NHL Player News

Toews scored a goal on four shots in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Jets.

Toews ended his 21-game goal drought with a second-period tally. The defenseman had also gone five contests without a point entering Tuesday's action. While the lack of offense is frustrating for fantasy managers, Toews is unlikely to slip out of a top-four role thanks to his defensive work. He has two goals, 12 assists, 55 shots on net, 42 blocked shots and a plus-6 rating over 34 appearances. It's been a down year for the 30-year-old blueliner, who has been more of a depth defenseman in fantasy rather than a solid No. 2 or 3.

Spurgeon (lower body) won't return to Tuesday's game versus the Predators.

Spurgeon was slew-footed by Zachary L'Heureux in the second period. The Wild captain had trouble getting off the ice, putting no weight on his right leg. He was seen leaving the arena in a leg brace and on crutches. An update on Spurgeon's status should be available prior to Thursday's game versus the Capitals. If he needs a stint on injured reserve, David Jiricek could be recalled from AHL Iowa.

Lauzon (lower body) won't return to Tuesday's game versus the Wild.

Lauzon departed in the second period, but it's unclear what happened to force his exit. The 27-year-old was in his sixth game back from a previous lower-body injury. With Adam Wilsby (upper body) also ailing, the Predators may need to call up a defenseman for Friday's road game in Vancouver.

Savard notched an assist and two blocked shots in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Golden Knights.

Savard has looked good in the latter half of December, earning a goal and four assists over his last seven games. The blueliner earned just one assist over 17 contests between Nov. 2 and Dec. 14. He shouldn't be expected to keep up his recent pace, as his third-pairing role and heavily defensive style typically don't lead to much scoring. He has 10 points, 23 shots on net, 90 blocked shots, 31 hits and 22 PIM over 35 appearances this season.

Faulk scored a goal and added two assists in a 6-2 victory over Chicago at the Winter Classic on Tuesday.

Faulk slapped a one-timer in the second period from inside the blue line that went straight through traffic; it stood as the winner. Faulk has four points, including three assists, in his last three games and 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in 37 outings overall. His fantasy value took a bit of a hit with the recent arrival of Cam Fowler, who took over the reins on PP1 and shuffled all other defenders down the depth chart. Faulk is headed toward a triple-digit season in shots, blocks and hits, so he may still offer value in deep formats.

Chychrun scored a power-play goal on four shots, blocked two shots, added two PIM and went plus-2 in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Bruins.

Chychrun has four points, including two on the power play, over his last three games. That's helped him bounce back from his season-worst four-game point drought from Dec. 17-23. The defenseman is up to 11 goals, 14 helpers, eight power-play points, 71 shots on net, 41 blocked shots, 26 PIM, 24 hits and a plus-17 rating over 32 appearances.

Fowler scored twice in Tuesday's 6-2 win over Chicago in the Winter Classic. One of the goals came on the power play.

It was a real pinch me moment for Fowler, who is the first player in NHL history to skate in his 1,000th game outdoors, and the first NHL defender to score two goals in an outdoor game. To top the day off, his former teammates in Anaheim later all arrived at their game against New Jersey in special t-shirts to commemorate his 1,000th game. Class move for a class guy. Fowler now has three goals and four assists in nine games with the Blues after struggling with just four assists in 17 outings with the Ducks. He's in a great position to excel in St. Louis, and he may still be on the wire in some shallow leagues.

Hanifin scored a goal on two shots, blocked one shot and had one hit in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to Montreal.

The Golden Knights got a pair of goals from defensemen in the first period. Zach Whitecloud opened the scoring with an early marker followed by Hanifin, who gathered a loose puck and beat a screened Sam Montembeault stick side late in the period. The tally was Hanifin's sixth of the season and third in the last five outings.

Whitecloud scored a goal on one shot in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Canadiens. He added one block and one hit.

Whitecloud was an unlikely source to give the Golden Knights an early lead. He buried a feed from Tomas Hertl for his second goal of the season and first since Opening Night. The third-pair defenseman has four points through 30 outings.

Wilsby (upper body) is day-to-day and won't play Tuesday versus Minnesota.

Wilsby has one goal, two assists, 22 shots on net, 12 blocked shots and 10 hits across 15 games this season. Justin Barron will replace Wilsby in Tuesday's lineup.