NHL Player News
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Shane Wright C | SEA
Kraken's Shane Wright: Loses lineup spot
Wright was scratched for a third straight game Saturday in a 2-1 loss to the Kings.
The Kraken rotated Wright out of the lineup Nov. 17 versus the Rangers. Seattle has lost two of the three games he's sat out, scoring just four goals in that span, so it's possible he gets a look again soon. Prior to the scratches, Wright had gone 13 games without a point. He has just two points over 18 appearances this season -- dynasty managers will want to weather the storm, but Wright is not an option in redraft leagues at this time. If he can't up his game soon, he may be ticketed for a trip to AHL Coachella Valley.
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Oliver Bjorkstrand RW | SEA
Kraken's Oliver Bjorkstrand: Earns helper in loss
Bjorkstrand notched an assist in Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Kings.
Bjorkstrand snapped a three-game slump with the helper. The winger is back on the third line after seeing more ice time in mid-November. He's produced nine points, 43 shots on net, 16 hits and a plus-2 rating through 20 outings this season. Few Kraken forwards produce offense at an elite rate, so Bjorkstrand will need to be steadier to be an option for most fantasy managers.
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Andreas Englund D | LA
Kings' Andreas Englund: Getting short end of playing time
Englund has been scratched for seven of the Kings' first 10 games in November after sitting out Saturday's 2-1 win over the Kraken.
Englund doesn't add much outside of toughness, and his ice time has been under 10 minutes in each of his last three appearances. The Kings have been more willing to give Jacob Moverare a look on the third pairing. Englund has a goal, 17 hits, 12 PIM and five blocked shots over eight outings this season, and with another tough guy in Kyle Burroughs also on the outside looking in, Englund's unlikely to see steady playing time.
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Kevin Fiala LW | LA
Kings' Kevin Fiala: Snags power-play assist
Fiala registered a power-play assist in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Kraken.
Fiala snapped a six-game point drought when he set up a Quinton Byfield tally in the second period. It's been a tough first quarter of the campaign for Fiala, who has gotten into the doghouse with head coach Jim Hiller over penalties. Putting up offense is Fiala's one path to productivity, so it's not a good sign when he goes streaky. The winger is at seven goals, six helpers, 55 shots on net and 16 PIM through 20 contests overall.
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Anze Kopitar C | LA
Kings' Anze Kopitar: Dishes two assists
Kopitar notched two assists, including one on the power play, in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Kraken.
Kopitar continues to serve as a high-end playmaker on the Kings' top line. He's gone eight games without a goal, but he has nine helpers in that span, with three of them coming on the power play. The 37-year-old center is up to 23 points (five goals, 18 assists), 26 shots on net, 12 blocked shots and a plus-6 rating through 21 appearances.
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Adrian Kempe RW | LA
Kings' Adrian Kempe: Opens scoring in win
Kempe scored a goal on four shots and added two PIM in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Kraken.
Kempe is up to 10 goals this year, and he's scored half of them over the last four contests. The 28-year-old forward is in a groove on the top line, and his recent burst of production has been mostly at even strength. For the season, he's produced 19 points (three on the power play), 60 shots on net, 24 hits and a plus-7 rating through 21 appearances.
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Alex Lyon G | DET
Red Wings' Alex Lyon: Starting Monday
Lyon will guard the road net Monday against the Islanders, Ted Kulfan of The Detroit News reports.
Lyon will make his second start in three games after starting just once in Detroit's previous eight contests. The 31-year-old Lyon is 3-4-0 on the year with a .908 save percentage and 2.85 GAA.
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Sidney Crosby C | PIT
Penguins' Sidney Crosby: Career goal No. 600
Crosby scored the 600th goal of his career in Saturday's 6-1 loss to Utah.
The lone bright spot on the night for the Penguins came in the second period, as Crosby slid home a power-play tally to become the 21st player in NHL history to reach the 600-goal plateau. The future Hall of Famer hasn't had a multi-point performance since Nov. 2, producing three goals and seven points over the last 10 contests in what counts as a quiet stretch by Crosby's standards.
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Alex Nedeljkovic G | PIT
Penguins' Alex Nedeljkovic: Gets little help in loss
Nedeljkovic turned aside 24 shots in Saturday's 6-1 loss to Utah.
Three of the goals against Nedeljkovic came on the power play, and he wasn't getting much help from his defense at even strength, either. The 28-year-old netminder has only one win in his last six appearances, posting a 1-2-2 record over that stretch with a rough 3.99 GAA and .855 save percentage.
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Clayton Keller C | UTA
Hockey Club's Clayton Keller: Three helpers in rout
Keller notched three assists, two on the power play, in Saturday's 6-1 win over the Penguins.
After helping to set up Mikhail Sergachev in the first period for what proved to be the game-winner, Keller pocketed two more assists with the man advantage in the third. It's his first multi-point performance since Oct. 12, and while Keller has yet to find the back of the net in November, he has produced eight assists in nine games on the month.