NHL Hockey Player News

The Jets have a game in hand and are four points back of the Nashville Predators for the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, and have no margin for error with only five games remaining in their regular season. Hellebuyck has struggled for most of the 2025-26 season, but has given his team a chance on most nights in recent outings. The 32-year-old goalie has won five of his last seven games (5-2-0) while posting a solid 2.16 GAA and .910 SV%. The Jets enter Thursday's contest as slight -103 road underdogs against the St. Louis Blues, whom they defeated 3-2 last month.

With Kevin Lankinen (upper body) sidelined, the Canucks' crease likely belongs to Tolopilo until he returns. Tolopilo was excellent in Vancouver's previous game, saving 27 of 29 shots (.931 SV%), but did not receive enough goal support in a 2-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. The 26-year-old goalie has lost five straight games (0-5-0). The Canucks enter Thursday's contest as sizeable +235 road underdogs against a Los Angeles Kings team that desperately needs a win to stay in contention of a Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.

Knight has been a steadying force in his first full season with a defensively porous Blackhawks team, but he struggled to keep the team afloat in recent weeks. The 24-year-old goalie has a sub- .900 SV% in six of his last nine games (1-5-3) and has just three wins in his last 18 outings (3-10-5) while posting a 3.05 GAA and .897 SV%. The Blackhawks enter Thursday's contest as +185 home underdogs against an Eastern Conference-leading Carolina Hurricanes team that has scored four or more goals in four of its last five games (4-1-0).

With their playoff hopes on the line, the Kings will turn to Forsberg, who has been far more reliable than Darcy Kuemper lately. The 33-year-old Forsberg was outstanding in his most recent outing, saving 29 of 31 shots (.935 SV%) in a 3-2 shootout win over the Nashville Predators. He has a 1.75 GAA and .939 SV% in his last four appearances (2-1-0). The Kings enter Thursday's contest as significant -270 home favourites against a Vancouver Canucks team on a three-game losing streak (0-3-0).

Carter Hart's return from a lower-body injury coincided with the hiring of new Head Coach John Tortorella, who was his former bench boss with the Flyers. Tortorella has shown allegiance to his former goalie, Hart, who has started all three games during his tenure with the Golden Knights (3-0-0). That said, Hill will get his first start in over a week and hopes to prove himself to Tortorella. Hill saved 22 of 24 shots (.917 SV%) in his previous game, a 4-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks. In his last 13 games (5-6-2), Hill has a 2.79 GAA and .872 SV%. The Golden Knights enter Thursday's contest as -179 road favourites against a free-falling Seattle Kraken team on a six-game losing streak (0-5-1).

Kevin Bahl (lower body) will not play on Thursday, allowing Pachal to return from a one-week absence. The 26-year-old Pachal is averaging 13:46 time-on-ice and has four assists in 35 games this season.

Beecher has not played in nearly two weeks, but will re-enter the lineup on Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche. The 25-year-old Beecher is averaging 10:22 time-on-ice and has seven points (3G / 4A) in 34 games this season.

Olofsson has shown stints of an impressive offensive abilities over the course of his career, but has struggled staying consistent, a trend that has continued since joining the Flames at the trade deadline. The 30-year-old forward has six points (2G / 4A) in 14 games with Calgary.

Bahl has played in all but one game this season, but will be sidelined for at least the next two games as he tends to a lower-body injury. The 25-year-old Bahl is averaging 21:57 time-on-ice and has 18 points (4G / 14A) in 76 games this season. Brayden Pachal will re-enter Calgary's lineup as Bahl's replacement.

Pospisil played 81 games in the 2024-25 season, but has been in and out of the lineup since making his 2025-26 debut in late January. The 26-year-old Slovak forward has three points (1G / 2A) and 78 hits in 21 games this season.

Tverberg was a seventh-round pick of the Maple Leafs in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft that has yet to play an NHL game. The 24-year-old forward has 32 points (14G / 18A) this season in 61 games with the Marlies (AHL). Bo Groulx was reassigned to the Marlies in a corresponding move.

Groulx played 13:58 time-on-ice in yesterday's 4-0 loss to the Washington Capitals, but he will head back to the AHL to suit up with the Toronto Marlies. The 26-year-old French-born forward has five points (3G / 2A) this season in 13 games with the Maple Leafs.

Coleman will be away from the team on Thursday as he tends to the birth of his child. The 34-year-old Coleman is averaging 17:16 time-on-ice and has 33 points (19G / 14A) in 65 games this season. He leads the Flames with a +13 plus/minus.

With Nazem Kadri battling an upper-body injury, Kiviranta will draw into the lineup as his replacement. The 30-year-old Kiviranta had a career-high 16 goals in 79 games last season, but has been limited to only three goals and six assists through 46 games this season.