NHL Hockey Player News

Eyssimont has been a lineup-regular for Tampa Bay this season but will be out of the lineup with a lower-body injury. The 28-year-old is averaging 10:53 time-on-ice, scoring five points (3G / 2A) in 31 games.

For the seventh time in eight games, Utah HC will roll with Vejmelka between the pipes. Vejmelka was riding a four-game winning streak before allowing three goals on 29 shots (.897 SV%) in Utah's most recent contest, a 3-2 loss to the Dallas Stars. The 28-year-old Czech netminder has a solid 2.33 GAA and .917 SV% in 20 appearances (8-8-2). Utah HC enters Friday's contest as +117 home underdogs against a Colorado Avalanche club riding a three-game winning streak.

Olofsson was a second-round pick of the Minnesota Wild in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft but has only played three NHL games since the 2019-20 season. The 30-year-old defenseman has 11 points (2G / 9A) in 27 games with the Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL) this season.

Stezka was recalled on an emergency basis, a sign that Joey Daccord might be unable to suit up after battling through an injury in his previous game. The 27-year-old Stezka has a 2.94 GAA and .906 SV% in 18 games this season (6-9-3).

Gustavsson was solid in his return from a lower-body injury on Monday, saving 28 of 31 shots (.903 SV%) in a 4-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, and will return to the crease on Friday against the Dallas Stars. The 26-year-old Gustavsson boasts a terrific 2.28 GAA and .921 SV% in 23 games this season (15-5-3). Minnesota, without their leading scorer Kirill Kaprizov, enters Friday's contest as +186 road underdogs against a Dallas Stars club coming off a 3-2 win over Utah HC.

Texier played the last three games for the Blues but could draw out of the lineup on Friday against the Nashville Predators. The 25-year-old Texier is averaging 12:53 time-on-ice and has five points (2G / 3A) in 18 games this season.

The Predators are riding a two-game winning streak and will likely turn to Saros between the pipes on Friday against the St. Louis Blues. Saros was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 25 of 27 shots (.926 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. The 29-year-old Saros has a 2.69 GAA and .907 SV% in 28 games this season (8-14-6). The Predators enter Friday's contest as -130 road favorites against the Blues.

Niko Mikkola will be out of the lineup due to an undisclosed injury, creating space for Boqvist to re-enter the lineup. The 24-year-old Boqvist has been limited to only 13 games this season, averaging 12:03 time-on-ice and scoring four points (2G / 2A).

Mikkola was limited to only 13:26 time-on-ice in Monday's 4-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning and will be out of the lineup on Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens. Adam Boqvist will return to the lineup as Mikkola's replacement on the blue line.

Boqvist has been a pleasant addition as a depth-forward for the Panthers. The 26-year-old Boqvist is averaging 13:00 time-on-ice and has 11 points (5G / 6A) in 33 games this season.

Exiting the holiday break, the Panthers will turn to Knight between the pipes on Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens. Knight was excellent in his previous outing, saving 19 of 21 shots (.905 SV%) in a 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 23-year-old Knight has a 2.78 GAA and .891 SV% in 13 games (6-5-1).

For the seventh time in eight games, Utah HC will roll with Vejmelka between the pipes. Vejmelka was riding a four-game winning streak before allowing three goals on 29 shots (.897 SV%) in Utah's most recent contest, a 3-2 loss to the Dallas Stars. The 28-year-old Czech netminder has a solid 2.33 GAA and .917 SV% in 20 appearances (8-8-2). Utah HC enters Friday's contest as +117 home underdogs against a Colorado Avalanche club riding a three-game winning streak.

Blackwood was acquired in a trade from the San Jose Sharks nearly three weeks ago and has been excellent since his debut with Colorado. Blackwood has a 2.03 GAA and .931 SV%, earning himself a five-year contract extension after only four games with the Avalanche (3-1-0). The 28-year-old netminder has a 3.05 GAA and .905 SV% in 219 career games (84-92-25), primarily while playing for non-playoff teams in New Jersey and San Jose.

Edvinsson has not played the last two games for the Red Wings but could draw back into the lineup on Friday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 21-year-old defenseman has primarily played on the Red Wings' top defensive unit alongside Moritz Seider, scoring 13 points (3G / 10A) in 30 games.

Harris has been a lineup-regular for the Blue Jackets lately but will be a healthy scratch on Friday against the Boston Bruins. The 24-year-old defenseman is averaging 11:58 time-on-ice, scoring two points (1G / 1A).

Tanev missed his first game of the season in the Maple Leafs' previous outing. The 35-year-old Tanev is averaging 19:36 time-on-ice, recording 10 points (1G / 9A), a +11 plus/minus, and 99 blocks in 34 games this season.

Oettinger had the night off in the Stars' final game before the holiday break but will return to the crease on Friday against the Minnesota Wild. The 26-year-old Oettinger has a 2.42 GAA and .910 SV% in 25 games this season (16-9-0). He saved 22 of 23 shots (.957 SV%) in a 2-1 win over Minnesota on November 16th. The Stars enter the action on Friday as -169 home favorites.

Ovechkin has been practicing in a full-contact jersey for the last week and could return to action on Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 39-year-old Ovechkin was well on his way to surpassing Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal record (894) before his injury this season. He is 27 goals away, a feat that continues to be jeopardized with each game he misses.