NHL Player News

Necas scored the game-winning goal and added an assist in Saturday's 2-0 victory over the Stars.

The 27-year-old star broke open a scoreless goaltending duel between Scott Wedgewood and Casey DeSmith midway through the third period before nearly scoring another into an empty net inside the final minute, only for Nathan MacKinnon to collect Necas' long-range miss and flip the puck home. Necas has five multi-point performances in the last eight games, racking up five goals and 13 points in that span. He's within striking distance of his first career 40-goal and 100-point regular season, with 36 tallies and 94 points in 72 contests.

Wedgewood turned aside 17 shots in Saturday's 2-0 win over Dallas.

The shutout was Wedgewood's third of the season, and the win gave the Avalanche an eight-point lead in the Central Division over their chief rivals, all but locking up the top seed in the NHL playoffs. The 33-year-old journeyman has found a home behind Colorado's stingy defense, and he hasn't given up more than three goals in an outing since the Olympic break, going 8-2-1 over his last 11 starts with an eye-popping 1.59 GAA and .937 save percentage.

Ullmark stopped 19 shots in Saturday's 4-1 loss to Minnesota.

The Senators' offense couldn't solve Jesper Wallstedt until late in the third period, giving Ullmark no margin for error. Ullmark is stumbling at a bad time for Ottawa as his team fights to hang onto a wild-card spot -- over his last four outings, he's gone 1-2-1 while coughing up 13 goals on only 101 shots (.871 save percentage).

Zuccarello notched two assists in Saturday's 4-1 win over Ottawa.

The veteran winger delivered his third straight multi-point performance as he closes the regular season on a high note. Zuccarello has 15 goals and 49 points through 56 games, leaving him on the verge of recording his fifth straight 50-point campaign.

Hartman scored two goals, one the game-winner, in Saturday's 4-1 victory over the Senators.

The 31-year-old found the back of the net late in the first and second periods. Hartman is on fire right now, scoring in four straight games and producing points in five straight while racking up six goals and eight points over that latter stretch. On the season, he's collected 22 goals and 39 points in 72 contests.

Wallstedt made 33 saves in Saturday's 4-1 win over the Senators.

Wallstedt nearly recorded his fifth shutout of the season, but Drake Batherson banged a rebound past the 23-year-old netminder with just over three minutes left in the third period. Wallstedt hasn't allowed more than three goals in an outing since February, going 2-2-2 over his last seven appearances with a dazzling 1.95 GAA and .929 save percentage.

Greenway logged an assist in Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Capitals.

Greenway missed 24 contests due to an abdominal injury. The 29-year-old has been battling a hernia issue off and on for the better part of the last two seasons, adding to his laundry list of past issues that have cost him notable amounts of time. He's produced just six points with 30 shots on net, 51 hits and a minus-10 rating over 36 appearances this season. Greenway will compete with Tanner Pearson for a depth spot in the lineup going forward.

Stecher was held off the scoresheet for an eighth straight game in Saturday's 7-6 overtime loss to the Kings.

Stecher's playing time should stabilize while Oliver Ekman-Larsson (lower body) is out. The part-time role likely isn't helping Stecher get his offense on track. The 31-year-old blueliner has earned 13 points over 54 outings this season, but only three of those points have come in his last 18 games. He's added 58 shots on net, 75 blocked shots, 25 hits and a minus-7 rating while mainly working in a bottom-four role.

Wright notched an assist and two blocked shots in Saturday's 7-6 overtime win over the Maple Leafs.

Wright set up a Quinton Byfield tally in the second period. The 23-year-old Wright is mainly seeing bottom-six minutes, but he has been a regular presence in the Kings' lineup since the start of March. He's earned three assists, 24 shots on net, 19 hits and 15 blocked shots over 17 appearances to begin his NHL career.

Ceci recorded an assist and two hits in Saturday's 7-6 overtime win over the Maple Leafs.

The helper ended a 33-game point drought for Ceci, who has struggled in a bottom-four role over the second half of the campaign. He had 49 blocked shots, 21 shots on net and a minus-10 rating during the slump. Ceci is at a meager nine points with 56 shots on net, 104 blocked shots, 33 hits and a minus-9 rating through 76 outings overall.