NHL Player News

Chinakhov (personal) is expected to be in the lineup versus New Jersey on Thursday, Josh Yohe of The Athletic reports.

Since joining the Penguins, Chinakhov has been rolling offensively, racking up eight goals and four helpers in 18 contests. If there is a knock on the 25-year-old winger's game right now, it's the lack of production with the man advantage. Despite logging 1:14 of power-play ice time per game, Chinakhov has yet to produce a point with the extra attacker.

Protas scored a shorthanded goal and added an even-strength assist in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Flyers.

Both points came in the third period, as Protas helped set up Trevor van Riemsdyk for what proved to be the game-winner before firing home an empty-netter inside the final minute. Protas has two short-handed goals on the season, and they've both come in the last three games. Over his last nine contests, the 25-year-old has caught fire with four goals and eight points, and on the season he's up to 20 goals and 40 points in 57 games.

MacKinnon (not injury related) is expected to be in the lineup against the Wild on Thursday, Corey Masisak of The Denver Post reports.

MacKinnon sat out Wednesday's road clash with Utah but appears to be ready to go when his teammates return home to face Minnesota. In his last 20 outings, the world-class center posted 10 multi-point games, racking up a combined 32 points along the way.

Thompson made 23 saves in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Flyers.

The 29-year-old netminder took a shutout into the third period before a Capitals turnover in their own zone led to a Noah Cates tip-in. It was still an impressive performance from Thompson after the heartbreak of Team Canada's loss to the United States in the gold medal game at the Olympics, and over 12 NHL outings since the beginning of January he's posted a 2.59 GAA and .909 save percentage, albeit with just a 5-6-1 record to show for it.

Vladar turned aside 26 of 28 shots in Wednesday's 3-1 loss to the Capitals, with Washington's final goal getting scored into an empty net.

The 28-year-old netminder kept things close in the road loss, but aside from a Noah Cates tip-in early in the third period after a Caps turnover, the Flyers' offense couldn't solve Logan Thompson. Vladar has just one win in his last nine outings, going 1-3-3, but he's managed a respectable 2.76 GAA and .892 save percentage during that span.

Allen stopped 28 shots in Wednesday's 2-1 loss to the Sabres,

The veteran netminder battled Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to a scoreless draw through one period, but Buffalo got pucks past Allen in the second and third periods while the New Jersey offense sputtered. Allen has lost four straight starts sandwiched around the Olympic break, and since the beginning of January he's gone 1-7-0 in eight outings with a 2.97 GAA and .888 save percentage.

Krebs scored the game-winning goal and added an assist in Wednesday's 2-1 victory over New Jersey.

After setting up Tage Thompson for the game's opening goal midway through the second period, Krebs converted a feed from his center midway through the third after Thompson had picked Jack Hughes' pocket at the Devils' blue line to create the scoring chance. Krebs has two multi-point performances in the last six games but was held off the scoresheet in the other four, and on the season the 25-year-old has eight goals and 27 points in 58 contests.

Thompson produced a goal and an assist in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Devils.

The Olympic gold medalist opened the scoring midway through the second period, converting a 2-on-1 rush on a pass from Peyton Krebs, and Thompson then returned the favor on Krebs' game-winner in the third. Thompson has gotten onto the scoresheet in five straight NHL games and nine of the last 10, racking up six goals and 11 points over that latter stretch.

Nylander recorded two assists and placed four shots on net in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to Tampa Bay.

Nylander picked up both of his assists late in the contest, which included a primary helper on John Tavares' power-play goal. Overall, Nylander is up to 36 assists, 54 points and 90 shots on net across 41 games this season. The veteran winger has been on and off the ice this season, but has led the Maple Leafs in points per game when healthy. He remains an elite fantasy option and is on pace for his fifth consecutive season north of 75 points.

Luukkonen made 27 saves in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Devils.

Timo Meier spoiled Luukkonen's shutout bid late in the third period with New Jersey's net empty, as he jammed home a rebound during a scrum in front of the Buffalo crease, but otherwise the 26-year-old was sharp as the NHL schedule resumed following the Olympic break. Luukkonen has just one regulation loss in his last eight outings dating back to Jan. 6, going 5-1-1 over that stretch with a 2.78 GAA and .912 save percentage.