NHL Hockey Player News

Markstrom was brilliant after returning from a two-game absence due to an upper-body injury, saving 34 of 35 shots (.971 SV%) in a 2-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday. Markstrom has won consecutive starts for the first time this season and will hope to keep his hot streak rolling after having lost his seven previous outings (0-6-1), posting a .892 SV%. The Flames are -137 home favourites on Thursday and will try to take advantage of a Vancouver Canucks team that, albeit has won seven of their last eight (7-1-0), played an extra frame last night in a 4-3 victory over the New York Islanders.

Meier was "banged up" in Tuesday's game against the Winnipeg Jets and will be a game-time decision on Thursday. Meier's absence would be a huge blow for a New Jersey Devils team that has lost three straight (0-3-0) and is already without Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier. After a slow start to the season, Meier has 11 points (5G / 6A) and has fired 38 shots on goal in his last 11 games.

Tuch has not played the last two games for the Sabres but will be available to return to the lineup on Friday against the Winnipeg Jets. Before his injury, Tuch had been producing at an impressive rate, recording nine points (4G / 5A) in his last seven games.

Mrazek will look for his third consecutive victory on Thursday as the starting goalie against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Blackhawks rank in the bottom third of the league defensively, allowing an average of 3.46 goals per game. That said, Mrazek has quietly put together an impressive 2023-24 campaign thus far, boasting a 2.84 GAA and .921 SV% through eight contests (4-3-0). The Blackhawks are +160 home underdogs but have an intriguing matchup against the Lightning, who have been shut out in back-to-back games, and lost three straight contests (0-3-0), including a 5-3 loss at the hands of Mrazek and the Blackhawks.

Malkin did not practice on Wednesday due to an illness but will be available for the Penguins on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. The 37-year-old has yet to lose a step, tallying 17 points (8G / 9A) while playing an average of 17:56 through 14 games this season, predominantly alongside Rickard Rakell and Reilly Smith.

Pezzetta will return to the lineup after not playing in the Canadiens' most recent game, drawing in for an injured Rafael Harvey-Pinard (lower body). Pezzetta has two points (1G / 1A) in 12 games, averaging 7:46 time-on-ice, and is expected to suit up on the fourth line with Jesse Ylonen and Jake Evans.

Harvey-Pinard appears to be inching closer to a return but will remain out of the Canadiens' lineup on Thursday. Harvey-Pinard will have missed four of the Canadiens' last seven games due to a lower-body injury. The 24-year-old has yet to score this season but has four assists, 11 SOG, and two PIMs in 13 games.

Primaeu will start his second game of the season when the Canadiens take on the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday. On November 9th against the Detroit Red Wings, Primeau put together a terrific effort for his first victory, saving 27 of 29 shots (.931 SV%). Despite being serviceable in limited action this season, optimism is low for Primeau and the Canadiens on Thursday as they are +172 home underdogs against the defending Stanely Cup Champion Golden Knights. That said, Vegas has lost three of their last four games (1-3-0), held to two goals or fewer in three of them.

Mrazek will look for his third consecutive victory on Thursday as the likely starting goalie against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Blackhawks rank in the bottom third of the league defensively, allowing an average of 3.46 goals per game. That said, Mrazek has quietly put together an impressive 2023-24 campaign thus far, boasting a 2.84 GAA and .921 SV% through eight contests (4-3-0). The Blackhawks are +160 home underdogs but have an intriguing matchup against the Lightning, who have been shut out in back-to-back games, and lost three straight contests (0-3-0), including a 5-3 loss at the hands of Mrazek and the Blackhawks.

Jarry will start for the Penguins on Thursday as the team looks to extend their season-best five-game winning streak. After a poor five-game stretch (1-4-0), allowing 15 goals on 115 shots (.870 SV%), Jarry has been nearly impenetrable, saving 106 of 111 shots (.955 SV%) in four games since (4-0-0). The Penguins are -132 home favourites against a New Jersey Devils team that has struggled with Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier out of the lineup, losing four of five (1-4-0), averaging only 2.60 goals per game.

Zaitsev will be away from the team as he tends to a personal matter. Filip Roos, recalled from the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL on Thursday, could slide into the Blackhawks lineup as a defensive replacement for Zaitsev. Zaitsev is averaging 14:10 time-on-ice per night and has one point (1G / 0A) in five games this season.

Roos played 17 games with the Blackhawks last season, tallying three points (1G / 2A), and may get the opportunity to make his season debut with the team after being recalled on Thursday. The Swedish defenceman has four points (1G / 3A) in 10 games with the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL this season. The transaction was made in correspondence to Nikita Zaitsev being placed on the Blackhawks' Non-Roster list due to a personal matter.

Merzlikins will look for his first victory in five contests when he suits up as the starting goalie against the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday. Despite the Blue Jackets inability to provide ample goal support, Merzlikins has played fairly well of late, saving 132 of the last 146 shots he has faced (.904 SV%) in his last five games (1-2-1). The Blue Jackets are +109 home underdogs and will have their work cut out for them against a Coyotes team that has scored three or more goals in nine of their last 10 games (4-4-2).

Fix-Wolansky has 16 points (4G / 12A) in 11 games with the Cleveland Monsters this season and 87 points (33G / 54A) in 72 games dating back to the beginning of the 2022-23 campaign. The seventh-round pick of the Blue Jackets in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has yet to make his mark at the NHL level, scoring only three points (2G / 1A) in 15 career games, but could make his Blue Jackets season debut on Thursday.

Jarry will likely start for the Penguins on Thursday as the team looks to extend their season-best five-game winning streak. After a poor five-game stretch (1-4-0), allowing 15 goals on 115 shots (.870 SV%), Jarry has been nearly impenetrable, saving 106 of 111 shots (.955 SV%) in four games since (4-0-0). The Penguins are -132 home favourites against a New Jersey Devils team that has struggled with Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier out of the lineup, losing four of five (1-4-0), averaging only 2.60 goals per game.

Varlamov will likely start on Thursday and attempt to help the Islanders snap their six-game losing streak (0-4-2). The Islanders have not won since November 2nd when Varlamov was forced to be perfect, pitching a 32-save shutout in a 3-0 victory over the Washington Capitals. Despite a tremendous 2.04 GAA and .940 SV% through six games (2-3-0), Varlamov has struggled in his last two games (0-2-0), allowing seven goals on 58 shots (.879 SV%). Last season, the Islanders ranked fifth in the league defensively (2.65 GA / GP), a far cry from their mid-pack ranking this season (3.20 GA / GP). That said, as slight +100 road underdogs, the Islanders will hope to get things back on track, taking on the fourth-lowest scoring team in the league, the Seatle Kraken (2.53 GF / GP).

On the back end of a back-to-back, DeSmith will likely start for the Canucks on Thursday when they visit the Calgary Flames. DeSmith has seen a fair share of action between the pipes as the Canucks' backup this season and has performed admirably when called upon, showcasing a 2.67 GAA and .916 SV% through six games (4-0-1). Having played last night, the Canucks enter action as +124 road underdogs but are facing a Flames team that is 3-6-1 in their last 10 and ranks fifth worst in the league offensively (2.60 GF / GP).

Korpisalo has consecutive wins for the first time this season and will likely start for the seventh time in the last eight games for the Senators. After posting an ugly .865 SV% in his first three games (1-2-0), Korpisalo has quietly put together an impressive seven-game stretch (3-2-0), boasting a healthy .925 SV%. The Senators are slight -128 home favourites as they face off against the Detroit Red Wings in Sweden as part of the NHL Global Series. The Red Wings have lost three of their last five (2-2-1) but continue to rank in the top five of the league in terms of goal-scoring (3.67 GF / GP).