NHL Hockey Player News

Skinner has not played in three weeks due to a lower-body injury, but will return to the lineup on Friday against the Dallas Stars. The 33-year-old Skinner, in his first season with the Sharks, has seven points (4G / 3A) in 17 games.

Joseph was absent from practice on Thursday and it is unclear if he will be ready when Vancouver returns to action tomorrow against the Utah Mammoth. The 26-year-old defenseman is averaging 11:50 time-on-ice and has one assist in 11 games this season.

Kane was absent from practice on Thursday and it is unclear if he will be ready when Vancouver returns to action tomorrow against the Utah Mammoth. The 34-year-old Kane has 14 points (5G / 9A) and 50 hits in 27 games this season.

Yurov is battling an undisclosed injury and will miss a second consecutive game on Thursday when Minnesota faces the Calgary Flames. The 21-year-old rookie, a first-round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, has seen prime deployment lately playing on a line with Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello. He has seven points (3G / 4A) in 21 games this season.

Doughty was listed week-to-week after suffering a lower-body injury on November 15th, but will make a surprising return to the lineup on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 35-year-old Doughty has eight points (2G / 6A) through 19 games this season, respectable totals given that the Kings' have mostly been rolling a five-forward top powerplay unit.

The Blackhawks have followed up a five-game losing skid (0-4-1) by collecting points in two straight (1-0-1), and will likely roll with Knight between the pipes on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 24-year-old Knight has been a bright spot for the Blackhawks this season, boasting a solid 2.52 GAA and .917 SV% in 18 games (8-5-5), but has battled through adversity lately, recording a sub- .900 SV% in five of his last seven outings (2-2-3). The Blackhawks enter the action on Thursday as +179 road underdogs against a Kings team that has scored fewer than two goals in five of its last eight games (3-3-2).

Ryan Lomberg will draw back into Calgary's lineup on Thursday, resulting in Hunt being a healthy scratch against the Minnesota Wild. The 30-year-old Hunt has a -2 plus/minus and zero points in two games this season.

Jake Bean will draw back into Calgary's lineup on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild, replacing Pachal, who will be a healthy scratch. The 26-year-old Pachal is averaging 13:32 time-on-ice and has three assists in 20 games this season.

Brayden Pachal will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild, allowing Bean to re-enter the lineup. The 27-year-old Bean is averaging 16:20 time-on-ice and has two points (1G / 1A) in 14 games this season.

Dryden Hunt will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild, allowing Lomberg to re-enter the lineup. The 24-year-old Lomberg only has one point (0G / 1A) in 24 games this season.

Kaskimaki was a third-round pick, 73rd overall, of the Blues in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old Finnish forward has seven points (4G / 3A) in 16 games with the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL) this season and will make his NHL debut with the Blues on Thursday.

Wedgewood is not expected to be out long-term, but will not play on Thursday against the New York Islanders. The Avalanche recalled Trent Miner to serve as Mackenzie Blackwood's backup on Thursday, and he could draw into a game during a back-to-back this weekend if Wedgewood remains sidelined.

Colorado has been alternating goalies in recent weeks, but with Scott Wedgewood (lower body) sidelined, Blackwood's return to the crease on Thursday was seemingly inevitable. The 28-year-old Blackwood has been outstanding lately, posting a 0.50 GAA, .979 SV%, and two shutouts in his last four appearances (4-0-0). He has a 1.84 GAA and .930 SV% in seven games this season (6-0-1). Colorado enters Thursday's contest as -180 road favorites against a New York Islanders team coming off an impressive 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Devin Cooley has led the way for the Flames over the previous few weeks, but he struggled in Tuesday's 5-1 loss to the Nashville Predators, allowing Wolf the opportunity to re-seize the crease. The 24-year-old Wolf was serviceable in relief of Cooley on Tuesday, saving 11 of 12 shots (.917 SV%), but has struggled this season. He has a 3.16 GAA and .891 SV% in 21 games this season (6-12-2). The Flames enter Thursday's contest as +103 home underdogs against a red-hot Minnesota Wild team that is 8-0-2 in their last 10 games.

With Michael Callahan (undisclosed) added to a growing list of injured players in Boston, Soderstrom will be the most recent AHL call-up to crack the NHL roster. The 24-year-old Soderstrom has 11 points (1G / 10A) in 53 career NHL games, but has not played in the NHL since a three-game stint with the Arizona Coyotes in the 2023-24 season.

Injuries in Vancouver's crease over the past few weeks unexpectedly thrust Tolopilo into the spotlight, posting a 3.56 GAA and .892 SV% in two games (1-1-0). The undrafted 25-year-old goalie returns from the AHL, where he has a 3.35 GAA and .901 SV% in five games (1-3-1) with the Abbotsford Canucks.

Through 24 games this season, the 21-year Pettersson has seen sheltered minutes while predominantly playing on the Canucks' third defensive pair. He was reassigned to Abbotsford (AHL) earlier this week but quickly recalled on Thurdsay.