NHL Hockey Player News

Kuemper will get his third start in five games as he takes the crease Thursday in Ahaheim after allowing two goals on 23 shots (.913 SV%) in a loss to San Jose in his last appearance. The 33-year-old veteran has struggled this season which has led to almost an even split in Washington's crease, with his 4-4-2 record, .894 SV% and 2.95 GAA. He takes on the struggling Anaheim Ducks, who are looking to snap a seven-game losing streak and are 28th in the NHL in goals per game (2.68).

Chabot has been out of the lineup since October 26th, missing 10 games, but appears on track to return to action for the Senators on Friday after being activated from the Long-Term Injured Reserve on Thursday. The 26-year-old defenseman had three points and 18 shots in seven games before his injury.

Kastelic has missed the Senators' previous eight games due to a high-ankle sprain and was placed on the Long-Term Injured Reserve retroactive to November 3rd, Thursday. The 24-year-old bruising centre had failed to collect a point through nine games this season, but had 21 PIMs and a -2 plus/minus prior to his injury.

Grieg has been on the injured reserve since November 3rd; missing eight games due to a lower-body injury and was placed on the Long-Term Injured Reserve Thursday. The 21-year-old sophomore was enjoying a strong start to 2023-24 prior to his injury, with two goals, five assists, 18 SOG, four PIMs and a +7 plus/minus through nine games.

Gagner scored in the Oilers' win last game over Vegas but only played 7:23 TOI and will now be a healthy scratch as Zach Hyman (illness) returns to the lineup. The 34-year-old centre is in his 17th NHL season and has three goals, an assist, 20 SOG and two PIMs in nine games so far this season.

Kochetkov has been tremendous lately and will start for the third straight game on Thursday as he searches for his third consecutive win. Kochetkov had a rough start to the season as he bounced back and forth between the AHL and NHL as the Hurricanes rotated three goaltenders but has found his footing since Frederik Andersen has been unable to play, recording a stellar .929 SV% in five appearances (3-1-0). The Hurricanes are -182 home favourites against a New York Islanders team that has lost two straight games and ranks third-worst in the league offensively (2.62 GF / GP).

Skinner will look for his fourth straight victory as he prepares to be the starting goalie for the Oilers on Thursday. His current stretch marks his second three-winning streak this season, and he has played significantly better as a whole, dating back to the firing of Jay Woodcroft and Jack Campbell being reassigned to the AHL. In his last three games, Skinner has saved 69 of 75 shots (.920 SV%). The Oilers are -114 road favourites against a Winnipeg Jets team that was shutout 2-0 by the Dallas Stars on Tuesday.

Gibson played well on Tuesday, saving 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%), but as has been the case most of the season, did not receive ample goal support as the Ducks fell 3-1 to the Vancouver Canucks. The Ducks have been trending in the worst direction lately, losing seven consecutive contests and being held to two or fewer goals in six of them. The Ducks will have one of their best chances to break out of their funk on Thursday as +113 home underdogs against a Washington Capitals team that played last night and ranks second-worst in the league offensively (2.32 GF / GP).

Hyman did not play on Tuesday due to illness. Evander Kane replaced him on the top powerplay unit, but Hyman will retake his rightful spot there when he returns to action on Thursday. Hyman has been tremendous lately, recording multi-point efforts in three consecutive games, totalling seven points (4G / 3A) and an outrageous 16 shots on goal.

Wedgewood will return to the crease for the first time since November 20th, when he saved 30 of 33 shots (.909 SV%) in a 6-3 victory over the New York Rangers. Wedgewood has been excellent when called upon this season, posting a 3.02 GAA and .916 SV% in five games (4-1-0) and has excelled lately, posting a .930 SV% in his last three starts (3-0-0). The Stars lost at home against the Calgary Flames last week but have been exceptionally better on the road this season, posting an 8-1-1 record, and, as such, are -128 road favourites on Thursday.

Georgiev has won six of his last seven starts and will likely start on Thursday as the Avalanche, who have won four straight, visit the Arizona Coyotes. Georgiev has been somewhat inconsistent this season but has been tremendous his last three games (3-0-0), saving 84 of 89 shots (.944 SV%) in that stretch. The Avalanche will look to win for the eighth time in their last nine games as they are sizeable -186 road favourites against a Coyotes team that has fared well recently as well, outscoring their opposition 5-1 during a two-game winning streak.

Binnington will start for the third consecutive game and look to build off a strong 34-save performance (.919 SV%) in a 3-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday. Binnington has been mostly solid this season, recording a 2.91 GAA and .910 SV% through 16 games (6-6-1), but has allowed three or more goals in four of his last five appearances (1-2-0). The Blues are -122 home favourites on Thursday against a Buffalo Sabres team that ranks in the bottom-third of the league offensively (2.91 GF / GP) and has been wildly inconsistent this season, indicated by their 4-4-0 record over their last eight games.

Georgiev has won six of his last seven starts and will likely start on Thursday as the Avalanche, who have won four straight, visit the Arizona Coyotes. Georgiev has been somewhat inconsistent this season but has been tremendous his last three games (3-0-0), saving 84 of 89 shots (.944 SV%) in that stretch. The Avalanche will look to win for the eighth time in their last nine games as they are sizeable -186 road favourites against a Coyotes team that has fared well recently as well, outscoring their opposition 5-1 during a two-game winning streak.

Demko has started five of the last six games for the Canucks and will start again on Thursday as he looks for his third straight win. Demo was stellar on Tuesday, saving 30 of 31 shots (.968 SV%) in a 3-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks and has saved 53 of 55 (.964 SV%) over his last two games (2-0-0). The Canucks have won three of their last five (3-2-0) and are -124 home favourites against a Vegas Golden Knights team that has been held to one or fewer goals in two of their last three games (0-1-2).

Gudas did not play on Tuesday after exiting the previous game for the Ducks, playing only 13:02, with a lower-body injury, but is expected to return to their lineup on Thursday. Gudas, known mostly for his heavy-hitting, is pacing for his best offensive season in seven years, with seven points (4G / 3A) in 21 games. In contrast, he is averaging only 2.76 hits per game, his lowest output over the last four seasons.

Wedgewood will likely return to the crease for the first time since November 20th, when he saved 30 of 33 shots (.909 SV%) in a 6-3 victory over the New York Rangers. Wedgewood has been excellent when called upon this season, posting a 3.02 GAA and .916 SV% in five games (4-1-0) and has excelled lately, posting a .930 SV% in his last three starts (3-0-0). The Stars lost at home against the Calgary Flames last week but have been exceptionally better on the road this season, posting an 8-1-1 record, and, as such, are -128 road favourites on Thursday.

Jonsson-Fjallby is expected to come out of the Jets' lineup on Thursday in anticipation of Gabriel Viladri's return. In six games this season, Jonsson-Fjallby registered zero points and one shot on goal while averaging 7:36 time-on-ice.

Kelemen played four of the last five games for the Coyotes but will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Juuso Valimaki to return to the lineup. The Slovak-born Keleman averaged 7:15 time-on-ice, registering four hits, two shots, and zero points in four games.