NHL Hockey Player News

Nashville sits at the bottom of the NHL with 16 points through 21 games (6-11-4) and likely needs Saros to be spectacular given their league-worst offence (2.33 GF/GP). Saros was excellent in his most recent game, saving 23 of 24 shots (.958 SV%), but his team was unable to score in a 3-0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. The 30-year-old Finnish goalie has a 2.85 GAA and .896 SV% in 17 games this season (6-8-3). The Predators enter Monday's contest as +116 road underdogs against a Panthers team coming off a disappointing 6-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.

Dowd will miss a fourth consecutive game on Monday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 35-year-old Dowd is averaging 15:08 time-on-ice and has five points (1G / 4A) in 19 games this season.

The Capitals have struggled defensively lately, allowing 13 goals in their last three games (2-1-0), and hope Thompson returns to early-season form when he returns to the crease on Monday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 28-year-old Thompson has a solid 2.24 GAA and .910 SV% in 15 games this season (8-6-1), but he has allowed four or more goals in three of his last four outings (1-2-1). The Capitals enter Monday's contest as -157 home favorites against a Blue Jackets team that is 1-1-1 in its last three games.

Trocheck has already missed 14 games this season due to an upper-body injury, but thankfully, it appears he will be in the lineup for Monday's game against the St. Louis Blues. The 32-year-old Trocheck has been solid in limited action this season, recording seven points (3G / 4A) and 35 hits, but he only has 11 shots through nine games.

The Devils' offense has struggled with Jack Hughes (hand) out of the lineup, being outscored 12-4 in their last three games (0-3-0), and will turn to Markstrom to tend the twine on Monday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 27-year-old Markstrom has allowed three or more goals in five straight (2-1-1), and has a troubling 3.83 GAA and .864 SV% in nine games this season (5-3-1). The Devils enter Monday's contest as -135 home favorites against a Red Wings team with points in five of their last six games (4-1-1).

The Red Wings will turn to Talbot between the pipes for the 11th time this season when they travel to New Jersey on Monday. Talbot picked up his fourth victory in as many starts in his last outing, stopping 31 of the 34 shots he faced in a 4-3 overtime win over the Blue Jackets on Saturday. The 13-year-veteran brings an impressive 9-2-0 record on the season into Monday night's matchup with the Devils, where the Red Wings enter action at +120 on the money line.

MacEachern was effective in a limited role with Vancouver this season, scoring four points (1G / 3A) in eight games, but will return to Abbotsford (AHL). The 31-year-old forward scored 32 points (12G / 20A) in 40 games with the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL) last season.

Given Demko's injury history over the past few seasons, there is always extra concern when he is sidelined, but he appears to be on track with his original two-to-three week timeline and could return to the lineup as early as this week. Kevin Lankinen has showcased mixed results for the Canucks, who will be eagerly awaiting the return of their number-one netminder.

Lachance made his NHL debut earlier this month, playing one game, but he has been reassigned to the AHL. LaChance was a sixth-round pick, 186th overall, of the Edmonton Oilers in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old forward has three points (1G / 2A) in 13 games with the Utica Comets (AHL) over the previous two seasons.

Marchenko will be further evaluated after exiting the Blue Jackets' morning skate early on Monday with an upper-body injury and will not play in their game against the Washington Capitals. The 25-year-old Marchenko has been terrific this season and his offense will be sorely missed. He has 22 points (8G / 14A) and 65 shots in 22 games this season.

Kucherov exited Tampa Bay's most recent game in the first period due to an undisclosed injury, but he will suit up on Monday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 32-year-old Kucherov has been solid after a slower-than-usual start to the season, scoring 12 points (6G / 6A) in his last nine games. Tampa Bay will be without Brayden Point (undisclosed) on Monday and will rely heavily on Kucherov to distribute their offense.

Nugent-Hopkins has been sidelined since November 8th due to an undisclosed injury, but he could return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Dallas Stars. Despite a subpar start to the season for the Oilers, Nugent-Hopkins provided ample production before his injury, scoring 16 points (5G / 11A) in 16 games. The 32-year-old forward is pacing for only the second point-per-game season of his career.

The Sabres signed Georgiev in the offseason, but he was quickly placed on waivers and assigned to the Rochester Americans (AHL). He has since had his contract terminated and will likely sign with a KHL team. The 29-year-old goalie had an awful 2024-25 season, the worst of his career, posting an ugly 3.71 GAA and .874 SV% in 47 games (15-26-4) split between the Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks.

Samuel Helenius will draw back into the Kings' lineup on Monday against the Ottawa Senators, resulting in Turcotte being a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Turcotte is averaging 9:02 time-on-ice and has three assists in 22 games this season.

Alex Turcotte will be a healthy scratch on Monday against the Ottawa Senators, allowing Helenius to re-enter the lineup. The 22-year-old Helenius has only played two games this season.

Smith has been playing with the Cleveland Monsters in the AHL this season and adds some depth to the Blue Jackets' blueline after signing a two-way contract. The 36-year-old defenseman spent the 2024-25 season as the seventh defenseman for the Dallas Stars, scoring six points (1G / 5A) in 32 games.

The Kings have struggled offensively lately, scoring only six goals in their last four games (1-1-2), and will need Kuemper at his best on Monday against the Ottawa Senators. The 35-year-old Kuemper played well in his most recent game, saving 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%) in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins. Kuemper has a 2.38 GAA and .906 SV% in 15 games this season (7-4-4). The Kings enter the action on Monday as -148 home favorites against a Senators team they defeated 1-0 earlier this month.

Matinpalo did not play in Ottawa's most recent game, but will draw back in on Monday, as Thomas Chabot exits due to an undisclosed injury. The 27-year-old Matinpalo is averaging 14:46 time-on-ice and has two assists in 12 games this season.

Tolopilo made his NHL debut last season, playing two games (1-1-0) with the Canucks and posting a 2.15 GAA and .885 SV%. He has a 3.35 GAA and .901 SV% in five games (1-3-1) with the Abbotsford Canucks (AHL). He will likely serve almost exclusively as the backup to Kevin Lankinen in Vancouver. Jiri Patera was loaned to Abbotsford in a corresponding move.

Patera has been with Vancouver since Thatcher Demko (lower body) was sidelined, but he did not see much time between the pipes, and will return to the AHL for some increased action. He has a 3.10 GAA and .894 SV% in five games (1-2-1) with the Abbotsford Canucks (AHL) this season. Vancouver has recalled Nikita Tolopilo from Abbotsford in a corresponding move.