared to play after recovering from an upper-body injury. Toews will link up with his regular partner, Cale Makar, on the first defensive pairing. Sam Malinski will move to the third pairing. Toews offers defensive balance next to Makar, but occasionally also chips in on offense. He has tallied one goal and 12 assists in 40 outings. Additionally, Toews has blocked 58 shots and carries a plus-26 rating.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
February 2, 2026
Colorado Avalanche right wing Martin Necas (lower body) will miss a second consecutive game on Monday against the Detroit Red Wings. He was absent from the lineup for the first time this season on Saturday against Detroit and will miss at least one more game due to a lower-body injury. The team hopes to have Necas available for Wednesday's tilt against the San Jose Sharks. With Necas out, Valeri Nichushkin moved to the top line on Saturday, recording one assist in a 5-0 win. On Monday, Nichushkin has a chance to post a season-high with a five-game point streak.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
February 2, 2026
St. Louis Blues winger Jake Neighbours (upper body) will return to action on Monday against the Nashville Predators. He missed Saturday's loss to Columbus due to an upper-body injury. Neighbours is expected to join the second power-play unit and will skate with Pavel Buchnevich and Jordan Kyrou during even-strength play. It's been a tough season for Neighbours, as health issues have limited him to 42 appearances. He leads the Blues with 13 goals and has tallied 22 points. Although Neighbours scored in his most recent outing, he has finished 12 of his last 17 games without a point, making him an unreliable fantasy option.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
February 2, 2026
Boston Bruins forward Morgan Geekie notched three points in Sunday's 6-5 shootout loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2026 Stadium Series. With Geekie on fire and producing two goals and one assist, Boston jumped 5-1 ahead at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Raymond James Stadium, but Marcos Strum's team got careless with the big lead. After slumping for most of January, Geekie has regained his scoring touch, putting together a seven-game point streak. He has finished goalless only twice during this run. In 55 outings this season, Geekie has tallied 53 points (32 goals, 21 assists), leaving him only five points away from eclipsing his career-best scoring total set last season.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
February 2, 2026
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov missed tying the NHL record for most points in an outdoor game by just a single point on Sunday in a Stadium Series contest, recording one goal and three assists in a 6-5 shootout victory over Boston. Kucherov was feeling it all game, firing eight shots on goal. While he only got one puck past Jeremy Swayman in the Bruins' net, it was a vital goal in the third period, which extended the game. Two of Kucherov's assists came on the power play, helping the Lightning erase a 5-1 deficit. Kucherov has been producing silly numbers in recent weeks, finishing 15 of 18 outings with multiple points. This stretch includes six games with at least three points. As a result, the Russian star has started to sneak into Art Ross Trophy contention as the NHL's leading scorer. He has totaled 86 points (28 goals, 58 assists) in 49 games.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
February 2, 2026
Anaheim Ducks left wing Chris Kreider lit the lamp twice as his team beat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 on Sunday. The veteran forward produced the first two goals of the contest, logging his sixth multi-point outing of the campaign. Kreider had a challenging time in December, finishing the month with only four points. He boosted his production to six points in January, and his improvement in form appears set to continue in February. Kreider has cemented a spot in the top six and skates with the first power-play unit. He has recorded 19 goals and 30 points in 49 games across the season.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
February 2, 2026
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi had a below-par outing on Sunday against the Los Angeles Kings but still ended up on the winning side, making history in a 3-2 overtime victory. Bussi, who finished with a .846 save percentage after saving 11 of 13 shots, improved to 21-3-1 to become the goalie with the most wins through their 25 career games in NHL history. It has been a special campaign for the Sound Beach, New York native after he started the year as the third option between the sticks. Bussi has allowed 2.21 goals while logging a .906 save percentage and one shutout. In his next appearance, Bussi will be aiming for his sixth consecutive win.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
February 2, 2026
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere contributed two assists in Sunday's 3-2 overtime victory against the Los Angeles Kings. He had a power-play helper in the first period on a Jordan Staal goal and combined with Seth Jarvis to set up Sebastian Aho for the game-winner 1:25 into the extra frame. In late January, Gostisbehere returned from a lower-body injury and has been on fire ever since. Across three outings, the veteran has tallied three goals and three assists. Gostisbehere is among six blue-liners to average at least one point per game this season. He boasts nine goals and 29 assists through 38 outings. Gostisbehere also averages more than one block per game, further increasing his fantasy value.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
February 2, 2026
Los Angeles Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson (upper body) made an early exit from Sunday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. He sustained an upper-body injury during the first period, logging only 2:50 of ice time across four shifts. Anderson has taken a significant step back offensively this season, and a serious injury would be another blow for him. Following a career-high 24 points last term, Anderson has settled for nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 54 appearances. He has registered 77 blocked shots and 59 hits. The Kings carry Jacob Moverare as an extra defenseman, and he is set to enter the lineup for Wednesday's clash against Seattle if Anderson isn't healthy enough to play.
--Taavi PailkSource: Los Angeles Kings PR
February 2, 2026
Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli (undisclosed) left Sunday's Stadium Series clash against the Boston Bruins after logging only 6:25 of ice time. He suffered an undisclosed injury late in the first period on an open-ice hit by Bruins forward Mark Kastelic. Lightning head coach Jon Cooper called Cirelli's injury "a stinger" after the game, so it looks like he may have avoided a major injury. Tampa Bay has two more games to go until the Olympic break. Cirelli is set to play in the Olympics for Team Canada after impressing throughout the season. He has tallied 30 points (15 goals, 20 assists) in 49 contests with a plus-30 rating.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
January 31, 2026
Anaheim Ducks right wing Troy Terry (upper body) practiced on Saturday and is set to return to action on Sunday against the Vegas Golden Knights, Derek Lee of The Hockey News reports. The Ducks still need to activate Terry from Injured Reserve to get him into the lineup. An upper-body injury has kept Terry sidelined for 11 games. Despite his multi-week absence, Terry leads the Ducks with 29 assists and has 13 goals in 43 outings. He is set to slot into the second line and the second power-play unit on Sunday. The Ducks' attack could also get Mason McTavish (upper body) back against Vegas.
--Taavi PailkSource: Derek Lee
January 31, 2026
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (elbow) practiced on Saturday and is expected to rejoin the lineup for Sunday's Stadium Series matchup against the Boston Bruins. The star blue-liner has been out since Dec. 9 due to an elbow procedure. Incredibly, the Lightning have lost just five of 23 games without Hedman. Darren Raddysh has stepped up in a major way in defense. With Hedman returning, Raddysh will have to settle for a lesser role, but he will remain an attractive fantasy piece due to his offensive ability.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 31, 2026
Washington Capitals forward Connor McMichael (upper body) was placed on Injured Reserve and is considered week-to-week. The 25-year-old missed his first game of the season on Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes and won't return to action until after the Olympics. The injury will ruin McMichael's attempt to register his second consecutive 50-point campaign. In 55 outings, he has contributed eight goals and 23 assists. Ethen Frank moved to the third line as McMichael's replacement on Saturday. McMichael's exit from the lineup also opens up power-play time, as he averages the sixth-most power-play time on his team (1:37).
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 31, 2026
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang (foot) has been ruled out for four weeks. The veteran suffered a fractured foot and was placed on Injured Reserve ahead of Saturday's contest against the New York Rangers. It's unfortunate to see Letang dealing with another injury, but at least it came at a good time. Due to the Olympic break, Letang may end up missing only four games. Recently, Letang sat out his first two games of the season due to an upper-body injury. Connor Clifton replaced Letang in the lineup on Saturday, while Ryan Shea joined the second power-play unit.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
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