NHL Hockey Player News

Varlamov will get his first start in three games but will look to extend a three-game winning streak after beating Columbus in a 32 save win (.914 SV%) in his last start. The 35-year-old veteran backup has been sensational in his 16 NHL seasons, with his 5-3-1 record, 2.55 GAA And .925 SV%. The Islanders will host the Ducks Wednesday, who is looking to snap a three-game losing streak and are 28th in the NHL in goals per game (2.59).

The Devils' goaltending carousel will continue Wednesday as Vitek Vanecek gets his second-start in three games Wednesday vs. Boston. The 27-year-old netminder has struggled mightily this season despite his decent 10-5-0 record, as he has a 3.49 GAA And .879 SV%. He hosts the surging Boston Bruins, who have won four of their last five games and are 11th in the NHL in goals per game.

Hutton had five assists, 14 PIMs and a -5 plus/minus in 16 games with Bridgeport (AHL) and has been recalled from the Islanders for the second time this season. The 28-year-old has earned the call up and will be used as an extra defensemen with Scott Mayfield (upper body) day-to-day and Sebastian Aho (upper body) returning from injury.

Mayfield has four assists, 17 PIMs, 19 SOG, and a -1 plus/minus in 20 games played this season but is considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury and is not expected to play Wednesday vs. Anaheim. The 31-year-old bruising defensemen should be replaced by Sebastian Aho (upper body), who returns after an eight game absence.

Aho has missed the Islanders' previous eight games due to an upper-body injury but was a full participant in line rushes Wednesday and is expected to return vs. Ahaheim. The 27-year-old stay-at-home defensemen has yet to score in 19 games played this year but has four assists, 18 SOG, six PIMs and a -3 plus/minus.

Larsson had two goals, two assists, 14 PIMs and a -6 plus/minus in 18 games with the Belleville Senators (AHL) but has earned his first NHL call up of the season Wednesday. The 26-year-old stay-at-home defensemen returns to the NHL for his seventh career season and will hope to add to the three goals and 14 points he has amassed over 172 career games played.

Smejkal made his NHL debut on December 9th and appeared in two games for the Senators as he failed to pick up a point and SOG while only averaging 6:50 TOI and has been reassigned to Belleville (AHL) Wednesday. The 27-year-old first year NHLer returns to the minors, where he had three goals, six assists, four PIMs and a -10 plus/minus in 17 games prior to his call up.

Jonsson-Fjallby will be the odd-man out on Tuesday as the Jets are opting to dress seven defensemen. Jonsson-Fjallby has no goals and one assist in nine games this season, playing primarily on the Jets' fourth line.

MacDonald well sit on Tuesday as Luke Kunin (upper-body) is set to return to the lineup. MacDonald has four goals and one assist in 13 games this season.

Kunin has missed the Sharks last five games due to an upper-body injury and was activated off the Injured Reserve earlier today. Kunin was not expected to return to the lineup until Friday, but he appears to be available for Tuesday's game against the Jets. The 26-year-old forward has been enjoying a solid second season in San Jose, with five goals, two assists, 40 SOG, 27 PIMs and a -11 plus/minus in 23 games prior to his injury.

Blackwood has struggled his last two games, allowing 10 goals on 56 shots (.821 SV%), as the Sharks have opted to rotate between him and Kaapo Kahkonen lately. That said, Blackwood will return to the Sharks' net on Tuesday as they are +191 home underdogs against a Winnipeg Jets team that will be without their leading scorer, Kyle Connor. In addition, Blackwood has been significantly better on home ice this season, posting a 3.32 GAA and .908 SV% in nine games (3-3-2).

DeSimone will play in Vegas on Tuesday, marking his first appearance since November 20th. He has no goals and four assists in eight games this season.

Solovyov will sit in favour of Nick DeSimone on Tuesday night. Solovyov has zero goals and two assists in six games this season.

Chaffee has just two NHL games to his name, both of which came in the 2021-22 with the Minnesota Wild. He has impressed with Syracuse (AHL) this season, registering nine goals and ten assists in 21 games.

Hedman left the Lightning's game Saturday vs. Seattle after just 13:40 TOI due to an upper-body injury and was a game-time decision Tuesday in Vancouver. The 32-year-old towering defenseman is back to his Norris Trophy form this season, with five goals, 22 assists, 55 SOG, 22 PIMs and -5 plus/minus in 29 games played. His next chance to return to the lineup will be Thursday in Edmonton.

Vasilevskiy will be back between the pipes for the Lightning on Tuesday as he searches for a fourth-consecutive win. The 2018-19 Vezina Trophy winner is starting to find his form after an understandably slow start to his season. He's allowed just four goals on 79 shots (.949 SV%) across his three-game winning streak, though he will have his hands full on Tuesday against the Canucks' high-powered offense. The Lightning find themselves as slight road underdogs at +105 in Vancouver.

With Philipp Grubauer out of the lineup, Daccord will start for the second consecutive game. In his first game as the number one goalie for Seattle, Daccord played well, saving 23 of 25 shots in a 3-0 loss to the Minnesota Wild, but as has been the case most of the season, he did not receive ample goal support. The 27-year-old goaltender has been serviceable this season, even outperforming Grubauer, but has only managed three victories in 15 appearances (3-5-6) while posting a 2.92 GAA and .896 SV%.

Aston-Reese will be the odd-man out on Tuesday as the Wings opt to dress seven defensemen. He played less than seven minutes in his Red Wings debut in Dallas on Monday.

Holl will re-enter the Red Wings' lineup on Tuesday as Detroit opts to dress seven defensemen for the tail-end of their back-to-back. He has zero goals and three assists in 20 games with the Red Wings this season.

Sanford will play in Pittsburgh on Tuesday after being recalled by the Coyotes earlier in the day. He's played one game with the Coyotes earlier this season, recording one point (0G / 1A), but has spent most of his time with the Tuscon Roadrunners of the AHL, where he has four points (1G / 3A) in 16 games.