NHL Player News

Ekblad (suspension) will be allowed to resume training with the Panthers, Colby Guy of The Palm Beach Post reports Thursday.

Ekblad won't be eligible to play until Game 3 in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but he should be on the ice with his teammates in the meantime. Prior to his suspension, the blueliner was finding his stride offensively with seven helpers in his last six games, including two with the man advantage.

Middleton (upper body) will travel with the Wild ahead of their two-game road trip that begins Friday in Calgary, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.

Middleton has missed the last two games due to an upper-body injury, but he's day-to-day with just three games remaining on Minnesota's regular-season schedule. It seems possible that he'll be available for at least one of the team's upcoming road games. Over 66 appearances this season, he's recorded eight goals, 12 assists, 155 blocked shots and 98 hits while averaging 21:56 of ice time.

Seeler picked up three assists in Wednesday's 8-5 win over the Rangers.

The helpers came on the Flyers' final three goals of the night as the team struck five times in the final 12 minutes of the third period. It was Seeler's first multi-point performance since Dec. 8, and it snapped a stretch in which he'd managed only one assist over his prior 16 contests. While he's not much of a scoring threat, Seeler does have 185 blocked shots and 121 hits in 73 appearances this season along with a plus-10 rating, and he's one point away from his first career 20-point campaign.

Hedman scored a goal and added an assist, both on the power play, in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Maple Leafs.

Both points came in the third period, with Hedman's tally midway through the frame being the one that forced overtime. It was the veteran blueliner's third multi-point performance in the last seven games, a stretch in which he's collected three goals and nine points. Hedman is up to 15 goals on the season -- the fourth time in his career he's reached that plateau. Wednesday's effort also gives him 25 power-play points on the campaign, the sixth time he's hit that milestone.

Walman (undisclosed) was labeled day-to-day ahead of Friday's matchup with the Sharks, Jason Gregor of Sports 1440 Edmonton reports.

Walman was a late scratch ahead of Wednesday's matchup with St. Louis, forcing the Oilers to utilize just five defensemen in that contest. After shifting John Klingberg (lower body) to long-term injured reserve, the team should now have the cap space to promote a player from the minors for Friday's contest.

Tucker logged a shorthanded assist, two hits and two blocked shots in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Oilers.

Tucker helped out on Ryan Suter's goal in the first period. This ended a nine-game point drought for Tucker, who continues to play on the third pairing, though he may give way once Colton Parayko (knee) is ready to return. Parayko is targeting a return for one of the final two games of the regular season, but Tucker could stick in the lineup if the Blues opt to rest another blueliner. Tucker is at seven points, 33 shots on net, 79 hits, 38 blocked shots, 55 PIM and a plus-5 rating over 37 outings this season after logging just six points in 52 NHL games over the previous two years combined.

Suter scored a shorthanded goal and blocked three shots in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Oilers.

Suter opened the scoring at 8:44 of the first period, converting on a pass from Pavel Buchnevich. The goal was Suter's first since the second game of the season, Oct. 10 versus the Sharks. It was also his first shorthanded goal since 2018-19 when he was with the Wild. The defenseman is at 15 points, 61 shots on net, 107 blocked shots and a plus-7 rating over 80 appearances as a reliable veteran who has filled a number of roles throughout the campaign.

Kulak logged an assist and five shots on goal in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Blues.

Kulak played a massive role with the Oilers able to dress only five defensemen due to the injuries to Jake Walman (undisclosed) and Mattias Ekholm (undisclosed). The extra playing time helped Kulak end a 10-game point drought. In that span, he had 20 shots on net, eight blocked shots and a minus-6 rating. Despite the recent struggles, the 31-year-old blueliner has still enjoyed a career year. He's at seven goals, 17 helpers, 128 shots on net, 107 blocked shots and a minus-10 rating over 78 appearances, playing more of a shutdown role in the bottom four on most occasions.

Bouchard registered an assist in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Blues.

Bouchard helped out on Connor Brown's goal with 21 seconds left in the third period, which put the Oilers ahead for good. The 25-year-old Bouchard has racked up 10 assists, 23 shots on net and a minus-4 rating over his last nine outings. The star defenseman has 64 points, 224 shots on net, 106 blocked shots, 30 PIM and a plus-13 rating over 78 appearances.

Nurse logged two assists, two blocked shots and a plus-3 rating in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Blues.

Jake Walman (undisclosed) was out, leaving Nurse, Evan Bouchard and Brett Kulak to each play over 28 minutes. Nurse did well with his time, helping out on goals by Vasily Podkolzin and Viktor Arvidsson. This was Nurse's fourth two-assist effort over his last 10 games, but he's come up empty in the other six contests in that span. He's at 32 points (five goals, 27 helpers), 179 shots on net, 153 hits, 130 blocked shots, 55 PIM and a plus-13 rating over 73 appearances in a top-four role.