NHL Hockey Player News

Johnson will re-enter the Sabres' lineup on Thursday in place of the injured Rasmus Dahlin. Johnson has no goals and one assist in 13 games this season.

Talbot has been used between the pipes much more sparingly lately but will return to the crease for the fourth time in the last seven games when the Kings visit the Montreal Canadiens. The Kings have won eight of their last nine (8-1-0) and are significant -208 road favourites against a Canadiens team they defeated 4-0 two weeks ago with Phoenix Copley as their goaltender. Talbot has been a steadying presence for the Kings all season and has an outstanding .945 SV% over his past 10 games (8-2-0).

Dahlin missed the Sabres morning skate Wednesday and was announced a game-time decision Thursday vs. Boston. The 23-year-old superstar has been enjoying yet another strong start to his 2023-24 season, with six goals, 21 points, 66 SOG, 20 PIMs and a -10 plus/minus over 26 games prior to his recent injury.

Forsberg has strung together two excellent performances and will start again on Thursday when the Senators take on the Toronto Maple Leafs. In his last two outings (2-0-0), Forsberg has saved 72 of 74 shots (.973 SV%), a turning point on an otherwise forgettable season in which he had a .850 SV% through his first seven contests (3-4-0). The Senators are +113 home underdogs on Thursday as the Maple Leafs have recorded at least a point in eight of their last nine games (5-1-3).

Chabot was not able to complete Saturday's game, his second game after a 10-game absence due to a hand injury, exiting late in the third period after playing 22:29 with a lower-body injury and has been placed on the Long-Term Injured Reserve Thursday. In the two games, Chabot scored one point (0G / 1A) and eight shots on goal while quarterbacking the Senators' top powerplay unit. He is expected to be out a minimum of four weeks.

Megna has yet to appear this season for Seattle after being a healthy scratch on most nights and has been loaned to Coachella Valley (AHL) for a conditioning assignment. The 30-year-old defensemen only appeared in six games for the Kraken in 2022-23 after being acquired from San Jose, where he had a goal and 11 assists, in 48 games played. He returns to the AHL for the first time since 2020-21 when he was the captain of the San Jose Barracuda (AHL).

Nash had nine goals, 10 assists, 26 PIMs and a +9 plus/minus in 20 games with Hartford (AHL) to start the season and has earned his first call up to the Rangers Thursday. The 34-year-old last appeared in the NHL with Arizona in 2021-22 but has 63 goals and 176 points in 627 games played across 11 NHL seasons.

Seguin did not play in the third period for the Stars after suffering an undisclosed injury in the third period. Sam Steel replaced Seguin on the second line with Matt Duchene and Mason Marchment. Seguin's status for Thursday's game is still undetermined, and any absence would be unfortunate for the Stars as Seguin has had a resurgent season, scoring 17 points (8G / 9A) through 24 games.

Bogosian has missed the last two games and will be a game-time decision on Thursday as he continues to recover from an upper-body injury. Since joining Minnesota earlier this season, the veteran defenseman has one point (0G / 1A), 11 blocks, 14 hits, and is averaging 13:10 time-on-ice through nine games.

After a horrendous start to the season, posting a wretched .864 SV% over a 10-game stretch (1-6-2) from October 14th to November 26th, Gustavsson has flipped a switch, coinciding with John Hynes taking over as head coach of the Wild. Gustavsson has won three straight contests, his first string of consecutive victories all season, allowing four goals combined, positing a .951 SV%. That said, Minnesota is a slight -101 road underdog against a Vancouver Canucks team that ranks first in the league offensively (3.88 GF / GP).

Rust left the Penguins' previous game vs. Tampa in the third period after just 12:03 TOI due to a lower-body injury and will miss Friday vs. Florida after not practicing Thursday. If he is forced to miss time it will be a massive loss for the Penguins as the 31-year-old is having the best statistical season of his 10 year career with 10 goals, 10 assists, 71 SOG, four PIMs and a +13 plus/minus in 22 games prior to this latest injury.

Schmid will take over the Devils' crease for the third time in four games after dropping his previous start surprisingly vs. San Jose after allowing five goals on 17 shots (.706 SV%). The 23-year-old has been a strong contributor to New Jersey's horrific goaltending numbers this season as he is 3-5-1 with a 3.27 GAA and .891 SV%. He will faces the struggling Seattle Kraken, who are in midst of a five-game losing streak and are 29th in the NHL in goals per game (2.65).

Bastian has a goal, two assists, 26 SOG, four PIMs and a -9 plus/minus through 22 games played but will be the odd man out of the lineup Thursday vs. Seattle. The 26-year-old right-winger will be replaced due to Brendan Smith's return from a two-game suspension.

Smith was suspended two games for an aggressive slash to Philadelphia's Travis Konecny but will return to the Devils' lineup Thursday vs. Seattle. The 34-year-old veteran defensemen has not scored in 81 games since joining New Jersey in 2022-23 but has two assists, 21 SOG, 32 PIMs and a -2 plus/minus through 21 games this season.

DeSmith will start for only the second time since November 16th as the Canucks take on the red-hot Minnesota Wild. DeSmith has allowed four goals in each of his last two starts (0-2-0), posting a .867 SV%. The Canucks have failed to string together consecutive victories in over three weeks but are still slight -109 home favourites against a Minnesota Wild team that has not lost since John Hynes took over as head coach (4-0-0), outscoring their opposition 18-5.

Saros will search for his third straight victory as the likely starter for the third consecutive game on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Saros has been excellent lately, winning six of his last seven contests (6-1-0), posting a .914 SV% in the process. The Predators' resurgent play lately has them listed as -129 home favourites on Thursday against a Lightning team that has won two straight, outscoring their opposition 7-1, but played last night and will presumably turn to Jonas Johansson between the pipes.

Dahlin missed the Sabres morning skate Wednesday and was announced a game-time decision Thursday vs. Boston. The 23-year-old superstar has been enjoying yet another strong start to his 2023-24 season, with six goals, 21 points, 66 SOG, 20 PIMs and a -10 plus/minus over 26 games prior to his recent injury.

Rust left the Penguins' previous game vs. Tampa in the third period after just 12:03 TOI due to a lower-body injury and was not at practice Thursday. If he is forced to miss time it will be a massive loss for the Penguins as the 31-year-old is having the best statistical season of his 10 year career with 10 goals, 10 assists, 71 SOG, four PIMs and a +13 plus/minus in 22 games prior to this latest injury.