NHL Player News

Copp (leg) is expected to be in the lineup versus the Canadiens on Thursday, Max Bultman of The Athletic reports.

Copp has progressed quicker than expected in his return from a leg injury. He has missed three games but is now good to go in a middle-six role. The 31-year-old should also be a candidate for power-play time now that he's back in the lineup.

Brandsegg-Nygard (undisclosed) is slated to miss Thursday's game against Montreal, according to Max Bultman of The Athletic.

Brandsegg-Nygard is believed to be close to returning, but he will still miss his third straight game. He has an assist in 12 outings in 2025-26. Brandsegg-Nygard might serve in a bottom-six capacity once he's healthy.

Shabanov (lower body) isn't expected to play Thursday versus Ottawa, per Andrew Gross of Newsday.

Shabanov is slated to miss his third straight game. He has four goals and 16 points in 42 outings in 2025-26. His next chance to return will come Saturday in Montreal.

Sorokin will start in goal on the road versus the Senators on Thursday, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.

Sorokin is 3-2-0 with a 2.64 GAA and a .909 save percentage over five outings in March. The 30-year-old netminder has been sharp, though he hasn't been at his best lately. Sorokin will face a Senators team that took a 4-1 loss to the Capitals on Wednesday.

Tuch (illness) is expected to play Thursday versus San Jose.

Tuch didn't participate in Tuesday's 2-0 win over Vegas because of the illness. He has 28 goals and 57 points in 65 outings in 2025-26. Tuch is projected to serve on the top line alongside Tage Thompson and Zach Benson. Tyson Kozak is likely to be a healthy scratch due to Tuch's return.

Matthews underwent successful MCL knee repair surgery Thursday.

Matthews had already been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a Grade 3 MCL tear and quadriceps contusion, and he has a recovery timetable of approximately 12 weeks following Thursday's procedure. The 28-year-old finished his 2025-26 campaign with 27 goals, 26 assists, 81 blocked shots, 42 hits and 18 PIM while averaging 20:48 of ice time. Given his return timetable, it seems unlikely that Matthews will be an option for Team USA at the IIHF World Championship, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him available for training camp ahead of the 2026-27 NHL campaign.

Reimer will patrol the crease at home versus the Islanders on Thursday, Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia reports.

Reimer will make just his second appearance in the Senators' last 11 contests. In that lone outing, the 38-year-old netminder stopped all 16 shots he faced in a victory over the Canucks. With a back-to-back upcoming, Reimer should feature against either the Rangers or Red Wings on Monday or Tuesday, respectively.

Stenlund will be a game-time decision Thursday versus Vegas, per Brogan Houston of the Deseret News.

Stenlund has four goals and 15 points in 66 outings with Utah in 2025-26. He missed Monday's 6-3 win over Dallas because of the injury.

Solovyov notched an assist in Wednesday's 6-5 overtime loss to the Hurricanes.

Solovyov has two helpers over six games since he returned from a six-game stint as a healthy scratch. The defenseman is at eight points, 20 shots on net, 30 hits, 29 blocked shots and a plus-2 rating over 27 appearances between the Penguins and the Avalanche this season. Solovyov may not be a full-time player for the Penguins, and he'll be on the third pairing when in the lineup.

Head coach Bruce Cassidy said Thursday that Hart (lower body) has resumed skating and is getting closer to returning, Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

Hart has been sidelined since early January due to a lower-body injury, but it appears as though he'll have an opportunity to return to game action before the end of the regular season. However, Cassidy said that Hart won't travel with the Golden Knights during their upcoming three-game road trip, so the earliest that the 27-year-old netminder will be able to return will be March 26 against Edmonton.