NHL Player News

Pettersson scored a goal on two shots and added a power-play assist in Wednesday's 4-3 shootout win over the Flames.

Pettersson's third-period tally tied the game at 3-3, and he also contributed one of the Canucks' two shootout goals. The 26-year-old center had not recorded multiple points in a game since Dec. 23 versus the Sharks, a contest that he left early due to an undisclosed injury. Pettersson is heating up with three goals and four points over his last four outings, and he's at 14 goals, 39 points (15 on the power play), 106 shots on net, 61 hits, 68 blocked shots and a minus-12 rating over 59 appearances this season.

Larkin racked up three assists, two on the power play, in Wednesday's 7-3 win over Buffalo.

The Detroit captain got onto the scoresheet in each period, having a hand in tallies by Patrick Kane, Vladimir Tarasenko and Moritz Seider. Larkin extended his point streak to four games in the process, and on the season he's recorded 27 goals and 59 points in 65 appearances, leaving him on the brink of his fourth straight 60-point campaign.

Kasper scored two goals and added an assist in Wednesday's 7-3 win over the Sabres.

The 20-year-old center snapped a six-game point drought when he got Detroit on the board midway through the first period, and Kasper then potted his second goal of the night in the third as the Wings pulled away. While his recent skid was understandable as he nears the end of his first NHL season, Kasper has mostly been a consistent contributor since moving into a more prominent role in January. Over his last 25 games, he's delivered 10 goals and 19 points with 56 hits, 52 shots on net and a plus-4 rating.

Thompson scored a goal and added an assist in Wednesday's 7-3 loss to the Red Wings.

Both points came in the first period while the outcome was still in doubt. Thompson has found the back of the net six times in seven games to begin the month of March, but Wednesday's helper was his first since Feb. 22. On the season, the 27-year-old has piled up 34 goals and 58 points in 58 appearances, and he seems to have found immediate chemistry with new center Josh Norris, offering the possibility of a big finish to the campaign.

Backlund (upper body) won't return to Wednesday's game versus the Canucks.

Backlund was injured in the first period of the contest. The 35-year-old center has not missed a game since the 2020-21 campaign, but his ironman streak could be in danger if he's not ready to suit up again in time for Friday's contest versus the Avalanche. Connor Zary or Yegor Sharangovich could move to center if Backlund misses time, while Adam Klapka is the extra healthy forward on the roster.

Kulich (illness) will play Wednesday versus the Red Wings.

Kulich missed two games due to the illness. The 20-year-old will line up as a center, but it's unclear what line he'll be on, which will likely be revealed at warmups. He has a modest three points over his last 10 contests.

Veleno is under the weather and wasn't on the ice for practice Wednesday, Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Veleno should tentatively be considered questionable for Thursday's matchup with the Sharks. In his two games with Chicago, the 25-year-old center has yet to register a point while generating six hits, two blocks and one shot. Even when healthy, Veleno is far from a lock to suit up on a nightly basis and could find himself serving as a healthy scratch periodically.

Janmark is questionable for Thursday's clash against New Jersey due to an illness, per Oilers play-by-play announcer Jack Michaels.

Janmark has two goals and 17 points in 63 appearances in 2024-25. If he can't play against the Devils, then Kasperi Kapanen will probably draw into the lineup.

Pettersson scored a power-play goal in Tuesday's 4-2 loss to Montreal. He also recorded four shots on goal and a minus-2 rating.

Pettersson found the back of the net midway through the third period to pull the Canucks within one goal of the tie, but the Canucks couldn't pull off the come back. The 26-year-old has scored twice over his last three games, with both goals coming with the man advantage, and that helped snap a 15-game goalless drought in which he only recorded five assists while taking 21 shots on goal.

Perfetti logged a pair of assists, including one on the power play, and three shots on goal in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Rangers.

Perfetti set up tallies by Vladislav Namestnikov and Gabriel Vilardi in the contest. This was Perfetti's first multi-point effort since Feb. 22 versus the Blues -- in the eight games in between, he was limited to two goals and 11 shots on net. The 23-year-old has established a career high with 40 points this season, collecting 13 goals, 27 helpers, 113 shots on net, 56 hits, 40 blocked shots and a plus-17 rating over 66 appearances in a middle-six role.