NHL Player News

Carlson scored a goal on two shots and added two PIM in Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Ducks.

Carlson had gone 21 games without a goal, racking up 12 assists and 42 shots on net in that span. He put the Capitals ahead 2-0 in the first period of this contest. The 35-year-old defenseman remains stable in a top-pairing role, earning 28 points, 97 shots on net, 80 blocked shots and a plus-17 role through 44 games this season. Carlson's no longer among the elite scorers on the blue line, but he does plenty to help a fantasy team.

Rutta scored a goal and went plus-2 in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Red Wings.

Rutta opened the scoring just 1:45 into the contest. The 34-year-old defenseman has been moderately productive with four points, 20 blocked shots and a plus-3 rating over his last 12 outings. Rutta isn't one to have lengthy scoring surges -- he's at seven points, 48 shots on net, 69 blocked shots, 33 hits and 26 PIM through 46 appearances this season. The blueliner is likely to remain in a bottom-four role.

Ferraro scored an empty-net goal, added two PIM and went minus-2 in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Red Wings.

Ferraro has two goals over six outings in January after failing to record a point in December. Offense is never a priority for Ferraro, who sees top-four minutes as a physical defenseman. He has eight points, 44 shots on net, 103 hits, 64 blocked shots, 30 PIM and a minus-21 rating through 46 appearances this season.

Smith has been scratched for 11 of the Stars' last 12 contests after sitting out Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Maple Leafs.

Smith appears to be on the outside looking in with the Stars' blue line at full health. The 35-year-old defenseman could offer a challenge to Matt Dumba or Nils Lundkvist, but Smith has been middling at best in 2024-25 with three assists, a minus-3 rating, 20 PIM, 19 hits and 13 blocked shots over 16 appearances. Smith is not even guaranteed to be the first blueliner to jump into the lineup, as Dallas has often called up prospect Lian Bichsel to cover injury or illness absences on defense.

Harley notched a power-play assist and two shots on goal in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Maple Leafs.

Harley had been held off the scoresheet over the previous three games. The defenseman is up to 22 points (three on the power play), 94 shots on net, 53 blocked shots and a plus-22 rating across 41 appearances. There's some fluidity to the Stars' defense pairings, but Harley has been one of the team's top blueliners this season regardless of who he's paired with.

Zadorov logged an assist, four hits, three blocked shots, seven PIM and a plus-2 rating in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Lightning.

Zadorov has two helpers, 21 hits, 13 blocked shots and 13 PIM over his last five contests. The 29-year-old defenseman is poised to take on a larger role while Charlie McAvoy (undisclosed) is on injured reserve, though Zadorov's physicality and subsequent penalties for roughing and fighting cost him some time in this contest. He has 11 points, 56 shots on net, 57 blocked shots, 89 PIM and 128 hits through 46 appearances this season, so he'll need to supplement his non-scoring numbers with a little more offense to have widespread fantasy appeal.

Wotherspoon scored a goal on three shots and added two PIM in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Lightning.

The first-period tally was Wotherspoon's first NHL goal, coming in his 76th appearance over three seasons. The 27-year-old blueliner has just two points, 18 shots on net, 30 hits, 27 blocked shots and a minus-2 rating through 23 outings in 2024-25. He's been a part-time player for much of this campaign, but he could get steadier playing time until one of Charlie McAvoy (undisclosed) or Hampus Lindholm (lower body) can return to bolster Boston's blue line.

Peeke scored a shorthanded empty-net goal on four shots, added an assist, went plus-4 and blocked two shots in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Lightning.

The goal was Peeke's first of the season and the first shortie of his career. The 26-year-old defenseman is up to 10 points through 40 contests, matching his output from 38 appearances in 2023-24. Peeke has added 40 shots on net, 40 hits, 65 blocked shots and a minus-1 rating this season. He may be called on for more ice time in the absence of Charlie McAvoy (undisclosed), though Peeke is likely to remain a bottom-four blueliner.

Kesselring logged an assist, two blocked shots and 10 PIM in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Canadiens.

Kesselring has a helper in consecutive games after going 12 contests without a point. The defenseman also got involved in a dust-up with Arber Xhekaj in this game. Kesselring brings a bit of talent on offense with a hard-nosed edge to his play. He has 17 points, 77 shots on net, 54 hits, 42 PIM, 35 blocked shots and a plus-10 rating through 43 appearances this season.

Carrier logged two assists and two blocked shots in Tuesday's 5-3 win over Utah.

Carrier has picked up seven helpers over 12 contests with the Canadiens, who are 9-2-1 since his arrival. The 28-year-old made a positive impact Tuesday, helping out on goals by Patrik Laine and Kirby Dach for his second multi-point effort in a Montreal sweater. Carrier is up to 14 points, 40 shots on net, 68 blocked shots, 44 hits and a minus-13 rating over 40 appearances this season when accounting for his time with Nashville. While his ice time is largely unchanged with Montreal, his productivity is up to a level that allows him to be a depth option in fantasy.