NHL Player News
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Quinton Byfield C | LA
Kings' Quinton Byfield: Pots winner on power play
Byfield scored the game-winning goal on the power play in Saturday's 2-1 victory over the Kraken.
The 22-year-old rifled home a one-timer from a sharp angle early in the second period, giving the Kings a 2-0 lead. Byfield struggled out of the gates, perhaps feeling the weight of expectations after signing a five-year contract extension in July, but all three of his goals on the season have come in the last eight games.
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Zack Ostapchuk C | OTT
Senators' Zack Ostapchuk: Summoned from AHL
Ostapchuk was recalled from AHL Belleville on Sunday.
Ostapchuk has earned one assist, three shots on net, five blocked shots and eight hits in six NHL outings this season. He has one goal and seven helpers across nine AHL appearances in 2024-25. Ostapchuk will be an option to play Monday versus Calgary, or he could be a healthy scratch as an extra forward.
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Kirby Dach C | MON
Canadiens' Kirby Dach: Goal drought reaches 12
Dach had one shot on net, one hit and a minus-2 rating in Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Golden Knights.
Dach's most notable contribution was a giveaway in his own end that resulted in Vegas' second goal. He's now gone 12 games without lighting the lamp, and much of that stretch came while he pulled shifts on the top line. The 23-year-old forward eventually skated on the fourth line in the final period. Dach has one goal, seven assists, 36 shots, 40 hits, 13 blocks, 10 PIM with a team-low minus-15 rating over 20 outings.
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Hendrix Lapierre C | WAS
Capitals' Hendrix Lapierre: Supplies helper Saturday
Lapierre managed an assist in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Devils.
Lapierre assisted on a Matt Roy goal in the first period. The Capitals have played 11 times in November, and Lapierre has been a scratch four times, so it doesn't look like he has the full trust of head coach Spencer Carbery. He was in the lineup over winger Jakub Vrana in Saturday's game -- part of the issue with Lapierre's play in 2024-25 has been his 35.8 percent win rate at the faceoff dot, but he won't be needed as a center following the Capitals' trade for Lars Eller. Lapierre has three assists, 13 shots on net, nine blocked shots and a minus-5 rating over 14 appearances, and his path to more playing time may come as a middle-six winger.
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Nico Hischier C | NJ
Devils' Nico Hischier: Registers power-play assist in win
Hischier notched an assist and two PIM in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Capitals.
Hischier helped out on a Dougie Hamilton goal in the second period, which ended up being the game-winner. While he's picked up six assists over 10 contests in November, Hischier has come up empty on 15 shots on goal in that span. The scoring slump won't affect his role -- he's a two-way beast and isn't hurting for offense. Overall, the Swiss center has 10 goals, 11 helpers, 59 shots on net, 19 blocked shots and a plus-9 rating, and he's still shooting 16.9 percent through 23 outings overall.
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Sam Steel C | DAL
Stars' Sam Steel: Plucks apple in win
Steel notched an assist in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Lightning.
Steel hasn't scored in seven games, but he has three helpers in that span. The 26-year-old center continues to fill a fourth-line role, though he often sees ice time in line with a middle-six assignment, which is likely a product of Mavrik Bourque having his minutes managed. Steel is up to two goals, six helpers, 22 shots on net and 18 hits through 18 outings overall.
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Tyler Seguin C | DAL
Stars' Tyler Seguin: Posts helper in win
Seguin logged an assist, two shots on goal and a plus-2 rating in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Lightning.
Seguin saw a four-game point streak end Wednesday versus the Sharks before he bounced back Saturday. The 32-year-old set up Matt Duchene's go-ahead goal in the third period, which stood as the game-winner. Seguin continues to impress from the second line with seven goals, nine helpers, 35 shots on net and a plus-12 rating over 15 appearances. He should be good to play in four of the next five games, but a back-to-back Dec. 1 versus the Jets and Dec. 2 against Utah will likely lead to Seguin sitting out a game for injury management purposes as he navigates a lingering lower-body issue.
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Teddy Blueger C | VAN
Canucks' Teddy Blueger: Scores in Saturday's win
Blueger scored a goal, added two hits and blocked two shots in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Senators.
Blueger scored for the second time in four games, giving the Canucks a 2-1 lead in the second period. The 30-year-old center has done well in a third-line role this season and is likely to see slightly increased responsibilities while J.T. Miller (personal) is away from the team. Blueger is up to four goals, 10 points, 21 shots on net, 30 hits and a plus-1 rating over 19 appearances.
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Joel Eriksson Ek C | MIN
Wild's Joel Eriksson Ek: Gathers assist Saturday
Eriksson Ek registered an assist and two shots on goal in Saturday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Flames.
Eriksson Ek set up Marco Rossi's game-tying goal in the final minute of regulation. This was Eriksson Ek's first point in three games since he returned from missing one contest due to a lower-body injury. The 27-year-old is a top-six and power-play fixture for the Wild and is up to five goals, four assists, 41 shots on net, 26 hits and a plus-7 rating over 17 appearances this season.
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Connor McMichael C | WAS
Capitals' Connor McMichael: Back on scoresheet in loss
McMichael deposited a goal on the man advantage in Saturday's 3-2 loss to New Jersey.
McMichael had been held off the scoresheet in three consecutive contests after having a five-game point streak snapped, but he got back on track with his second power-play marker of the season Saturday. The left-shot forward is well on his way to shattering the 33 points he produced across 80 regular-season appearances in 2023-24, and he should be able to reach the 30-goal mark after finding the back of the net 13 times through 20 games. McMichael has 20 points (seven assists) and a plus-11 rating this season while logging a career-high 17:19 of ice time per game.