Injuries are taking a toll across the NHL as several key players are sidelined. Anaheim Ducks' Brock McGinn recently underwent ACL surgery and is expected to miss 7-9 months. Isac Lundestrom's status remains day-to-day due to a lower-body injury while Trevor Zegras has returned from a meniscus tear. The Boston Bruins placed Mark Kastelic on IR, while the Dallas Stars welcomed Roope Hintz back to their lineup, but Mason Marchment remains out. In Nashville, Cole Smith has been activated from IR. The New York Islanders are dealing with Noah Dobson's absence due to a lower-body injury, with no return date set.

Meanwhile, goaltender Linus Ullmark of the Ottawa Senators was seen at practice but didn’t skate, and Ryan Poehling of the Philadelphia Flyers is recovering from a head injury. Toronto Maple Leafs' Connor Dewar and Max Pacioretty have also missed time due to injuries, with the team hopeful about John Tavares’ potential return to skating soon. Goaltender Anthony Stolarz continues to make progress after a knee procedure, and Vancouver Canucks are monitoring several players, including Noah Juulsen and Kevin Lankinen, who missed a game due to illness.

The Philadelphia Flyers have announced that forward Ryan Poehling is now on injured reserve due to an upper-body injury sustained during a recent game against the New York Islanders. The injury was a result of a hit to the head by Maxim Tsyplakov, who has since received a three-game suspension. Prior to his injury, Poehling played 43 games for the Flyers, contributing four goals and 15 points this season.

To fill the gap left by Poehling, the Flyers have recalled forward Rodrigo Abols from their AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Abols, who signed with the Flyers in the offseason, has been performing well in the AHL with nine goals and 19 points in 34 games. This call-up presents an opportunity for Abols to make his NHL debut, potentially marking a significant milestone in his career.

In a decisive 4-1 victory against the San Jose Sharks, the New York Islanders were propelled by standout performances from Mathew Barzal and Brock Nelson, each delivering a goal and an assist. Noah Dobson and Ryan Pulock also contributed to the scoreline, while Marcus Hogberg secured 18 saves in goal, leading the Islanders to snap a two-game losing streak.

Barzal's breakaway goal opened the scoring at 8:47 in the second period, marking his sixth goal this season. Barclay Goodrow equalized for the Sharks shortly after, but the Islanders quickly regained momentum, with Nelson scoring just 40 seconds later.

The Carolina Hurricanes have made a significant roster update by activating goaltender Frederik Andersen from injured reserve, following his recovery from knee surgery. Andersen, who was sidelined since October 26 and had an estimated recovery time of eight to twelve weeks, was seen as a vital addition to the team as they head into the latter parts of the season. Meanwhile, the team has reassigned Dustin Tokarski to the AHL.

In other NHL news, Dallas Stars forward Roope Hintz is day-to-day with an upper-body injury but remains a possibility for their next game. The Minnesota Wild welcomed several players back to practice, including Kirill Kaprizov, who remains on long-term injured reserve, and Brock Faber, who is set to return after missing four games. However, Marcus Johansson was absent due to concussion protocols.

As the NHL trade deadline approaches, speculation continues around potential moves, with notable mentions like Dylan Cozens and Simon Holmstrom, who may see action after injury absences. Holmstrom has been out for seven games but is expected to return shortly. The Philadelphia Flyers also face challenges with Ryan Poehling not participating in practice post his head injury.

New York Islanders' forward Maxim Tsyplakov has been suspended for three games without pay due to an illegal check to the head of Philadelphia Flyers' Ryan Poehling. The incident occurred during a game on Thursday night, resulting in Poehling leaving the match with an upper-body injury. Although the play underwent review, the referees did not call a penalty at the time.

The NHL announced that Tsyplakov will forfeit $14,843.76 as a result of the suspension. The Islanders' upcoming schedule includes matches against the San Jose Sharks, Columbus Blue Jackets, and a rematch with the Flyers.