October 30, 2025
Chicago Blackhawks right wing Ilya Mikheyev (upper body) is a game-time decision for Thursday's tilt against the Winnipeg Jets. He could be out for a second consecutive contest due to an upper-body injury. So far this season, Mikheyev has been effective for Chicago, picking up five points (three goals, two assists) in nine games, while recording eight hits and a plus-five rating. If Mikheyev is cleared for action, he is expected to skate in a third-line role next to Ryan Donato and Jason Dickinson. Mikheyev is not an appealing fantasy target due to his lack of power-play time and inconsistent offensive production.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
October 30, 2025
Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson (lower body) was placed on Injured Reserve on Thursday. The Swedish netminder "tweaked" something during Wednesday's practice and is now set to spend at least one week on the sidelines. In four starts this season, Ersson has compiled a 2-1-1 record, while allowing 3.08 goals with a .876 save percentage. Dan Vladar will be in the Flyers net on Thursday against the Nashville Predators, with Aleksei Kolosov serving as his backup after being recalled from the minors. In 2025-26, Vladar has been a strong fantasy option, producing a 1.81 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage, while going 3-2-0.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
October 30, 2025
New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov (upper body) has been cleared to return to the lineup on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes. He has missed the past five games due to an upper-body injury. Romanov's return adds a big presence on the Islanders' blue line. In four outings this season, the Russian rearguard has recorded 15 hits and 12 blocks. However, he is still looking for his first points of the campaign. Marshall Warren will exit the lineup to make room for Romanov, who will team up with Tony DeAngelo on the third defensive pairing.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
October 30, 2025
Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz (upper body) will sit out a third consecutive game on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Dallas has had some bad luck with injuries early this season, and the team lost Hintz last week. The Finnish forward landed on the shelf after collecting one goal and seven assists in eight games. During Hintz's absence, Tyler Seguin has been elevated to the top-line center position. He scored the only goal in Tuesday's 1-0 win over the Washington Capitals. However, Seguin has generally struggled this season. Through 10 games in 2025-26, the former All-Star has recorded five points (three goals and two assists).
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
October 30, 2025
Dallas Stars forward Matt Duchene (upper body) will miss a fifth straight game on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The veteran is battling to overcome an upper-body injury, which has limited him to only four appearances this campaign. Dallas is also set to remain without Roope Hintz (undisclosed) on Thursday, leaving the team without two key pieces of the offense. As a result of the injuries, Sam Steel has landed on the first line, while Tyler Seguin and Wyatt Johnston are filling the top-six center positions.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
October 30, 2025
Colorado Avalanche forward Martin Necas has agreed to an eight-year, $92 million contract extension with the team. This marks a significant pay raise for Necas, who is currently finishing up a two-year, $13 million deal. A source told ESPN's Emily Kaplan that Necas will earn $60.4 million in signing bonuses while having a full no-trade clause in the first seven years of his new contract. Necas has just started his first full season in Denver and has shown off hot form, registering 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in 11 contests. He became a point-per-game player last season and looks set to maintain the scoring pace throughout 2025-26.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
October 30, 2025
New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes. Islanders head coach Patrick Roy announced that he will bench Barzal after he was late to the rink on Thursday morning. Currently, Barzal is tied for second in scoring on the Islanders squad with eight points (two goals, six assists) in nine games. Calum Ritchie will come into the lineup as Barzal's replacement, making his NHL debut. He has tallied one goal and two assists in three AHL outings this season.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
October 30, 2025
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski contributed a goal and assist in a dominant 6-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night. He fired in Columbus' second goal and collected a helper on Cole Sillinger's game-winning goal. This marks Werenski's second consecutive multi-point game, bringing his career total to 82, which ties him with Boone Jenner for the second-most in franchise history. Rick Nash holds the record with 137 multi-point games. It's been a strong start to the season for Werenski, who has registered eight points (three goals, five assists) in 10 games, along with 36 shots, 17 blocks, and a plus-nine rating.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
October 30, 2025
Columbus Blue Jackets forward Charlie Coyle had an incredible outing against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday, racking up four assists in a 6-3 victory. He set a record as the third player in Blue Jackets history to post four primary assists in a game, and the first to do so in eight years. Coyle's linemates, Mathieu Olivier and Cole Sillinger, fully capitalized on his playmaking skills, combining for three goals and seven points. On Wednesday, Coyle doubled his points total for the season and now has eight points (one goal and seven assists) through 10 games. He will aim to get on the score sheet in consecutive games for only the second time this season when the Blue Jackets face the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
October 30, 2025
Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares scored his 500th career goal in Wednesday's 6-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. It was a tough night for him, as Tavares went minus-three for the contest, but he reached a landmark goal in the third period. Tavares is the 49th NHLer all-time with 500 career regular-season goals. Previously, Mats Sundin was the only player to reach the milestone as a member of the Maple Leafs. Six of Tavares' goals have come this campaign as he has enjoyed some good early-season form. In 11 outings, the veteran star has also dished out eight assists. Tavares will bring a six-game point streak with him into Saturday's tilt against the Philadelphia Flyers.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
October 30, 2025
Edmonton Oilers winger Zach Hyman (wrist) will have his season debut further delayed. Last week, Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said that Hyman was targeting a return to action around Nov. 1. "We said it was bare minimum on Nov. 1, but it won't be Nov. 1, it'll be at least a week after that," Knoblauch told reporters on Wednesday. "We want him back and he looks ready, but obviously we're looking at long picture and making sure we don't have any setbacks." Hyman has been labeled week-to-week. Once he's ready to return, Andrew Mangiapane will have to make way for Hyman on Edmonton's first line.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
October 30, 2025
St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas (upper body) is considered doubtful for Thursday's matchup against the Vancouver Canucks, Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic reports. If he can't return from an upper-body injury, Thomas would miss a third consecutive game. Thomas has been a bit quiet so far this season, recording six points (one goal, five assists) in eight games. Pius Suter, who has tallied five points (three goals, two assists) in 10 appearances, has moved up in the lineup to fill in for Thomas in the top six. He's managed only one assist with two shots and a minus-two rating in the two games Thomas has missed.
--Taavi PailkSource: Jeremy Rutherford
October 30, 2025
Florida Panthers winger Brad Marchand (personal) is set to rejoin the team for Saturday's contest against the Dallas Stars. Earlier this week, he took a leave of absence for personal reasons. Marchand has been on fire this season, leading the Panthers with 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 10 appearances. In Marchand's absence, Mackie Samoskevich skated on the second line during Tuesday's game against the Anaheim Ducks. For Saturday's matchup, Samoskevich will move down in the lineup, but he remains a player to watch in fantasy leagues. The 22-year-old features heaviliy on the power play and is currently Florida's third-leading scorer, with seven points (two goals and five assists) in 11 games.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
October 29, 2025
Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson (undisclosed) missed Wednesday's practice, putting his status in doubt for Thursday's affair against the Nashville Predators. "He warmed up and he tweaked something," Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet said Wednesday. "It's a day-to-day thing. We'll re-evaluate [Thursday]. I don't think it's major. Just kind of tweaked something." Ersson has started the last two games for Philadelphia, winning both and bringing his season record to 2-1-1. He has a goals-against average of 3.08 and a save percentage of .876. Losing Ersson would be a blow for the Flyers, but they have another capable goaltender in Dan Vladar, who has actually been in better form this season. The Czech netminder holds a 3-2-0 record, with a goals-against average of 1.81 and a save percentage of .932.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
October 29, 2025
Buffalo Sabres forward Jordan Greenway (lower body) is expected to make his season debut on Thursday versus the Boston Bruins. The power forward has been practicing since Oct. 14 and is now ready for game action. During Wednesday's practice, Greenway skated with Jason Zucker and Jack Quinn. The two wingers have scored a combined 12 points this season, and their good form may help Greenway make a productive start to his campaign. Last season, Greenway had a minimal offensive impact, recording only eight points (three goals and five assists) in 34 contests.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
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