Smith (back) will not play Tuesday versus the Capitals, Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Smith is set for a fourth straight absence due to the injury. The winger's next chance to play is Thursday versus the Kraken. If he can't return for that game, it's unclear if Smith will travel with the Blackhawks when they begin a road trip in Calgary on Saturday.
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Blackhawks' Craig Smith: Unlikely to play Sunday
Rotowire
Smith (back) is unlikely to suit up Sunday against the Islanders, Charlie Roumeliotis of WGN Radio reports.
Smith appears in line to miss a third straight game as he continues to nurse a back issue. Joey Anderson figures to enter the lineup Sunday with Frank Nazar remaining on Chicago's second line.
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Blackhawks' Craig Smith: Not playing Saturday
Rotowire
Smith (back) won't play Saturday against New Jersey, according to Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Smith also missed Monday's 2-1 win over the Rangers and left Thursday's 5-4 loss to the Islanders early due to the issue. He has produced six goals, four assists and 52 shots on net across 26 appearances this season. Frank Nazar will replace Smith in Saturday's lineup.
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Blackhawks' Craig Smith: Not at practice Friday
Rotowire
Smith (back) is not practicing Friday after missing the last 12 minutes of Thursday's 5-4 loss to the Islanders, Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Smith missed Monday's game against the Rangers with a back issue, so it's likely a recurrence of the same injury. Smith has six goals and four assists over 26 games this season, including one goal on the power play. He should tentatively be considered day-to-day ahead of Saturday's road game in New Jersey.
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Blackhawks' Craig Smith: Power-play tally in loss
Rotowire
Smith scored a power-play goal on five shots in Sunday's 6-3 loss to the Blue Jackets.
Smith has racked up four points over his last five games. His goal Sunday was his first power-play point of the season, though he's regularly seen time on the second unit. The 35-year-old winger is up to six goals, 10 points, 42 shots on net, 17 hits, 16 PIM and 15 blocked shots over 22 appearances. Smith has been a steady veteran on the fourth line and could draw some interest in deep fantasy formats for his recent scoring success.
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Blackhawks' Craig Smith: Lights lamp in Thursday's win
Rotowire
Smith scored a goal on three shots and went plus-2 in Thursday's 3-1 win over the Panthers.
Smith tallied midway through the second period on a short breakaway, and his goal stood as the game-winner. The winger found some success in late October, but this goal snapped a seven-game point drought. The 35-year-old is now at five tallies, two assists, 31 shots on net, 12 hits, 12 blocked shots, 16 PIM and a minus-4 rating over 18 appearances. He's primarily been a fixture on the fourth line aside from a couple of healthy scratches early on.
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Blackhawks' Craig Smith: Pots goal in shootout win
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Smith scored a goal on two shots and added two PIM in Saturday's 4-3 shootout win over the Kings.
Smith is doing well in a fourth-line role lately. He's earned four goals and two assists over his last seven games, accounting for all of his offense through 10 appearances. The winger has added 18 shots on net, eight hits, nine blocked shots, four PIM and a minus-2 rating. Smith's play has helped him earn a spot on the second power-play unit, though he has yet to pick up a point with the man advantage. He hasn't regularly seen power-play time since the 2021-22 campaign.
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Blackhawks' Craig Smith: Points in three straight games
Rotowire
Smith logged an assist and two shots on goal in Monday's 5-2 win over the Avalanche.
Smith has found a little chemistry with Lukas Reichel on the fourth line early in the campaign. The 35-year-old Smith has three goals and two assists over his last five games, accounting for all of his offense through eight outings this season. The winger has added 15 shots on net, eight hits, eight blocked shots and a minus-2 rating. Smith's offense will likely fade given his role on a rebuilding team, but he may be worth a look as a streaming option for Thursday's game against the Sharks.
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Blackhawks' Craig Smith: Scores in loss
Rotowire
Smith scored a goal on two shots and blocked four shots in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Predators.
Smith has three goals this season, all of which have come over his last three games. The 35-year-old winger continues to play in a fourth-line role when he's in the lineup, limiting his scoring potential. He's added 12 shots on net, six hits, seven blocked shots and a minus-3 rating through six appearances.
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Blackhawks' Craig Smith: Scores both goals in loss
Rotowire
Smith scored twice on five shots and added four hits in Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Sabres.
Smith's goals were separated by 6:20 in the middle of the second period. The 35-year-old winger has been a part-time option for the Blackhawks this season, but he was in the lineup for a third straight game due to the absences of Joey Anderson (illness) and Patrick Maroon (lower body). Smith had 20 points in 75 regular-season outings in a similar bottom-six role with the Stars last year, though the Blackhawks' offense is not nearly as deep or productive, so it wouldn't be surprising to see his scoring drop in 2024-25.
Smith signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Blackhawks on Monday, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.
Smith recorded 11 goals, 20 points, 33 PIM, 51 hits and 30 blocked shots in 75 regular-season games with the Stars in 2023-24. The 34-year-old should serve primarily on the fourth line with Chicago.
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Stars' Craig Smith: Supplies assist
Rotowire
Smith logged an assist, two shots on goal and four hits in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Golden Knights in Game 7.
Smith set up Radek Faksa's third-period tally, which was the game-winner. After being a scratch for the first two contests of the playoffs, Smith contributed two helpers, 10 shots on net, eight hits and a plus-1 rating over the last five games of the first round. The 34-year-old winger should continue to play in a fourth-line role when he's in the lineup.
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Stars' Craig Smith: Picks up helper
Rotowire
Smith recorded an assist in Monday's 4-2 win over the Golden Knights in Game 4.
Smith began the postseason as a healthy scratch when the Stars were at full health, but he's drawn into the last two games due to the absences of Mason Marchment (undisclosed) and Radek Faksa (undisclosed). The 34-year-old Smith will likely continue to see fourth-line usage until the Stars are healthy again. Smith put up 20 points, 112 shots on net and 51 hits over 75 regular-season appearances in a similar role.
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Stars' Craig Smith: Opens scoring Saturday
Rotowire
Smith scored a goal on three shots in Saturday's 3-1 win over the Kraken.
Smith redirected a Jason Robertson shot with less than three seconds left in the first period. Over his last 15 games, Smith has chipped in with four goals and four assists. The winger is up to 11 tallies, 20 points, 112 shots on net and a plus-2 rating through 74 outings in a fourth-line role.
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Stars' Craig Smith: Hands out pair of helpers
Rotowire
Smith notched two assists and went plus-2 in Wednesday's 5-0 win over the Oilers.
Smith ended a four-game point drought by helping out on goals from linemates Radek Faksa and Sam Steel. Playing in a fourth-line role has put some limits on Smith's offense, but he's done alright with 19 points through 70 contests. He's added 104 shots on net, 46 hits, 29 PIM and a plus-4 rating.
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Stars' Craig Smith: Pockets assist in win
Rotowire
Smith logged an assist in Friday's 4-2 win over the Penguins.
Smith's point streak is up to four games (three goals, one assist) after he set up a Sam Steel tally in the third period Friday. The 34-year-old Smith has 17 points, 100 shots on net, 44 hits, 25 PIM, 25 blocked shots and a plus-2 rating over 65 appearances. He remains in a bottom-six role, but his offense lately should be enough to keep him in the lineup over Ty Dellandrea.
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Stars' Craig Smith: Goals in three straight games
Rotowire
Smith scored a goal in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Coyotes.
This was Smith's third straight game with a goal, an impressive run for a fourth-line winger. The 34-year-old reached the 10-goal mark with his insurance tally in the third period. He's up to 16 points, 99 shots on net, 43 hits, 25 PIM and a plus-1 rating through 64 appearances. With Tyler Seguin (lower body) back in the mix, competition between Smith, Radek Faksa, Sam Steel and Ty Dellandrea for fourth-line minutes is likely to increase again.
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Stars' Craig Smith: Scores again Saturday
Rotowire
Smith scored a goal on three shots and went plus-2 in Saturday's 4-1 win over the Kings.
Smith's offense has been a little more lively than usual lately -- he has two goals and two assists over his last six outings. The 34-year-old winger remains in a fourth-line role, but he's at least been chipping in on offense. For the season, he's up to nine goals, 15 points, 98 shots on net, 43 hits, 25 PIM and a plus-1 rating over 63 appearances.
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Stars' Craig Smith: Deposits goal Thursday
Rotowire
Smith scored a goal on four shots and added three hits in Thursday's 6-2 loss to the Devils.
Smith snapped a 12-game goal drought, during which he had two assists. The 34-year-old winger is up to eight goals, 14 points, 95 shots on net, 42 hits, 25 PIM and a minus-1 rating through 62 appearances. While he's been in the lineup a majority of the time, Smith exclusively plays on the fourth line and hasn't produced enough offense to make up for that unfriendly role in fantasy.
