NHL Hockey Player News

Merzlikins will likely return to the starter's crease on Tuesday after serving as the backup goalie in the Blue Jackets 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Sunday. After a horrid seven-game stretch (2-2-2) that saw him allow 22 goals and post a .879 SV%, Merzlikins has flipped a switch, with an exceptional .921 SV% in his last nine games (3-5-1). That said, the Blue Jackets have continually struggled to provide Merzlikins with ample goal support, and, as a result, they are sizeable +192 home underdogs against a Los Angeles Kings team that leads the league offensively (3.86 GF / GP).

Chabot and the Senators are awaiting his MRI results, hoping for positive news, as any prolonged absence for Chabot will be a disheartening blow for the team after just recently re-welcoming him back into the lineup. He 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 an undisclosed injury. In the two games, Chabot scored one point (0G / 1A) and eight shots on goal while quarterbacking the Senators' top powerplay unit.

Greig was having a tremendous season before being derailed by a lower-body injury that has forced him to miss the last 10 games. He has seven points (2G / 5A) and 18 shots on goal through nine games this season and is expected to skate alongside Dominik Kubalik and Mathieu Joseph in his return to the lineup against the New York Rangers on Tuesday.

Joseph has not played since November 4th, recovering from a lower-body injury, and has only played five total games this season. As a result, he has been reassigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL for a conditioning stint and will presumably be recalled in the near future.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is battling an illness, resulting in Devon Levi being recalled from the Rochester Americans of the AHL. Levi has played well since his demotion to Rochester, posting a 2.94 GAA and .921 SV% in two games (1-1-0). He will likely serve as the backup to Eric Comrie in the Sabres' Tuesday night matchup against the Detroit Red Wings.

With Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen recovering from an illness, the Sabres have called Devon Levi, who is expected to serve as the backup to Eric Comrie on Tuesday. Comrie has been inconsistent through six games this season (1-4-0), posting an ugly 3.99 GAA and .864 SV%. and has failed to record a quality start since his season debut on October 21st. The Sabres have struggled to score, losing three straight contests, and, as such, are +119 home underdogs against a rolling Detroit Red Wings team that has won five of their last six outings (5-1-0).

Sorokin is coming off an impressive 42-save performance (.933 SV%) in the Islanders' 4-3 victory over the Florida Panthers on Saturday and will start again on Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks. Despite a career-low GAA (3.09) and save percentage (.914) through 15 games, Sorokin has been better lately, allowing only 10 total goals in his last four games (2-1-1), posting a solid .935 SV%. The Islanders are -272 home favourites against the Sharks who, despite being the lowest-scoring team in the NHL (1.88 GF / GP), have scored nine goals over their last two games (1-1-0).

The Sabres have recalled Devon Levi, likely to serve as backup to Eric Comrie, while Luukkonen is unable to suit up due to an illness. Luukkonen has unquestionably been the most dynamic and consistent of the three Sabres goaltenders this season, with seven quality starts through 11 games (.636 QS %). Expect Luukkonen to regain command of the starters as soon as he recovers.

Thompson is expected to make his much awaited return Tuesday after taking full part in practice earlier. His presence at morning skate on Tuesday is a welcoming sign for a Sabres' team that has struggled to generate consistent offence in his absence. Thompson last played on November 14th and was not having the season the elite centre iceman was expecting after a breakout 2022-23 campaign, scoring only 12 points (6G / 6A) through 16 games.

Forsberg saved 39 shots for his first shutout of the season in a 2-0 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Saturday and will likely be rewarded with the starter's crease on Tuesday against the New York Rangers. Forsberg has a few elite performances this season but has lacked consistency, following up each of his last two quality starts with sub-.810 SV% losing efforts. The Senators are +115 home underdogs against a New York Rangers team that has won three straight and scored four or more goals in three of their last five games (4-1-0).

Haula has missed the last three games with a lower-body injury but is expected to return to the Devils' lineup on Tuesday. Haula has 12 points (6G / 6A) through 18 games this season and is expected to jump onto the top line alongside Jack Hughes and Tyler Toffoli.

Sorokin is coming off an impressive 42-save performance (.933 SV%) in the Islanders' 4-3 victory over the Florida Panthers on Saturday and will likely start again on Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks. Despite a career-low GAA (3.09) and save percentage (.914) through 15 games, Sorokin has been better lately, allowing only 10 total goals in his last four games (2-1-1), posting a solid .935 SV%. The Islanders are -272 home favourites against the Sharks who, despite being the lowest-scoring team in the NHL (1.88 GF / GP), have scored nine goals over their last two games (1-1-0).

Jonsson-Fjallby is the odd man out as the Jets are opting to dress seven defensemen on Monday. He is yet to register a point in eight games this season.

Stanley will play for the first time since November 17th as the Jets opt to play seven defensemen against the Hurricanes on Monday. He has no points in three games this season.

Hinostroza will sit on Monday after playing just 5:16 against the Flyers on Saturday. He has one goal and two assists in nine games for the Penguins this season. Hinostroza will make way for the recently recalled Alex Nylander.

Nylander will slide into the Penguins' lineup after being recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) on Sunday. He is yet to register a point in three games this season.

Vasilevskiy struggled for a third-straight loss in his previous start after allowing six goals on 25 shots (.760 SV%) in a road matchup vs. Dallas but will get the nod again Monday for a redemption match against the Stars. The 29-year-old came back from a long-term injury nearly two weeks ago and has struggled to regain his usual dominant form so far with his 1-3-0 record, 3.87 GAA and .859 SV%. He will take on the Dallas Stars, who will be looking to repeat their dominant 8-1 victory over Tampa last game and are sixth in the NHL in goals per game (3.55).

With Charlie Lindgren (illness) fully returning to Capitals' activities Monday Hunter Shepard has been loaned by to the Hershey Bears (AHL). The 28-year-old netminder returns to Hershey (AHL) where he was impressively 9-1-0 before his call up but unimpressively had a .898 SV% and 2.66 GAA in 10 games played.

Grubauer did not play in Seattle's 2-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday but will return to the crease on Monday as he searches for his first victory in his last three appearances. Grubauer has an ugly 3.37 GAA and .882 SV% through 14 games (5-7-1) and ranks among the worst in the league with only three quality starts (.214 QS %). A win is likely for Grubauer on Monday as the Kraken are -152 road favourites, but don't expect much else from him, even against the low-scoring Montreal Canadiens (2.75 GF / GP), as he has a sub-.895 SV% in his last eight contests (3-3-1).

Martinez has not played since November 19th due to a lower-body injury and will miss at least the next two games as he will not travel with the Golden Knights on their upcoming two-game road trip. Before his injury, the 36-year-old veteran defender was finding the back of the net more often than usual, as he had three goals, one assist, 18 SOG, two PIMs and a +1 plus/minus in 14 games.