NHL Player News
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Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen G | BUF
Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Keeps rolling Saturday
Luukkonen turned aside 26 shots in Saturday's 4-1 win over the Kings.
Artemi Panarin opened the scoring midway through the first period on the power play, but Luukkonen shut the door the rest of the way as the Sabres' offense took over. The 27-year-old netminder has won six of seven starts since the Olympic break, going 6-1-0 with a stellar .930 save percentage.
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Ryan O'Reilly C | NSH
Predators' Ryan O'Reilly: Two-point effort Saturday
O'Reilly scored a power-play goal and added an even-strength assist in Saturday's 4-1 win over Vegas.
The veteran center helped set up Nashville's first goal of the afternoon by Steven Stamkos just 40 seconds into the first period, before potting the game's final tally late in the second. It was O'Reilly's first multi-point performance since Feb. 4, and on the season, he's delivered 24 goals and 64 points in 68 games.
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Steven Stamkos C | NSH
Predators' Steven Stamkos: Three points against Vegas
Stamkos scored two goals, one the game-winner on the power play, and added a power-play assist in Saturday's 4-1 win over the Golden Knights.
The 36-year-old delivered his best performance since the Olympic break, producing his first three-point effort since Feb. 4 and his first multi-goal game since Feb. 2. The GWG was also Stamkos' 10th of the season, the first time he's reached double digits in that category since 2021-22. Stamkos is up to 33 goals and 55 points through 69 games on the season, and he may need to stay hot if the Predators are going to hang onto a playoff spot -- they currently sit in the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.
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Connor Hellebuyck G | WPG
Jets' Connor Hellebuyck: Third straight loss
Hellebuyck made 26 saves in a 5-4 shootout loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday.
Hellebuyck is 0-1-2 in his last three outings and 4-3-4 with an .887 save percentage in 11 appearances since his gold-medal win at the Olympics. Hellebuyck needs to be near perfect for his team to make the playoffs. The Jets are four points behind the Kings for the second wild card in the Western Conference.
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Justus Annunen G | NSH
Predators' Justus Annunen: Sharp again Saturday
Annunen stopped 39 shots in Saturday's 4-1 win over the Golden Knights.
A Shea Theodore power-play tally in the second period ruined his shutout bid, but Annunen was once again impressive as he fills in for the injured Juuse Saros (upper body). Annunen has allowed three goals or fewer in all five of his starts since the Olympic break, going 3-2-0 with a stellar .940 save percentage, and he'll likely see a heavy workload as long as Saros is sidelined.
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Neal Pionk D | WPG
Jets' Neal Pionk: Goal in return from injury
Pionk (undisclosed) scored a goal in Saturday's 5-4 shootout loss to the Penguins.
It was Pionk's first game back after missing 23 games with an undisclosed injury. His shot from the point went in off the post. Pionk has put up at least 32 points in each of his last six regular seasons, but his offense has tanked this campaign. He has just nine points (three goals, six assists), 85 hits and 66 blocks in 41 games.
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Akira Schmid G | LV
Golden Knights' Akira Schmid: Losing streak at four
Schmid made 16 saves in Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Predators.
Two of Nashville's three goals in the second period came on power plays, while the third was a shorthanded tally by Tyson Jost. Schmid has lost all four of his starts since the Olympic break, and during that stretch, he's stumbled to an .879 save percentage in five outings while falling firmly behind Adin Hill on the depth chart.
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Cole Koepke LW | WPG
Jets' Cole Koepke: Snaps 17-game goal drought
Koepke scored a shorthanded goal Saturday in a 5-4 shootout loss to Pittsburgh.
He took off on a 2-on-1 with Adam Lowry and went forehand to backhand on a pass from the center to tie the game 2-2 in the second period. It was Koepke's first goal in 17 games (two assists). He's better known for his hit parade (151) than his offense (six goals, eight assists) through 53 outings this season.
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Brad Lambert C | WPG
Jets' Brad Lambert: First multi-pointer of career
Lambert scored a goal and added an assist in Saturday's 5-4 shootout loss to Pittsburgh.
The marker was a goal scorer's snipe. Lambert collected a loose puck in the neutral zone and bulled his way to the high slot where he wired a wrist shot past Arturs Silovs. The goal pushed the Pens up 4-3 near the midpoint of the third period. It was Lambert's second career goal and first multi-point game. He has four points, including three assists, in his last four games and five points (two goals, three assists) in 12 contests this season.
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Ryan Reaves RW | SJ
Sharks' Ryan Reaves: Suffers hand injury
Reaves sustained an injury to his left hand during Saturday's 4-1 loss to Philadelphia.
Reaves suffered the injury during the first period. He didn't take another shift after getting hurt, but he did remain on the bench. Head coach Ryan Warsofsky didn't have an update on Reaves' status after the game. If Reaves can't play Tuesday in Nashville, then Pavol Regenda will probably draw back into the lineup.