NHL Hockey Player News

Vejmelka will play the back end of a back-to-back for the Coyotes on Saturday when they face off against the Buffalo Sabres. Vejmelka has played only once since November 25th, a matchup also against the Sabres, when he allowed four goals on 37 shots (.892 SV%) in a 5-2 loss earlier this week. The Czech netminder is now winless in his last nine appearances, dating back to a 2-1 victory against the Anaheim Ducks on October 21st, which also marks the last time he has allowed less than two goals in a game.

Ingram has started eight of the last nine games for the Coyotes and will start again on Friday against the San Jose Sharks. The Coyotes have lost four straight but are sizeable -184 home favourites against a Sharks team that has won three of their last four games (3-1-0). After an otherworldly stretch in late November, Ingram has allowed 12 goals on 96 shots (.878 SV%) during his current three-game skid. That said, he was terrific in a losing effort on Tuesday, saving 40 of 43 shots (.930 SV%) in a 4-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Daccord is coming off his first career shutout, a 24-save performance, in a 4-0 win over the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. Daccord has become the de facto starting goalie for the Kraken with Philipp Grubauer out of the lineup but has been better than him between the pipes all season. Over his past three starts, Daccord has saved 73 of 77 shots (.949 SV%) but only managed a 1-2-0 record due to the Kraken's inability to score consistently. That said, Seattle has a favourable matchup on Thursday as -236 home favourites against the Chicago Blackhawks, who have lost two straight and rank second-worst in the league offensively (2.36 GF / GP).

Johnson will take the place of MacKenzie Entwistle (illness) on Thursday. Johnson has two goals and zero assists in 17 games this season.

Entwistle was not present at the Blackhawks' morning skate and was a game-time decision Thursday vs. Seattle due to illness. The 24-year-old right-winger has made the most of his bottom-six minutes this season, with two goals, three assists, 10 PIMs, 25 SOG and a -6 plus/minus in 21 games played.

Demko is fresh off his league-leading 14th win of the season, putting on a dominant display in a 4-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. He allowed just one goal on 29 shots in the contest, boosting his SV% to .918 on the season. The 28-year-old netminder has been in outstanding form this season, firmly bouncing back from his injury-riddled 2022-23 campaign. He will have his hands full again on Thursday as the Canucks play host to the Panthers and their high-powered attack.

Laine appeared to grab his shoulder after an awkward collision in the first period. It's another tough blow in what has been a dreadful season for the former 40-goal scorer. Laine has just six goals and three assists in 18 games this season.

Skinner will start for the second straight game as he searches for his eighth consecutive victory. Skinner has been tremendous lately allowing fewer than three goals in five of his last seven games (7-0-0), boasting a stellar .935 SV%. The Oilers will look for their ninth straight win as sizeable -173 home favourites against a Tampa Bay Lightning team that has lost two of their last three (1-2-0), being outscored 12-6, and will be without Victor Hedman for a second straight game.

Sheary has missed the Oilers previous 17 games due to an upper body injury but was activated off the Injured Reserve Thursday and will draw back into the lineup for Tampa Bay in Edmonton. The 31-year-old had struggled offensively prior to his injury with a goal, two assists, 14 SOG, four PIMs and a -3 plus/minus in 13 games played.

Watson will sit on Thursday as Conor Sheary (upper-body) makes his return to the lineup. Watson has one goal and zero assists in 15 games this season.

Vasilevskiy fell back down to earth in Vancouver on Thursday, surrendering three goals on just 21 shots in the 4-1 defeat. It ended a three-game winning streak for Vasilevskiy, who finally looked to be rounding into form after an understandably slow start to his season. The 2020-21 Conn Smythe Trophy winner owns an uncharacteristically low .894 SV% on the season to go along with his 4-4-0 record. He draws another difficult assignment on Thursday against Connor McDavid and the Oilers.

Vladar will be back between the pipes for Calgary on Thursday after conceding the start in each of the last two games to rookie Dustin Wolf. Vladar was lit up by the Avalanche his last time out, surrendering six goals on 38 shots enroute to a 6-5 defeat. He has struggled to take advantage of the extra playing time afforded to him as a result of Jacob Markstrom's injury, registering a woeful .876 SV% and a 3.76 GAA on the season. Vladar and the Flames find themselves as +125 underdogs in Minnesota on Thursday.

After serving as the backup for three straight games, Korpisalo will start for the third consecutive game on Thursday. The Senators coaching staff has been quick to deviate to a different goaltender after a poor performance but will stick with Korpisalo on Thursday despite allowing four goals on 28 shots (.857 SV%) in a 4-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. In addition, Korpisalo has lost three of his last four contests (1-3-0) and has only one quality start in the bunch, posting a .882 SV%. That said, the Senators are -118 road favourites against a St. Louis Blues team that has lost four straight, being outscored 20-10.

Kochetkov is coming off one of his best starts of the season and will be rewarded with the nod for the second consecutive game on Thursday. The 24-year-old netminder stopped 31 of the 32 shots he faced in Tuesday's 4-1 victory over the Senators, which included a flying poke check to thwart Brady Tkachuk's penalty shot. The outing helped Kochetkov raise his meager SV% to .883 on the season. He's in a great spot to keep things rolling on Thursday with the Hurricanes being -170 favourites in Detroit.

With Evgeny Kuznetsov set to miss Thursday's game with an illness, Phillips will retake his spot in the lineup after sitting out each of the last two games. Phillips has just one goal to go along with four assists in 18 games with the Capitals this season. He'll start the game alongside Joe Snively and T.J. Oshie on Washington's third line.

Staal will retake his place in the lineup on Thursday after sittoung out Tuesday's overtime loss to the Predators. The veteran blue-liner is yet to register a point across 11 appearances this season.

Zamula will take a seat in favour of Marc Staal on Thursday. The young defenseman has one goal and three assists in 21 games with the Flyers this season.

Kuznetsov was a surprise scratch on Thursday, with the Capitals announcing his absence just over 30 minutes before puck drop. Kuznetsov is in the midst of another disappointing season, registering just five goals and six assists across his first 22 games. He'll get his first chance to return to the lineup on Saturday when the Capitals visit Nashville.

Lindgren will start for the third time in the last four games for the Capitals and will look to build off his most recent performance, a 31-save shutout in a 4-0 victory over the New York Rangers, his second shutout in as many weeks. Lindgren has been a cornerstone and predominant reason why the Capitals are in playoff contention this season, boasting a tremendous 6-1-1 record and .936 SV% in his last nine appearances. The Capitals are slight +116 road underdogs against an equally surprising team, the Philadelphia Flyers, who have collected a point in six straight games (4-0-2).

Bjornfot failed to pick up a point in nine games with Ontario (AHL) but has been recalled to Los Angeles for the second time this season. The 22-year-old appeared in one game earlier for the Kings on October 11th and played 10:12 TOI before being sent down to Ontario.