NHL Hockey Player News

Binnington is coming off a sensational 32-save performance (.941 SV%) in a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday and will return to the crease again as the Blues' starting goalie on Tuesday. Binnington has been significantly better than his output over the previous two seasons but still has been wildly inconsistent, highlighted by a .894 SV% over his past seven appearances (3-1-0), which contain a shutout and four high-quality starts. The Blues are +142 road underdogs against a Minnesota Wild team that will be playing their first game under new head coach John Hynes.

Studenic has six goals, five assists, four PIMs and a +3 plus/minus in 15 games with Coachella (AHL) and has been recalled to Seattle for the first time Tuesday. The 25-year-old signed a one-year, $775,000 contract in the offseason after posting a goal and two assists in 16 games with Dallas in 2022-23.

Dermott, who has not played since November 7th, is expected to make his return to the Coyotes lineup and will likely skate alongside Mathew Dumba on the team's third defensive pair. In 10 games this season, Dermott averaged 17:29 time-on-ice and had one point (0G / 1A).

Dumba did not play on Saturday but is expected to return to the Coyotes' lineup on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Dumba has four points (2G / 2A) in 19 games this season and will likely play alongside Travis Dermott on the third defensive pair.

Saros is the likely starter for the Predators on Tuesday as they look to extend their season-best winning streak to six games. Saros started the season playing some of the worst hockey of his career, recording a .892 SV% through 13 games (4-9-0), but seems to have levelled off to more familiar territory, posting a substantially better .920 SV% in his last three games (3-0-0). The Predators are slight -106 home favourites against a Pittsburgh Penguins team that has four of their last six (2-4-0).

Despite a losing 1-2-0 record, Jarry has been tremendous over his last three games, saving 96 of 102 shots (.941 SV%), and will return to the create looking to continue his stellar play on Tuesday. The Penguins have lost four of their last six (2-4-0) after a five-game winning streak and are slight -104 road underdogs against a Nashville Predators team that is in the midst of their own season-best five-game winning streak.

Sorokin is coming off a rare shutout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, in which he saved all 40 shots he faced. In his last five games (2-1-2), Sorokin has saved 176 of 189 shots (.931 SV%) and seems to be trending toward the Vezina-caliber form he has displayed over the last several seasons. Sorokin will need to be at his finest on Tuesday as the Islanders are +140 road underdogs against a New Jersey Devils team coming off a dominant 7-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres.

Skinner has remained inconsistent since the demotion of Jack Campbell but has had significantly more good than bad in recent games, including saving 46 of 48 shots (.958 SV%) over his last two games (2-0-0). Skinner and the Oilers are -145 home favourites against a Vegas Golden Knights team that has struggled lately and played last night, losing 2-1 in overtime to the Calgary Flames. Both teams are trending in opposite directions as the Golden Knights have lost four of their last five (1-2-2) while the Oilers have won two straight, outscoring their opposition by a whopping 13-2 margin.

Larkin's absence at practice, along with the call-up of Jonatan Berggren on Tuesday, signals that his status for the Red Wings game against the New York Rangers on Wednesday is up in the air. Larking is in the midst of a three-game point streak, scoring four points (3G / 1A) and firing 14 shots on goal in that time.

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. The 26-year-old defenseman had three points and 18 shots in seven games before his injury.

Chytil has been placed on long-term injured reserve, retroactive to November 3rd, in a series of moves by the Rangers designed to create cap space for Adam Fox to return to the lineup on Wednesday. The 24-year-old Chytil was previously centring the Rangers' second line and had six assists, 22 SOG, and four PIMs in 10 games prior to the injury.

Kakko was placed on long-term injured reserve after falling awkwardly into the end boards in Monday's 5-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. Kakko spent most of this season playing on an offensive line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider but was never able to find his scoring touch, tallying only three points (2G / 1A) and 23 shots in 20 games.

Vanecek is coming off his lightest workload of the season, facing only 12 shots in a 7-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, and appears to be the Devils' starter once again on Tuesday. The four-year NHL pro has never had a sub.-908 SV% or above 2.69 GAA to end a season but is currently sporting an ugly .884 SV% and 3.32 GAA. Vanecek has only five quality starts in 13 games, a trend that shows no signs of reversing. That said, he continues to be the Devils' go-to option between the pipes and could be in for a better-than-usual performance as the Devils are -156 home favourites against a New York Islanders team that scores the third-fewest goals in the league (2.55 GF / GP).

Mrazek has not played the last two games for the Blackhawks but appears likely to make his return to the crease on Tuesday. Mrazek has been mostly solid this season, posting a 3.24 GAA and .904 SV% in 11 games (4-6-0), but is in the midst of his worst three-game stretch of the season (0-3-0), allowing 11 goals on 69 combined shots (.841 SV%). The Blackhawks have lost six of their last seven (1-6-0) and are +165 home underdogs against a Seattle Kraken team that has at least a point in five of their last six (3-1-2).

Gustavsson will start the first game of the John Hynes era for the Minnesota Wild after Dean Evason was fired from his role as head coach on Monday. Saying Gustavsson has struggled this season is an understatement, but he has shown positive signs over the last couple of weeks. Despite failing to record a victory in his last four games (0-3-1), Gustavsson has not allowed more than three goals in a contest, posting a much-improved .903 SV%. The Wild are -158 home favourites against a St. Louis Blues team that has been outscored 26-18 over their past six games (3-3-0).

Hellebuyck has been tremendous lately and will look for his fifth consecutive victory when he starts on Tuesday against the Dallas Stars. After an uncharacteristically poor start to the season, registering a .890 SV% in his first nine games (5-3-1), Hellebuyck has flipped the switch and returned to his Vezina-caliber form, posting a .933 SV% in his six games since (5-1-0). The Jets are slight +109 home underdogs against a Stars team that defeated them 3-2 on November 11th.

Matt Martin has not played since November 15th and will be a game-time decision on Tuesday after being activated from the injured reserve. In 14 games this season, Martin had two points (1G / 1A) and 31 hits while averaging 8:27 time-on-ice., the lowest total of his career since averaging 7:59 in the 2017-18 season.

Vilardi has not played since October 17th due to a sprained MCL but appears to be nearing his return as he participated in practice on Tuesday. Cole Perfetti has been the main benefactor of Vilardi's injury, replacing him on the top powerplay unit. It is unclear if Vilardi will retake his spot on the powerplay, but if he does, it will likely have a great impact on Perfetti's production, as he has scored 16 points (7G / 9A) in the 17 games Vilardi has not been in the lineup.

After much speculation across the league, Patrick Kane has decided to sign with the Detroit Red Wings. Kane underwent hip surgery in the offseason and has not played since a brief playoff run with the New York Rangers in May. It is unclear when Kane will make his Red Wings debut, but he will likely be reunited on a line with former linemate from the Chicago Blackhawks, Alex DeBrincat. Kane scored 57 points (21G / 36A) in 73 games between the Rangers and Blackhawks last season but scored above a point-per-game pace in each of his previous four seasons.