January 15, 2026
Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun (illness) will return to action on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. He has been unavailable for a pair of games due to illness. Chychrun ranks second among defensemen with 15 goals and has managed 32 points in 45 games. Over his last six appearances, Chychrun has managed only two points. However, he finds himself in a fantastic fantasy matchup on Thursday, as San Jose gives up the third-most goals in the league (3.58 per game). Trevor van Riemsdyk will exit the lineup to accommodate Chychrun's return.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 14, 2026
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (lower body) was activated from Injured Reserve on Wednesday. In a corresponding move, the team reassigned Trent Miner to the AHL. Blackwood has been unavailable for six games due to a lower-body injury. He will be an option to return to the crease on Friday versus the Nashville Predators. Blackwood leads all goalies with a 2.07 goals-against average and is tied for first with a .924 save percentage. He has a 13-1-1 record. The New York Islanders and San Jose Sharks are the only teams to beat Blackwood this season.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
January 14, 2026
Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (lower body) might rejoin the lineup on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks, Sammi Silber of The Hockey News Reports. Wilson was cleared for contact on Wednesday and logged a full practice. He has been out for five games with a lower-body injury. If he's ready to play, Wilson is poised to return to a top-six role and the first power-play unit. Despite missing time, Wilson remains Washington's leader in goals scored (22) and points (42). Additionally, he ranks first on the team with 110 hits.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sammi Silber
January 14, 2026
Winnipeg Jets defenseman Neal Pionk (undisclosed) was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday, retroactive to Jan. 13. The move came after Jets head coach Scott Arniel labeled Pionk week-to-week. The 30-year-old aggravated an undisclosed injury during Tuesday's win over the New York Islanders. Pionk has been disappointing on the offensive end this season, posting only eight points (two goals, six assists) in 40 games. Defensively, he has contributed 64 blocked shots and 84 hits. Colin Miller (lower body) and Haydn Fleury (upper body) are also week-to-week, meaning the Jets must currently maneuver without three defensemen.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 14, 2026
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale (upper body) was activated from Injured Reserve ahead of Wednesday's matchup against the Buffalo Sabres. The 23-year-old is expected to return from a three-game absence as Cam York's partner on the second defensive pairing. Drysdale is enjoying a good bounce-back campaign in 2025-26, recording 18 points (three goals, 15 assists), 45 shots, and 41 blocks in 41 games, with a plus-one rating. Last season, Drysdale had only 20 points and finished the year with a team-worst minus-32 rating.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 14, 2026
Los Angeles Kings right wing Corey Perry (personal) won't play on Wednesday night against the Vegas Golden Knights. Unfortunately, the veteran forward is dealing with an illness in his family and will be out for the third time in five games. Perry, who will turn 41 in May, is having a good campaign with the Kings, posting 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists) in 37 games. The Kings will use defenseman Jacob Moverare as Perry's replacement in the lineup. With Anze Kopitar (upper body), Joel Armia (lower body), and Trevor Moore (upper body) also out, Taylor Ward and Jeff Malott are projected to have top-six roles.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 14, 2026
Chicago Blackhawks winger Teuvo Teravainen (upper body) has been ruled out for Thursday's matchup against the Calgary Flames. He suffered an upper-body injury during Monday's defeat to the Edmonton Oilers. Teravainen has contributed nine goals and 12 assists in 45 games this season, notching 11 of his 21 points on the power play. While Teravainen will exit the lineup on Thursday, the Blackhawks are poised to get back Connor Bedard (illness), who missed Monday's action. Teravainen's first chance to return will come on Saturday night against the Boston Bruins.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 14, 2026
Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard (illness) returned to practice on Wednesday. Bedard was absent from Monday's game against the Edmonton Oilers because of illness, but his participation in practice suggests he could return to the lineup for Thursday's tilt versus the Calgary Flames. Bedard has finished three of his last four appearances with multiple points and leads the Blackhawks with 46 points (19 goals, 27 assists) in 33 games. The 20-year-old recently returned from a shoulder injury, playing in only two games this month.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 14, 2026
Montreal Canadiens winger Alexandre Texier signed a two-year, $5 million contract extension on Wednesday. He is currently on a one-year, $1 million deal, having joined the Canadiens in November. Prior to his move to Canada, the St. Louis Blues terminated Texier's $2.1 million contract. Texier has been a great fit in Montreal and recently scored his first career hat trick. In 25 games for the Canadiens, Texier has recorded seven goals and 16 points. He currently holds a top-line role and sees action on the first power-play unit, putting Texier in a great position to make a fantasy impact.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
January 14, 2026
Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl once again did the business against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night but didn't get to celebrate a victory, notching three points in a 4-3 overtime loss. In NHL history, only Jerome Iginla has tallied more points against Nashville than Draisaitl, who had an even-strength goal and two power-play assists this time in the matchup. With the effort, Draisaitl extended his point streak to five games. He has averaged two points per game during that run, posting five goals and five assists. In 47 games, Draisaitl has posted 67 points (25 goals, 42 assists), which puts him tied for fourth among all scorers this season. He's also second in the league with 31 power-play points (11 goals, 20 assists).
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 14, 2026
St. Louis Blues goaltender Joel Hofer produced a 33-save shutout against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night, backstopping his team to a 3-0 victory. Hofer became the first Blues goaltender with four shutouts in a season since Jordan Binnington in 2018-19, tying Ilya Sorokin of the New York Islanders and Jesper Wallstedt of the Minnesota Wild for the league lead. After an awful start to the season, Hofer began to pick up form in December and has enjoyed a 4-2-0 stretch. He has improved his record to 10-9-2 and has a 2.81 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage for the season.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 14, 2026
Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman recorded his first shutout of the season on Tuesday, finishing a 3-0 victory over the Detroit Red Wings with 24 saves. After dropping four consecutive starts in late December, Swayman now finds himself on a 4-1-0 run. He has won back-to-back starts and can aim for his second three-game winning streak of the season. Boston faces the Seattle Kraken in its next game on Thursday. Swayman improved to 18-11-2 for the season on Tuesday night. He has a 2.79 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 14, 2026
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski posted his fifth three-point game of the season on Tuesday night, helping Rick Bowness enjoy a winning debut as the team's new head coach in a 5-3 victory over the Calgary Flames. Werenski scored a power-play goal in the third period and finished with two even-strength assists. It was Werenski's 15th consecutive home appearance with at least one point. Werenski is now just three points behind Colorado's Cale Makar in the battle for the NHL's highest-scoring defenseman honors. He has recorded 50 points (17 goals, 33 assists) in 42 contests. Werenski could soon move past Makar, as Columbus will play six of its next seven games on home ice.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 14, 2026
Seattle Kraken center Chandler Stephenson (personal) was activated from the non-roster list and is available for selection on Wednesday night against the New Jersey Devils. Stephenson has missed the last two games. He should return to a top-six role against New Jersey. The 31-year-old has enjoyed a few hot weeks, becoming Seattle's third-highest scorer. In 42 contests, Stephenson has produced 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists). 15 of his points have come in his last 17 appearances. During that stretch, Stephenson has been held off the score sheet only four times.
--Taavi PailkSource: Seattle Kraken PR
January 14, 2026
Nashville Predators right wing Jonathan Marchessault (lower body) was shifted to Injured Reserve on Tuesday. He missed his 13th consecutive game on Tuesday night against the Edmonton Oilers. The 2023 playoffs MVP has been out with a lower-body injury, and it's unclear when Nashville will have him available again. Marchessault has been limited to 10 points (seven goals, three assists) in 28 appearances this season and carries an ugly minus-18 rating. Strangely, the Predators have been streaking without Marchessault, winning nine of the 13 games he has missed.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
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