NHL Hockey Player News

The Sharks, riding a three-game winning streak, will turn to Vanecek between the pipes on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 28-year-old Vanecek allowed five goals on 31 shots (.839 SV%) in his most recent outing, an 8-5 win over the Seattle Kraken, and has a 3.52 GAA and .894 SV% through 11 appearances this season (3-5-1). The Sharks enter Thursday's contest as sizeable +221 road underdogs against a Lightning team without Nikita Kucherov (undisclosed).

The Sabres will attempt to snap a four-game losing skid on Thursday with Luukkonen between the pipes. The 25-year-old Luukkonen has been serviceable this season, posting a 2.69 GAA and .906 SV% in 17 games (8-6-2), but has struggled lately. In his last two games (0-1-1), Luukkonen has allowed nine goals on 63 shots (.857 SV%). The Sabres enter the action on Thursday as +115 home underdogs against a Winnipeg Jets club amid a four-game losing streak (0-4-0).

Vasilevskiy will start his 20th game of the season when the Lightning host the Sharks on Thursday. Vasilevskiy took the loss his last time out, allowing four goals on 28 shots in a 5-3 defeat at the hands of the Maple Leafs. The 11-year veteran owns a 10-8-1 record and a .907 SV% on the season. He's got a great chance of getting back in the win column on Thursday as the Lightning enter action as massive favourites at -260.

Annunen will make his Predators debut on Thursday as Juuse Saros gets the night off on the tail-end of Nashville's back-to-back. Annunen struggled with the Avalanche before being dealt to the Predators for Scott Wedgewood, posting an .872 SV% and a 3.23 GAA across 11 appearances. The 24-year-old netminder draws a favourable matchup for his Nashville debut as the Predators enter action as -135 favourites against the Habs.

Montembeault will make his first appearance since being named to Team Canada's roster for the upcoming Four Nations tournament. The 28-year-old netminder registered a win his last time out, allowing just one goal on 31 shots in a 2-1 overtime victory over the Islanders. Montembeault brings a 7-10-2 record and a .901 SV% into Thursday night's matchup with the Predators.

Kochetkov had a rough return in his first game back from a concussion on Tuesday as he allowed four goals on 28 shots (.857 SV%) in a loss to Seattle but will have a chance at redemption vs. Colorado as he takes the crease Thursday. The 25-year-old has had an up-and-down season despite his 10-3-0 record, with a 2.55 GAA and .900 SV%. He will host the Avalanche on Thursday, who have lost three of their last five games but had an inspiring 5-4 comeback win over Buffalo their last time out.

Jack Thompson will draw into the Sharks' lineup on Thursday, resulting in Thrun being a healthy scratch. The 23-year-old Thrun is averaging 16:16 time-on-ice and has eight points (0G / 8A) in 25 games.

Henry Thrun will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Thompson to return to the lineup. The 22-year-old Thompson has played a career-high 13 games, and has five points (2G / 3A) while averaging 15:5 time-on-ice.

The Sharks, riding a three-game winning streak, will turn to Vanecek between the pipes on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 28-year-old Vanecek allowed five goals on 31 shots (.839 SV%) in his most recent outing, an 8-5 win over the Seattle Kraken, and has a 3.52 GAA and .894 SV% through 11 appearances this season (3-5-1). The Sharks enter Thursday's contest as sizeable +221 road underdogs against a Lightning team without Nikita Kucherov (undisclosed).

Joel Hofer was in the crease for the Blues in their previous game, an impressive 4-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets, but Binnington will be between the pipes on Thursday against the Calgary Flames. The 31-year-old Binnington, freshly named to the Canadian team in the upcoming Four Nations tournament, has a 2.87 GAA and .899 SV% in 19 appearances (7-9-2). The Blues enter Thursday's contest as +114 road underdogs against a Calgary Flames club coming off a 3-0 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

James van Riemsdyk will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Pyyhtia to re-enter the lineup for the first time since November 16th. The 22-year-old Pyyhtia is averaging 13:57 time-on-ice and has one point (1G / 0A) in 17 games.

Mikael Pyyhtia will draw back into the Blue Jackets lineup on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers, resulting in van Riemsdyk being a healthy scratch. The 35-year-old van Riemsdyk is averaging 10:50 time-on-ice and has five points (3G / 2A) in 18 games.

Elvis Merzlikins played the last seven games for the Blue Jackets, but they will revert to Tarasov on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers. The 25-year-old Tarasov has struggled this season, posting an ugly 4.04 GAA and .861 SV% in eight games (3-4-1). The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as sizeable +240 road underdogs against an Oilers club shutout 1-0 on Tuesday by the Vegas Golden Knights.

Arvidsson is battling an undisclosed ailment, has missed nine straight, and has no timeline to return. He struggled to succeed in the early going of his first season with the Oilers, scoring five points (2G / 3A) in his first 16 games, but was named to the Swedish roster for the upcoming Four Nations tournament.

Hyman has missed the previous five games due to an undisclosed ailment but will draw back into the lineup on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 32-year-old Hyman, coming off a career-best 54-goal campaign, has struggled in the 2024-25 campaign, with only eight points (3G / 5A) in 20 games.

Albert Johansson will return the Red Wings lineup on Thursday, resulting in Gustafsson being a healthy scratch. The 32-year-old Gustafsson is averaging 16:46 time-on-ice, recording four points (0G / 4A), 15 blocks, and seven hits through 18 games this season.