NHL Hockey Player News

Mrazek did not play in the Blackhawks' last game, a 7-5 loss to the St. Louis Blues, but will likely return to the crease on Wednesday for his fourth straight in their last five games. Mrazek only has one win in his last five appearances for the bottom-dwelling Blackhawks (1-3-0), posting a .888 SV% in the process. The Blackhawks are significant +195 home underdogs against the Winnipeg Jets, who have points in five straight games (4-0-1).

Shesterkin is riding a three-game winning streak and will return to the crease on Wednesday against the Washington Capitals. Shesterkin has not been true-to-form this season but is amid one of his better stretches of play, allowing only six goals on the last 85 shots he has faced (.929 SV%) over his last three games (3-0-0). The Rangers are sizeable -204 home favourites on Wednesday against the Capitals, despite being shut out 4-0 against them earlier this month.

Askarov was recalled from the Milwaukee Admirals and participated in practice for the Predators on Wednesday morning. Kevin Lankinen (illness) was not present at practice and as a result, Askarov suited up as the backup goaltender. Askarov was the 11th overall pick of the Predators in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft and has a 2.45 GAA and .908 SV% through 15 games (8-6-1) with the Admirals this season.

The Maple Leafs will turn to Jones again, his fourth start in the last five games, as he has been more reliable than Ilya Samsonov between the pipes. Jones has been serviceable in limited action this season, posting a 2.79 GAA and .917 SV% through six appearances (4-1-0). The veteran netminder has failed to record a save percentage above .900 since the 2017-18 season (.915 SV%) as a member of the San Jose Sharks but has a favourable matchup Wednesday (-170 home favourites) against an Ottawa Senators team that has lost six of their last seven (1-6-0).

Vasilevskiy has been a mainstay between the pipes for Tampa Bay since making his season debut in late November and will start for the eighth straight game on Wednesday. After some initial struggles reaclimating himself to game-action after returning from off-season back surgery, Vasilevskiy has won seven of his last name contests (7-2-0), posting a tremendous .925 SV%. Tampa Bay is a slight -100 underdog against division rivals, the Florida Panthers, who are coming off a 4-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights.

Miller will play his first game since December 17th, when Brendan Smith drew into the lineup in favour of his. Before his absence from the lineup, Miller played 15 straight games for the Devils, tallying one point (0G / 1A), 10 blocks, and 18 hits while averaging 14:52 time-on-ice.

Lazar suffered an undisclosed injury and will not play on Wednesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets as he is considered day-to-day. Lazar has been a regular in the Devils lineup this season, scoring 10 points (4G / 6A) in 30 games while playing predominantly Michael McLeod and Nathan Bastian.

Sorokin has won two straight games for the Islanders and will return to the crease on Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. After a sluggish start to the season, including a five-game winless skid, Sorokin seems to be righting the ship, collecting at least a point in seven straight games (5-0-2) while posting a respectable .916 SV%. The Islanders are slight -114 home favourites against the Penguins, who came up short in their last game before the Christmas break, losing 5-4 to the Ottawa Senators in overtime.

Vanecek has started the last three games for the Devils (1-1-1) and will likely start again on Wednesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Vanecek has allowed three goals or fewer in four of his last game games (3-1-1), his best stretch of play this season, posting a .908 SV% in the process. The Devils are significant -254 home favourites against a Blue Jackets squad that has lost three of their last four (1-2-1), including a 6-3 loss to the Devils on December 16th.

Omitting a horrible performance on December 19 when he allowed four goals on 18 shots (.778 SV%), Levi has been tremendous this month, posting a .932 SV% in five December contests (4-0-1). Levi will likely return to the crease for the Sabres on Wednesday, his third start in their last four games, in a challenging matchup against the struggling Boston Bruins. The Sabres are +130 road underdogs against a Bruins team that has lost four straight (0-2-2).

Wahlstrom last played on December 20th, his first game since December 2nd, but will return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Penguins. He has five points (2G / 3A) in 18 games and is expected to play on the third line with Simon Holmstrom and Jean-Gabriel Pageau.

The Maple Leafs will likely turn to Jones again, his fourth start in the last five games, as he has been more reliable than Ilya Samsonov between the pipes. Jones has been serviceable in limited action this season, posting a 2.79 GAA and .917 SV% through six appearances (4-1-0). The veteran netminder has failed to record a save percentage above .900 since the 2017-18 season (.915 SV%) as a member of the San Jose Sharks but has a favourable matchup Wednesday (-170 home favourites) against an Ottawa Senators team that has lost six of their last seven (1-6-0).

Kuemper did not play the last two games before the Christmas break for the Capitals but seems to be turning the corner on a terrible start to the 2023-24 campaign. In his first 13 games (5-6-2), Kuemper posted an ugly .887 SV% but is boasting a stellar .947 SV% in three games since (3-0-0), riding three consecutive quality starts for the first time this season. That said, the Capitals are sizeable +181 road underdogs against a New York Rangers team that has won four of their last five outings (4-1-0).

Jake Bean will return to the lineup on Wednesday in favour of Andrew Peeke, who will be a healthy scratch. Bean has three points (1G / 2A), 42 shots, and 46 blocks while averaging 15:26 time-on-ice through 32 games this season and is expected to skate alongside Erik Gudbranson on the Blue Jackets' fourth defensive pair.

Peeke will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday, allowing Jake Bean to draw back into the lineup. Peeke has four points (0G / 4A), 21 hits, and 23 blocks while averaging 17:07 time-on-ice through 12 games this season.

Olivier has not played since December 16th but will return to the lineup on Wednesday against the New Jersey Devils as Sean Kuraly (abdominal) will be unavailable. The 26-year-old winger has five points (1G / 4A) in 18 games and is expected to play on the fourth line with Brendan Gaunce and Alexandre Texier.

Daws is no stranger to the NHL either, playing 25 games (10-11-1) with the Devils as a rookie, posting a 3.11 GAA and .893 SV%, but has yet to play for the Devils this season. The 22-year-old netminder debuted with the Utica Comets (AHL) earlier this month after returning from an injury, posting a 2.39 GAA and .929 SV% in three games (1-2-0). Daws could be an option at the NHL level at some point this season, perhaps sooner than later, especially if the goaltending tandem of Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid continues to falter.

Kuraly had to be helped off the ice on Saturday and was taken to hospital, where he was discharged after testing. There has not been a definitive update on Kuraly yet, but he will not play on Wednesday and is considered day-to-day.

Kochetkov allowed five goals on 28 shots (.821 SV%) in a 5-4 loss in the Hurricanes' last game before the Christmas break but will likely return to the crease on Wednesday night. The 24-year-old netminder has started four straight and six of the last seven (3-1-2), steadying a Hurricanes' net that has been subpar all season, posting a .927 SV% while allowing fewer than two goals in four contests. The Hurricanes are -130 road favourites against a Nashville Predators team that has lost two of their last three games (1-2-0).