NHL Player News

Merzlikins will defend the road cage in Chicago on Friday, Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers reports.

Merzlikins will make his second straight start, as he stopped 24 shots in a 5-3 win over Philadelphia on Wednesday. The netminder is 9-8-1 with poor peripherals, including a 3.76 GAA and an .882 save percentage across 19 appearances this season. The Blackhawks are 26th in NHL scoring, tallying 143 goals in 54 games.

McCarron scored a goal, blocked four shots and recorded three hits in Thursday's 3-2 overtime loss to New Jersey.

McCarron logged the opening goal just over five minutes into Thursday's contest. On the season, he is up to three goals, 10 points, 73 shots on net, 148 hits and 53 blocked shots across 52 outings. While his offensive output has taken the back seat to his defensive responsibilities for the Predators, two of his goals have been in the last seven games. McCarron is best deployed in deeper fantasy formats for rosters that lack high-end totals for hits and blocks across category-based leagues.

Sorokin stopped 20 shots in Thursday's 2-1 win over the Rangers.

The veteran netminder took a shutout into the third period, only for Mika Zibanejad to spoil it on the power play, but Sorokin still came away with his fourth win in his last five starts. Over eight outings in January, Sorokin has gone 6-2-0 with a stellar 1.89 GAA and .936 save percentage.

Pionk (lower body) will practice in a non-contact jersey Friday, Mitchell Clinton of the Jets' official site reports.

Pionk has missed the Jets' last eight games while on injured reserve due to his lower-body injury. With his return to practice, the 30-year-old blueliner seems to be trending in the right direction and could get into a game prior to the Olympic break. Whenever he does return, Pionk will likely reclaim a spot in the top four as well as linking up with one of the power-play units.

McLeod picked up two assists, one on the power play, in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Kings.

The 26-year-old center had a hand in Alex Tuch's first and third goals on the night, as McLeod's linemate produced his fourth career hat trick. McLeod has gotten onto the scoresheet in four straight games, and over the last 13 contests he's erupted for four goals and 15 points for the surging Sabres.

Quinn collected three assists, one on the power play, in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Kings.

The 24-year-old produced his second three-point performance of the season, with the other coming back on Oct. 22 against the Red Wings. Quinn has gotten onto the scoresheet in four straight games, and over his last 11 contests he's broken out for five goals and 12 points as he marches toward a career-best campaign -- he's only three goals and five points away from tying his personal bests in both categories.

Glass (undisclosed) will make the trip for Saturday's clash in Ottawa, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.

Glass' status for Saturday's game remains up in the air, but the fact that he is traveling with the team certainly bodes well for his recovery. Prior to getting hurt, Glass seemed to have found his offensive game with six goals and three assists in his last nine outings. Still, those nine points represent half of his season-long production, so fantasy managers should probably anticipate a regression at some point.

Forsberg tallied a goal and fired four shots on net in Thursday's 3-2 overtime loss to New Jersey.

Forsberg lit the lamp just over 90 seconds into Thursday's third period to give the Predators a 2-1 lead. With the twine finder, he is up to 20 goals, 41 points, 160 shots on net and 100 hits across 53 games this season. After a cold stretch of offense to begin the calendar year, the 31-year-old winger has bounced back with four goals and nine points over his last seven games. While his point total this season might not make a splash, such as the 94-point campaign he posted in 82 regular-season games in 2023-24, Forsberg still has a remote chance to reach the 70-point threshold for the third straight year. With a steady serving of shots on net and hits, he remains an elite fantasy option in category-based leagues.

Tuch scored three goals, one on the power play, in Thursday's 4-1 win over Los Angeles.

The 29-year-old winger tickled twine in each period en route to his fourth career hat trick. Tuch has lit the lamp in three straight games, and through 14 contests in January he's erupted for an impressive 10 goals and 14 points, giving him his fourth straight 20-goal campaign.

Lyon made 37 saves in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Kings.

Adrian Kempe redirected a Kevin Fiala shot past the veteran netminder on a Los Angeles power play in the second period, but otherwise Lyon shut down the visitors completely. He's won three straight starts since returning from a lower-body injury, allowing a total of four goals on 98 shots (.959 save percentage), and as a result of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen dealing with a lower-body injury of his own, Lyon figures to be busy as the Sabres pack in four more games before the Olympic break begins.