NHL Player News

McLeod registered two assists in Thursday's 6-5 loss to the Lightning.

McLeod set up goals by Rasmus Dahlin and Peyton Krebs in the first period. The 25-year-old McLeod has had occasional top-six chances this season and led all Sabres forwards with 21:38 of ice time Thursday, but he was listed on the third line to start the game. He's now at 33 points, including career highs in goals (14) and assists (19) while adding 60 shots on net and a plus-9 rating through 58 appearances.

Krebs scored a goal on two shots and added two hits in Thursday's 6-5 loss to the Lightning.

Krebs snapped a 14-game point drought, and he did it with his first goal since Dec. 29. Over the 23 contests between tallies, the center was limited to five assists, a minus-5 rating, 23 shots on net and 39 hits. Krebs brings a physical element to the Sabres' bottom six, but his scoring is limited. He's at 17 points through 60 outings, matching his total from 80 appearances a year ago, and he's added 55 shots on net, 35 PIM and 106 hits in 2024-25.

Thompson scored a power-play goal on five shots, added two hits, blocked two shots and logged two PIM in Thursday's 6-5 loss to the Lightning.

Thompson's goal put the Sabres ahead 4-3 in the second period, but their lead evaporated as Jake Guentzel had a hat trick in that frame. This was Thompson's third straight game with a goal. The 27-year-old forward is up to 31 tallies, 54 points, 174 shots on net, 55 hits and a plus-4 rating across 55 appearances. He'll likely surpass last year's 56-point output -- he's on track to top the 40-goal and 70-point marks.

Girgensons notched an assist and two hits in Thursday's 6-5 win over the Sabres.

Girgensons snapped a four-game point drought. He has three points over his last eight outings, which followed a 33-game slump. The 31-year-old is in a fourth-line role and is unlikely to see much more than that after the Lightning replenished their forward depth by acquiring Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand from the Kraken on Wednesday. Girgensons has just five points with 68 shots on net, 122 hits, 37 blocked shots and 31 PIM over 62 appearances this season.

Graf notched a power-play assist and two blocked shots in Thursday's 7-3 loss to the Avalanche.

Graf set up a Fabian Zetterlund tally at 10:08 of the first period. This was Graf's third helper over the last five games -- he's had no trouble settling in as a middle-six forward during this stint on the NHL roster, and he's seeing time on the second power-play unit. For the season, the 22-year-old winger has six points, 21 shots on net, 13 hits, 11 blocked shots and a minus-6 rating through 20 appearances.

Smith notched a power-play assist, two shots on goal and a minus-2 rating in Thursday's 7-3 loss to the Avalanche.

Smith stayed hot on offense -- he has three goals and five assists over his last six outings. The 19-year-old set up a tally by Macklin Celebrini in the third period, which got Celebrini to the 20-goal mark. Smith hasn't enjoyed the same success as a rookie in 2024-25, but he's at a decent 31 points (20 helpers) with 86 shots on net and a minus-11 rating across 56 appearances.

Wennberg produced an assist in Thursday's 7-3 loss to the Avalanche.

Wennberg has been playing in his usual style lately, earning six assists with a plus-4 rating over his last five contests. The 30-year-old has ascended to a top-line role recently, though the Sharks' first and second lines are functionally interchangeable. Wennberg is leading the more veteran trio with William Eklund and Tyler Toffoli, while Macklin Celebrini has been between Fabian Zetterlund and Will Smith. Wennberg is up to 29 points, 62 shots on net, 58 blocked shots and a minus-14 rating over 59 appearances this season. He's one point shy of reaching 30 for the fourth year in a row and the seventh time in his career.

Celebrini scored a power-play goal on five shots, added two PIM and went minus-3 in Thursday's 7-3 loss to the Avalanche.

Just hours after Matvei Michkov was the first rookie to the 20-goal mark, Celebrini joined him, a silver lining to this blowout loss for the Sharks. Both rookie forwards have 46 points this season, but Celebrini's done it in 52 games to Michkov's 61. Celebrini has added 176 shots on net, 39 blocked shots and a minus-25 rating. There have been some bumps in the road, but it's an all-together impressive first campaign for the 18-year-old North Vancouver native.

Necas scored a goal on three shots, added an assist, logged two PIM and went plus-3 in Thursday's 7-3 win over the Sharks.

Necas earned both of his points on the power play, with his second-period goal standing as the game-winner. The 26-year-old was ill in the Avalanche's previous game, but he didn't end up missing a contest. He's now at 15 points through 14 outings with the Avalanche, and he has a total of 21 goals, 49 helpers, 153 shots on net, 51 hits and a plus-8 rating over 63 appearances this season. While the Avalanche's trade for Brock Nelson on Thursday strengthens the team's forward depth, Necas is expected to remain alongside Nathan MacKinnon on the top line for now, which is best for the Czech forward's production.

MacKinnon scored twice on eight shots, added three assists and went plus-3 in Thursday's 7-3 win over the Sharks.

In about as lopsided a game as possible from a talent perspective, MacKinnon made his mark, though he was overshadowed by Cale Makar's six-point effort. Two of MacKinnon's helpers came on the power play. This was the superstar center's fifth multi-point effort over his last eight games, a span in which he has five goals and 13 assists. MacKinnon is now at 25 goals, 73 helpers, 257 shots on net and a plus-23 rating through 63 appearances. He gained separation from Leon Draisaitl (94) and Nikita Kucherov (92) in the Art Ross Trophy race, which is looking like MacKinnon's to lose with six weeks left in the season.