NHL Player News
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Shakir Mukhamadullin D | SJ
Sharks' Shakir Mukhamadullin: Not at practice Friday
Mukhamadullin (personal) was not at practice Friday, according to Max Miller of NHL.com.
Mukhamadullin was scratched Thursday versus Calgary in the Sharks' first game back after the Olympic break. He has three goals and four assists in 26 games this season while averaging 16:15 of ice time. He should be considered questionable against Edmonton on Saturday.
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Tyler Myers D | DAL
Canucks' Tyler Myers: Traveling with team
Myers (not injury related) will join the Canucks on the road against Seattle on Saturday, Farhan Lalji of TSN reports.
Myers, who was held out for trade purposes against the Jets on Wednesday, is far from a lock to play Saturday, but this could be an indication that a trade deal fell through or that he has decided not to waive his no-movement clause. The 36-year-old blueliner is currently mired in a 21-game pointless streak, which probably isn't helping his value on the trade market.
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Kris Letang D | PIT
Penguins' Kris Letang: Earns helper in return
Letang logged a power-play assist, two shots on goal, two blocked shots and two PIM in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Devils.
Letang ended up missing just four games due to a foot fracture, thanks to the Olympic break. The defenseman is back in a top-four role with power-play minutes. He's earned three goals, 23 assists, 83 shots on net, 67 hits, 66 blocked shots, 24 PIM and a plus-2 rating over 51 appearances this season.
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Connor Clifton D | PIT
Penguins' Connor Clifton: Pots goal Thursday
Clifton scored a goal on two shots, added two PIM and logged seven hits in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Devils.
Clifton snapped a four-game slump with the tally. The 30-year-old defenseman has been in a part-time role for much of the season, limiting him to four points, 20 shots on net, 114 hits, 42 blocked shots, 31 PIM and a plus-2 rating over 27 appearances. Clifton appears to be preferred over Ilya Solovyov and Ryan Graves while Jack St. Ivany (hand) is out until late March.
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Samuel Girard D | PIT
Penguins' Samuel Girard: Traveling with team
Girard (lower body) will join the team for its trip to New York on Saturday, Dan Potash of Sportsnet Pittsburgh reports.
Girard is still being evaluated for his lower-body injury, but the fact that he is traveling with the team should bode well for his availability. In his first game with the Pens, the 27-year-old blueliner registered four blocks and one shot while logging 17:53 of ice time. If Girard does miss any time, it will likely open up a spot in the lineup for Ryan Graves or Ilya Solovyov.
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Samuel Girard D | PIT
Penguins' Samuel Girard: Dealing with lower-body issue
Girard missed practice Friday while being evaluated for a lower-body injury.
Girard appears to have been injured in his Penguins debut against the Devils on Thursday. In that outing, the 27-year-old defenseman made four blocks, which may have resulted in his injury. If Girard does miss any time, it will open up a spot in the lineup for Ryan Graves or Ilya Solovyov.
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Noah Dobson D | MON
Canadiens' Noah Dobson: Revenge game goes to waste
Dobson scored two goals, one on the power play, in Thursday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Islanders.
Facing his former team for the first time, Dobson gave the Habs a 2-0 lead with tallies in the first and second periods, but the ice tilted in New York's favor the rest of the way. The 26-year-old blueliner extended his point streak to six games in the process, a stretch in which he's produced three goals and nine points, and on the season Dobson's delivered 12 goals and 40 points in 58 contests.
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Matthew Schaefer D | NYI
Islanders' Matthew Schaefer: Pots two goals in Montreal
Schaefer scored two goals, one on the power play, in Thursday's 4-3 overtime win over the Canadiens.
With the Islanders down 2-0 midway through the second period, Schaefer took matters into his own hands to tie it up, scoring twice in 55 seconds before the second intermission. The teenage blueliner has lit the lamp five times in the last six games, and on the season the overwhelming Calder Trophy favorite has 18 goals and 41 points in his first 59 NHL contests -- setting a new Islanders record for goals in a season by a rookie defenseman in the process, and breaking the mark established in 1973-74 by Hall of Famer Denis Potvin.
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John Carlson D | ANA
Capitals' John Carlson: Won't play in back-to-back
Carlson (lower body) has been ruled out against the Knights and Canadiens on Friday and Saturday, respectively, Sammi Silber of The Hockey News reports.
Carlson was producing offensively prior to getting hurt, racking up 17 points in his last 17 games, including a trio of power-play assists. With the veteran blueliner unavailable, Jakob Chychrun will feature on the top power-play unit while Rasmus Sandin features with the No. 2 group. Given the length of his injury, Carlson could be a candidate for injured reserve to free up a roster spot for the Caps.
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Tobias Bjornfot D | FLA
Panthers' Tobias Bjornfot: Activated from IR
Bjornfot (undisclosed) was activated from injured reserve prior to Thursday's 5-1 win over the Maple Leafs.
Bjornfot landed on injured reserve just before the Olympic break, but the time off allowed him to limit his absence to one game. He'll now resume his competition with Donovan Sebrango for the last spot on the Panthers' blue line.