NHL Hockey Player News

Severson exited last Sunday's contest with an upper-body injury, playing only 9:57 time-on-ice. Before his injury, Severson had three points (2G / 1A) in his last two games and has eight points (3G / 5A) in 19 games this season. He has now been placed on injured reserve and is about one week through his original six-to-eight-week recovery timeline. The move to IR has allowed the Blue Jackets to recall Kent Johnson.

Sheary has not played since November 7th but is targeting a December 9th return when the team heads out for a road trip through Western Canada. In 13 games this season, Sheary has three points (1G / 2A), playing up and down the lineup, predominantly alongside Luke Glendening and Michael Eyssimont on the fourth line.

After a string of poor performances and sitting for two straight games, Mrazek will start consecutive games after a strong showing in the Blackhawks' 4-3 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday, saving 33 of 36 shots (.917 SV%). Mrazek and the Blackhawks are sizeable +182 road underdogs against his former team, the Detroit Red Wings, who will likely be without Dylan Larkin. In his career, Mrazek has had strong results against his former club, despite a 3.07 GAA and .883 SV%, recording a 7-2-1 record.

Woll has been stellar lately and, as such, will likely be rewarded with his third consecutive start. Woll has allowed three or fewer goals in his last three games (2-1-0), all quality starts, posting a terrific .936 SV% in the process. Consistency has been Woll's only downfall this season but the rookie goaltender will get the opportunity to string together his fourth-straight quality start as the Maple Leafs are -176 home favourites on Thursday against a Seattle Kraken team that ranks 26th in the league offensively (2.78 GF / GP) and will be without Jaden Schwartz (upper-body).

Kochetkov has been tremendous lately and will likely 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).

Staal has played four consecutive games since returning from an injury that kept him out of the lineup for 14 games but will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, replaced by Egor Zamula. The 36-year-old veteran has had trouble finding his footing in this injury-riddled season and is averaging a career-low 14:39 time-on-ice, with zero points through eight games.

After being scratched for the last two games, Zamula will return to the lineup in favour of Marc Staal. Through 17 games this season, Zamula is averaging 15:24 time-on-ice and has four points (1G / 3A) and a stellar +10 plus/minus rating.

Hart has failed to record a victory in his last three starts but had a strong performance in his most recent outing, saving 32 of 35 shots (.914 SV%) in a 4-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. As a whole, Hart and the Flyers have seen their play decline lately. After a stellar start to the season, recording a .924 SV% in six games (4-2-0), Hart has a .899 SV% in seven games since (2-4-0). Hart and the Flyers will face off against the Devils for the first team this season as +121 home underdogs. The Devils have been difficult to contain lately, outscoring their opposition 12-6 during a two-game winning streak.

Schwartz played only 9:33 time-on-ice in Seattle's 4-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday before leaving the game with a lower-body injury and has not been placed on injured reserve and is expected out around six weeks. Before his injury, Schwartz was in the midst of a cold streak, scoring only one point (0G / 1A) and registering a -5 plus/minus in his last eight games.

Talbot will start for the Kings on Wednesday and should be well rested, having only played once in the last 10 days, a 29-save performance (.935 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Talbot was a workhorse to start the season but could be used more conservatively moving forward as backup goalie Phoenix Copley has had consecutive strong performances, indicating he has refound his game after a poor start. In 14 games this season (10-3-1), Talbot has been among the league's best goaltenders, posting a tremendous 2.02 GAA and .931 SV%. The Kings are sizeable -203 home favourites against a Washington Capitals team that ranks 31st in the league offensively (2.33 GF / GP) and has been outscored 7-1 in their last two games (0-2-0).

Holl had a three-assist performance on October 21st but has been held off the scoresheet in each of the 11 games since. He was a game-time decision on Wednesday against the New York Rangers.

Fox has 11 points (3G / 8A) in 10 games and has not played since November 2nd. During his absence, Fox has been replaced on the Rangers' top powerplay by Erik Gustafsson, who has performed admirably, scoring 10 points (1G / 9A). That said, Gustafsson was averaging 2:46 less time-on-ice before Fox was injured, scoring only four points (2G / 2A) in 10 games, which is closer to what can be expected from him after Fox returns.

Lindgren will start for the fourth time in the last six games and attempt to rebound after allowing five goals on 35 shots (.857 SV%) in a 5-0 loss to the Edmonton Oilers in his last outing. His most recent performance aside, Lindgren has been terrific this season, outperforming his counterpart Darcy Kuemper with a 2.51 GAA and .926 SV% in six games (4-2-0). The Capitals rank second-worst in the league offensively (2.33 GF / GP), so there is very little room for error for Lindgren, who will be put to the test tonight against the league's strongest offensive team, the Los Angeles Kings (4.00 GF / GP).

Aube-Kubel will return to the Capitals' lineup on Wednesday as Hendrix Lapierre will sit in the press box as a healthy scratch. Aube-Kubel has three points (1G / 2A) in six games this season but has been held off the scoresheet in his last four games. He has played almost exclusively this season on the fourth line with Nic Dowd and Beck Malenstyn.

Lapierre will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday, allowing Nicolas Aube-Kubel to re-enter the Capitals' lineup. Lapierre has three points (1G / 2A) in seven games this season, all of which came in the same game.

Lindgren will start for the fourth time in the last six games and attempt to rebound after allowing five goals on 35 shots (.857 SV%) in a 5-0 loss to the Edmonton Oilers in his last outing. His most recent performance aside, Lindgren has been terrific this season, outperforming his counterpart Darcy Kuemper with a 2.51 GAA and .926 SV% in six games (4-2-0). The Capitals rank second-worst in the league offensively (2.33 GF / GP), so there is very little room for error for Lindgren, who will be put to the test tonight against the league's strongest offensive team, the Los Angeles Kings (4.00 GF / GP).

Butcher had yet to play this season due to an undisclosed injury but was placed on waivers Tuesday by Pittsburgh and cleared with expectations to assign him to the AHL. The 28-year-old did not appear in the NHL in 2022-23, but had a successful campaign with the Texas Stars (AHL) where he had six goals, 43 points and a +11 plus/minus in 65 games played.