NHL Player News

The Blues announced Thursday that Kyrou underwent a minor knee procedure earlier this week but is expected to be ready for training camp.

Kyrou completed the regular season with 18 goals and 46 points in 72 outings after finishing each of the previous three regular seasons with over 30 goals and 65 points. Although he'll have a recovery process during the offseason, it's encouraging that he's slated to be ready for camp ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

Malkin scored a power-play goal on two shots and added two PIM in Wednesday's 5-2 loss to the Flyers in Game 3.

Malkin opened the scoring at 4:18 of the first period, but the Flyers overwhelmed the Penguins with a three-goal second period. The 39-year-old has done his part so far, earning three points on the Penguins' four goals in this first-round series. Malkin has added five shots on net, three hits and four PIM this postseason, but he'll need to be at his best with Pittsburgh facing elimination Saturday in Game 4.

Ostlund (upper body) will return to action for Thursday's Game 3 against Boston, Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News reports.

Ostlund missed the Sabres' final 10 regular-season games and first two postseason matchups, but he was trending in the right direction recently and will officially get the green light to return to action Thursday. Josh Norris (undisclosed) will be unavailable Thursday, so Ostlund centered the third line during morning skate and was part of the second power-play unit. Across 60 regular-season appearances this year, Ostlund recorded 11 goals, 16 assists, 30 blocked shots and 14 PIM while averaging 13:58 of ice time.

Norris (undisclosed) will not play in Boston for Game 3 on Thursday, Conor Ryan of The Boston Globe reports.

Head coach Lindy Ruff would not divulge the reason for Norris' absence, but ruled out an illness. Norris had a six-game point streak to end the regular season, but he was held off the scoresheet in the opening two games of the series. Noah Ostlund (upper body) will replace Norris in the lineup Thursday. Norris could return to action as early as Sunday for Game 4 in Boston.

Couturier notched two assists Wednesday during the Flyers' 5-2 win over the Penguins in Game 3 of their first-round series.

The helpers came on second-period tallies by Rasmus Ristolainen and Nick Seeler that put the Flyers in the lead for good. Couturier has three assists through three games to begin the postseason, but the veteran center no longer has a consistent spot on the power play and is coming off a regular season in which he managed just 36 points (12 goals, 24 assists) over 78 games -- his worst total for a campaign in which he played 70-plus games since he was a rookie in 2011-12.

Zegras produced a goal and an assist Wednesday, both on the power play, during the Flyers' 5-2 win over the Penguins in Game 3 of their first-round series.

The 25-year-old center got Philadelphia on the board early in the first period, wiring a one-timer from the faceoff dot past Stuart Skinner, before helping to set up Noah Cates for a third-period tally. Zegras has a goal and three points in three games to begin the playoffs, continuing a surge that saw him deliver four goals and 14 points over his last 14 regular-season contests.

Eriksson Ek scored a goal on four shots, added two PIM and logged two hits in Wednesday's 4-3 double-overtime loss to the Stars in Game 3.

Eriksson Ek has played well to start the postseason, earning three goals, two assists, 13 shots on net and nine hits over three games. The 29-year-old center was limited to 51 points over 70 regular-season outings this year. This is the eighth year he's been in the playoffs -- over the previous seven, he earned 13 points in 32 games.

Johnston scored a goal on four shots, added an assist and logged two hits in Wednesday's 4-3 double-overtime win over the Wild in Game 3.

Johnston's already impressive resume got another bullet point for his work Wednesday. He helped out on Matt Duchene's equalizer in the third period before scoring the game-winner at 12:10 of the second overtime frame to make the Wild pay for Danila Yurov's puck-over-glass penalty. Johnston has torched Minnesota for three goals and two assists over three contests in this series. He's seen postseason action in all four of his NHL campaigns, and prior to this year, he had 18 goals and 32 points over 56 playoff outings. Johnston is already well on his way to surpassing the 10 points he had in 18 playoff contests a year ago.

Duchene scored a power-play goal on two shots and added two assists in Wednesday's 4-3 double-overtime win over the Wild in Game 3.

Duchene's first assist also came on the power play. The 35-year-old center has five points, including three on the power play, over his last two games after getting held off the scoresheet in the series opener. Prior to this postseason, Duchene recorded 37 points over 69 playoff contests across eight other runs. The center had a challenging regular season with 45 points over 57 appearances, but he's brought his best against the Wild so far.

Samanski scored a goal on two shots in Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the Ducks in Game 2.

Samanski was inserted into the lineup, along with Curtis Lazar, to account for the absences of Adam Henrique (lower body) and Jason Dickinson (undisclosed). The 24-year-old Samanski was able to cash in a goal in his playoff debut, though it's unlikely he'll be a major factor on offense the rest of the way. He had four points, nine shots on net, 27 hits and 14 blocked shots over 24 regular-season outings.