NHL Player News

Ristolainen had a goal and an assist Saturday in a 6-3 win over Edmonton.

He scored an empty-net goal, and his helper came on the power play. Ristolainen hadn't played since Feb. 2, missing three games before the 4 Nations Face-Off break due to injury. He is mostly a depth option in specialty leagues because his 17 points in 55 games aren't noteworthy, but his 85 hits and 85 blocks could help in deeper formats.

Letang recorded a power-play goal, a minus-2 rating and three shots during Saturday's 8-3 loss to the Capitals.

Letang ended a 21-game goalless drought with his first-period marker, bringing him to eight tallies and 21 points in 51 appearances this season. The 37-year-old's days as an elite fantasy defender might be behind him, but Letang will continue to have fantasy relevance while feeding pucks to Sidney Crosby on Pittsburgh's top power-play unit.

Jensen (undisclosed) will be in the lineup Saturday versus the Canadiens, per TSN 1200 Ottawa.

Jensen dealt with a lower-body injury prior to the 4 Nations Face-Off break and was apparently bothered by an issue ahead of Saturday's contest. He'll suit up in a seven-defensemen lineup, giving the Senators some cover on the back end if his injury impacts his performance during the game. Assuming he ends up fine, he's in line for top-four minutes.

Timmins (upper body) will draw back into the lineup for Saturday's matchup against Carolina, according to David Alter of The Hockey News.

Timmins missed Toronto's last two games due to the injury. He has a goal, seven points, 22 PIM, 31 hits and 65 blocks in 44 appearances in 2024-25. Timmins will play on the third pairing alongside Simon Benoit, and Philippe Myers will be a healthy scratch.

Karlsson registered an assist, two shots and a minus-2 rating during Saturday's 8-3 loss to the Capitals.

Karlsson has two goals and five helpers during his six-game point spree. The 34-year-old could improve his minus-16 rating, but his point production has cemented him as a dependable fantasy rearguard. He has six goals and 39 points through 58 appearances this season.

Gudas (illness) will play Saturday versus the Bruins.

Gudas was sick prior to the 4 Nations Face-Off break, but the two-week gap in the schedule was plenty of time for him to get healthy. The 34-year-old defenseman is set to return to a top-four role, bumping Pavel Mintyukov from the lineup. Gudas is more defensive, so Olen Zellweger will likely absorb Mintyukov's power-play time.

Lohrei (illness) is expected to play against Anaheim on Saturday, according to Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic.

Despite skipping the morning skate, Lohrei will be in the lineup. He has accounted for three goals, 23 points, 45 shots on net and 71 blocked shots through 52 appearances this season. Due to the absence of Charlie McAvoy (shoulder), Lohrei could receive an increased role while seeing time on the top power-play unit.

McAvoy (shoulder) was placed on injured reserve Saturday, per the NHL media site.

McAvoy is out indefinitely due to an infection in his right shoulder and an AC joint injury. The Bruins have yet to reveal an official timeline for his absence, but losing McAvoy is a big hit to a team in the middle of the playoff race. Mason Lohrei figures to pick up power-play time in the interim.

Sanderson (rest) is expected to be in the lineup Saturday versus the Canadiens, Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia reports.

Sanderson was questionable to suit up after his stint with Team USA during the 4 Nations Face-Off. It looks like he'll be able to avoid taking additional rest at this time, and with the Senators off for three days after this contest, he should be fine moving forward. Sanderson can be penciled in for top-pairing minutes and power-play duties.

Lyubushkin (undisclosed) is good to play Saturday versus New Jersey, per Mike Heika of the Stars' official site.

Lyubushkin has 11 assists, 62 hits and 82 blocks in 53 outings in 2024-25. He missed two games due to his injury. Brendan Smith is set to be a healthy scratch due to Lyubushkin's return.