NHL Hockey Player News

Talbot will start for the fifth time in the last six games for the Kings when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday. The 36-year-old Talbot has lost three of his last four outings (1-2-1), his worst run of the season, but was terrific on Saturday, saving 24 of 26 shots (.917 SV%) in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Edmonton Oilers. The Kings are -127 home favourites against a Maple Leafs team that has lost five of their last six games (1-4-1).

Markstrom will likely return the crease for his sixth straight start on Tuesday. The 33-year-old Swedish netminder is amid his best stretch of the play since returning from a fractured finger injury two weeks ago, posting an excellent .931 SV% in five games (3-2-0). The Flames are slight -112 road favourites against a Minnesota Wild team that defeated them 3-2 in a shootout on December 14th but has lost two straight games and will be without Kiril Kaprizov and starting goalie Filip Gustavsson.

Matt Martin will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Engvall to return to the lineup after not playing in the last contest for the Islanders. Engvall is expected to play on the second line with Kyle Palmieri and a red-hot Brock Nelson. Engvall, however, has been ineffective offensively lately, scoring zero points in his last 10 games after scoring 11 (4G / 7A) in his previous 18.

Ferraro left Sunday's game with just 4:09 TOI and did not return. The Sharks did not practice on Monday but Ferraro has been confirmed to return to the lineup on Tuesday. He has nine points (1G / 8A), 40 hits, and 101 blocks in 37 games this season.

Demko and Casey DeSmith have split starts over the last six games, but the Canucks will likely turn back to Demko on Tuesday. The 28-year-old Demko has been stellar for the Canucks all season, highlighted by a current six-game stretch (5-0-1), where he has posted a .916 SV%. The Canucks have not played since December 28th, a 4-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, and should be well rested as -143 home favourites against the Ottawa Senators, who have won three of their last four games (3-1-0).

After being unavailable for several weeks due to a myriad of illnesses and injuries, Hart will start for the fourth time in the last five games for the Flyers on Tuesday. Hart has saved 35 of the last 37 shots he's faced (.946 S%) and was tremendous in his only other meeting against the Edmonton Oilers this season, saving 22 of 23 shots (.957 SV%) in a 4-1 win on October 19th. The Flyers will look to snap a two-game losing skid (0-1-1) but are +161 road underdogs against an Oilers team looking to win their sixth straight game.

Petr Mrazek started the last three games for the Blackhawks, but after allowing 11 goals in his last two starts, the team will turn to Soderblom on Tuesday. Soderblom has not recorded a victory in seven appearances (0-5-1), posting an ugly .846 SV%. The Blackhawks are sizeable +247 road underdogs against a Predators team that has struggled lately, losing three of their last four (1-2-1), but defeated the Blackhawks 4-3 in a shootout on December 5th.

Georgiev will start for the eighth straight game and search for his sixth win over that stretch. Georgiev has helped the Avalanche collect a point in five straight (4-0-1) and has a save percentage above .900 in four of those games, a rarity for the inconsistent netminder this season. Georgiev and the Avalanche are sizeable -182 home favourites on Tuesday against the Islanders, who have lost two of their last three games (1-2-0), including being outscored 10-1 in two games against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Montembeault has only started one of the last four games for the Canadiens but will return to the crease for the second consecutive game on Tuesday when they visit the Dallas Stars. Montemneault has unquestionably been the most reliable netminder between the pipes for the Canadiens but has struggled lately, allowing four goals in each of his last two games (0-1-1), posting a subpar .818 SV%. The Canadiens are significant +244 road underdogs against a Stars team that has outscored their opposition 13-5 in their last two games (2-0-0).

Markstrom will likely return the crease for his sixth straight start on Tuesday. The 33-year-old Swedish netminder is amid his best stretch of the play since returning from a fractured finger injury two weeks ago, posting an excellent .931 SV% in five games (3-2-0). The Flames are slight -112 road favourites against a Minnesota Wild team that defeated them 3-2 in a shootout on December 14th but has lost two straight games and will be without Kiril Kaprizov and starting goalie Filip Gustavsson.

Vasilevskiy had the night off on New Year's Eve but will likely return to the crease for the Lightning for his 10th start in their last 11 games. Vasilevskiy has allowed eight goals on 52 shots (.846 SV%) in his last two games (2-0-0) but was tremendous in his previous nine (7-2-0), posting a stellar .925 SV%. Tampa Bay is a +122 road underdog against the Winnipeg Jets, who have points in eight straight games (6-0-2).