January 30, 2026
Florida Panthers winger Brad Marchand (undisclosed) missed the third period of Thursday's 5-4 loss to the St. Louis Blues. The veteran winger has been banged up all season, but he recently returned from a seven-game absence. Unfortunately, it looks like Marchand might land back on the shelf just four games after rejoining the lineup. When in action, Marchand has performed well, logging 50 points (25 goals, 25 assists) in 45 games. Ahead of Thursday's game, Florida had already lost Anton Lundell (upper body) from the third line. Lundell could be ready to return on Saturday against Winnipeg and replace Marchand in the lineup. Jesper Boqvist is another option.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
January 30, 2026
Detroit Red Wings right wing Patrick Kane had a historic outing on Thursday night against the Washington Capitals, becoming the NHL's all-time leading scorer among U.S-born players. Kane surpassed Mike Modano, reaching 1,375 career points with an assist in a 4-3 shootout loss. The 2016 MVP has managed 500 goals and 875 assists in 1,342 career games. Modano had held the record since 1997. It's an incredible achievement for Kane, who has notched 32 points (eight goals, 24 assists) in 40 outings this term. He has finished three consecutive games with an assist and can match his longest point streak of the season in Saturday's meeting with the Colorado Avalanche.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 30, 2026
Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (lower body) will be out for a week, Michael Augello of The Hockey News reports. The Finnish netminder suffered a lower-body injury on Tuesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Luukkonen will be desperate to make a quick recovery, with his Olympic hopes on the line. If he can make it back in a week, Luukkonen could be available for selection for Buffalo's final game before the Olympics on Feb. 5 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Luukkonen has posted an 11-7-2 record in 2025-26, forming a great tandem with Alex Lyon, who set a new franchise record with a 10th consecutive victory on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Kings.
--Taavi PailkSource: Michael Augello
January 29, 2026
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh (lower body) was activated from Injured Reserve and is set to rejoin the lineup on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. The veteran has played in just three of the last 36 games, missing each of the last 15 due to a lower-body injury. When in the lineup, McDonagh has made a mark at both ends of the ice, recording eight points (four goals, four assists) and 29 blocks in 18 appearances. On Thursday, McDonagh will join Erik Cernak on the second defensive pairing, and his return will also be a boost for Tampa Bay's penalty kill. Maxim Groshev will exit the lineup to make room for McDonagh.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 29, 2026
Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson (upper body) won't play in Thursday's contest against the Detroit Red Wings and is considered day-to-day. Thompson had his mask knocked off by a shot on Tuesday against the Seattle Kraken. He remained in the game but will sit out Thursday's action due to an upper-body injury. Thompson saw a lot of success early in the campaign and holds an 18-16-4 record. He has allowed 2.46 goals with a .912 save percentage and two shutouts. Charlie Lindgren, who is 7-6-3 for the year, will start on Thursday, while Clay Stevenson has been summoned from the minors to serve as the backup.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 29, 2026
Utah Mammoth winger Dylan Guenther (lower body) will be sidelined for a second consecutive game on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The talented forward exited the lineup at the start of the week due to a lower-body injury and is considered day-to-day. It's possible that Guenther, who leads Utah with 24 goals and has 45 points in 52 games, will be able to end his absence on Saturday against the Dallas Stars. Logan Cooley (lower body) is also nearing his return after rejoining practice this week. In the meantime, Barrett Hayton will continue to center the second line, while Kailer Yamamoto will be on third-line duty against Carolina.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 29, 2026
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (lower body) will return from a five-game absence on Thursday night against the Utah Mammoth. He will join Alexander Nikishin on the third defensive pairing and jump on the first power-play unit. Gostisbehere has had an impressive year with the Hurricanes, posting 32 points (six goals, 20 assists) in 35 outings. 10 of his points have come with the man advantage. Unfortunately, injuries have robbed Gostisbehere of 17 games. With the Mammoth's penalty kill operating at a mediocre 80 percent efficiency, Gostisbehere has a good chance to make a significant impact in his return.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 29, 2026
Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell (upper body) will skip Thursday's tilt against the St. Louis Blues. The Finnish forward suffered an upper-body injury in Tuesday's matchup against the Utah Mammoth. Initially, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice expected Lundell to be fine for Thursday's action, but he will miss at least one game due to the ailment. Lundell is considered day-to-day and could be back on the ice on Saturday against the Winnipeg Jets. Luke Kunin will replace Lundell in the lineup against Philadelphia, while Cole Schwindt will join Eetu Luostarinen and Brad Marchand on the third line.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 29, 2026
Boston Bruins center Elias Lindholm (upper body) won't play in Thursday's contest against the Philadelphia Flyers. He suffered an upper-body injury in Tuesday's win over the Nashville Predators and is considered day-to-day. The Bruins are set to promote Fraser Minten to the top line. The 21-year-old bagged an assist against Nashville and has collected 11 of his 26 points this season across 13 January appearances. As a result of Lindholm's exit from the lineup, Matthew Poitras will make his first appearance of the campaign on the third line. Poitras has flashed potential in previous years, but his 2025-26 campaign hasn't gone too well. In 39 AHL outings, Poitras has contributed eight goals and 16 assists.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 29, 2026
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin (undisclosed) will be in the lineup on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The Russian star appeared to have been injured in Sunday's win over the Vancouver Canucks, but he won't miss any time. On Sunday, Malkin scored in a third consecutive game. He has tallied 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 10 outings since returning from an upper-body injury. Malkin will remain on the second line against Chicago, while Justin Brazeau will replace Bryan Rust (suspension) on the first line. Rutger McGroarty has been recalled from the minors to join the third line.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 29, 2026
Ottawa Senators goaltender James Reimer saved 16 of 18 shots in Wednesday's 5-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche. The veteran netminder faced a difficult matchup but came through it with flying colors. Reimer has had a decent start to his Senators career, going 2-2-1 across five appearances. However, he has allowed 3.05 goals with a lowly .874 save percentage. The 37-year-old must definitely improve these numbers to earn more action now that Linus Ullmark (personal) is back with the team.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 29, 2026
Ottawa Senators forward Tim Stutzle recorded his fourth multi-point game of the month on Wednesday night, finishing a 5-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche with a goal and an assist. The German star helped Nick Cousins open the scoring in the second period and wrapped up the game with an empty-net goal. Stutzle has been hot during the latter half of the month, tallying five goals and five assists in nine games. He leads the Senators with 24 goals and 55 points in 53 contests. Stutzle and the Senators will complete the week on Saturday against a New Jersey Devils squad that has allowed four goals in three consecutive games.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 29, 2026
New York Islanders left wing Ondrej Palat had a productive debut for his new team on Wednesday, contributing a goal and an assist in a 5-2 victory over the New York Rangers. Palat scored on the power play to open the scoring and collected an assist when Emil Heineman put the fifth puck past Spencer Martin in the Rangers' net. Palat became the fourth active player to record multiple points in their Islanders debut. Palat started the game on the first line but was limited to 11:53 of ice time. The Czech veteran will try to terrorize the Rangers again on Thursday night.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 29, 2026
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski notched two assists in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, recording his fifth multi-point game of the month. Thanks to Werenski's playmaking, Charlie Coyle scored in the opening minute of the first period, and Kirill Marchenko netted a goal in the last minute of the same frame. With the two-assist effort, Werenski reclaimed the top spot in scoring among defensemen. He boasts 57 points (19 goals, 38 assists) in 48 games, putting him one ahead of Colorado's Cale Makar and Edmonton's Evan Bouchard. Werenski has tallied 17 points (five goals, 12 assists) in January alone.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 29, 2026
Philadelphia Flyers winger Travis Konecny (foot) is questionable for Thursday's matchup against the Boston Bruins, Jackie Spiegel of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Konency scored his third career hat trick in Wednesday's 5-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, but he injured his foot blocking a shot. On Wednesday, Konency took over the scoring lead on his team, boasting 48 points (20 goals, 28 assists) through 51 appearances. His potential absence on Thursday could give Matvei Michov a first-line role. Bobby Brink is also a candidate to step into the top six.
--Taavi PailkSource: Jackie Spiegel
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