NHL Player News

Ostlund (upper body) is considered a game-time decision for Friday's matchup against the Red Wings, Heather Engel of NHL.com reports.

Although head coach Lindy Ruff labeled Ostlund as day-to-day, the 22-year-old participated in Friday's optional morning skate and is considered a possibility to suit up against Detroit after missing Thursday's practice due to an upper-body injury. If Ostlund is unavailable for Friday's game, Tyson Kozak, Josh Dunne and Tanner Pearson are candidates to suit up.

Garand was the first goaltender off the ice at morning practice and is expected to patrol the home crease versus Chicago on Friday, according to Mollie Walker of the New York Post.

The 23-year-old netminder will make his second career start. He turned aside 35 shots in a 3-2 shootout loss to Winnipeg on Sunday. The Blackhawks are 30th in NHL scoring, generating 2.57 goals per game.

Bump produced a goal and an assist in Thursday's 5-1 win over Chicago.

The rookie winger opened the scoring just 48 seconds into the first period after Spencer Knight turned the puck over behind his own net. Bump, a fifth-round pick in 2022, had a breakout season at AHL Lehigh Valley with 11 goals and 26 points in 36 games, and he's carried that momentum with him into his first look at the NHL, collecting three goals and six points in his first 10 games for the Flyers.

Ersson turned aside 25 shots in Thursday's 5-1 win over Chicago.

Connor Bedard spoiled his shutout bid in the second period, but otherwise Ersson was sharp as he won his fourth straight decision since the Olympic break. He remains behind Dan Vladar on the depth chart, but Ersson is doing his best to keep the Flyers in the playoff picture when called upon, posting a dazzling 1.58 GAA and .931 save percentage in five outings during that stretch.

Bedard scored his 30th goal of the season in Thursday's 5-1 loss to the Flyers.

The 20-year-old spoiled Samuel Ersson's shutout bid midway through the second period, ripping a shot past the netminder from below the faceoff dot after Anton Frondell had made a nifty backhand centering pass from behind the net. It's the first time Bedard has hit the 30-goal mark in a season, but it almost certainly won't be the last. Through 59 games this season, the blossoming superstar has 67 points, 196 shots on net, 42 PIM and a minus-4 rating.

Knight stopped 37 shots in Thursday's 5-1 loss to the Flyers.

Philadelphia scored twice in the first 2:33 of the first period, and neither Knight nor the 'Hawks were able to recover. It was the first time the 24-year-old netminder has given up more than four goals since Dec. 6, and over nine starts since the Olympic break he's gone 2-4-3 with a 2.96 GAA and .908 save percentage.

Horvat scored his 30th goal of the season in Thursday's 2-1 win over the Stars.

The 30-year-old center opened the scoring early in the first period, flying down the wing and ripping a shot high blocker side on Jake Oettinger from the faceoff dot. It's the fourth time in Horvat's career he's reached the 30-goal plateau, and through 59 games this season he's produced 52 points, 202 shots on net, 50 hits, 40 PIM, 36 blocked shots and a plus-12 rating.

Groulx was assigned to AHL Toronto on Friday.

Groulx spent two and a half weeks with the Maple Leafs and recorded three goals, two assists, 26 hits and three blocked shots while averaging 15:30 of ice time over nine appearances. By sending Groulx down, he won't be subject to waivers to be sent to the Marlies for the AHL playoffs, and he could still rejoin the Maple Leafs as an emergency recall sometime late in the regular season.

Schaefer notched two assists in Thursday's 2-1 win over the Stars.

The rookie phenom had a hand in tallies by Bo Horvat in the first period and Calum Ritchie in the third. Schaefer is doing his best to push the Islanders across the finish line in the regular season and into the playoffs, and through 13 games in March he's delivered four goals and 13 points with 49 shots on net, 19 blocked shots, eight PIM and a plus-8 rating.

Sorokin made 26 saves in Thursday's 2-1 win over the Stars.

He headed into the third period hunting for his eighth shutout of the season, but Matt Duchene snapped a one-timer past him with just under three minutes left. Sorokin has been sharp in March as the Isles battle for a playoff spot, posting a 2.23 GAA and .918 save percentage over his last nine appearances, but the 30-year-old netminder has just a 5-4-0 record to show for it.