NHL Hockey Player News

Grubauer will likely start again on Thursday after allowing four goals on 23 shots (.826 SV%) in Seattle's 4-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday. Grubauer has been unreliable this season, posting a 3.42 GAA and .881 SV% through 13 games (5-7-0). In addition, Grubauer only has three quality starts this season and has recorded a sub-.890 SV% in each of his last seven appearances (3-3-0). The Kraken are +154 road underdogs against a Toronto Maple Leafs team that has won five of their last seven (5-1-1) and ranks in the top half of the league offensively (3.30 GF / GP).

Hamilton left Tuesday's game with an upper-body injury and did not return. Head coach Lindy Ruff still has no update on Hamilton's status. Samuel Leberge will make his NHL debut, replacing Hamilton in the lineup but it will be Brendan Smith who moves back to the blueline.

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).