NHL Player News

Slavin put up an assist, two shots on goal and a minus-2 rating in Wednesday's 6-5 overtime win over the Penguins.

Slavin ended a 14-game point drought with the helper. The 31-year-old blueliner had 32 shots on net and a plus-4 rating in that span, but he hasn't been able to reach his usual levels on offense this season. Slavin has just four assists with 44 shots on net, 39 blocked shots and a plus-7 rating over 28 appearances after missing most of the first of the campaign due to a pair of injuries.

Miller scored a goal, added two PIM, went plus-3, logged three hits and blocked two shots in Wednesday's 6-5 overtime win over the Penguins.

Miller ended a 24-game goal drought with his tally late in the third period, which forced overtime. During that stretch, he had 11 assists, 40 shots on net and a plus-3 rating. The 26-year-old blueliner is in a top-four role and offers some category coverage in fantasy. He's at five goals, 31 points, 100 shots on net, 85 hits, 66 blocked shots, 48 PIM and a plus-7 rating through 60 appearances.

Gavrikov scored a goal on four shots in Wednesday's 6-3 loss to the Devils.

Gavrikov continues to put up surprising scoring numbers. He has five goals and four assists over nine contests in March and has maintained a spot on the first pairing and second power-play unit. He's at 14 goals, 31 points, 102 shots on net, 91 blocked shots, 44 PIM, 41 hits and a minus-12 rating through 68 appearances.

Emberson (undisclosed) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Panthers but could return to action over the weekend, Jason Gregor of Sports 1440 Edmonton reports.

The 25-year-old continues to deal with an unspecified issue and will be unavailable for a fifth consecutive game, but head coach Kris Knoblauch's suggestion that Emberson is a possibility for Saturday's game against the Lightning suggests that he's on the cusp of returning. Emberson has appeared in seven games since the Olympic break, recording a goal, eight hits, seven blocked shots and two PIM while averaging 14:35 of ice time.

Graves (undisclosed) was recalled from a conditioning assignment with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Thursday.

Graves' return could open the door for him to suit up against the Jets on Saturday -- though he'll need to be activated off injured reserve first. Additionally, the Penguins have a pretty stocked blue line, so Graves would need to edge out the likes of Ilya Solovyov or Connor Clifton for a spot in the lineup.

Pionk (undisclosed) was skating in a regular jersey ahead of Thursday's clash with Boston, Mitchell Clinton of the Jets' official site reports.

Pionk remains on injured reserve, but the fact that he is with the team on its three-game road trip is certainly a sign that he is nearing a return to action. If the defenseman does get into the lineup, it would be his first appearance since Jan. 13 versus the Isles, a stretch of 22 games on inured reserve.

Vaakanainen (upper body) will not be in the lineup versus Columbus on Thursday, Mollie Walker of the New York Post reports.

Vaakanainen didn't make the trip to Columbus, but for now, he should be considered day-to-day. With the blueliner on the shelf, Connor Mackey or Vincent Iorio figures to step into the lineup for the Rangers on Thursday. For his part, the 27-year-old Vaakanainen has yet to score a goal in 33 outings this year while chipping in six assists.

Mackey was recalled from AHL Hartford on Thursday.

Mackey was sent to the minors in early February, but he'll rejoin the NHL club to provide additional depth after Urho Vaakanainen (upper body) exited Wednesday's game against the Devils. Mackey hasn't yet appeared in any games for the Rangers this year, but he's recorded five goals, 10 assists and 81 PIM over 52 appearances with Hartford.

Rielly (flu) may be a game-time decision versus Carolina on Friday.

Rielly will not partake in Toronto's Fan Day festivities Thursday with the illness. The defenseman has nine goals, 24 assists, 92 blocked shots and a minus-16 rating across 66 appearances this season. Should Rielly not be available Friday, look for Simon Benoit to enter the lineup.

Walker scored the overtime winner and added an assist in Wednesday's 6-5 victory over the Penguins.

The veteran blueliner saved Carolina's bacon, helping to set up the tying goal by K'Andre Miller with just under three minutes left in the third period before ripping a one-timer past Stuart Skinner inside the final 30 seconds of OT. Walker has heated up since the Olympic break, and over the last 10 games he's amassed three goals and nine points despite a lack of power-play time. Wednesday's GWG was his first of the season, and just the third of his career.