NHL Player News

Gourde (hip) will miss Thursday's game against Chicago, but he might be available at some point during the upcoming four-game road trip, per Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site.

Tampa Bay's road trip includes stops in Minnesota, Winnipeg, Buffalo and Columbus on Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. Gourde hasn't played yet this campaign due to the injury. He had nine goals and 28 points in 82 regular-season appearances with Tampa Bay in 2025-26. Gourde will probably serve in a middle-six role once he's healthy.

Barzal (knee) practiced Wednesday, but he wore a no-contact jersey, and there's still no timetable for his return, per Stefen Rosner of NHL.com.

Barzal appears to be making progress in his recovery, but he'll need to start taking contact before he can draw back into the lineup. The 29-year-old was a big part of the Islanders' offense during the 2025-26 regular season, recording 19 goals and 72 points in 81 appearances. Barzal should serve in a top-six capacity once he's healthy, which might result in Emil Heineman having his role reduced.

Sillinger produced a goal and an assist in Tuesday's 7-2 rout of the Avalanche.

The 23-year-old forward did a little bit of everything Tuesday, adding two shots on net, two PIM, one blocked shot, one hit and a plus-3 rating to his ledger while winning three of four faceoffs. Sillinger may finally be putting together a breakout campaign after making his NHL debut back as a teenager in 2021-22, piling up four goals and eight points through the first 13 games of 2026-27.

Nichushkin scored an even-strength goal and added a power-play assist in Tuesday's 7-2 win over the Avalanche.

The veteran winger got some revenge against his former club, having a hand in an Ivan Provorov tally in the first period before slipping a puck past Mackenzie Blackwood on a solo rush in the second. It was Nichushkin's first multi-point performance in a Blue Jackets sweater, and through 13 contests for his new team he's contributed two goals and eight points while skating in a middle-six role and seeing time on the second power-play unit.

Kleven (illness) won't play Wednesday in Buffalo, per Jackson Starr of the Senators' official site.

Kleven has two goals, three points, eight PIM, 29 hits and 43 blocks in 16 appearances in 2026-27. Carter Yakemchuk is likely to draw back into the lineup because of Kleven's absence.

Ersson will start Wednesday's road game against Buffalo, Jackson Starr of the Senators' official site reports.

Ersson got the night off Sunday against Anaheim, but he'll draw his second start in the Senators' last three games Wednesday. He picked up his first win of the season against San Jose on Saturday and has now gone 1-3-1 with a 3.79 GAA and .866 save percentage across his first seven appearances of the 2026-27 campaign.

Olivier scored a goal on two shots on net and added two assists, two hits, two blocked shots and a plus-4 rating in Tuesday's 7-2 win over the Avalanche.

The rugged winger got the rout started just 28 seconds into the game, as he banged home a feed from Charlie Coyle from right on Scott Wedgewood's doorstep. Olivier then helped set up a pair of tallies early in the second period that chased the Colorado netminder from the game. Olivier doubled his point total on the season with the performance, and through 13 games he's produced three goals and six points with 40 hits, 27 PIM, 22 shots on net and a plus-1 rating.

Werenski pocketed two assists, one on the power play, in Tuesday's 7-2 win over Colorado.

Both helpers came in the second period, including one on the Cole Sillinger tally that chased Scott Wedgewood from the Avalanche crease. Werenski is still looking for his first goal of 2026-27, but they'll likely come in bunches once he gets going after the reigning Norris Trophy winner lit the lamp 25 times over the last two seasons combined. In the meantime, Werenski's gotten onto the scoresheet in four straight games, and over 13 contests he's produced 12 assists with 36 shots on net, 30 blocked shots and a plus-7 rating.

Coyle scored two goals, one on the power play, and added two assists in Tuesday's 7-2 rout of Colorado.

Facing the team that traded him to the Blue Jackets ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, Coyle got the rout started quickly as he fought for a loose puck behind the Avs net and found Mathieu Olivier at the edge of the crease for a goal just 28 seconds into the first period. Remarkably, this was Coyle's fourth four-point performance in 95 games for Columbus, and through 13 contests to begin the current campaign he's delivered three goals and 13 points, including one goal and three assists with the man advantage.

James was reassigned to AHL Syracuse on Wednesday.

James has two assists, four PIM and 11 hits in six appearances with Tampa Bay in 2026-27. He also has no points and two PIM in two outings with Syracuse this season.