February 20, 2026
Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (lower body) was back at practice on Thursday, Rachel Lenzi of The Buffalo News reports. The Finnish netminder has been out since Jan. 27 due to a lower-body injury. It looks like Luukkonen could be ready to return when Buffalo continues its season on Feb. 25 against the New Jersey Devils. Luukkonen has done solid work for the team this season, posting an 11-7-2 record across 20 starts. He holds a 2.73 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage. With Alex Lyon also in top form, the Sabres look poised to make a strong playoff push.
--Taavi PailkSource: Rachel Lenzi
February 20, 2026
Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey (undisclosed) will miss Canada's semifinal matchup against Finland on Friday. Morrissey was injured during the tournament opener in Milan, and it's unclear whether he will be available for selection on Sunday, when Team Canada plays either the Olympic final or the bronze-medal game. The Jets will also be sweating over Morrissey's status, as he's a key player for them. Winnipeg will restart the action after the Olympic break on Feb. 25 against the Vancouver Canucks.
--Taavi PailkSource: Hockey Canada
February 20, 2026
Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (lower body) won't be in action for Team Canada against Finland on Friday. He will miss at least one game due to a lower-body injury sustained during Wednesday's Olympic quarterfinal tilt against Czechia. Sam Bennett will take Crosby's spot in the lineup, while Connor McDavid will serve as Team Canada's captain. After Friday's semifinal, Canada will have one more contest in Milan, either the final or the bronze-medal game on Sunday. Whether Crosby will be cleared to play on Sunday is uncertain.
--Taavi PailkSource: Hockey Canada
February 19, 2026
Utah Mammoth center Logan Cooley (lower body) is practicing in a regular jersey, Cole Bagley of KSL Sports reports. With the Olympic tournament nearing its conclusion, NHL teams have started practicing again, and Cooley has been a full participant in the Mammoth's sessions. This bodes well for his availability once the season resumes next week. Utah will restart the action on Feb. 25 against the Colorado Avalanche. Cooley has been out since early December with a lower-body injury. Before he was hurt, the 21-year-old enjoyed a great start to the campaign, posting 14 goals and 23 points in 29 games.
--Taavi PailkSource: Cole Bagley
February 19, 2026
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Maxwell Crozier will miss approximately 10 weeks following surgery to repair a core muscle injury, the team announced on Wednesday. Crozier has been a solid contributor for the Lightning this season, recording 10 points (one goal, nine assists), 44 shots, 31 blocks, 38 hits, and a plus-seven rating across 34 outings. Crozier's projected recovery timeline means he will likely miss the rest of the regular season and could be sidelined for the start of the playoffs if the Lightning manage to extend their season.
--Taavi PailkSource: Tampa Bay Lightning
February 19, 2026
Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Kirill Marchenko (lower body) wasn't able to practice on Wednesday, Brian Hedger of the Columbus Dispatch reports. The Russian forward battled an illness before the Olympic break, missing two games, and he's now dealing with a lower-body injury. Marchenko leads all Blue Jackets forwards with 46 points (19 goals, 27 assists) in 50 appearances. Sean Monahan (illness) also missed Wednesday's practice. Columbus restarts the season next Thursday against the Boston Bruins. The absence of Marchenko and Monahan could lead to increased roles for Danton Heinen and Cole Sillinger.
--Taavi PailkSource: Brian Hedger
February 19, 2026
Anaheim Ducks goaltender Petr Mrazek (hip) had season-ending surgery on Tuesday, the team announced. Unfortunately, due to a hip injury, Mrazek must wrap up the 2025-26 campaign after making only 10 appearances. He was a starter eight times, going 3-5-0 with a 4.07 goals-against average and an .858 save percentage. Mrazek will come off a two-year, $8.5 million contract this offseason, leaving his future in the NHL uncertain. For the rest of the way, Ville Husso will be Lukas Dostal's primary backup as Anaheim tries to end a seven-year postseason drought.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
February 19, 2026
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman suffered a lower-body injury during pregame warmups ahead of Sweden's quarterfinal clash against Team USA on Wednesday. He was named in the lineup but didn't log any ice time as Sweden's Olympic tournament ended in a heartbreaking 2-1 overtime loss. There's no word yet on whether Hedman's injury will be significant enough to keep him out when NHL action picks up again next week. Just before the Olympic break, Hedman returned to the Lightning lineup after recovering from elbow surgery. The 2018 Norris Trophy winner has been limited to 21 appearances this season, recording 13 assists, 90 shots, 30 blocks, and a plus-two rating.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
February 19, 2026
Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (lower body) is day-to-day, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports. Team Canada hasn't ruled out Crosby for Friday's Olympic semifinal against Finland. Crosby appeared to have injured his right leg in Wednesday's quarterfinal victory over Czechia. Fortunately, it seems Crosby avoided a major injury. Canada's roster is strong enough to handle Crosby's absence, but it would be a huge setback for the Penguins if he were forced to miss extended time. Crosby has contributed two goals and four assists in four games at the Olympics.
--Taavi PailkSource: Pierre LeBrun
February 17, 2026
Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly (upper body) will be back in the lineup after the Olympic break. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube told reporters on Tuesday that Rielly is"good to go" after he missed a couple of games before the break with an upper-body injury. Rielly is set to post his fifth consecutive 40-point campaign in 2025-26. Currently, he sits on 31 points (seven goals, 24 assists) through 54 outings. Rielly also ranks third on his team with 74 blocks. Fantasy managers will hope that a few weeks of rest will help Rielly rediscover his scoring touch, as he's tallied just five points (two goals, three assists) in his past 15 appearances.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
February 17, 2026
Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren (lower body) was a full participant in Tuesday's practice, Sammi Silber of The Hockey News reports. He looks set to return to action after the Olympic break. Lindgren missed a few contests before the break due to a lower-body injury, landing on Injured Reserve. The Capitals will resume the season on Feb. 25 against the Philadelphia Flyers. Lindgren's 2025-26 campaign hasn't gone too well. On average, he has allowed over three goals per game (3.37) with a .884 save percentage. The 32-year-old has an 8-6-3 record and one shutout. After playing Philadelphia, the Capitals have a back-to-back scheduled, meaning we should see both Lindgren and Logan Thompson in action next week.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sammi Silber
February 17, 2026
Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson (lower body) will be available after the Olympic break, Sammi Silber of The Hockey News reports. The veteran blue-liner suffered a lower-body injury in Washington's final pre-break game on Feb. 5. However, Carlson practiced in a regular jersey on Tuesday, indicating he is ready to play when the break ends. Washington will return to action on Feb. 25 against the Philadelphia Flyers. Carlson is enjoying his best season in recent years, recording 46 points (10 goals, 36 assists), 115 shots, 84 blocks, and a plus-11 rating over 55 appearances.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sammi Silber
February 17, 2026
Dallas Stars center Radek Faksa (upper body) will miss Czechia's quarterfinal clash against Canada on Wednesday. The veteran forward sustained an upper-body injury during the preliminary round and will skip a second consecutive game. Before dropping out of the lineup, Faksa recorded two assists and two shots in three games, winning 61.1 percent of his face-offs. He will be a big loss for the Czechia team, which has only 11 NHLers at the tournament. Czechia's hopes of upsetting Canada will rest on David Pastrnak, Martin Necas, and Tomas Hertl delivering exceptional performances.
--Taavi PailkSource: TSN
February 17, 2026
Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell (illness) will be available for Wednesday's Olympic quarterfinal against Switzerland, Julian Gaudio of The Hockey News reports. The Finnish forward sat out the preliminary-round finale against Italy on Saturday due to illness. Lundell has recorded one goal, two shots, and a plus-two rating across two outings in Milan. On Wednesday, Lundell is expected to skate with his Panthers teammate Eetu Luostarinen and Kaapo Kakko of the Seattle Kraken. This has been a very effective line for Team Finland, as Luostarinen and Kakko share a team-high plus-five rating, and Kakko is also tied for the team lead in scoring with four points.
--Taavi PailkSource: Julian Gaudio
February 17, 2026
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi has signed a three-year, $5.7 million contract extension. The deal will keep Bussi with the Hurricanes through the 2028-29 season. Bussi, who has a $775,000 contract this season, was a waiver-wire pickup for Carolina early in the campaign and has surprisingly been one of the top netminders in the league in 2025-26. He is tied for third in wins with a 23-3-1 record and ranks second with a 2.16 goals-against average. Right before the international break, Bussi recorded his second shutout of the season. The 27-year-old rookie also boasts a .908 save percentage. Fantasy managers will have their fingers crossed that the in-season break won't affect Bussi's form. He has won seven consecutive starts.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
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