NHL Player News

Middleton supplied an assist and three shots on goal in Monday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Devils.

Middleton was limited to two points (one goal, one assist) over 15 games in March. His slowdown on offense late in the season didn't stop him from reaching the 20-point mark -- that's where he's at through 64 appearances, but he likely won't match last year's 25-point total. Middleton has added 94 shots on net, 94 hits, 151 blocked shots, 40 PIM and a plus-11 rating in 2024-25.

Pesce logged an assist and three shots on goal in Monday's 3-2 shootout win over the Wild.

Pesce had been held off the scoresheet in the previous eight games, recording 13 shots on net, 21 blocked shots and eight PIM in that span. His drought ended when he set up a Luke Hughes goal in the first period. Pesce is now at 15 points, 96 shots on net, 132 blocked shots and a minus-3 rating through 67 appearances. It's a better season than his last in Carolina, when he had 13 points in 70 regular-season outings, but this still isn't the peak of Pesce's scoring skills.

Roy (personal) is not with the Capitals on their road trip and will not be available Tuesday in Boston, according to Bailey Johnson of The Washington Post.

Since Roy isn't with the team, it's unlikely he'll be available for the second half of Washington's back-to-back set against Carolina on Wednesday. Dylan McIlrath will fill a bottom-pairing role against the Bruins on Tuesday. Roy has provided three goals, 21 helpers and a plus-28 rating over 63 appearances in 2024-25.

Fabbro (undisclosed) will be back in the lineup against Nashville on Tuesday, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.

Fabbro has four points in his last two games, giving him 20 points on the year in 52 games with the Jackets. If he can continue to produce, the 26-year-old defenseman could surpass his career-best total (24) from the 2021-22 campaign. With Fabbro back in, Jake Christiansen will be dropped from the lineup.

Hughes produced a goal and an assist in Monday's 3-2 shootout win over the Wild.

The 21-year-old blueliner opened the scoring midway through the first period before having a hand in a Nico Hischier tally in the third. It was Hughes' sixth multi-point performance in his last 13 appearances -- a stretch in which he's racked up two goals and 15 points, including eight helpers on the power play.

Thompson was recalled from AHL San Jose on Monday, according to Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News.

Thompson has collected three goals, six points, 33 shots on net and 36 blocked shots across 24 NHL outings this season. The Sharks returned Luca Cagnoni to the minors in a corresponding move. Thompson is a good bet to play against Anaheim on Tuesday because of injuries to Henry Thrun (upper body), Vincent Desharnais (upper body) and Jimmy Schuldt (undisclosed).

Pietrangelo (lower body) practiced Monday but isn't expected to play against Edmonton on Tuesday, per NHL.com.

During Monday's session, Pietrangelo paired with Ben Hutton, a frequent healthy scratch this season. The 35-year-old Pietrangelo will likely miss his fourth straight game but appears close to returning. He has produced four goals, 32 points, 119 shots on net and 131 blocked shots through 67 games this season.

Marino notched two assists in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Blackhawks.

Marino has a trio of two-assist games over his last nine contests, a span in which he's added eight shots on net, nine blocked shots and a minus-2 rating. The 27-year-old defenseman continues to play in a top-four role, which gives him a little scoring upside. He's produced 13 points, 28 shots on net, 43 blocks and a plus-2 rating over 32 appearances, which is a better per-game scoring pace than he showed with 25 points over 75 outings in 2023-24 with the Devils.

DeSimone scored a goal on three shots, added two hits and blocked three shots in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Blackhawks.

DeSimone had been a healthy scratch for the previous 17 contests. He stayed on the NHL roster after avoiding waivers multiple times as Utah's defense got healthy, and he checked in Sunday to cover the absence of Olli Maatta (lower body). DeSimone is up to five points, 19 shots on net, 12 hits and 12 blocked shots across 15 games for Utah, but his place in the lineup isn't guaranteed for the rest of the campaign.

Clifton logged two assists, two shots on goal, four hits and six blocked shots in Sunday's 8-5 win over the Capitals.

Clifton has four helpers over his last five outings. The defenseman set up second-period tallies by Alex Tuch and Sam Lafferty in Sunday's contest. Clifton is up to 13 points (all assists), 55 shots on net, 184 hits, 98 blocked shots, 39 PIM and a minus-2 rating through 64 appearances this season, primarily in a bottom-four role.