NHL Hockey Player News

The Jets have won six of their last seven (6-1-0) due largely to Hellebuyck elevating his game recently. Still a far cry from his career-average .916 SV%, Hellebuyck has a .906 SV% in his last five games (4-1-0) after posting only a .891 SV% in his first eight contests this season (4-3-1). The Jets are slight -109 road favourites on Wednesday against a Tampa Bay Lightning team that, despite winning three straight, has allowed four or more goals in six consecutive contests (3-3-0).

Vasilevskiy has not played this season after undergoing back surgery in September. Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said Vasilevskiy might debut on the team's upcoming road trip, which would be right on cue with his original 8-10-week prognosis. Jonas Johansson has occupied the Lightning crease for the majority of Vasilevskiy's absence and, despite a recent decline in play, will likely continue to see a steady share of action while Vasilevskiy re-acclimates himself to game-action before taking his rightful place as the bonafide starting goalie.

Kostin was in the lineup for the last 10 games for the Red Wings, recording two points (1G / 1A), and will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday as the team will likely dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen.

A busy schedule for the Panthers has limited Bobrovsky to only two starts in their past four outings, but the team will hope the extra rest will have him at his best on Wednesday against the Boston Bruins. Bobrovsky was heroic in the first round of the playoffs last season and was the main reason the Panthers defeated the Bruins in seven games. Bobrovsky has only lost once in his last seven contests (6-1-0), saving 167 of 184 shots faced (.908 SV%), but was unsuccessful in his only matchup against the Bruins this season, allowing three goals on 26 shots (.885 SV%) in a 3-2 overtime loss on October 30th.

Laine was embarrassed by being a healthy scratched on Sunday by Blue Jackets' head coach Pascal Vincent, who will hope he sparked the Finnish sniper. Before his healthy scratch, Laine was held without a point in four straight games and only three points (2G / 1A) in nine contests this season. He will likely re-enter the Blue Jackets lineup playing on the wing of the second line with Dmitri Voronkov and Adam Fantilli.

Merzlikins will attempt to win for the first time since November 2nd as the reeling Blue Jackets, who have lost nine straight (0-7-2), welcome the Chicago Blackhawks. Despite being winless in his last six appearances (0-4-1), Merzlikins has managed to record a save percentage above .900 in four of those contests. The Blue Jackets rank sixth worst in the league offensively (2.68 GF / GP) but are still -139 home favourites against a Blackhawks team that is also struggling amid a four-game skid (0-4-0).

After winning four straight starts, Jarry has dropped his last two but will look to return to the win column as the Penguins' likely starter on Wednesday. Jarry has been solid this season, posting a 2.59 GAA and .910 SV% through 13 games (6-7-0), but has had very little room for failure as all but one of his victories have required him to register a save percentage of .923 or better. The Penguins are slight -103 home underdogs on Wednesday against a New York Rangers team coming off their first regulation loss in 12 games (10-1-1).

Johansson has been abysmal lately, but due to a lack of options between the pipes for the Lightning and his ability to still secure victories will likely start again on Wednesday. Johansson has allowed four or more goals in eight of his last nine outings, posting a wretched .867 SV%, but has still salvaged a winning 4-3-2 record. Tampa Bay has even -105 betting odds on Wednesday against the Winnipeg Jets, who have been scoring at an impressive clip, tallying at least five goals in five of their last seven games (6-1-0).

Several minor injuries tied in with the strong play of Charlie Lindgren have limited Kuemper to only one start since November 2nd, but he will likely return to the create on Wednesday against the Buffalo Sabres. Kuemper has struggled this season, posting an uncharacteristic 3.07 GAA and .892 SV% through eight games (3-3-2), and has historically been poor against the Sabres with a 3.69 GAA and .878 SV% in seven career meetings (3-2-1). That said, the Capitals have won four straight and are -120 home favourites against a Sabres team that will again be without Tage Thompson (upper-body).

Despite being outperformed by teammate Connor Ingram, the Coyotes will stick to their equal goaltending split as Vejmelka re-enters the crease on Wednesday against the St. Louis Blues. Vejmelka owns only two of the Coyotes' eight wins this season and has not recorded a victory since October 21st. Since then, Vejmelka has allowed 26 goals in seven appearances (0-5-2), posting an ugly .876 SV%. The Coyotes will hope Vejmelka can get back into the win column as they face off against the Blues, who are scoring at the seventh-lowest rate this season (2.71 GF / GP).

Sorokin saved 35 of 39 shots (.897 SV%) on Saturday, helping the Islanders snap a season-worst seven-game losing skid, and will likely start again on Wednesday. Last year's Vezina-runner-up has performed well below his expectations thus far, posting a 3.32 GAA and .906 SV% through 11 games (4-3-4). The Islanders will hope his most recent win sparks a string of good play for a team that has otherwise been reeling in the wrong direction and, as -147 home favourites against the Philadelphia Flyers, look poised to do so on Wednesday night.

Girard did not play on Monday due to personal reasons and will be away from the team again on Wednesday against the Vancouver Canucks. Girard has played 15 games this season, scoring only one point (0G / 1A) in his first 13 before tripling that with three points (2G / 1A) in his last two. Josh Manson entered the lineup on Monday to replace Girard.

Kuznetsov did not play on Saturday due to an illness and, after participating in the Capitals' morning skate on Wednesday, is still expected to be out of to the lineup against the Buffalo Sabres. After a poor start to the season, tallying a single point (0G / 1A) in his first five games, Kuznetsov has turned things around with seven points (3G / 4A) in his last nine while seeing over two extra minutes of time-on-ice. He is expected back for the Capitals' next matchup.

Raanta has won four of his last five starts (4-1-0), most recently a 26-save performance (.929 SV%) in a 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins, and will likely start for the second consecutive game when the Hurricanes host the Edmonton Oilers. Raanta has seen a slight edge in playing time over Pyotr Kochetkov since Frederik Andersen was placed on injured reserve, a trend that will likely continue if the veteran goaltender continues to collect victories. The Hurricanes are -140 home favourites against an Oilers team that has lost two straight (0-2-0) but has scored three or more goals in five consecutive outings (3-2-0).

Barkov did not practice on Wednesday, indicating he will likely miss his second consecutive game due to a knee injury. Barkov has been terrific this season, tallying 17 points (6G / 11A) in 16 games playing predominantly alongside Sam Reinhart on the Panthers' top line. Anton Lundell will move up to the top line, centring Eetu Luostarinen and the previously mentioned Reinhart.

Sorokin saved 35 of 39 shots (.897 SV%) on Saturday, helping the Islanders snap a season-worst seven-game losing skid, and will likely start again on Wednesday. Last year's Vezina-runner-up has performed well below his expectations thus far, posting a 3.32 GAA and .906 SV% through 11 games (4-3-4). The Islanders will hope his most recent win sparks a string of good play for a team that has otherwise been reeling in the wrong direction and, as -147 home favourites against the Philadelphia Flyers, look poised to do so on Wednesday night.

Lucic was arrested Saturday morning in Boston and will be entering the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program while away from the team. Lucic signed a one-year, $1 million contract to return to the Bruins in the offseason and has two assists in four games so far in 2023-24. Lucic has missed nine games this season due to an ankle injury and has an indefinite return date from that injury alongside the recent news.

With Philipp Grubauer (undisclosed) out day-to-day, Chris Driedger has been recalled from Coachella Valley (AHL) for the first time since 2021-22. The 29-year-old has enjoyed a successful start to the season in the AHL, with his 6-4-0 record, 2.61 GAA and .908 SV%. He returns to the NHL, where he has a 30-23-5 record with his .917 SV% and 2.45 GAA.