NHL Hockey Player News

After being a healthy scratch in his last two games, Jiricek has been reassigned to the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL. The 20-year-old Jiricek had nine points (1G / 8A) in 36 games this season.

Demko will attempt for his fifth straight win on Thursday when the Canucks host the Arizona Coyotes. Demko was terrific in his last outing, saving all 26 shots he faced in a 1-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres for his fourth shutout of the season. The Pacific division-leading Canucks are - 198 home favourites against a Coyotes club that has points in three of their last four (2-1-1).

Huberdeau did not play on Tuesday due to an illness but is expected to draw back into the lineup on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Huberdeau is quietly on a point-per-game pace over his last eight games, scoring eight points (2G / 6A) in that stretch.

Binnington will return to the crease on Thursday as the Blues attempt to snap a two-game losing streak. Binnington has been stellar lately, allowing two or fewer goals in five of his last five games (3-1-1), posting a sensational .936 SV%. The Blues are slight -101 road underdogs against the Washington Capitals, who have scored only seven goals in their last three games (2-1-0).

The Panthers have lost three straight after seeing their nine-game winning streak end last week and will turn to Bobrovsky between the pipes on Thursday to get back into the win column. Bobrovsky has allowed three or more goals in three of his last four games (2-2-0), posting a subpar .890 SV% in the process. The Panthers will be facing a Minnesota Wild club that has been shut out in two of their last five games (1-3-1) but is coming off an impressive 5-0 victory over the New York Islanders.

Kane played 18:58 time-on-ice against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, his highest total of nine games, but might be unable to play on Thursday due to a hand injury. Kane is amid one of the worst stretches of his career in terms of productivity, being limited to only three points (2G / 1A) in his last 14 games.

Bemstrom has been a regular in the lineup for the Blue Jackets over the last month, but he will be a healthy scratch on Friday against the New Jersey Devils. He has been limited to one point (1G / 0A) in his last seven games but has three or more shots in three of his last four outings.

Erne will draw out of the lineup for the first time since December 19th, allowing Sam Gagner to return from an undisclosed injury. Erne has been held off the scoresheet in nine straight games while playing predominantly on the fourth line.

Adam Erne will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Gagner to re-enter the lineup for the Oilers against the Seattle Kraken. Gagner has been dealing with an undisclosed injury and has not played since December 21st when he recorded two points (0G / 2A) in 9:49 time-on-ice.

Skinner will start for the third straight game on Thursday as the Oilers attempt for a harrowing 12th straight victory. In his last seven games (7-0-0), Skinner has allowed two or fewer goals in each contest, posting a tremendous .954 SV%. The Oilers are sizeable -230 home favourites in a divisional matchup against the Seattle Kraken, who have lost two straight after seeing their nine-game winning streak come to an end earlier this week.

Georgiev has appeared in 14 straight games for the Avalanche and will start on Thursday against the Boston Bruins. The Avalanche are +137 road underdogs against the Bruins despite defeating them 4-3 in overtime less than two weeks ago when Georgiev saved 23 of 26 shots (.885 SV%). Georgiev is amid one of his best stretches this season, allowing two or fewer goals in three of his last four games (3-0-1), posting a stellar .940 SV%.

After a stellar performance in Vladar's last outing, the Flames feel confident not rushing Jacob Markstrom back into the lineup from a minor injury. Vladar saved 23 of 25 shots (.920 SV%) in a 3-2 victory on Tuesday and will start again on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Flames have won four straight but are +120 home underdogs against the Maple Leafs, riding a four-game losing streak (0-3-1).

Klapka had been enjoying a strong second season with the Calgary Wrangles (AHL) with 21 points (10G/11A) in 33 games played and has earned his first NHL call-up of his career Thursday. The 6'8" towering right winger was an undrafted free agent for the Flames from Czechia.

Oettinger will look for his third straight win when he tends the twine on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers. After a porous first start in his return from a multi-week absence due to a lower-body injury, allowing four goals on 36 shots (.889 SV%) in a 6-3 loss to the Nashville Predators, Oettinger has rebounded nicely, saving 51 of 53 shots faced (.962 SV%) over his last two games (2-0-0). The Stars are -129 road favourites against a Flyers club riding a four-game winning streak.

After defeating the New Jersey Devils 3-2 yesterday, the Canadiens will turn to Primeau between the pipes on the back end of a back-to-back. Primeau has played only one game this month, a stellar performance in a 3-2 losing effort to the Philadelphia Flyers when he allowed two goals on 39 shots (.949 SV%). The Canadiens are +159 road underdogs against a rested Ottawa Senators team that has lost six of their last seven (1-6-0).

Gustavsson was horrid in his return to the lineup from a multi-week absence, allowing five goals on 18 shots (.722 SV%) in a 6-0 loss to the Arizona Coyotes last week. Minnesota will hope that Gustavsson was just shaking off some rust and can get back to his form from before his injury, when he won eight of 11 (8-3-0), allowing three or fewer goals in all but one game while posting a stellar .927 SV%. Minnesota is a +123 road underdog on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

With the Devils' placing Brendan Smith (sprained knee) on the Injured Reserve Thursday, Santeria Hatakka has been recalled to the Devils' for the first time this season. The 23-year-old defensemen has appeared in 28 games for Utica (AHL) this season, and had two goals, nine points, 22 PIMs and a -4 plus/minus. He previously last appeared in nine NHL games in 2021-22 with San Jose.

Smith was placed on the Injured Reserve retroactive to January 15th Thursday so that the Devils' could open up cap space to recall Santeria Hatakka. The 34-year-old Smith left New Jersey's game Monday vs. Boston due to a sprained right knee and will be forced to miss an extended period of time. He has five points (1G/4A) in 34 games played so far in 2023-24.

Cozens exited the Sabres last game with an upper-body injury after playing only 11:25 time-on-ice. He has found his way onto the scoresheet in only one of his last six games, scoring two points (1G / 1A).

Georgiev has appeared in 14 straight games for the Avalanche and will start on Thursday against the Boston Bruins. The Avalanche are +137 road underdogs against the Bruins despite defeating them 4-3 in overtime less than two weeks ago when Georgiev saved 23 of 26 shots (.885 SV%). Georgiev is amid one of his best stretches this season, allowing two or fewer goals in three of his last four games (3-0-1), posting a stellar .940 SV%.