NHL Hockey Player News

Lindgren will start Friday afternoon against the Edmonton Oilers. This comes after Darcy Kuemper was victorious on Wednesday, a sign that Spencer Carbery and the Capitals coaching staff recognize Lindgren's strong play and could continue to favour him down the stretch if they believe he gives them the best chance at victory. Lindgren has been sensational this season, boasting a 2.01 GAA and .940 SV% through five games (4-1-0). That said, the Capitals are +131 home underdogs against an Oilers team that, despite their struggles, is always a team threatening an offensive outburst.

Georgiev will start the front end of a back-to-back for the Avalanche on Friday when they visit the Minnesota Wild. Georgiev has been wildly inconsistent of late but has managed to post an 11-5-0 record despite a 3.01 GAA and .898 SV%. His inconsistencies have been especially present through November, allowing 28 goals in eight games and posting a .865 SV% while salvaging a 5-3-0 record. The Avalanche are -124 road favourites against a Wild team that has lost five straight contests (0-3-2).

Vasilevskiy will make his long-awaited season debut for Tampa Bay after undergoing back surgery in September. His return to the lineup lines up with his initial 8-10-week timeline. During his absence from the lineup, Jonas Johansson filled in as the starting goaltender, but the team will be excited to get their perennial Vezina candidate back in the lineup. The Lightning are +143 road underdogs on Friday against a Carolina Hurricanes team that has won two straight games, outscoring their opposition 10-5.

Moran Geekie will draw back into the Bruins lineup on Friday, allowing the 34-year-old Van Riemsdyk to rest on the front end of a back-to-back. Van Riemsdyk has been terrific this season, tallying 13 points (5G / 8A) in 18 games while seeing top powerplay deployment. He is on pace for his highest point total in a season since scoring 54 with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2017-18.

Swayman will start Friday afternoon, the front end of a back-to-back for the Bruins. Swayman has struggled his last three games (1-0-2), posting a .895 SV% and allowing 10 goals in the process. That said, the Bruins are -186 home favourites despite losing to the Detroit Red Wings 5-4 on November 4th with Linus Ullmark between the pipes.

Oettinger will return to the crease after saving 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%) in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday. The Stars are -174 home favourites on Friday when they welcome the Calgary Flames, whom they defeated 4-3 on November 1st when Oettinger saved 44 of 47 shots (.936 SV%) in a 4-3 victory. That said, Oettinger has been significantly worse on home ice this season, posting a 2.82 GAA and .898 SV%, compared to the stellar 2.14 GAA and .935 SV% he sports on the road.

Varlamov appears to be the starting goalie on the front end of a back-to-back for the Islanders on Friday. Despite a 2-3-1 record, Varlamov has been terrific when called upon this season, posting a 2.18 GAA and .934 SV% along with two shutouts. The Islanders are +118 road underdogs against the Ottawa Senators but have momentum on their side as they look for their third consecutive victory after overcoming a season-worst seven-game losing skid (0-4-3).

Oettinger will return to the crease after saving 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%) in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday. The Stars are -174 home favourites on Friday when they welcome the Calgary Flames, whom they defeated 4-3 on November 1st when Oettinger saved 44 of 47 shots (.936 SV%) in a 4-3 victory. That said, Oettinger has been significantly worse on home ice this season, posting a 2.82 GAA and .898 SV%, compared to the stellar 2.14 GAA and .935 SV% he sports on the road.

Perry was pacing for his best offensive totals in a half-decade with nine points (4G / 5A) in 16 games this season but will serve as a healthy scratch for the second consecutive game on Friday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Perry's continued absence from the lineup is puzzling, given his strong start to the season and the news that Taylor Hall will miss the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign.

Bobrovsky will start for the third consecutive game on Friday when the Panthers take on the Winnipeg Jets. Despite a strong 9-5-1 record, Bobrovsky only has seven quality starts in 15 games (.467), a rate that rivals career lows and is significantly beneath his .571 quality start rate over his career. The Panthers are -132 home favourites, but as previously mentioned, Bobrovsky's performance is a coin-flip, especially against a Jets team that has won four straight, outscoring their opposition 17-9.

Gustavsson has only two above-average performances this season (1-0-1), his first start and his most recent, in which he has saved a combined 71 of 72 shots (.986 SV%). Taking those two games out of the equation, Gustavsson has been horrendous, posting a .848 SV% in those seven games (1-4-1). Minnesota will hope their recent trip to Gustavsson's homeland of Sweden as part of the NHL Global Series will help him rediscover the magic he had in the crease last season. The Wild will host a Colorado Avalanche team on Friday evening that has scored five or more goals in four of their last five games (4-1-0)