NHL Hockey Player News

With Nils Lundkvist (illness) out of the lineup on Thursday, Dallas will welcome Hughes back in as they return to a six-defenseman, 12-forward formation. The 29-year-old Hughes made his season debut last earlier this month, his third career NHL game, playing 6:34 time-on-ice.

With Lundkvist out of the lineup due to an illness, the Stars will return to the traditional six-defensemen, 12-forward formation, welcoming Cameron Hughes back into their lineup. The 25-year-old Lundkvist has become a more reliable presence on the Dallas blueline this season, recording 11 points (3G / 8A) and a +12 plus/minus through 51 games.

Nolan Foote will re-enter Florida's lineup on Thursday, sending Reinhardt to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 26-year-old Reinhardt scored a goal in Florida's previous game, giving him 10 points (5G / 5A) in 56 games this season.

Cole Reinhardt will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Foote to re-enter the lineup. The 25-year-old Foote is averaging 9:54 time-on-ice and has one goal in eight games this season.

The reigning two-time Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers have battled through an unprecedented myriad of injuries this season, with Jones being added to the list, presumably out for the team's final four games of the season after a break in his foot. The 31-year-old Jones has 32 points (7G / 25A) in 52 games this season.

Jansson was a fourth-round pick of the Panthers in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft that made his professional North American debut this season, scoring 10 points (3G / 7A) in 29 games with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL). The 22-year-old Swedish defenseman has yet to play an NHL game.

Alscher was drafted by Florida in the third-round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft Draft, but he has yet to make his NHL debut. The 22-year-old Czech defenseman has 11 points (3G / 8A) this season in 51 games with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL).

Bobrovsky has finished only one season with a sub-.900 SV% in his career, when he posted a .899 SV% in 29 games as a 23-year-old in the 2011-12 season with the Philadelphia Flyers. The now 37-year-old goalie is on pace to finish the 2025-26 season with easily the worst totals of his career, posting a 3.05 GAA and .878 SV% through 51 appearances (27-22-1). He allowed six goals on 19 shots (.684 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 9-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Panthers enter Thursday's contest as significant +254 road underdogs against a Senators team that has outscored opponents 12-5 in their last two games (2-0-0).

Greaves was excellent in the Blue Jackets' previous game, saving 34 of 37 shots (.919 SV%) in a come-from-behind 4-3 shootout win over the Detroit Red Wings to keep their playoff hopes alive. The 25-year-old Greaves has been excellent in his first NHL season, but has battled some adversity in recent weeks, losing five of his last seven games (2-4-1) despite posting an impressive 2.41 GAA and .915 SV%. The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as slight +105 road underdogs against a Buffalo Sabres team coming off a 5-3 win over the New York Rangers last night.

Murashov was recalled earlier this week for precautionary reasons because of Stuart Skinner (upper body) injury, but he will head back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL). The 22-year-old Murashov, touted as Pittsburgh's goalie of the future, has been excellent in the AHL this season, posting a 2.13 GAA and .922 SV% in 35 games (23-8-3).

Skinner was a late scratch in Pittsburgh's previous game due to an upper-body injury, but he will return to the crease on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. The 27-year-old Skinner struggled in his most recent outing, allowing five goals on 32 shots (.844 SV%) in a 6-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Skinner has struggled in recent weeks, allowing three or more goals in all but one of his last nine games (3-3-3), posting a 3.58 GAA and .876 SV%. The Penguins enter Thursday's contest as slight -101 road underdogs against a New Jersey Devils team that is 1-1-1 in their last three games.

Vladar allowed five goals on 17 shots (.706 SV%) last week in a disappointing 6-4 loss to the Washington Capitals, but has quickly returned to form, winning three straight while saving an impressive 62 of 65 shots (.954 SV%). The 28-year-old Czech goalie has won 10 of 16 games (10-5-1) since returning from the Olympic break, posting a solid 2.27 GAA and .911 SV% to help his team battle for a playoff spot. The Flyers enter Thursday's contest as slight +106 road underdogs against a struggling Detroit Red Wings team that last won 4-2 against the Flyers one week ago.

In a preview of their upcoming first-round playoff matchup, Oettinger will tend the twine against the Minnesota Wild in a pivotal battle for home-ice advantage. Oettinger did not need to be spectacular in his previous outing, allowing three goals on 20 shots (.850 SV%), but managed to salvage a 4-3 overtime win over the Calgary Flames. The Minnesota-born Oettinger has been excellent in his career against his hometown team, including posting a 2.31 GAA and .929 SV% in three meetings this season (1-1-1). The Stars enter Thursday's contest as -123 home favourites against a Wild team that has scored four or more goals in four consecutive games (4-0-0).

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).

The Blues are coming off a 3-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche that all-but-ended their hopes for making the playoffs. The team's late-season push was spearheaded by strong goaltending, primarily from Joel Hofer, but the veteran Jordan Binnington was also impressive in less frequent action. The 32-year-old Binnington has only played seven of 20 games since returning from the Olympic break, but has won four of those outings (4-2-1) while posting an excellent 1.74 GAA and .925 SV%. The Blues enter Thursday's contest as slight -107 home favourites against a Winnipeg Jets team that is two points ahead of them in the standings and hope to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

Vladar allowed five goals on 17 shots (.706 SV%) last week in a disappointing 6-4 loss to the Washington Capitals, but has quickly returned to form, winning three straight while saving an impressive 62 of 65 shots (.954 SV%). The 28-year-old Czech goalie has won 10 of 16 games (10-5-1) since returning from the Olympic break, posting a solid 2.27 GAA and .911 SV% to help his team battle for a playoff spot. The Flyers enter Thursday's contest as slight +106 road underdogs against a struggling Detroit Red Wings team that last won 4-2 against the Flyers one week ago.

Exiting the Olympic break, there was a three-week stretch where Jacob Markstrom played every game for the Devils, but they have relied on Allen more steadily in recent weeks. The 35-year-old Allen saved 26 of 29 shots (.897 SV%) in his previous outing, but was on the losing end of a 4-3 shootout against the Montreal Canadiens. In his last five games (3-1-1), Allen has a 2.76 GAA and .904 SV%. The Devils enter Thursday's contest as slight -102 home underdogs against a Pittsburgh Penguins team that has scored five or more goals in four of their last five games (4-1-0).

Jake Christiansen will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Zamula to re-enter the lineup against the Buffalo Sabres. The 26-year-old Zamula is averaging 13:00 time-on-ice and has two assists in 18 games with the Blue Jackets this season.