Gardiner (upper body) won't play Thursday versus Detroit, Sara Civian of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Gardiner will miss a fifth straight contest Thursday and remains without a definite timetable for his return. Haydn Fleury will likely continue to fill a bottom-four role until Gardiner's ready to rock.

Gardiner (upper body) is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Predators, Michael Smith of the Hurricanes' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 30-year-old blueliner will miss his fourth consecutive game with the injury, with his next chance to return coming Thursday back home against Detroit. Gardiner has seven points -- all assists -- in 16 games this season.

Gardiner (upper body) won't play in Monday's game versus the Panthers, Chip Alexander of The Raleigh News & Observer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Gardiner will sit out a third straight game as he battles an upper-body injury. His next chance to play is Tuesday versus the Predators. Haydn Fleury will remain in the lineup until Gardiner can return.

Gardiner (upper body) didn't suit up in Saturday's game versus the Panthers, Chip Alexander of The Raleigh News & Observer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Gardiner missed a second straight game Saturday. It was initially unclear if he was just a healthy scratch, but it's now clear that he's dealing with an upper-body issue. The 30-year-old recorded seven assists and 15 shots on net over the first 16 games. His next chance to play is Monday's rematch against the Panthers.

Gardiner added his fourth assist in his last four games in Friday's 5-3 win over the Blackhawks.

EDGE Analysis

After just three points in his first 11 games, Gardiner's been on nice little run of late. He still doesn't see a ton of ice time, averaging just under 16 minutes a game this season, but he does play on the Cane's second power-play unit where three of his seven helpers this season have been generated. Enjoy the hot streak while it lasts, as Gardiner has been known to suffer through prolonged scoring droughts.

Gardiner dished out two assists in Saturday's 4-3 shootout win over Dallas.

EDGE Analysis

Gardiner snapped a six-game scoring slump with assists on back-to-back goals by Jordan Martinook and Teuvo Teravainen in the first period. The 30-year-old has been an offensive-minded defenseman throughout his 10-year NHL career but has just five assists in 12 games this season.

Gardiner posted his second assist in three games in Monday's 4-2 win over the Predators.

EDGE Analysis

Gardiner recorded just 24 points last season, matching a career low, but he's been surprisingly strong out of the gate this year. That said, he's currently averaging just under 15 minutes per game on the Canes' third defensive pairing, which doesn't exactly point to an offensive outburst in the making. He's still a third- or fourth-tier fantasy option in our books.

Gardiner racked up three assists and three shots in Tuesday's 5-2 win over Detroit.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran defenseman has exploded for five points (one goal, four assists) and seven shots over the first two games of the week, helping carry the Hurricanes to a pair of decisive road wins. Two of his three helpers Tuesday came with the man advantage. Gardiner isn't asked to carry the offensive load from the blueline like he was at times in Toronto, but he's chipped in with a respectable 23 points in 68 games. His career-worst minus-24 rating, however, isn't doing fantasy owners any favors.

Gardiner scored a power-play goal and added an assist in Sunday's 6-2 win over the Penguins.

EDGE Analysis

He helped set up rookie Morgan Geekie for Carolina's first goal of the afternoon, then blasted home what proved to be the game-winner late in the second period. Gardiner had only one assist in his prior 11 games, so this outburst was a welcome sight, but the veteran blueliner remains a risky fantasy option with four goals and 21 points through 67 games on the season.

Gardiner skated a season-low 12:23 in Saturday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Canadiens, and failed to register a point for the eighth time in the past nine games.

EDGE Analysis

Gardiner's role on the Canes' blue line has been severely diminished since the team added Brady Skjei at the trade deadline, with Skjei averaging 21:25 in the past three games since his arrival, compared to 14:57 for Gardiner. Although he does still see decent minutes on the power play, Gardiner is currently skating on the Canes' bottom defensive pairing with Trevor van Riemsdyk, giving him very limited fantasy value in most formats.