NHL Hockey Player News

The Devils will turn to Vanecek in Detroit on Wednesday for the third consecutive game. Vanecek allowed four goals on 34 shots enroute to a 5-3 defeat to the Rangers on Saturday. Vanecek has been inconsistent at best this season, but backup Akira Schmid's struggles have allowed Vanecek to retain a firm grip on the starting job. The 28-year-old netminder owns a 7-4-0 record on the season along with an .889 SV% and a 3.38 GAA. He draws a favourable matchup on Wednesday with the Devils being -160 road favourites over the Red Wings.

The Sabres currently have a three-headed goalie carousel as Levi, Eric Comrie, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen have each started a contest in the last week. Levi started the season as the favourite in between the pipes for the Sabres, but the team has opted to rotate starts since Levi has had difficulties acclimating to the NHL, posting a 3.65 GAA and .881 SV% through seven games (3-4-0). The Sabres are slight +111 road underdogs against a Washington Capitals team that has won four straight but will be starting Darcy Kuemper, who has not played since November 8th and has allowed three or more goals in five of his last seven appearances (2-3-2).

Igor Shesterkin has struggled in two games (1-1-0) since returning from a lower-body injury, allowing seven goals on 67 shots (.896 SV%), so the Rangers will turn to their veteran backup Quick Wednesday against their division rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins. Quick has proved skeptics wrong early this season, posting a 1.98 GAA and .928 SV% through six appearances (4-0-1), numbers that rival the best posted in any single season over his 17-year career. It is unlikely that Quick maintains these gaudy totals, but the Rangers, who have points in 11 of their last 12 games (10-1-1), are facing a Penguins team that will be without two of their top-six forwards, Rickard Rakell (upper-body) and Bryan Rust (lower-body).

Ullmark has backed up Jeremy Swayman for the Bruins' previous two games but will take the crease back Wednesday in Florida. The 30-year-old Vezina Trophy Winner has been remarkable yet again this season, with his 6-1-1 record, 2.23 GAA and .928 SV%. He heads to Florida on Wednesday, who has won their last two games and is fifth in the NHL in shots per game (33.7).

Janmark has missed the Oilers' previous 10 games due to a shoulder injury but has been activated from the long-term injured reserve Wednesday and is expected to play vs. Carolina. The 30-year-old got off to a rough start in 2023-24 prior to his injury, as he had no points, seven SOG, and four PIMs in seven games.

Ludvig has not played since his NHL debut on October 24th when he suffered a concussion that has forced him to miss the last 11 games for the Penguins. Last season with the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL, Ludvig had 17 points (3G / 14A) in 54 games.

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 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).

Binnington will return to the crease on Wednesday when the St. Louis Blues face off as slight +101 road underdogs against the Arizona Coyotes. The Blues have already faced the Coyotes twice this season (1-1-0), but Wednesday will mark Binnington's first appearance against them. Binnington has a terrific 2.47 GAA and .922 SV% through 12 games (5-5-1), unquestionably his best season since the 2018-19 campaign when he emerged as a rookie and led the Blues to the Stanley Cup.

Knyzhov has been a healthy scratch for the Sharks' last three games but will draw back into the lineup Wednesday vs. Seattle. The 25-year-old undrafted defenseman has yet to score this season but has an assist, six SOG, six PIMs and a -5 plus/minus through nine games played.

LaCombe will be a healthy scratch for the first time this season on Wednesday as he heads to the press box vs. Montreal for Tristan Luneau. The 22-year-old rookie has enjoyed an up-and-down 2023-24, with three assists, 15 SOG, 12 PIMs, and a -10 plus/minus in 18 games played thus far.

Struble was Montreal's 2019 second-round pick (46th overall) and will make his NHL debut Wednesday in Anaheim. The 22-year-old defenseman had a goal, five assists, 29 PIMs, and a +4 plus/minus through 12 games with Laval (AHL) prior to his promotion to the big leagues and needed only 21 AHL games under his belt before making his NHL debut.

Binnington will likely return to the crease on Wednesday when the St. Louis Blues face off as slight +101 road underdogs against the Arizona Coyotes. The Blues have already faced the Coyotes twice this season (1-1-0), but Wednesday will mark Binnington's first appearance against them. Binnington has a terrific 2.47 GAA and .922 SV% through 12 games (5-5-1), unquestionably his best season since the 2018-19 campaign when he emerged as a rookie and led the Blues to the Stanley Cup.

Montembeault will play for the first time since November 14th when he allowed two goals on 29 shots (.931 SV%) in a 2-1 loss to the Calgary Flames. Montembeault has consistently put together strong performances this season, recording quality starts in five of seven contests. Over his past three appearances (1-1-0), Montembeault has saved 75 of 80 shots (.938 SV%) and looks poised for another strong outing on Wednesday as the Canadiens take on an Anaheim Ducks team that has scored two or fewer goals in three straight games (0-3-0).

De Leo has been out since the preseason due to a knee injury and was placed on waivers Wednesday with the purpose of assigning him to San Diego (AHL). The 28-year-old has not appeared in the NHL since 2021-22 with New Jersey but had nine goals and 23 points in 22 games with Utica (AHL) last season.

Luneau was not originally set to appear in Wednesday's game vs. Montreal but due to it coming against his hometown club will draw back into the Ducks' lineup. The 19-year-old appeared in two games for the Ducks in October of this season and failed to pick up a point while collecting a SOG and a -1 plus/minus rating.

After an early-season stretch that saw the Ducks evenly splitting time between Gibson and Lukas Dostal, Gibson will start for the fifth time in the team's last six games. It's no surprise Gibson has taken control over the Ducks' crease as the 30-year-old goaltender has been tremendous this season, highlighted by allowing only 11 goals in his last six appearances (3-3-0) along with a .942 SV%. The Ducks are slight -111 home favourites against a Montreal Canadiens team that has scored two or fewer goals in three of their last four games (0-4-0).