Ben Kindel has returned to the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup for their matchup against the Utah Mammoth on Thursday, nine days after experiencing a medical emergency. The 19-year-old forward previously fainted due to a vasovagal episode on Oct. 20, one day after playing 18:53 in a 5-4 loss to the Mammoth.
In the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, forward Evgeni Malkin is expected to play after missing a 3-2 overtime victory against the Nashville Predators on Saturday. Malkin was positioned at right wing on the second line alongside Kindel at center and Egor Chinakhov, who returned to the lineup after missing two games due to a lower-body injury. Penguins coach Dan Muse stated that the condition of Kindel, Malkin, and Chinakhov looks good and expressed expectation for their continued presence in the lineup.
The Dallas Stars will be without defenseman Kyle Capobianco for approximately four weeks due to a lower-body injury. Capobianco left a 5-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday at 4:47 of the third period following a collision with Timo Meier. Stars coach Glen Gulutzan noted on Thursday that the player is facing a significant chunk of time away from the ice.
The Minnesota Wild will be without captain Jared Spurgeon on a week-to-week basis following a lower-body injury sustained during a 3-1 win against the Utah Mammoth on Tuesday. Spurgeon left the game at 4:04 of the second period after blocking shots from Dylan Guenther. Additionally, Brock Faber has been cleared for return to exercise and workouts to recover from a skull fracture sustained during a preseason game on Sept. 25, though no timetable for his return to play has been established.
Other notable NHL injury news includes Taylor Hall, who is expected to miss approximately two more games for the Carolina Hurricanes due to an upper-body injury. In Buffalo, Konsta Helenius will not play against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday due to an upper-body injury sustained during a loss to the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday. Edmonton Oilers player Zach Hyman has been placed on injured reserve with a neck injury after being hit into the boards on Monday.
The Los Angeles Kings saw Kevin Fiala practice with the team on Thursday for the first time since sustaining multiple fractures to his lower left leg during the 2026 Winter Olympics in February. Fiala is currently considered week-to-week by coach Peter Laviolette.
