NHL Player News

Dewar scored two goals, one shorthanded, in Monday's 6-3 win over the Kraken.

The checking-line winger gave the Penguins a 2-0 lead midway through the first period before icing things late in the third with an empty-netter. Dewar has been locked in during January, producing five goals, seven points, 16 shots on net, 12 hits, seven blocked shots, two PIM and a plus-7 rating in 10 games, and his 11 goals on the season through 48 contests have already tied his previous career high.

Merilainen was reassigned to AHL Belleville on Tuesday.

Merilainen appeared in 11 straight games for the Senators coming out of the Christmas break, but now finds himself headed down to the minors. In those outings, the 23-year-old netminder went 4-5-1 with a 3.61 GAA, including giving up six goals on 19 shots versus Montreal on Saturday. Hunter Shepard was recalled from Belleville in a corresponding move and figures to serve as the No. 2 option behind James Reimer for Tuesday's tilt with Columbus.

Skinner turned aside 20 shots in Monday's 6-3 win over the Kraken.

The 27-year-old netminder got plenty of offensive support once again as he won for the fifth time in his last six starts. Skinner's found a groove in the Pittsburgh crease in a tandem with Arturs Silovs, and during that 5-1-0 stretch, he's posted a 1.67 GAA and a .931 save percentage.

Stolarz (upper body) was reassigned to AHL Toronto on a conditioning assignment Tuesday.

Assuming the team wants to get Stolarz into at least one minor-league contest, he figures to miss the Maple Leafs' next two contests, as the Marlies don't play until Friday's clash with AHL Springfield. The New Jersey native has been on the shelf since Nov. 11 against the Bruins due to his upper-body injury, a stretch of 32 games on injured reserve. Once cleared to play, Stolarz will likely split the workload, at least to start, with Joseph Woll, while Dennis Hildeby figures to be sent back to the minors.

Necas pocketed two assists, one on the power play, in Monday's 5-2 win over the Capitals.

Both assists came on Nathan MacKinnon tallies, as Necas helped the Avs' superstar reach 1,100 career points. Necas has five multi-point performances in the last 11 games, a stretch in which he's racked up six goals and 13 points as he continues surging toward a career-best campaign.

Olofsson scored the game-winning goal and added a power-play assist in Monday's 5-2 win over the Capitals.

Both points came in the second period as the Avs took the lead for good. Olofsson has two multi-point performances in the last four games, but those are the only times he's gotten onto the scoresheet since Dec. 13, and Monday's helper was his first power-play point since Nov. 9. On the season, the veteran winger has nine goals and 23 points in 47 contests.

MacKinnon scored two goals, one on the power play, and added an even-strength assist in Monday's 5-2 win over the Capitals.

With his goal late in the second period that wrapped up the scoring on the afternoon, MacKinnon reached 1,100 career regular-season points, becoming just the second player in franchise history to reach that plateau after Hall of Famer Joe Sakic. MacKinnon's tied with Connor McDavid atop the NHL leaderboard with 85 points, and his 38 goals put him well in front in the race for the Rocket Richard Trophy.

Wedgewood stopped 22 shots in Monday's 5-2 win over Washington.

The Avs never trailed in the game as they outshot the visitors 44-24, making life relatively easy for Wedgewood. It was his first start since Jan. 8, as he may be ceding the top spot in the crease back to Mackenzie Blackwood, but through five outings this month, Wedgewood's delivered a 3-2-0 record with a stout 2.44 GAA and .911 save percentage.

Frank scored an even-strength goal and added a power-play assist in Monday's 5-2 loss to the Avalanche.

The 27-year-old winger continues to take advantage of the absence of Tom Wilson (lower body). Since Wilson was injured Jan. 3, Frank has stepped into a top-six role and responded with five goals and seven points in nine games, including one tally and one helper on the power play. Wilson appears close to a return, so Frank's surge of fantasy value could be close to an end.

Lindgren made 39 saves in Monday's 5-2 loss to Colorado.

The Capitals were outshot 44-24 on the afternoon, but Lindgren did his best to keep things close until the Avs finally pulled away in the third period. The veteran netminder has given up at least three goals in six straight starts dating back to Dec. 16, going 2-3-1 over that stretch with a 3.81 GAA and an .881 save percentage.