NHL Player News

Gatcomb netted the second goal of his career in Sunday's 6-3 loss against the Panthers.

Gatcomb's goal was the go-ahead tally in the second period before the Panthers scored four unanswered. The 25-year-old forward now has two goals and 40 hits across his first nine career NHL games. Over the last 15 days, only his teammate Casey Cizikas has more hits across the NHL. Gatcomb will need more ice time to be a trustworthy option in fantasy, but he is an exciting name to keep an eye on in banger leagues.

Pageau netted a power-play goal on four shots in Sunday's 6-3 loss against Florida.

Pageau's goal came on the power play halfway through the second period. The third-line center scored his 10th goal of the season Sunday, bringing him to 26 points, 86 shots on net, 104 hits and 32 blocks across 49 games this season. Pageau has provided consistent physicality all season, and his offense is starting to come around with four points over his last four games. He doesn't typically see much power-play time but can benefit fantasy managers in deep leagues who are looking for category coverage.

Rodrigues scored a goal and took two shots on net in Sunday's 6-3 win over the Islanders.

Rodrigues lit the lamp late in the second period to tie the game at three apiece. The 31-year-old forward now has 13 goals, 24 points and 99 shots on net across 54 games this season. He has seen an increasing amount of power-play time over the past month on Florida's first unit. With four goals over his last seven games, Rodrigues is a name to keep an eye on in deeper leagues and can continue to benefit from Florida's recent quality of play.

MacLean scored a goal on his lone shot attempt in Sunday's 6-3 loss to the Panthers.

MacLean's goal got the Islanders on the board and opened the floodgates in an entertaining second period during which the two teams combined for five goals. The 25-year-old center is up to three goals, four assists, 67 hits and 40 shots on net in 52 appearances. While he sees limited usage in his fourth-line role, he has points in two of his last three contests.

Barkov provided three assists and had two shots on goal in Sunday's 6-3 win against the Islanders.

All three of Barkov's assists were secondary passes, but his undeniable motor and playmaking ability left him in the right place to help linemates Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart light the lamp Sunday. The 29-year-old center now has 35 assists, 47 points and 100 shots on net in just 44 games. He continues to produce above a point-per-game pace and is riding a three-game point streak. Barkov is on pace for similar production to last season's 80-point campaign while centering Florida's top line and power-play unit.

Reinhart posted the game-winning goal to go with an assist and a plus-three rating in Sunday's 6-3 win against the Islanders.

Reinhart helped generate early offense for the Panthers by dishing the primary assist on Carter Verhaeghe's opening goal. The former then scored the game-winner late in the second period after maneuvering through multiple defenders. The 29-year-old winger is up to 31 goals, 28 assists, 59 points and 142 shots on net across 54 appearances this season. Reinhart is on a three-game point streak and finds himself ranked 13th overall in total points. His 31 goals are tied for second-most in the league with Winnipeg's Mark Scheifele, five back of Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl in the Rocket Richard Trophy race.

Thompson netted a goal on three shots while adding two helpers and a plus-1 rating in 13:39 of ice time before exiting Sunday's 4-3 win over the Devils.

Thompson was a force in limited action Sunday, but he departed the game after being on the receiving end of an illegal hit from New Jersey's Stefan Noesen in the final frame. Head coach Lindy Ruff said Thompson is "good" and passed all the necessary tests, while adding the right-shot center should be ready for practice Monday, but a rest day might be an option as well, according to Brian Koziol of WGR 550. Thompson is spearheading Buffalo in scoring with 26 goals and 48 points (11 on the power play) through 47 appearances this season. The 27-year-old will look to extend his point streak to four games against Columbus on Tuesday, as long as he's available to suit up.

Verhaeghe scored three goals, dished an assist and posted a plus-4 rating in Sunday's home win over the Islanders.

Sunday's performance was Verhaeghe's best offensively this season, as he tallied a hat trick on just three shots. This was Verhaeghe's first hat trick of the season and the fourth of his career. The 29-year-old winger has six points over his last two games with a plus-6 rating and 12 shots on net. Overall, Verhaeghe has 15 goals, 26 assists, 41 points and 165 shots on net in 54 appearances. Playing on the top line at even strength for the Panthers, the winger is in a brilliant position to use this game as a fire starter. Verhaeghe has posted back-to-back seasons with more than 70 points. He's off that pace in 2024-25 but closing the gap quickly after a six-point weekend.

Stenlund logged an assist in Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Blues.

Stenlund has a goal and two assists over 15 games since the start of January. The 28-year-old center remains in a fourth-line role, and aside from a four-game goal streak in December, he's been fairly quiet on offense. Overall, he has 12 points, 61 shots on net, 37 blocked shots, 32 hits and a minus-12 rating across 52 appearances. He needs two more points to match his career-best output from 2023-24.

Bjugstad registered an assist and three shots on goal in Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Blues.

Bjugstad has a helper in two of the last three contests following a six-game point drought. The 32-year-old has played as a fourth-line winger recently rather than his usual spot as a third-line center, and his slump on offense likely played a part in the change. Bjugstad is at 14 points, 79 shots on net, 70 hits and a minus-7 rating through 44 appearances. He is unlikely to finish anywhere near his 22-goal, 45-point effort over 76 outings in 2023-24.