NHL Player News

Backlund scored twice on five shots, added an assist and went plus-2 in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Golden Knights.

Backlund has a pair of two-goal games in a row, totaling five points in that span. The 36-year-old opened the scoring at 3:54 of the first period, and his tally at 8:38 of the second was the game-winner. This level of offense won't last for Backlund, but he's certainly offering steady play in his usual middle-six role. He's up to nine goals, 21 points, 80 shots on net and a plus-14 rating over 36 appearances this season.

Gaudette scored a power-play goal on two shots and went minus-2 in Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Kraken.

Gaudette ended a seven-game goal drought with his second-period tally. He had two assists in that span, and he also missed a game due to a lower-body injury. The 29-year-old has settled in as a bottom-six forward who can help on the power play. He's produced eight goals, four assists, three power-play points, 44 shots on net, 30 hits, 14 PIM and a minus-8 rating across 31 appearances this season.

Guentzel scored twice Saturday in a 6-4 win over Carolina.

His first goal, which was a backhand rebound that went five-hole on Pyotr Kochetkov from the top of the crease, stood as the game-winner. Guentel's second marker went into the empty net. He has eight points (three goals, five assists) and 19 shots in his last six games. His 36 points, including 17 goals, are second to Nikita Kucherov on the team's scoring list.

Domi was a healthy scratch Saturday.

Domi has gone 22 games without a goal, a span in which he has nine assists. Overall, he has three goals, nine apples and 48 shots in 34 games. Domi shouldn't be on fantasy rosters right now.

Stephenson scored an empty-net goal on three shots, added an assist and went plus-3 in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Sharks.

Stephenson's on a career-best eight-game point streak, and his effort Saturday was his first multi-point outing since Nov. 15, also against the Sharks. The 31-year-old has five goals and four assists during his current streak, including a goal in four straight contests. He's now at nine goals, 21 points, 56 shots, 26 blocked shots and a minus-9 rating over 33 appearances. There's not much to like about the Kraken's offense, but Stephenson is a bright spot.

Tavares got a goal Saturday in a 5-3 loss to the Predators.

It was a fortunate bounce after a point shot hit his skate, ricocheted off Roman Josi and beat Juuse Saros. It was Tavares' first goal in eight games, and his second in his last 13 outings. He has ice-cold offensively despite his stat line showing 31 points, including 14 goals, in 34 games this season. He has four points in his past 13 appearances.

Roy scored a goal Saturday in a 5-3 loss to Nashville.

It came on the Leafs' first shot of the game -- Roy tipped a pass in tight on an odd-man rush. It was his 400th NHL game. Roy has three goals, eight assists, 35 shots and 204 face-off wins (54.3 percent). He's valuable on the ice, but not in the fantasy arena.

McMann had a goal and an assist in a 5-3 loss to Nashville on Saturday.

With the Leafs' goalie pulled, McMann wired a wrist shot from the top of the right circle at 19:06 of the third period to make it 4-3. The points snapped a five-game drought. McMann puts points up in short stretches, and in between, he's gone five, six and eight games without a point. Take a chance on him right now, in case he strings together a couple more games of offense.

Copp picked up two assists in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Capitals.

The veteran center had a hand in tallies by John Leonard early in the first period and James van Riemsdyk early in the second as the Red Wings surged out to a 4-0 lead. Copp has been rolling in December, racking up two goals and nine points over the last nine games with 18 shots on net and a sizzling plus-11 rating.

Trocheck scored a goal on four shots in Saturday's 5-4 shootout win over the Flyers.

Trocheck ended an 11-game goal drought with his tally at 9:13 of the third period that set the Rangers on the comeback trail. During his slump, he still managed seven assists and 22 shots on net, though he also went minus-7. The center continues to offer well-rounded production for fantasy managers while seeing time in all situations. He's at six goals, 17 points, 40 shots on net, 86 hits, 20 blocked shots and a minus-6 rating over 23 appearances this season, which is in line with his typical scoring pace, though the raw numbers are down due to an upper-body injury that cost him a month earlier in the campaign.