NHL Player News

Malkin notched two assists in Thursday's 4-3 overtime win over Utah.

The 40-year-old missed the Penguins' prior game with an illness, but Malkin looked 100 percent in his return as he helped set up tallies by Erik Karlsson in the second period and Ben Kindel late in the third, the latter of which appeared to be the game-winner until the Mammoth tied it up with one second left on the clock. Malkin hasn't yet announced a decision on whether this will be his last NHL season, but he certainly looks like he's got plenty left in the tank, delivering six goals and 11 points in his first 12 games of 2026-27.

Kindel produced a goal and an assist in Thursday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Mammoth.

Seeing his first action since Oct. 19 after a scary incident on the team plane in which he lost consciousness due to a sudden drop in blood pressure and heart rate. Kindel seemed fully recovered as he set up Erik Karlsson for the Penguins' opening goal in the second period, before giving his squad a 3-2 lead with just 25 seconds left in the third. The 19-year-old Kindel will have his health monitored closely, but assuming there aren't further vasovagal syncope episodes, he should continue to skate on the second line and hold down a spot on the second power-play unit. Through 10 games this season, Kindel's produced three goals and six points.

Silovs made 30 saves in Thursday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Mammoth.

The Penguins looked like they had the win in the bag after rallying from an early 2-0 deficit, but Logan Cooley managed to bat a puck out of midair past Silovs with just one second left on the clock in the third period, and there wasn't much the netminder could do on Mikhail Sergachev's OT winner. Silovs has had a roller coaster beginning to the season -- he already has two shutouts in nine starts, but he's also given up more than four goals in four outings, leaving him with a 5-3-1 record, 2.98 GAA and .889 save percentage.

Cooley scored three goals on a team-high five shots on net while adding two hits, a blocked shot and a plus-2 rating in Thursday's 4-3 overtime win over the Penguins.

The Pittsburgh native shone in a homecoming game, striking twice in the first period and then forcing OT by batting a puck out of midair past Arturs Silovs with just one second left on the clock in the third. It was Cooley's fourth career hat trick, and after failing to light the lamp in the first seven games of the season, the 22-year-old has potted seven goals in the last seven. Through 14 contests overall, Cooley's racked up 15 points, 18 hits, 21 shots on net and a minus-2 rating.

Cossa turned aside 31 shots in Thursday's 4-3 overtime win over the Penguins.

Cossa nearly blew an early 2-0 lead, but Logan Cooley bailed him out by completing a hat trick with exactly one second left on the clock in the third period, batting a puck out of midair past Arturs Silovs. That set the stage for Mikhail Sergachev to flip home the OT winner. Cossa continues to benefit from plenty of offense when he's between the pipes -- despite a lackluster 3.20 GAA and .857 save percentage in five outings (four starts), the 23-year-old netminder sports a 3-1-0 record as Karel Vejmelka's backup.

Jarvis picked up two assists in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Blue Jackets.

The 24-year-old winger set up Jordan Martinook for a tally late in the first period before feeding Mark Jankowski for what proved to be the game-winner just 16 seconds into the third. Jarvis has gotten onto the scoresheet in three of four games since his delayed start to the season, producing one goal and five points with six hits, nine shots on net and a plus-4 rating. He could have a hard time maintaining that pace, however -- Jarvis averaged 20 power-play points over the prior three seasons while skating primarily on the first unit, but he's been stuck on the second unit since his return and is still looking for his first point of 2026-27 with the man advantage.

Kochetkov stopped 24 shots in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Blue Jackets.

Carolina held a 3-0 lead after Mark Jankowski scored just 16 seconds into the third period, but Kochetkov needed to be sharp as Columbus staged a rally in the final frame that fell just short. The 27-year-old goalie remains unbeaten, going 9-0-0 with a 1.66 GAA and .919 save percentage to begin the Hurricanes' defense of their Stanley Cup championship.

Johnson scored a power-play goal in Thursday's 3-2 loss to the Hurricanes.

The 24-year-old winger tapped home a Charlie Coyle feed from the edge of the crease midway through the third period for the game's final goal. Johnson scored just seven goals in 76 regular-season games during a rough 2025-26, but he's already matched that total in 11 contests this season, compiling 11 points, 24 shots on net, six hits, five blocked shots, six PIM and a plus-1 rating.

Greaves made 24 saves in Thursday's 3-2 loss to Carolina.

The 25-year-old netminder hadn't played since Oct. 20 thanks to a light schedule for the Blue Jackets, as he missed just two games, but the time off for Greaves didn't solve the team's issues at both ends of the ice. Through seven outings (six starts) so far in 2026-27, he's gone 2-4-0 with a 3.29 GAA and .884 save percentage, and since a 6-3 win over Buffalo in Columbus' opener, Greaves' offense has averaged just 2.0 goals a game in his appearances.

Mercer logged an assist and three shots on goal in Thursday's 6-4 loss to the Lightning.

The current headliner of the return for Connor Hellebuyck, Mercer's arrival in Winnipeg has gotten off to a slow start. The helper was his first point in three games with his new team. The 25-year-old has had some bad luck so far, coming up empty on 28 shots while adding five assists, nine hits, nine blocked shots and a minus-4 rating over 13 appearances between the Jets and the Devils. He's in a middle-six role with ice time in all situation, so he should be able to get his offense going soon, as long as he can adjust to his new teammates.