NHL Player News

Protas scored a goal, dished an assist, blocked two shots, added two PIM and went plus-2 in Saturday's 4-1 win over the Penguins.

Protas was involved in the Capitals' first two goals, setting up Jakob Chychrun on the opening tally in the first period before netting the game-winner himself in the second. This outing ended a four-game slump for Protas, who had earned 10 points over 10 contests prior to his dry spell. For the season, the forward has 19 goals, 19 assists, 80 shots on net and a plus-26 rating while seeing next to nothing in the way of power-play time. He's emerged as a reliable top-six forward in 2024-25 and could push for a 30-goal, 60-point campaign, though there's a chance the bottom falls out since he's shooting 23.8 percent.

Goodrow scored a goal on his only shot and doled out five hits in Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Islanders.

Goodrow tied the score at 1-1 midway through the second period, beating Marcus Hogberg with a wrist shot from the right half wall. This was the 31-year-old Goodrow's first point in 10 games. It was also his first tally since Nov. 11 against the Flyers. The Ontario native has contributed three goals and five points across 43 appearances this season while mostly serving in a bottom-six capacity.

Kastelic notched an assist, four hits, two blocked shots and five PIM in Saturday's 6-5 shootout loss to the Senators.

Kastelic returned from a brief stint on injured reserve due to an upper-body injury. The 25-year-old didn't hesitate to mix things up, playing a physical game that included a fight with Zack Ostapchuk in the second period. Kastelic has reached marks he never achieved over three years in Ottawa, earning 13 points, 171 hits, 86 PIM, 53 shots on net and a plus-2 rating over 44 appearances in his first year with the Bruins. He continues to function as a fourth-line enforcer.

Lettieri scored a goal on three shots and added two hits in Saturday's 6-5 shootout loss to the Senators.

Lettieri was able to bend the twine in his second NHL appearance of the season. The 29-year-old has slotted into a middle-six role for the Bruins and will likely stay in the lineup while Cole Koepke (upper body) is on injured reserve. Entering this season, Lettieri had totaled 27 points over 129 career games, so he shouldn't be expected to be an impact player moving forward.

Beecher scored a goal on two shots and added two hits in Saturday's 6-5 shootout loss to the Senators.

Beecher ended his 11-game point drought with the tally. This was his first goal since Oct. 16 versus the Avalanche. Beecher had an excellent start to the season with six points over 11 outings in October, but he has followed it up with just three points over his last 34 appearances. The 23-year-old forward has added 54 hits, 40 blocked shots, 27 shots on net and a minus-1 rating while filling a fourth-line role.

Palmieri generated an assist, blocked three shots and went plus-2 in Saturday's 4-1 win over San Jose.

Palmieri set up Brock Nelson's 13th goal of the campaign at 10:42 of the second period. Palmieri has recorded an assist in back-to-back outings, but he hasn't found the back of the net since Dec. 23, a span of 10 games. For the season, the right-shot winger has accounted for 12 goals, 29 points and a minus-9 rating through 45 appearances. Palmieri is on pace to finish right around the 54 points he produced in 2023-24.

Gaudette scored a goal on four shots, blocked two shots and went plus-3 in Saturday's 6-5 shootout win over the Bruins.

Gaudette got the party going in a game that saw each team blow a two-goal lead. He's warming up again with three points, five shots on net and a plus-6 rating over his last five contests. The 28-year-old remains confined to limited minutes and a power-play role despite being listed on the Senators' second line. He's at 15 goals, 20 points, 56 shots on net, 33 hits, 20 blocked shots and a plus-10 rating over 44 appearances in 2024-25.

Jost (lower body) skated with the team Sunday but will still be out indefinitely, Walt Ruff of the Hurricanes' official site reports.

While it's encouraging to see Jost back on the ice, the forward wasn't a full participant in practice, per Ruff, and Jost remains without a timeline for his return. Jost has appeared in 16 games in a bottom-six role with Carolina this year, scoring a pair of goals.

Crosby recorded one assist, four shots on net, two blocked shots and a minus-2 rating during Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Capitals.

Crosby helped the Penguins get on the board Saturday, when he found Bryan Rust on a 2-on-1 breakaway midway through the third period. The Penguins have lost four of their last five games, and over that span, Crosby has recorded two assists, 14 shots on goal and a minus-8 rating.

Nelson netted a goal on four shots, logged an assist and went plus-2 in Saturday's 4-1 over San Jose.

This was Nelson's third multi-point effort in his last five games, as he's notched three goals, four helpers and a plus-5 rating over that stretch. The left-shot center scored his 13th goal of the campaign in the middle frame before adding an assist on Ryan Pulock's third tally of the season early in the third. Nelson has been subject to trade speculation as a result of the Islanders' struggles this season, and he could be a solid addition for a contending team -- the 33-year-old potted at least 34 goals in each of the previous three campaigns. Nelson's well short of that pace with 13 goals and 28 points through 45 appearances in 2024-25.