NHL Hockey Player News

Rust was a full participant at practice on Tuesday and skated with the top powerplay unit. He will return to the lineup after a three-game absence. After a down 2022-23 campaign, was in the process of having a terrific rebound season, tallying 16 points (9G / 7A) in 17 games thus far.

Saros is the 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).

Svechnikov was a late scratch for Tuesday's game with the team making the announcement a little over 30 minutes before puck drop. The 2018 second-overall pick has one goal and eight assists in 12 games this season. His first chance to return to the Hurricanes' lineup will be Thursday's game against the Islanders.

Matt Martin has not played since November 15th and was 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.

Woll was unable to secure a victory for the Maple Leafs on Saturday but played well, saving 32 of 35 shots (.914 SV%) in a 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins and will start again on Tuesday against the Florida Panthers. Woll has been inconsistent, posting a .500 record over his past six games (3-3-0) and a subpar .884 SV%. However, he has back-to-back quality starts and will be looking for revenge in his first matchup against the Panthers since losing to them in the second round of the playoffs. The Panthers played in Ottawa last night, a 5-0 victory, which partially contributes to the Maple Leafs being -133 home favourites.

Vanecek is coming off his lightest workload of the season, facing only 12 shots in a 7-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, and will 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).

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.

Di Giuseppe has dressed in every Canuck game this season but will be the odd man out Tuesday vs. Anaheim as Cole McWard makes his season debut. The 30-year-old left-winger has been enjoying his most productive career season to date with his three goals, five assists, 30 SOG, 13 PIMs and +5 plus/minus in 22 games this season.

Kochetkov will take the Hurricanes' crease for a second straight start after stopping 21 of 23 shots (.913 SV%) in a victory over Columbus last game. The 24-year-old has mostly struggled in 2023-24, with his 2-4-0 record, 2.91 GAA and .881 SV%. He heads to Philadelphia to take on the Flyers who have won six of their last eight games and are fifth in the NHL in shots per game (32.3).

Anthony Stolarz will draw his first start in five games with Florida on the second half of their back-to-back Tuesday and will take on Toronto on the road. The 29-year-old has excelled in his first season backing up in Florida, with his impressive 3-1-0 record, 2.28 GAA and .917 SV%. He will take on the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have lost two-straight contests and are ninth in the NHL in goals per game (3.42).

Gudas has been an offensive juggernaut for his own standards in his first season in Anaheim with four goals, seven points, 37 PIMs and a +7 plus/minus but is now day-to-day with a lower-body injury. The 33-year-old bruising defender is in his 12th NHL season and has never scored more than six goals ever.