NHL Hockey Player News

Bertuzzi missed practice Tuesday for maintenance and will be a game-time decision Thursday vs. Florida even though he is expected to partake in warmups. The 28-year-old left-winger has a goal, nine SOG, 10 PIMs and a +3 plus/minus through three games this season. Bertuzzi was signed to a one-year, $5.5 million deal in the offseason and has been attached to the hip of Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner on Toronto's top line.

Zub left the Senators' previous game after just 19 shifts and 14:11 TOI due to an undisclosed injury and is now expected to be out for their game Saturday vs. Detroit. The 28-year-old has started off 2023-24 with a bang, picking up a goal, two assists, two SOG, four PIMs and a +3 plus/minus in four games so far this season.

Alexandrov has yet to dress in any of the Blues first two games but Is set to make his season debut Thursday vs. Arizona. The 23-year-old forward appeared in 28 games in 2022-23, picking up three goals, four assists, 28 SOG and eight PIMs. He is set to line up on the Blues' fourth line alongside Oskar Sundqvist and Jake Neighbours.

Saros was pulled in his last start vs. Edmonton after allowing four goals on 11 shots against (.638 SV%) but will draw the start Thursday against the New York Rangers. The 28-year-old workhorse net-minder is 1-3-0 this season with a 3.41 GAA and an .887 SV%. He takes on the New York Rangers, who won their previous game 2-1 over Arizona but are seventh in the NHL in shots per game (33.7) and 11th in goals for (3.33).

Luneau was Anaheim's 2022 second-round pick (53rd overall) and is set to make his NHL debut Thursday vs. Dallas as he replaces Jamie Drysdale in the Ducks' lineup. The 19-year-old defensemen was not originally returned to Gatineau (QMJHL) as expected to start this season, where he had 20 goals, 63 assists, 31 PIMs and a +49 plus/minus through 65 games in 2022-23.

Lindgren left Monday's morning skate with an undisclosed injury and did not suit up against Calgary that night which has led to him being placed on the injured reserve. The 29-year-old has only started one game this season and is 0-1-0 with a .886 SV% and a 4.00 GAA. Clay Stevenson was recalled in his absence.

Aktell had a goal, and was a -1 plus/minus in two games with Hershey (AHL) and has been recalled to Washington for the first time in his career. The 25-year-old Swede was drafted by Nashville in the fourth round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft (108th overall) but he only crossed the border to North American this season after three years in the SHL. Aktell has a chance to make his NHL debut Saturday.

Johansson allowed three goals on 31 shots (.903 SV%) for his second straight loss as he was downed by Buffalo in his previous start. The 28-year-old net-minder has struggled to fill the shoes of Andrei Vasilevskiy early on in 2023-24 as he is 1-1-1 with an .893 SV% and a 3.71 GAA. He takes on the Vancouver Canucks Thursday, who lost thier previous game to Philadelphia but are fifth in the NHL in goals per game (4.0) while being 29th in shots per game (24.3).

Ullmark will start his second game of the season as the Bruins will attempt to start on a three-game winning streak when they face off against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday. Picking up where he left off with his Vezina-winning 2022-23 campaign, Ullmark saved 20 of 21 shots for a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in his season debut. The Bruins should be able to continue their hot start to the season as they are a -266 road favourite over the Sharks on Thursday.

Raanta is expected to make his third appearance and second start of the season in Thursday’s game against the Kraken. The 34-year-old netminder will be hoping to improve on a disappointing start to the season. He’s stopped just 31 of the 37 shots he’s faced, resulting in an .838 SV% and a 3.17 GAA. Luckily for Raanta and his fantasy managers, he draws an excellent matchup tonight with Carolina being sizable favourites at -140 to come out on top tonight against the winless Kraken.

Drysdale is day-to-day after missing the Ducks' morning skate due to a lower-body injury and will not play Thursday vs. Dallas. The 21-year-old was off to a great start through two games this season, with two assists, three SOG and a +3 plus/minus. Drysdale will hope this is only a minor injury after missing 74 games in 2022-23 due to a torn labrum.

Henrique missed the Ducks' morning skate due to illness and will be a game-time decision Thursday as they take on Dallas. The 33-year-old veteran has an assist, no SOG and a -1 plus/minus through two games so far this season while averaging 15:45 TOI. Henrique has not played in more than 71 games in a single season since 2018-19.

Oettinger will start for the third consecutive game on Thursday and look to bounce back after a 3-2 shootout loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. He made 32 saves in the loss. The Stars are sizeable -255 road favourites against an Anaheim Ducks team that will welcome talented center Leo Calsson, the second overall pick from the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, into their lineup for his NHL debut. Last season, Oettinger had a 0.96 GAA and .969 SV% along with a shutout in two contests against the Ducks.

After serving as backup and watching Lukas Dostal save 32 of 35 shots for the Ducks first victory of the season, Gibson will be back between the pipes on Thursday night. Gibson played well in his only game this season, saving 34 of 37 shots in a 4-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. Despite strong showings against the Dallas Stars last season, Gibson and the Ducks will be put to the test as +227 road underdogs. In his two meetings against the Stars last season (1-0-1), Gibson has a 0.96 GAA and .974 SV%.

Peterson has failed to pick up any counting stats while averaging 13:45 TOI through two games in 2023-24 but will be a healthy scratch Thursday vs. Boston. The 24-year-old will be replaced by Kevin Labanc in the Sharks lineup.

Vlasic missed the Sharks' previous game due to an undisclosed injury but will return to San Jose's lineup Thursday vs. Boston. The 36-year-old stay-at-home defensemen is in his 18th NHL season (all with San Jose) and had one SOG, a +1 plus/minus and zero points in two games so far in 2023-24.

Mrazek is off to a great start for the Blackhawks, who have been better than expected defensively to start the season, allowing an average of only 2.25 goals per game in their first four contests (2-2-0). The Blackhawks have opted to split starts between their two netminders to start the season, but in Mrazek's two games (1-1-0), he has a 2.54 GAA and .935 SV%. Mrazek will be in for arguably his most difficult matchup as the Blackhawks are +303 road underdogs against the Colorado Avalanche. Last season, Mrazek was 1-1-0 against the Avalanche with a 3.50 GAA and .897 SV% and, despite his strong start to the season, does not have a favourable matchup Thursday evening.

Okhotyuk had yet to appear in any of the Sharks first three games and has now been loaned to the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) for a conditioning assignment. The 22-year-old defensive defensemen was acquired in 2022-23 in the deal that saw Timo Meier head to New Jersey. He had a goal, six SOG, two PIMs and a +1 plus/minus in 10 games last season with New Jersey.

Acciari missed the Penguins' morning skate Thursday as he was being evaluated for an upper-body injury and is considered day-to-day until Pittsburgh releases more information. The 31-year-old bruising winger was signed to a three-year, $6 million contract ($2,000,000 AAV) during the offseason and has yet to pick up a point through four games in 2023-24.