Thomas Chabot Leaves Philadelphia Hurt, and Matias Maccelli, Calum Ritchie and Roope Hintz Join Saturday's NHL Injury List

Saturday's 14-game NHL slate produced a long injury list. Ottawa Senators captain Thomas Chabot left a 3-1 loss in Philadelphia after the second period with what coach Travis Green called an upper-body injury. The New York Islanders lost two top-six forwards, Matias Maccelli and Calum Ritchie, to lower-body injuries in the first period of a 4-1 win in Toronto. Dallas center Roope Hintz took a puck to the right hand or wrist area late in a 4-0 win in Chicago.

None of the four has a diagnosis yet. Fantasy managers should treat all of them as uncertain for the early part of the week and plan around the depth players who move up.

Chabot and a thin Ottawa blue line

Chabot did not play the third period at Xfinity Mobile Arena. He appeared to favor his right wrist area after a first-period collision with Flyers forward Trevor Zegras, per TSN. Ottawa has not released a diagnosis. The timing is bad for a Senators defense that has played without Jake Sanderson for most of the season, which leaves Ottawa with little proven depth behind Chabot.

The loss also ended a strong run for Linus Ullmark. He made 25 saves but lost for the first time in seven starts, after allowing two goals or fewer in all seven. Philadelphia got its first win of the season (1-6-3) on goals from Porter Martone and Matvei Michkov, who each had a goal and an assist, and an empty-netter from Zegras. Dan Vladar made 25 saves. The Flyers played without Owen Tippett, who is day to day with an upper-body injury.

TSN reported the Senators should have an update on Chabot before a home back-to-back against Florida on Wednesday and San Jose on Thursday. If Chabot misses time, Ottawa's power-play quarterback job becomes the key fantasy question.

The Islanders lose a third of their top six

The Islanders' win at Scotiabank Arena came at a cost. Ritchie left after one shift following a check along the boards from Toronto defenseman Nick Blankenburg. Maccelli went down after a trip by Darren Raddysh, fell awkwardly on his left knee and was helped off by two teammates while putting minimal weight on the leg. The team announced during the game that both had lower-body injuries and would not return. Coach Peter DeBoer had no update afterward and said both would be evaluated when the team returned to New York.

Maccelli entered the night tied for the Islanders' second-most points, per The Hockey News, so this is a real hit to New York's scoring depth. Some outside medical commentary has speculated about a multi-week knee or ankle injury, but that is not a team diagnosis. Wait for the Islanders' update before dropping him in deeper leagues.

The Islanders still won with a short bench. Bo Horvat scored the winner and added an assist, Simon Holmstrom scored twice, and Ilya Sorokin made 28 saves. Holmstrom and Anthony Duclair, who also scored, are candidates for more ice time if New York has to reshuffle its top six for more than a game or two.

Hintz and the Dallas center depth

Hintz was hit late in the third period, and coach Glen Gulutzan had no immediate update. Dallas is already without Matt Duchene, who is out until mid-January after core surgery, so another missing center would stretch the depth chart. The good news on Saturday was Wyatt Johnston. He returned after missing two games with an illness and played 20:25 with five shots.

Jake Oettinger made 19 saves for his third shutout of the season. He is the first Stars goalie with three shutouts in his first six appearances of a season. Arttu Hyry scored twice, his first multigoal NHL game. Hyry has been the third-line center with Duchene out, and if Hintz misses time, he becomes a deeper-league pickup.

Matthew Tkachuk exits a historic Panthers night

Florida beat Seattle 8-3 behind hat tricks from Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Bennett. It was the first time two Panthers players had a hat trick in the same game. Matthew Tkachuk had three assists before colliding with Bennett early in the third period. He took one more shift and did not play the final 8:46. Coach Paul Maurice called it precautionary and said he expects Tkachuk back at practice Monday. Tkachuk's point streak is now eight games (14 points), so there is no reason to bench him unless Monday brings a change.

Who came back

Saturday also brought several returns. Zach Hyman scored a power-play goal in his first game after missing six with an undisclosed injury as Edmonton beat Utah 6-2. Colton Dach and Jake Walman also returned for the Oilers. Connor McDavid had two goals and three assists, extending his season-opening point streak to eight games, and leads the NHL with 23 points. Hyman should go straight back into lineups on an offense that leads the NHL at 4.63 goals per game.

In Montreal, Oliver Kapanen made his season debut after a preseason injury and had three shots in 11:40. David Reinbacher played 9:09 in his first game of the season. In Columbus, the Blue Jackets scratched Dmitri Voronkov after one assist in five games, and Luca Del Bel Belluz drew in. In Los Angeles, Boston scratched defenseman Nikita Zadorov after he took two penalties on the same shift Friday in Anaheim.

What to do in your league

Hold Chabot, Maccelli and Hintz for now. None has a confirmed diagnosis, and dropping them before a team update risks losing a long-term contributor. In leagues with an IR slot, use it only once the team confirms a placement.

Add the replacements in deep leagues. Hyry is the clearest short-term beneficiary in Dallas. If Chabot misses games, the Ottawa defenseman who takes over the top power-play unit gains value right away.

Do not panic on Tkachuk or Tippett. Tkachuk's exit was described as precautionary. Tippett is day to day, so check Philadelphia's morning skate before its next game.

For the model's view of the week's games, see the NHL predictions page.

What's next

The Islanders should update Maccelli and Ritchie after their evaluations in New York. Dallas has not said when it will update Hintz. Ottawa's update on Chabot is expected before Wednesday's game against Florida. Seattle, which finished its road trip 3-1-1 despite Saturday's loss, hosts Detroit on Tuesday.