It's flu season in the NHL, just as it is at your workplace and your kid’s school. For fantasy hockey, that means preparing your rosters for all of the last minute scratches, battling throughs, and gutting it outs that you will inevitably read over the coming weeks. Recently, Vancouver's Marco Rossi, New Jersey's Anthony Mantha, and Toronto's William Nylander have all been fighting off an illness and have had to sit out practices and/or games. Be sure to check your lineups daily and, of course, check in on Dobber's Injury Wards to stay up to date on the health and wellness of all of your favorite fantasy studs. This week, we have updates on Buffalo's captain, the injury woes of the Islanders, and the continued bad luck in South Beach. Let's dive in.

Rasmus Dahlin (D) – BUF – day-to-day – Per Rasmus Dahlin, the Sabres star defenseman "thinks he'll be ready" for Wednesday's bout with the Philadelphia Flyers in Buffalo. No reason to overthink this one, the Sabres captain has been hot to start the season with four points in his last five games and needs to be in your starting lineup if he is good to go on Wednesday, as expected. The 26-year-old Swede has fired off 19 shots in six games, good enough for 3.2 SOG/G, a pace which, if sustained, would be a new career high. Don't leave him sitting in your IR slot.

Owen Tippet (LW, RW) – PHI – injured reserve – According to the NHL Media Site, Tippet (upper body) was placed on injured reserve by the Flyers on Monday. The category-filling forward has been a victim of the Flyers woes and has accumulated just two points through nine games this season. He hasn't played since October 15th versus the Red Wings. The 27-year-old did finish that game, but endured a big hit from Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider during the contest, so it's possible this injury stems from there. The soonest he can return is Saturday's clash with the (mighty) Ducks of Anaheim, so fantasy managers can expect an update before then.  

New York Islanders Skaters (F, D) – out indefinitely – Forwards Calum Ritchie and Matias Maccelli will join center Mathew Barzal and defenseman Alexander Romanov on the Islanders' injured and wounded shelf. For Maccelli, the talented but inconsistent winger had just found his groove and had rattled off six points in five games before sustaining a lower body injury in the Islanders' 4-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 17. The team is expecting him to miss the next 2-4 weeks. The Islanders, also, announced that the 21-year-old Ritchie will be sidelined 4-6 weeks with a lower-body injury. Alexander Romanov, a bash-bro turned band-aid boy, was moved to injured reserve on Monday and isn't expected back until at least April. Meanwhile, the 2018 Calder Trophy winner, Mathew Barzal, is still trending in the right direction, although he remains without a concrete return date. The injuries are piling up for New York, so Victor Eklund, the 16th overall pick in the 2025 NHL draft, may get an extended look in the Islanders' top-six while Mitchell Chaffee comes up from the minors to plug in on the fourth line.

Jacob Markstrom (G) – FLA – injured reserve – The Panthers prime pipe patroller was placed on injured reserve Tuesday, per the NHL Media Site, and is expected to miss the next 10-14 days. The Swedish Olympian has been a helpful fantasy contributor with his new club and boasts a 3-1-1 record alongside a healthy 2.21 GAA and acceptable .897 SV%. With the Florida Panthers playing in back-to-back games this week, brazen fantasy managers have an opportunity to use a waiver wire add on the 6-8 goalie Cooper Black, who is expected to make his debut, which would set a new record for the tallest goaltender to play in the NHL.

Bryan Rust (RW) – PIT – day-to-day – Veteran winger Bryan Rust exited Monday's tilt with the Utah Mammoth after the second period. Rust has scored three goals and dished out two assists through seven games and his absence would open up a spot riding shotgun next to Sidney Crosby at even-strength, as well as, on Pittsburgh's top power play unit. No further updates have been offered on his situation as of yet, leaving his status for Thursday's match against the Florida Panthers in doubt. Nick Robertson, Yegor Chinakhov, and Andrei Kuzmenko are candidates to step into elevated roles if Rust is forced to miss time.

The Penguins, also, released a statement that Rust's teammate Ben Kindel suffered a medical episode on the team's flight out of Utah and that the 19-year-old center had to be transported to the nearby University of Utah Hospital, where his is now alert and stable. The team stated they would provide further updates when appropriate.

Quinton Byfield (C) – LAK – day-to-day – Former second overall pick Quinton Byfield left Tuesday's meeting with the Capitals early and did not return. After the game, no further updates were provided. Byfield has disappointed the many fantasy managers that were expecting a breakout performance this year, as last night's exit marks the fifth straight game the young center has been held without a point. Alternatively, there may be no better time to buy low on Byfield than right now.

That's all for this week, thanks for reading! My name is Garrett Finlay and you can follow me on X @garrett_fi51284 and on Bluesky @garrettfinlay.bsky.social where I am often talking goalies and fantasy hockey. I'll be back here providing injury news and updates every Wednesday, so until then – Happy Hockeying and good luck out there!