NHL Hockey Player News

Geekie finished Monday night's contest against the Dallas Stars but suffered an upper-body injury at some point that will keep him out of the lineup on a week-to-week basis and has been placed on the injured reserve. Geekie is averaging a career-high 14:15 time-on-ice through 12 games this season, tallying three points (1G / 2A). The Bruins, who have several long-term injuries at the moment, will hope to welcome back Jakub Lauko in the near future.

Lauko unfortunately took a skate to the face vs. Chicago on October 24th and has missed the last six games but has been activated from the injured reserve Thursday. The 23-year-old centre had struggled prior to his injury, as he is pointless with six SOG, six PIMs and a -4 plus/minus through six games so far this season. He will be a game-time decision Thursday vs. the New York Islanders.

Hellberg has become the go-to option between the pipes for the Penguins with Tristan Jarry (undisclosed) day-to-day and Alex Nedeljkovic (lower-body) already on long-term injured reserve. Thursday will mark the first start of the season for Hellberg, who has a 2.14 GAA and .929 SV% in two relief appearances. The 32-year-old Swedish goaltender has 25 NHL games under his belt (7-8-1), registering a 3.09 GAA and .888 SV%. The Penguins are +113 road underdogs against a Los Angeles Kings team playing the back end of a back-to-back.

Johnsson had his contract terminated after clearing unconditional waivers. The 28-year-old Sweed had difficulty finding consistency at the NHL level despite showing flashes of high-pedigree play throughout his career. He has 116 points (48 G / 68A) in 259 career games. He has now signed with Skelleftea IK (SHL).

Carter has been a healthy scratch for the Penguins' last two games but will draw back into the lineup Thursday vs. Los Angeles. The 19-year-old veteran has been held pointless so far through nine games in 2023-24, but has seven SOG, two PIMs and a -1 plus/minus. Vinnie Hinostroza has been sent down to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) in a corresponding move.

Hinostroza had a goal, an assist, four SOG, two PIMs and a +2 plus/minus in two games played so far in 2023-24 but has been reassigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) Thursday. The 29-year-old winger heads back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton where he was succeeding prior to his NHL promotion with two goals, four points and two PIMs in five games played.

With the surprise waiving of Jack Campbell earlier this week Stuart Skinner is now the Oilers' starter and is expected to take the crease Thursday vs. San Jose. The 25-year-old was an All-Star last season but has been horrendous so far in 2023-24, with his 1-4-1 record, .856 SV% and 3.99 GAA. He takes on the historically struggling San Jose Sharks, who snapped an 11-game losing streak with a victory last game over PHI and are last in the NHL in both shots per game (24.8) and goals per game (1.17).

Winterton was recalled from Coachella Valley (AHL) for the first time in his career and will make his NHL debut Thursday vs. Colorado. The 20-year-old forward was Seattle's 2021 third-round pick (67th overall) and had three goals, five points, and a +4 plus/minus in seven games with Coachella Valley prior to his promotion.

With Jordan Eberle (cut by skate) day-to-day, Wright finds his way into the Kraken's lineup for the first time this season Thursday vs. Colorado after being recalled from Coachella Valley (AHL) earlier in the day. The 19-year-old made his NHL debut last season and had a goal, an assist, four SOG, two PIMs and a +4 plus/minus in eight games prior to being sent back to junior. In seven games prior to his promotion, he had four goals and six points with Coachella Valley.

Eberle was cut near a quad muscle by a skate blade at practice Wednesday and will not play Thursday vs. Colorado as he is considered day-to-day with the injury. The 33-year-old right-winger had been off to a slow start to begin his 2023-24 season as he has one goal, three assists, 28 SOG, nine PIMs and a -8 plus/minus through 13 games played. Shane Wright and Ryan Winterton will be making their season debuts and replacing Eberle in the Kraken's lineup.

Blackwood was the driving force behind the Sharks' first victory of the season on Tuesday, saving 38 of 39 shots against the Philadelphia Flyers. Victory aside, the Sharks are still +288 home underdogs against an Edmonton Oilers team that will be desperate to shake out of their funk. After leading the league in offence a season ago (3.96 GF / GP), the Oilers rank 26th in the league (2.64 GF / GP) and, despite their well-documented struggles (2-8-1), remain a threat every night that Connor McDavid takes the ice.

Grubauer will likely get the start on Thursday against his former team, marking his fourth start in the Kraken's last five games. In his last three games (2-1-0), Grubauer has saved 91 of 100 shots (.910 SV%). Grubauer has historically been very good against the Avalanche, most recently leading the Kraken to knock them out in the Western Conference Quarterfinals. The Kraken are +169 road underdogs on Thursday but could put up a strong fight against an Avalanche team that has been shut out in three of their last five games (2-3-0) and will be starting Ivan Prosvetov in net.

Hofer will start for the Blues on Thursday as the team seems to be gaining confidence in the rookie goaltender. On Saturday, Hofer saved 30 of 33 shots, guiding the Blues to a 6-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens, his second win of the season. Hofer will have his work cut out for him as the Blues face an Arizona Coyotes team that has points in four of their last five (3-1-1) and ranks in the top half of league scoring (3.25 GF / GP). A strong performance from Hofer could go a long way in securing more time between the crease, as teammate Jordan Binnington has allowed four or more goals in three of his last four starts (1-3-0).

Addison was acquired by Sharks for a 2026 fifth-round pick and Adam Raska and will make his San Jose debut Thursday vs. Edmonton. The 23-year-old defensemen was spotted on the Sharks' top power play at morning skate and will hope to add to the five assists, 18 SOG, six PIMs and -3 plus/minus he had through 12 games with Minnesota already in 2023-24.

Reaves has played all 13 games for the Maple Leafs, going without a point, and racking up a -9 plus/minus rating while averaging 7:46 time-on-ice. Reaves joins John Klingberg as high-profile offseason signings that are expected to be healthy scratches on Friday. The Maple Leafs recalled Pontus Holmberg from the Marlies (AHL), who will be a possibility to slot into the lineup.

Tufte is expected to play his second game of the season for the Avalanche on Thursday when they take on the Seattle Kraken. In his only game this season, Tufte was held without a point but took four shots on goal in 11:28 time-on-ice.

Samsonov was pulled after allowing four goals on 12 shots in the Maple Leafs' come-from-behind win over the Lighting on Monday. Joseph Woll started the last two games but Samsonov will start the second-half of their back-to-back on Saturday. He gets set to face a Canucks team that is on a five-game winning streak and lead the NHL in GF/60 (4.52).

Woll has allowed 16 goals on the last 113 shots he has faced (.858 SV%) and will attempt to return to his early-season form on Friday when he takes on a Calgary Flames team that ranks 25th in the league offensively (2.67 GF / GP). In his first four games of the season (3-1-0), Woll was nearly impenetrable, saving 122 of 127 shots (.961 SV%), gaining the favour of the coaching staff in Toronto. The Maple Leafs have gone back to mostly rotating between goaltenders now as the team hopes one of them can emerge as a bonafide starter.

Prosvetov will get his second start of the season as the Avalanche seem to be shifting to an approach that will allow Alexandar Georgiev more rest. In two appearances, Prosvetov has a 0.88 GAA and .970 SV% and is looking more and more like a viable option for the Avalanche as Georgiev, who started the teams' first eight games, has struggled immensely of late, posting a .844 SV% in his four most recent games (1-3-0). The Avalanche initially intended on a more even split with Pavel Francouz (LTIR), but with him unavailable for the foreseeable future, another strong performance for Prosvetov could go a long way in securing him more time in between the pipes.

Primeau will start for the second time this season, his first game action since October 24th, a 5-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils, where he allowed four goals on 33 shots (.879 SV%). The Canadiens have held three goalies for the majority of the season but have mostly opted for the duties of Samuel Montembault and Jake Allen. Primeau and the Canadiens are +153 road underdogs on Thursday against a Detroit Red Wings team that has lost five of their last seven (2-4-1).