NHL Player News

Crosby (lower body) is expected to play against Washington on Sunday, per Michelle Crechiolo of the Penguins' official site.

Crosby is available to return to action after sitting out Saturday's 6-3 loss to Washington. He has amassed 29 goals, 74 points, 158 shots on net and 58 hits across 67 appearances this campaign.

Skinner will defend the road net against Washington on Sunday, Michelle Crechiolo of the Penguins' official site reports.

Skinner will get the second half of Pittsburgh's back-to-back after Arturs Silovs played in Saturday's 6-3 loss to the Capitals. The 27-year-old Skinner is coming off a 19-save performance in Thursday's 5-2 win over New Jersey. Washington ranks 14th in the league with 3.20 goals per game this season.

Protas scored a goal on two shots and added an assist in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Penguins.

Protas opened the scoring at 1:39 of the second period and also assisted on a Tom Wilson goal later in that frame. The 25-year-old Prtoas has racked up five points and nine shots on net over his last four games since he returned from an upper-body injury. Protas is up to 25 goals, 52 points, 156 shots on net, 41 blocked shots, 32 hits and a plus-20 rating over 74 appearances. While he hasn't matched last year's 66-point breakout regular season, he's still been a quality fantasy option in a middle-six role.

Wilson scored a goal on four shots, added an assist and went plus-2 in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Penguins.

Wilson has five goals and four assists during his six-game point streak. The late surge has gotten him back to 30 goals for the second year in a row. He's also at 61 points in 70 outings, four points back of matching his regular-season total from 81 appearances a year ago. Wilson has shot 20.1 percent this season, even higher than his career-best 19.5 percent mark a year ago. The 32-year-old has also rewarded fantasy managers with 149 shots on net, 176 hits, 52 blocked shots and 117 PIM this year. He's had a bit of a late peak, but his multi-category efficiency should be useful for a few more years.

Michkov recorded a goal, an assist, three shots on goal and a plus-2 rating in Saturday's 7-1 win over the Jets.

Michkov was one of several bottom-six forwards who contributed in a big way to the Flyers' offense in this blowout win. Despite his role in the lineup, Michkov has been putting up solid numbers of late. This was his third multi-point effort of the last five games, a stretch in which he's racked up seven points (two goals, five helpers), six PIM, eight shots on goal and a plus-6 rating.

Cates recorded a shorthanded goal and two even-strength assists in Saturday's 7-1 win over the Jets.

Cates doesn't carry a ton of upside as a bottom-six forward, but he managed to find the back of the net with his first shorthanded goal of the campaign in this blowout win. Cates has four points (one goal, three assists) in six games in April, and he's ending the regular season on a strong note, with 12 points (six goals, six assists) and a plus-10 rating over his last 14 appearances dating back to March 18.

Sanderson scored a power-play goal on two shots, blocked two shots and went plus-2 in Saturday's 3-0 win over the Islanders.

Sanderson is on a four-game point streak, earning three goals and three assists in that span. The Senators' defense is getting closer to full health, getting Sanderson back from an upper-body injury and Thomas Chabot back from a broken forearm in the last week. Sanderson will handle the top duties across the board. He is up to 14 goals, 40 assists, 147 shots on net, 128 blocked shots and a plus-16 rating through 67 appearances this season.

Couturier recorded two goals (on four shots) and added an assist in Saturday's 7-1 win over the Jets.

Couturier delivered an assist in the 6-3 loss to the Red Wings on Thursday, but this two-goal effort marked the first time he scored a goal since March 28. Couturier doesn't have a lot of upside as a bottom-six forward despite having a respectable 36 points in 77 contests this season, although his form over the last two games suggests he might end the regular season on a strong note.

Chibrikov was recalled from AHL Manitoba on Sunday under emergency conditions.

Chibrikov has six goals and 10 assists in 53 AHL appearances this season. He hasn't earned a point in eight NHL appearances this campaign while picking up 12 PIM, five shots on net, five blocked shots and 10 hits.

Vladar stopped 27 of 28 shots in Saturday's 7-1 win over the Jets.

Vladar was beaten in the first period by Haydn Fleury, but Philadelphia's netminder was excellent the rest of the way, and the offense provided him enough support to get the job done easily. Vladar has won four of his last five starts, posting a 1.80 GAA and a .921 save percentage over that stretch. He's been one of the best goaltenders in fantasy over the last two weeks, posting a save percentage of at least .940 in four of his past five starts.