NHL Player News
-
Mackie Samoskevich RW | FLA
Panthers' Mackie Samoskevich: Stays warm with assist
Samoskevich notched a power-play assist, three shots on goal, three hits and two blocked shots in Wednesday's 2-1 loss to the Kings.
Samoskevich is starting to find a groove, earning four assists over his last four outings. This was his first power-play point since Nov. 30. The 22-year-old rookie has a total of 16 points (three on the power play), 60 shots on net, 65 hits and an even plus-minus rating across 44 appearances. Samoskevich has been playing on the second line lately and could carry a little extra fantasy value in deep formats as long as that lasts.
-
Anton Lundell C | FLA
Panthers' Anton Lundell: Adds assist on power play
Lundell posted a power-play assist in Wednesday's 2-1 loss to the Kings.
Lundell reached the 20-assist mark for the fourth time in as many seasons in his career. The 23-year-old set up an Evan Rodrigues tally in the second period. Lundell has been steady lately, earning three goals and five assists over his last 12 outings. For the season, the center has 31 points (six on the power play), 96 shots on net, 79 hits, 36 blocked shots, 24 PIM and a plus-6 rating over 48 contests.
-
Evan Rodrigues C | FLA
Panthers' Evan Rodrigues: Nets lone goal on power play
Rodrigues scored a power-play goal in Wednesday's 2-1 loss to the Kings.
Rodrigues has four goals and an assist over his last seven outings. He also saw a season-low 9:24 of ice time -- that's likely a byproduct of his current deployment on the fourth line rather than in a more prominent spot in the lineup. The 31-year-old is too talented to be in that role indefinitely. For the season, he's at 22 points (five on the power play) with 91 shots on net, 73 hits and a minus-4 rating through 49 appearances. Rodrigues is best utilized as a middle-six forward, but he'll be tough to trust in fantasy if he's not getting enough playing time.
-
Spencer Knight G | FLA
Panthers' Spencer Knight: Loses low-scoring game
Knight gave up two goals on 28 shots in Wednesday's 2-1 loss to the Kings.
Knight took his first regulation loss since Dec. 28 -- he had won his last three starts and made one scoreless relief appearance in January. The 23-year-old netminder played well but didn't get enough help with the Panthers in the second half of a back-to-back while playing against a defensively stout opponent. Knight is now 9-7-1 with a 2.43 GAA and a .907 save percentage over 19 appearances. He has played well enough to continue to push Sergei Bobrovsky for playing time. The Panthers have another back-to-back set up next -- they visit the Sharks on Saturday before wrapping up their road trip in Vegas on Sunday.
-
Tanner Jeannot LW | LA
Kings' Tanner Jeannot: Chips in with assist
Jeannot recorded an assist, three shots on goal and three hits in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Panthers.
Jeannot ended a nine-game point drought when he assisted on Samuel Helenius' first NHL goal. The 27-year-old Jeannot continues to be a physical force, but he's been mostly limited to bottom-six minutes recently. Overall, he's at nine points, 37 shots on net, 69 PIM and 135 hits over 42 appearances.
-
Jordan Spence D | LA
Kings' Jordan Spence: Draws helper in win
Spence logged an assist, two shots on goal and two blocked shots in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Panthers.
Spence has a goal and two assists over his last three games. The 23-year-old defenseman is in a top-four role currently, and it's a good time for him to assert himself ahead of Brandt Clarke and Jacob Moverare -- Drew Doughty (ankle) is nearing his season debut after practicing in a regular jersey Wednesday. Overall, Spence has 16 points, 48 shots on net, 51 blocked shots, 43 hits and a plus-11 rating through 44 outings. Clarke has added a bit more offense from the back end, but Spence has arguably played better overall.
-
Brandt Clarke D | LA
Kings' Brandt Clarke: Nabs helper Wednesday
Clarke posted an assist in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Panthers.
Clarke played on the third pairing in this contest. The 21-year-old helped out on Adrian Kempe's go-ahead goal in the third period. Drew Doughty (ankle) is nearing his season debut, so it's not an encouraging sign that Clarke has slipped down the lineup while Jordan Spence occupies a top-four role -- one of those two players or Jacob Moverare would be at risk to slip out of the lineup if the Kings stay with six defensemen once Doughty is ready to play. Clarke has three helpers over nine outings in January and a total of 24 points (seven on the power play), 85 shots on net, 79 blocked shots, 32 PIM and a plus-10 rating across 45 appearances this season.
-
Kevin Fiala LW | LA
Kings' Kevin Fiala: Registers helper in win
Fiala logged an assist and two shots on goal in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Panthers.
Fiala has a goal and three helpers over his last four outings. His shot attempt was redirected in by Adrian Kempe at 13:12 of the third period for the game-winning tally. Fiala has often run streaky this season, so it's encouraging to see him get some offense going. He's now at 15 goals, 11 helpers, 131 shots on net, 28 hits, 30 PIM and a minus-9 rating through 44 appearances. Fiala started this game on the third line but took shifts with Kempe and Anze Kopitar later on -- if that move to the top line sticks, Fiala could be an impact player for a while.
-
Samuel Helenius C | LA
Kings' Samuel Helenius: Nets first NHL tally
Helenius scored a goal in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Panthers.
Helenius had not gotten on the scoresheet since Nov. 16 when he had an assist versus the Red Wings. This was his first NHL goal. He's been a bottom-six player for much of the last two months aside from a four-game stretch of scratches earlier in January. Helenius is up to three points, 16 shots on net, 73 hits, 14 PIM and a minus-2 rating over 25 appearances as a rookie. Helenius may be at risk of losing his spot in the lineup once Alex Laferriere (upper body) can return, or if the Kings return to dressing seven defensemen.
-
Adrian Kempe RW | LA
Kings' Adrian Kempe: Keeps scoring Wednesday
Kempe scored a goal on five shots in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Panthers.
Kempe was able to redirect an attempt by Kevin Fiala for the game-winning goal at 13:12 of the third period. This was Kempe's fourth straight game with a goal, and he has eight tallies and three helpers over his last 10 contests. The 28-year-old forward is up to 24 goals, including three game-winners, 44 points, 131 shots on net, 51 hits and a plus-20 rating across 45 appearances.