NHL Player News

Smith logged an assist and five PIM in Friday's 5-4 shootout loss to the Kings.

Smith set up a Matt Duchene tally late in the first period and then closed out the frame by fighting Tanner Jeannot. The 36-year-old Smith saw some action as a seventh defenseman late in January, but he was in the lineup Friday to cover the absence of Ilya Lyubushkin (undisclosed). Smith is likely to be scratched again when Lyubushkin returns. For the season, Smith has just four helpers with 19 shots on net, 31 PIM, 31 hits, 15 blocked shots and a minus-3 rating over 23 appearances.

Dumba notched an assist, two shots on goal and three blocked shots in Friday's 5-4 shootout loss to the Kings.

Dumba ended an 11-game point drought with the helper. He was scratched a few times in January, but his spot in the lineup is secure for now because Miro Heiskanen (knee) is month-to-month after surgery, and Nils Lundkvist (shoulder) won't play again this season. The 30-year-old Dumba has had an unimpressive campaign, earning three helpers, 28 shots on net, 50 hits, 36 blocked shots, 35 PIM and a minus-5 rating over 35 appearances. While he should be able to stick in the lineup, he'll likely be limited to bottom-four minutes.

Ceci logged an assist, two hits and two blocked shots in Friday's 5-4 shootout loss to the Kings.

Ceci earned his first point as a Star, setting up a Thomas Harley tally in the second period. The 31-year-old Ceci continues to see heavy minutes since being traded by the Sharks -- he's helping to pick up the slack created in the absences of Miro Heiskanen (knee) and Nils Lundkvist (shoulder). Ceci is up to 16 points, 63 shots on net, 104 blocked shots, 61 hits and a minus-11 rating through 57 appearances this season. His fantasy value doesn't come from scoring, making him unlikely to impact most fantasy formats.

Lindell notched an assist in Friday's 5-4 shootout loss to the Kings.

Lindell has a goal and three assists over his last six outings, going plus-7 in that span. The 30-year-old is taking on some heavier defensive minutes that opened up with Miro Heiskanen (knee) exiting the lineup. Lindell is up to 18 points, 69 shots on net, 118 blocked shots and a plus-21 rating through 54 contests. Given his category coverage, Lindell may be able to help some fantasy managers in deeper formats until Heiskanen is back.

Harley scored a goal on two shots and blocked two shots in Friday's 5-4 shootout loss to the Kings.

Over six games since Miro Heiskanen (knee) exited the lineup, Harley has a goal and three assists, doubling his point total from the prior nine contests. The 23-year-old defenseman is seeing big minutes in all situations, and he's holding his own fairly well. Harley is at eight goals, 27 points, 111 shots on net, 75 blocked shots and a plus-25 rating through 52 appearances this season.

Burroughs was scratched for the eighth straight game in Friday's 5-4 shootout win over the Stars.

Burroughs played regularly when the Kings deployed seven defensemen for a couple of months. The return of Drew Doughty from an ankle injury and the return to a six-blueliner formation have combined to pinch both Burroughs and Andreas Englund out of the lineup, even in the absence of Mikey Anderson (finger). The Kings currently have nine defensemen on the roster, and when they get to full health, Burroughs or Englund could be at risk of landing on waivers. Burroughs is stuck on two assists with 34 hits and 31 PIM over 26 outings this season.

Ekholm notched a power-play assist and three blocked shots in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Avalanche.

Ekholm has two helpers over three contests since he returned from missing a game due to an illness. The 34-year-old blueliner helped out on a Corey Perry tally in the second period. For the season, Ekholm has 24 points 122 shots on net, 80 blocked shots and a plus-17 rating over 54 appearances in a top-four role.

Bouchard produced a power-play assist, two shots on goal, two blocked shots and four PIM in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Avalanche.

He also set up another goal, but it was a shorthanded one for the Avalanche, which stemmed from Bouchard making an errant pass. Bouchard is on a five-game point streak (one goal, six assists). The 25-year-old defenseman has earned a power-play helper in four of those contests. He's now at 44 points, 163 shots on net, 81 blocked shots and a plus-21 rating over 55 appearances.

Toews recorded a pair of assists, two shots on goal, two blocked shots and a plus-3 rating in Friday's 5-4 win over the Oilers.

Toews was still overshadowed by defense partner Cale Makar's two-goal, one-assist effort, but it was a good showing for the Avalanche's top players. The 30-year-old Toews helped out on goals by Makar and Artturi Lehkonen in the first period. Toews is up to 27 points, 101 shots on net, 71 blocked shots and a plus-19 rating through 53 appearances this season. He continues to offer steady defensive play and solid offense in a large role.

Makar scored two goals on six shots, added an assist, blocked two shots and went plus-2 in Friday's 5-4 win over the Oilers.

Makar's second goal was a shorthanded tally, and his assist came on the power play. The 26-year-old defenseman is one of the hottest players in the league over the last three weeks, racking up nine goals and four assists over his last 11 outings. He's now at 22 goals, 63 points (26 on the power play, two shorthanded), 175 shots on net, 91 blocked shots and a plus-18 rating through 57 appearances.