NHL Player News

Lambert picked up an assist in Thursday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Blackhawks.

Lambert was a healthy scratch Tuesday versus the Wild, but he got back in the lineup for Vladislav Namestnikov (undisclosed) in this contest. The helper was Lambert's first point in six appearances this season. The 22-year-old forward has added just three shots on net, four hits, two PIM and a minus-2 rating while seeing time in the bottom six. Unless he permanently moves up in the lineup, Lambert won't be producing enough to get onto most fantasy rosters.

Matthews scored a goal in Thursday's 5-4 overtime loss to Buffalo.

Matthews scored for the third straight game, and the goal extended his point streak to six games and 13 points (six goals, seven assists). He sits in the NHL's top-five point getters and top-10 snipers at this early mark. Matthews is well past the knee surgery that ended his season in March of last year. We're watching his shooting volume carefully, as his 26 shots so far would put him shy of the 300-plus mark that he put up annually for his three-best seasons earlier this decade. If he can up the volume, Matthews could threaten the 60-goal, 100-point mark again.

Donato scored a goal on two shots in Thursday's 4-3 overtime win over the Jets.

Donato has played a bottom-six role so far this season. The 30-year-old forward is up to two goals, one assist, 11 shots on net, four hits, five PIM and a minus-6 rating over eight appearances. This was the first time he finished with a positive plus-minus rating in a game in 2026-27. While Donato has displayed some scoring talent before, his current role is one that will leave him on the waiver wire in most fantasy formats.

Nazar scored a goal on three shots in Thursday's 4-3 overtime win over the Jets.

Nazar was handed a two-game suspension for a check to the head of Bo Horvat in last Thursday's game. With the ban served, Nazar returned to a middle-six role and found the scoresheet for his third straight game. The 22-year-old has three goals, one helper, 12 shots on net, seven PIM and a minus-4 rating across six appearances this season. The battle between Nazar and Anton Frondell for second-line duties figures to be one that stretches on throughout the campaign.

Bedard scored a power-play goal on three shots and added an assist in Thursday's 4-3 overtime win over the Jets.

Bedard got his first goal of the year and also set up Artyom Levshunov for the game-winning tally. Through two appearances since he returned from shoulder surgery, Bedard has three points, six shots on net and a plus-1 rating. He's also averaged just over 20 minutes of ice time, so it looks like he's unrestricted in usage moving forward.

Hischier scored in a 7-1 win over the Rangers on Thursday.

It was Hischier's first even-strength goal this season and fourth snipe overall (one assist; nine shots). All five of his points have come in the last five games. Hischier is a strong and consistent 65-70 point producer, and he's averaged 30 goals over the last four seasons. He's also a strong power-play producer and an excellent face-off man (56.1 percent). Hischier is a steady, high-floor pivot who will help in every format.

Glass scored his first goal of the season in Thursday's 7-1 win over the Rangers.

It was the journeyman pivot's first career shorthanded goal in the NHL. The 27-year-old Glass is coming off what can only be described as an outlier year -- 19 goals, seven assists, 104 shots and 39 PIM. That kind of goal production is all but impossible as the Devils fourth-line center, and come 2027, Nick Bjugstad (pectoral) will return and change the depth chart. Glass may be the odd man out or moved to the wing.

Norris entered concussion protocol Thursday after sustaining the injury versus the Maple Leafs, Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald reports.

Norris could be facing an absence depending on further tests. The 27-year-old will be at risk of missing Saturday's game versus the Canadiens at a minimum. If Jiri Kulich (undisclosed) is also out, Tyson Kovak would likely draw into the Sabres' lineup.

Rodrigues had a goal and an assist in Thursday's 7-1 win over the Rangers.

Rodrigues had no points in his first five games, but he has since put up back-to-back two-point efforts (two goals, two assists). He's hopping the boards as his team's third-line center with Anthony Mantha and Stefan Noesen on his flanks. But it's Rodrigues' deployment on the top power-play unit that ratchets his value up for fantasy. None of his points have come with the man advantage, but that deployment will deliver results if he can stay there.

Kulich missed Thursday's game versus the Maple Leafs due to an undisclosed injury, Rachel Lenzi of The Buffalo News reports.

Kulich's absence wasn't clarified prior to the contest. Sam Carrick replaced him in the lineup while Peyton Krebs moved into a top-six role. Kulich is day-to-day ahead of the Sabres' game versus the Canadiens on Saturday.